Some Hafiz for your Monday

Ever since I read 'Eat Pray Love' and became in love with the Hafiz's quote 'This place where you are right now, God circled on a map for you', I have become a sufi poety aficionado.

My favorite are ofcourse Hafiz of Shiraz, and also Rumi. Below are some of my all time favorite quotes and poems by Hafiz. Rumi deserves a seperate blog of his own.

A brief clipping of Hafiz's bio which describes the root of his poetry:
"Early the next morning the Angel Gabriel (some say Khizer) appeared to him. Gabriel gave Hafiz a cup to drink which contained the Water of Immortality, and declared that Hafiz had also received the gift of poetry. Then Gabriel asked Hafiz to express his heart's desire. All the time that this was happening, Hafiz could not take his eyes of Gabriel. So great was the beauty of the Angel that Hafiz had forgotten the beauty of Shakh-i-Nabat (his long-time love). After Gabriel had asked the question, Hafiz thought; "If Gabriel the Angel of God is so beautiful, then how much more beautiful God must be." Hafiz answered Gabriel: "I want God!"
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What
Do sad people have in
Common?
It seems
They have all built a shrine
To the past
And often go there
And do a strange wail and
Worship.
What is the beginning of
Happiness?
It is to stop being
So religious
Like That.



One regret dear world, that I am determined not to have when I am lying on my deathbed is that I did not kiss you enough.

The small man

Builds cages for everyone

He Knows.

While the sage,

Who has to duck his head

When the moon is low,

Keeps dropping keys all night long

For the Beautiful RowdyPrisoners.

Ever since happiness heard your name, it has been running through the streets trying to find you.

Now that all your worry has proved such an unlucrative business,

why not find a better job?

Fear is the cheapest room in the house, I'd like to see you living in better conditions

I have a thousand brilliant lies for the question : How are you?'

I have a thousand brilliant lies for the question: What is God?

If you think that the truth can be known from words,

If you think that the sun and the ocean
Can pass through that tiny opening called the mouth,

O someone should start laughing!
Someone should start Wildly Laughing- Now!

I am happy even before I have reason. I am full of light even before the sky can greet the sun or moon. Dear companions, we have been in love with God for so very, very long; what can we now do but forever dance?

Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth: you owe me. Look what happens with a love like that, it lights up the whole sky!

One day the sun admitted,
I am just a shadow.I wish I could show youThe Infinite Incandescence
That has cast my brilliant image!
I wish I could show you,When you are lonely or in darkness,
The astonishing Light
Of your own Being!

All a Sane man can ever care about Is giving Love!

Just Sit There Just sit there right now. Don't do a thing. Just rest. For your separation from God Is the hardest work in this world. Let me bring you trays of food And something That you like to drink. You can use my soft words As a cushion For your Head.

“This place where you are right now

God circled on a map for you.

Wherever your eyes and arms and heart can move

Against the earth and sky,

The Beloved has bowed there –

Our Beloved has bowed there knowing

You were coming.