This video features the inspiring poem "Cast all your votes for dancing", as translated by Daniel Ladinsky in his illuminating book, "I Heard God Laughing: Renderings of Hafiz." I've instead used the name, "Keep Squeezing Drops from the Sun" , but the contents of the poem is unchanged from the translation. This poem is a beautiful expression of spiritual exploration and a clarion call to live life with vitality, passion, and love.
Hafez Shirazi, also known simply as Hafiz, was a 14th-century Persian poet. His lyrical poems, known as Ghazals, are well-respected for their beauty, wisdom, and depth. They are rich with layers of meaning, often encompassing themes of love, loss, and spirituality. Hafez is highly regarded, not only in his native Iran but globally, for his profound and deeply humanistic perspective.
This poem reflects the Sufi philosophy that Hafiz often imbued in his poetry. Sufism is an Islamic mystical tradition that seeks to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God. It encourages inner exploration and unity with the divine, emphasizing the importance of love, tolerance, and selfless devotion. The underlying wisdom of Sufi philosophy, however, transcends any one religion, embracing a universal message of love and peace that resonates with hearts around the world.
In "Keep Squeezing Drops from the Sun," Hafiz encourages us to seek the divine in everyday life - in work, in laughter, in the most subtle movements of our bodies. The poem eloquently speaks to the human condition, our desire for authentic, meaningful experiences, and the ecstasy that can be found in dancing - the metaphorical dance of life.
Join us in this stirring exploration of Hafez's wisdom and his call to live a life full of laughter, love, work, prayer, and above all, to "Cast all your votes for dancing!" Enjoy the recital and let the words of Hafez wash over you, inspiring you to squeeze your own drops from the sun.
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