Source Text
Why Carry? Hafiz, Why carry a whole load of books Upon your back Climbing this mountain, When tonight, Just a few thoughts of God Will light the holy fire.
The Only One From man’s perspective In this intricate game of love, It is so easy to become confused And think you are the do-er. But from God’s Infinite Certainty, He always Knows That He is the only One Who should ever be put on trial.
Let’s stop reading about God— We will never understand Him. Jump to your feet, wave your fists, Threaten and warn the whole Universe That your heart can no longer live Without real love!
You Better Start Kissing Me Throw away All your begging bowls at God’s door, For I have heard the Beloved Prefers sweet threatening shouts, Something on the order of: “Hey, Beloved, My heart is a raging volcano Of love for you! You better start kissing me— Or Else!”
That’s the Whole Idea Fire has a love for itself— It wants to keep burning. It is like a woman Who is at last making love To the person she most desires. Find a Master who is like the Sun. Go to His house In the middle of the night. Smash a window. Act like a great burglar— Jump in. Now, Gather all your courage— Throw yourself into His bed! He will probably kill you. Fantastic— That’s the whole idea!
So the whole world could have died Like Hafiz, Dancing so happily, Filled with Ecstasy and Unbearable Divine Light.
A Tethered Falcon My heart sits on the Arm of God Like a tethered falcon Suddenly unhooded. I am now blessedly crazed Because my Master’s Astounding Effulgence Is in constant view. My piercing eyes, Which have searched every world For Tenderness and Love, Now lock on the Royal Target— The Wild Holy One Whose Beauty Illuminates Existence. My soul endures a magnificent longing. I am a tethered falcon With great wings and sharp talons poised, Every sinew taut, like a Sacred Bow, Quivering at the edge of my Self And Eternal Freedom, Though still held in check By a miraculous Divine Golden Cord. Beloved, I am waiting for You to free me Into Your Mind And Infinite Being. I am pleading in absolute helplessness To hear, finally, your Words of Grace: Fly! Fly into Me! Hafiz, Who can understand Your sublime Nearness and Separation?
He discovers that the essence of life is the expression of beauty—it is Poetry. He arrives at a stage in Love’s Journey where everyone becomes a Poet!
“Start seeing everything as God, But keep it a secret.”
But let’s keep playing. Let’s go deeper, Go deeper. For if we do, Our spirits will embrace And interweave. Our union will be so glorious That even God Will not be able to tell us apart. There is a wonderful game We should play with everyone And it goes like this …
AI Summary
I Heard God Laughing by Hafiz presents key insights from the Sufism tradition. The 10 passages above capture the essential teachings.
Core Themes:
- [To be expanded]
Key Passages: Highlights 1, 3, and 10 are particularly representative.
This entry was generated from Readwise highlights. Expand with additional context as appropriate.