few hundred people on the hill. Eruch came out of the crowd and embraced me, com forting me. The second person I met was Aloba. As we embraced, he said, ‘Baba re membered you on the 31st.’ I was deeply touched and taken aback and I asked, ‘What do you mean?’ He started to speak of the three couplets ofHafiz that had been hanging on the wall in Mandali Hall for the last few years. “As Aloba narrated it, on the evening of 30th January, 1969, while he was on night duty in Baba’s room, Baba asked Aloba to take the couplets of Hafiz from Mandali Hall and bring them to Him in His room at 10:00 a.m. on 3lstJanuary. Accordingly, Aloba obeyed Baba the next morning. As he approached Baba’s room with the rolled up paper, Eruch asked him why he had come. Baba conveyed that He had asked Aloba to bring the couplets of Hafiz, and gestured that the roll be kept on the cabinet in His room. “So,’ Aloba continued to relate to me, In this way Baba remembered you on 30th and 31st January. I felt overwhelmed by Baba’s intimacy and compassion for me. Indeed His love and compassion for each one ofus is unconditional and boundless. “Some regard these couplets as Baba’s last message given in silence to His followers. That same paper with the couplets of Hafiz that was brought to Baba on the 31st is now framed and kept in Baba’s room at Meher azad. Copies ofthe couplets also now hang in Mandali Hall and in Baba’s Cabin on Meherabad Hill. “In this new year of Beloved Baba’s, may we gain insight from Hafiz’ words and look toward Baba to guide us to be resigned to the Will ofthe All-Knowing Ancient One.” On this same morning of 31st January 1969, the poetryofHafiz conveyed an illumi nating message to Dorab Satha, the cousin of Sam Kerawala. Sam narrates the story: “My maternal cousin Dorab Satha, who resides in Bombay, for many years would send Beloved Baba His Birthday greetings on the date which fell due according to our Zoroastrian calendar, which date invariably fell much earlier than the Roman date. It was his practice to open up the Divan-e Hafiz arbitrarily and the first Ghazal that came up would become the theme of the Birthday greetings for that particular year. In 1969, Beloved Baba’s birthday by the Zoroastrian calendar fell on February 7th. Accordingly around noon on 31st January after his morning bath and prayers, Dorab opened up the Divan for the birthday ghazal to send
to Beloved Baba. To his utter surprise, the ghazal read: You are about to mail a letter to your Beloved, but to which address will you mail it, as of now He has become all Pervad ing everywhere! “Dorab did not understand the message so conveyed, as it was noon ofthe 31st and the news ofour Beloved havingdropped His Body had notyet been flashed the world over. So he opened the Divan once again, formed his Birthday greetings on the lines of the new Ghazal and mailed the letter so that it should reach Beloved Baba by 7th February About 4 p.m. on the 31st, news reached all His byers in Bombay that Meher Baba had dropped His body a little after 12 noon of that day. Dorab then realised the true significance of the first ghazab that had opened up that day.”
M
ahoo Ghorbani Shariari (a member ofthe Board ofDirectors at Mehera bode) was born and grew up in Shiraz, the home of Hafiz. Such were her ties to the town she bought a California car license plate “Shiraz”. However, it now reads Mer Baba. She tells us: “My family has lived in Shiraz for three generations. From the time I was a child, I knew that Hafiz had a special place in the hearts ofthe people. Ever since then, I have had a close connection to, and great love for, Hafiz. His sublime words of love are very familiar to my heart. In the Persian tradi tion, whenever one faces a difficult or a fork in the road, one would hold the ques tion in mind, and then ask the Oracle of Shiraz—Hafiz, for guidance. When I have a question, I open Hafiz’s Divan and surprisingly see that Hafiz, in his own enigmatic way, would sing to me, and through the song of his poetry, would get me to book inwards. Hafiz’s Ghazal then inspires me with an answer, a guidance or a direction. Now-a-days every Persian has at least one Divan in their home. On my re cent trip to Shiraz I visited Hafiz’s tomb and found the Center ofResearch for Hafiz was newly opened there. I was very touched to see that Hafiz’s Divan was translated into more that 15 languages. This brought tears to my eyes. I felt as though Hafiz was si lently communicating with every one. His universal language oflove has gone beyond its original Farsi and has captured many hearts.”
The Moon IsAlso Busy Ibow to God in gratitude, Andlfindihe moon is also busy Doing the same. Ibow to God in eat happiness, Andi learnfrom where the suns Andthe children zlndmy heart Ailborrow theirLzht. Ibow to the Friend in deep reverence Anddiscover a marvelous secret carried on the air: This whole Universe isjust as blessed Anddivinezy rnzzedas L Andjust as lost in this WonderfulHoly Dance. My deai After such a long, long,journey, God has made another soul Free! Now allHafiz wants to do Is open a beautjfiil Thvern Where this Sacred Wine OfGod Truth, Knowledge andLove Isfirever and ever Freely offired to you. 0 bow to God in gratitude, Andsome day You willsee how The moon is also busy doing the same. IHeard GodLazØing, Renderings fHafiz
by Daniel Ladinsky