Spiritual Wisdom of Haféz: Teachings of the Philosopher of Love [Hardcover]

Haleh Pourafzal (Author), Roger Montgomery (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1998

An exploration of the Persian poet's spiritual philosophy, with original translations of his poetry.

• The perfect introduction to the man known as the philosopher of love

• Speaks directly to the cutting edges of philosophy, psychology, social theory, and education, from the wisdom of a mystic and heartfelt poet

For six hundred years the Persian poet Hafez has been read, recited, quoted, and loved by millions of people in his homeland and throughout the world. Like his predecessor Rumi, he is a spiritual guide in our search for life's essence. Hafez is both a mystic philosopher and a heartfelt poet of desires and fears. Haleh Pourafzal and Roger Montgomery invite you to savor the wit and passion of his words. 

The Spiritual Wisdom of Hafez is the perfect introduction to the man known as the philosopher of love, whose message of spiritual transcendence through rapture and service to others is especially important as our troubled world enters the twenty-first century. His wisdom speaks directly to the cutting edges of philosophy, psychology, social theory, and education, and can serve as a bridge of understanding between the West and the Middle East, two cultures in desperate need of mutual empathy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Hafez has no peer." 
(Goethe )

"Hafez fears nothing. He sees too far; he sees throughout; such is the only man I wish to see or be." 

(Ralph Waldo Emerson )

"Only the most enlightened of beings can benefit from the deepest human joys because within such beings resides a unique force of freedom and rapture.  Their awareness rests in the house of spirit and their soul mates with their awareness meaning that which is discovered through awareness emanates from their soul and that which shines in the soul is known with awareness.  This unity of spirit and mind is the legacy of Hafez."
(Friedrich Nietzsche )

"This beautifully written and nicely presented discourse on his life and work honors the poet as a significant figure whose influence resonates still."

(NAPRA ReView )

"This book is an ideal introduction to the spiritual guidance offered in Hafez's verses." (Bodhi Tree Book Review, Winter 1999 / Spring 2000 )

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: English, Persian

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Inner Traditions (July 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892816678
• ISBN-13: 978-0892816675
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,776,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique and challenging book, March 20, 2001

By 

Austin Observer (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spiritual Wisdom of Haféz: Teachings of the Philosopher of Love (Hardcover)

This is one of the most unique books about Persian poetry and certainly about the poet Hafez (or Hafiz). It challenges the reader to rise up to a sophisticated level of understanding about poetry and literature and how this understanding fits into everyday life. If you are a lover of Persian poetry, it also challenges many ideas recorded in English about ecstatic poetry and the limitations of thought coming out of ancient Persia and modern Iran. That the book works so well is a surprise to this reader, who's spent a quarter century with his head aimed in a very different direction about Hafez and the ancient Persians. Having authored a paper about the poet many years ago, it's a pleasure to see with new eyes. The authors have succeeded in creating a beautiful book of unique translations and explanations. Still, the reader's path in this book is not always an easy one, primarily for two reasons. One, the authors have basically ignored the so-called established truths, stereotypes and misperceptions associated with Hafez that have been repeated over and over for more than a century by many academic translators. Secondly, they have also ignored the "New Age" approach of creating weak renditions of the poems or, as some are strangely doing, "channeling" new poems by Hafez, the great poet who passed from the scene about 1390 A.D. Instead, they draw on authentic experience with the poet's work in its original Farsi language and they take word-for-word translations and then extend them in meaningful modern language. Then they explain this work in terms the Perennial Philosophy that runs through virtually every major spiritual tradition and religion. A bit strangely, the best part of this book comes at the very end. The last chapter is about "Wild Deer," Hafiz's epic poem, and it's by far the best presentation in English. Several previous translators have tried this with no luck whatever, but this presentation makes it clear as the poet's profound / summary of his life and teachings. One slightly tough thing is there are so many ideas presented so fast amid the poetry that you have to read carefully or you can get a little lost. Another challenging thing for Hafiz lovers is that the poetry is not always word-for-word (about half the time, it does seem to be), as previously explained. If you read Farsi, you may scratch your head from time to time. Still, if you stay with the authors' purpose of seeing and articulating a universal philosophy that runs through the poet's body of work, every poem ultimately speaks a profound truth. It's like a modern translation of the Bible or other ancient writing. A little different from what you thought you knew and something that takes some study to really get. If you have previous ideas about the poet or Persian poetry, you may have to open your mind before you venture into this book. But if you do so, you'll find a challenging and admirable treasure.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hafez As Persians See Him, December 6, 2001

By 

Ali (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spiritual Wisdom of Haféz: Teachings of the Philosopher of Love (Hardcover)

So many books have been written about Persian poetry by non-Persian people in recent years that you may wonder if Persians ever write about their own literary figures. Well, here is a very intelligent and warm book by a Persian woman (and an American co-author) about the deeply-loved poet Hafez. As would be expected, it presents a different picture of thhe poet and a different feel for his poetry than most other books. Hafez is talked about as a true universal poet rather than a Sufi, as most others do. I had not ever heard him called the philosopher of love, but it is a fitting label.

Many people say Hafez cannot be translated well because he writes in an extremely complex manner. In so many translations, this is true. But this poetry is translated with a warm and true feeling for the rhythm and even the rhyme, a unique accomplishment. The book is filled with both the full poems and individual verses. The authors offer extensive discussions of the meanings.

Like another reviewer, I particularly liked the translation of The Wild Deer, a Hafez masterpiece which is not easily understood. This well-known poem conveys the teachings of the poet's whole life.

But perhaps the best part is that the author shares her personal lifetime understanding and study of this cultural being who is so loved by Persians, and now American readers can look at Hafez with affection, a little bit like Persians themselves do. This is a very different view than that of Western literary scholars, and it is so nice that it is now shared in an enlightening and gracious way by a Persian writer. It is a point of great cultural pride.

I recommend this writing to all lovers of poetry and good books.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cool & Rewarding, April 4, 2001

By 

Seeker (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spiritual Wisdom of Haféz: Teachings of the Philosopher of Love (Hardcover)

An original Rumi addict I admit to being, & I got into Hafez on that path. Now there are, by last count, about 30 different translations in books & on Internet pages, & this is one of best 'cause it sings & also can be understood. But it's more, much more, than just the poems. It's one Persian woman's guide to making poetry a powerful part of her worldview and life. Cool, cool, rewarding on lotsa levels.