Spiritual Wisdom of Haféz: Teachings of the Philosopher of Love (Hardcover)

by Haleh Pourafzal (Author), Roger Montgomery (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A marvelous book that I highly recommend." -- Dr. Jeffrey Mishlove, Virtual U, Wisdom Radio Network, March 8, 1999

"Although Rumi has received most of the press, the 14th-century Persian poet Hafez has been acknowledged as an equal in the scope of his mystical philosophy and his skills of ardent expression... 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, December 1998

"The interpretive efforts of the authors and the contextual settings they create for the various poems allow us to better grasp the mystical insights and teachings... These insights, couched as they are in the imagery of their day and culture, are not always easy to grasp on first reading, being in one world, while yet of another... a nice job of guiding us through the layering of words to the meaning behind them... a good introduction to the wisdom of this mystical path... fine reading for a couple of lifetimes." -- New Visions, June 1999

The Spiritual Wisdom of Hafez is an excellent book and a must read for all (Iranian-Americans), especially for young people who are not proficient in the Farsi language. . . [The book] yields a purity of content absent from other translations, perhaps because Haleh Pourafzal is a learned Iranian who understands Hafez from an Iranian cultural perspective. . . . But once the journey has begun; the reader is advised to set aside plenty of time to absorb it. -- A Persian Journal of Iranian Studies

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

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 )

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.com Sales Rank: #1,203,179 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 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 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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Deep and Thoughtful Work, August 8, 2000

By A Customer

At a time when Persian poetry is being revived, this book offers a deeper and more thoughtful look than most at how the original thoughts and feelings of one poet, the great Hafez of Shiraz, relate to the contemporary world. The whole presentation is just beautifully done, a work of both the heart and the mind by the two co-authors, Haleh Pourafzal & Roger Montgomery. The translations ring true, more Persian-sounding than most other translations but freely enough rendered so that they're not obscure to modern readers. As a whole, the book is just a wonderful spiritual trip in itself. Set aside a lot of time to read and re-read this one.

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

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.