Daniel Ladinsky was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. One day on a retreat in the desert, while a student at the University of Arizona, he becme overwhelmed by the Divine Beauty in this world ; an unwaning fascination about God began that led him to live in India for six years, exploring the essence and unity of all faiths. A teacher there ingrained the wonder of Hafiz into his heart when he said, "With great wit and tenderness the words of Hafiz speak for God."