I Heard God Laughing "renderings" of Hafiz in clear, direct and contemporary styIe. Dan Ladinsky, a resident of Myrtle Beach, began Mr. Ladinsky describes his work as "releasing the spirit of his work with Hafiz at Meherazad during an extended stay Hafiz a spirit of infinite tenderness and compassion, of great with the mandali. I Heard God Laughing releases the Spirit exuberance, joy and laughter, of ecstatic love and fervent of Hafiz longing for his several years ago. I Heard God Laughing offers a selection of sparkling poems presented in a handsome volume with a cover designed by the artist Diane Meher Baba's favorite poet, Hafiz, is given a fresh, Cobb. The book includes an informative biography of Hafiz vibrant interpretation in a new book, I Heard God Laugh- and an annotated bibliography. Altogether, this is a delightful and very readable introduction to the ing, by Daniel Ladinsky. For seven hunlife and work of Meher Baba's most bedred years, Hafiz has been the most be1 Heard God Lallghing loved poet. loved of the Persian poets, more popular Rel/deril/g! oj'Hqjiz in the East than even his great predeces'. sor, Rumi. Meher Baba explained that the I Heard God Laughing published by Sufism Reoriented, Walnut Creek, poetry of Hafiz is unique in world literature because Hafiz celebrates every exCalifornia. which publishes books by and pression of love in the universe. Hafiz about Meher Baba. They have published describes the richness and beauty of the God Speaks, Listen Humanity, Beams, the first American edition of the Discourses world when seen through the eyes of love. (in three volumes) Ramjoo 's Diaries, the And he portrays all the stages and profirst volume of Bal Natu's Glimpses of cesses of inner unfolding that transform the God-man and How A Master Works human love into divine love. His poetry by Ivy O. Duce. The editorial board of can be read as a record of a human being's Sufism Reoriented was delighted by Mr. journey to perfect joy, perfect knowing and perfect love. Meher Baba described Hafiz as "a Perfect Ladinsky's fresh approach to Hafiz and welcomed the opportunity to bring these new "renderings" of Meher Baba's Master and a perfect poet." favorite poet to a wider audience. Translations of Hafiz into English have rarely attracted Western readers primarily because the structure of I Heard God Laughing, 180 pages, paperback, retails for Persian poetry often seems awkward and stilted when it is $14, plus shipping., recast in English. Daniel Ladinsky overcomes this problem. His innovative approach offers not "translations" but
I Heard God Laughing, Renderings of Hafiz by Daniel Ladinsky
Reviewed by John Page Hafiz, who lived in Persia some six hundred years ago, was Meher Baba's favorite poet. Hafiz's poetry, which Beloved Baba descried as "matchless," describes the Path of Love wherein human love is transformed into divine love. His poetry reveals the intricacies of the relationship between the lover and the Beloved and imbues the entire divine relationship with lightness, humor and joy! Baba revealed that Hafiz also became a Perfect Master after having broken his head at his master, Attar's feet for decades
Meher Baba often quoted couplets of Hafiz's and even had certain ones posted.. The three that Baba wanted us to become thoroughly stained with are: I) Befitting a fortunate slave, carry out every command of the Master without any question of why or what; 2) About what you hear from the Master, never say it is wrong, because my dear the fault lies in your own incapacity to understand him; 3) I am the slave of the Master who has released me from ignorance. Whatever my Master does is of the highest benefit to all concerned. Baba Lovers who have frequented Meherabad and Meherazad in recent years have no doubt met Dan see page 31