Synopsis "The Rose Garden of Mystery: Shabistari"
THE ROSE GARDEN OF MYSTERY SHABISTARI Translation by Paul Smith. Introduction by E.H. Whinfield & Paul Smith The Rose Garden of Mystery was composed as a 1000 couplet long masnavi poem in the form of questions and answers on spiritual matters by Mahmud Shabistari of Tabriz in 1317 at the request of his Spiritual Master. Since then it has been regarded as one of the finest books on Sufism. E.G. Browne in his classic work, 'History of Persian Literature' calls this book "On the whole, one of the best manuals of Sufi theosophy that exists." Rev. John A. Subhan in his 'Sufism, Its Saints and Shrines' states, "We know little about the life of the author... But his work is important out of all comparison with the importance of the author because it is a compendium of Sufi terminology in the form of question and answer." The correct rhyme-structure has been kept in this complete, modern translation and the beauty and meaning of this beautiful, mystical, poem. Pages 182 COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S VERSION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'."It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished. If he comes to Iran I will kiss the fingertips that wrote such a masterpiece inspired by the Creator of all." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of many mystical works in English into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart."Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz." Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author). Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of over 80 books of Sufi poets of the Persian and other languages of Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, biographies and screenplays. Published by New Humanity Books amazon.com/author/smithpa
