When Hafiz was 21 years old, while passing by a big mansion, he saw a very beautiful girl on the terrace. He fell in love with her at that instant and decided he would marry her. The girl did not even take notice of the ugly Hafiz in the street. Hafiz felt helpless, and he thought of gaining her by the 40-days' penance. He succeeded in his attempt [of chilla-nashini], and on the fortieth day, the Archangel Gabriel came to him and told him to ask for anything he wished. Gabriel's beauty was so astounding that Hafiz forgot the beauty of the girl. He thought that if Gabriel could be so beautiful, how much more would be the beauty of God! So, he at once replied, "I want God!"
Gabriel directed him to the Perfect Master Attar. Hafiz served Attar for 40 long years. He broke his head at the feet of Attar, so it is said, but the Master still seemingly had no compassion for Hafiz. After 40 years of such hell on earth, one day Attar suddenly gave Hafiz God-realization.1 After having the divine experience, Hafiz began reciting poems, and that is why his poetry is Truth, and so beautiful and knowledge-giving.
Baba ended by stating:
Powers have no significance. Hafiz says that the one who does not lay his life at the feet of a Perfect Master cannot know God. It is very difficult to become one with God. A Master's grace makes it very easy, but to get his grace is as difficult as trying to realize God by one's own efforts. It becomes easy once one becomes a slave at the feet of a Perfect Master. Ages of restlessness get eased as soon as one drops one's life at his feet. This does not mean cutting off one's head and putting it at the feet of the Master. It means literal obedience.
Baba asked Deshmukh whether he would obey him if he ordered him to go back to Nagpur and walk its streets completely naked. He replied that he would.
Baba jokingly remarked, "Dr. C. D. Deshmukh is a very intelligent fellow. He knew I would never ask him to do such a thing, and so he replied in the affirmative."
Footnotes
- 1.When speaking of Hafiz in November 1927, Baba revealed that Hafiz did not, in fact, actually write his poetry, but recited or sang it and a disciple wrote down his inspired words.