If One Teaches - Haylee

I Adjure Thee

Baha'i Talks - Mr Adib Taherzadeh: Spirit Of Faith

In this talk, Dr. Vahid Rafati explores the Tablet of Medicine, a mighty work revealed by Baha'u'llah. Dr. Rafati explains that he is not a medical doctor, and instead, he discusses the context of this tablet, medicine in the Islamic Revelation, and the theological issues related to physical wellbeing.

Dr. Vahid Rafati received his B.A degree in Psychology from Tehran University. He subsequently completed his PhD in Islamic Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Rafati has been serving at the Research Department of the Baha’i World Centre in Haifa, Israel since 1980 and is the author of numerous articles and books in both Persian and English.

This talk was given at the Grand Canyon Baha'i Conference, 25 December, 2017.

We’d like to thank the organizing committee of the Grand Canyon Baha’i Conference for granting us permission to share this talk with you, and you can find out more about this annual conference here on their website (http://bit.ly/2nRTDDE).

You can watch the video version of this talk here on Baha’i Blog’s YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/2Btl4Wy

You can also listen to a talk Dr. Rafati gave called "Abdu'l-Baha: The Exemplar" on our Soundcloud page: http://bit.ly/2Eco3W2

You can also watch a lecture Dr. Rafati gave at the 2014 ABS conference titled “The Evolving Role of Baha’i Scholarship”: http://bit.ly/2rFX5nd

For more Baha’i-inspired talks, you can visit Baha’i Blog’s Soundcloud page: https://soundcloud.com/bahai-blog/sets/bahai-talks, or Baha'i Blog's YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/2ia1Yxp

"Tablet of Medicine" A Talk by Dr. Vahid Rafati

Baha’i Blog’s “Studio Sessions” is an initiative where we invite Baha’is and their friends from around the world to come into a studio and share the Baha’i Writings put to music.
 
In this Baha’i Blog Studio Session, we’re in Vancouver, Canada with Shadi Toloui-Wallace, Hoda Toloui-Wallace, Leif Thorseth and Sahar Zandieh who sing “Each to Each” based on a passage by Bahiyyih Khanum.
 
You can also watch the recording of this song on Baha’i Blog’s YouTube channel here: 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVGT5QZ3TuE
 
This song was filmed and recorded in Vancouver, Canada, January 2017.

Discover more Baha'i-inspired content on BAHAIBLOG.NET

Here is the quotation used for the lyrics below followed by the quotation and chords:
 
"O Thou Kind Bestower, O Nourisher of our souls and hearts!
We have no aim, except to walk Thy path; we have no wish, except to bring Thee joy. Our souls are united, and our hearts are welded, each to each. In offering Thee our thanks and praise, in following Thy ways and soaring in Thy skies, we are all one.
We are helpless, stand Thou by us, and give us strength.
Thou art the Protector, the Provider, the Kind."
- Bahiyyih Khanum
 
----------------------
 
G | C
O THOU KIND BESTOWER,
O NOURISHER OF OUR SOULS AND HEARTS!
WE HAVE NO AIM, EXCEPT TO WALK THY PATH;

D | C | G
WE HAVE NO WISH,
EXCEPT TO BRING THEE JOY.

Am | D | G
OUR SOULS ARE UNITED,
AND OUR HEARTS ARE WELDED,
EACH TO EACH.

G | C
IN OFFERING THEE OUR THANKS
AND PRAISE, IN FOLLOWING THY WAYS
AND SOURING IN THY SKIES,

D | C | G
WE ARE ALL ONE.
WE ARE ALL ONE.

Am | D | G
WE ARE HELPLESS,
STAND THOU BY US, AND
GIVE US STRENGTH. X2

Am | D | G
THOU ART THE PROTECTOR,
THE PROVIDER, THE KIND.

"Each to Each" by Shadi, Hoda, Leif & Sahar

Paul Lample 7-6-18

This is an audio reading of Baha'i Blog's article 'Abdu'l-Baha: Unique', written and read by Avrel Seale.

You can read the article here: https://www.bahaiblog.net/2013/11/abdul-baha-unique/

You can also listen to this reading on Baha’i Blog’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQCb8dDlTEo

Avrel Seale lives in Austin, Texas, U.S.A., where he writes and speaks frequently on the Baha'i Faith. He's the author of several books and the blog, 'The Trailhead': https://avrelseale.wordpress.com/

Find more Baha'i Blog articles by Avrel Seale here: https://www.bahaiblog.net/author/avrel/

For more audio readings and talks, check out Baha’i Blog’s Audio Books & Readings playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLePDtgwcyKATXnKB4fbIUiQj90rIv5FiH

You can read more about Abdu’l-Baha, including a biography of His life, His Unique Station, a selection of His Writings, and other articles dedicated to Him here: https://www.bahai.org/abdul-baha/

Abdu'l-Baha: Unique

Baha'i Blog Studio Sessions is an initiative where we invite Baha’is and their friends from around the world to come into a studio and share the Baha’i Writings put to music.

In this Baha’i Blog Studio Session, we’re in Stockholm, Sweden with Pegah Khabiri, Sasha Semenova and Lua Nazerian singing "O Son of Spirit" from the Writings of Baha'u'llah.

This song was filmed and recorded in Stockholm, Sweden, October 2018, and was composed by Pegah Khabiri and Ruha Khabiri.

You can also watch the video recording of this song on Baha’i Blog’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN3oviz9-vw

Here is the quotation used for the lyrics below: 

“O Son of Spirit! Burst thy cage asunder, and even as the phoenix of love soar into the firmament of holiness. Renounce thyself and, filled with the spirit of mercy, abide in the realm of celestial sanctity.”
-Baha'u'llah


CHORDS & LYRICS:
 
||:Em |G |D |A :||
Em G D A
||: O Son of Spirit! Burst thy cage asunder, and even as the phoenix of love
Em G D A
O Son of Spirit! Soar into the firmament of holiness.
Em G D A
Renounce thyself and, filled with the spirit of mercy,
Em G D A
abide in the realm of celestial sanctity, celestial sanctity :||
Em G D A
O Son of Spirit! Burst thy cage asunder, and even as the phoenix of love


Check out BahaiBlog.net (http://bahaiblog.net/) for more great Baha'i-inspired content, and watch the Studio Sessions video series on Baha’i Blog’s YouTube Channel here: https://bit.ly/1LtjUx9

O Son of Spirit

"O Son of Spirit" by Pegah, Sasha & Lua

Baha’i Blog’s Studio Sessions is an initiative where we invite Baha’is and their friends from around the world to come into a studio and share the Baha’i Writings put to music.

In this Baha’i Blog Studio Session, we’re in Durban, South Africa with the Durban Baha'i Choir singing “Where There Is Love (Lapho kukhona uthando)” in English and Zulu, based on the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha.

This song was filmed and recorded in Durban, South Africa, November 2018. Music written by Andy and Aijia Grammar, and this version arranged by the Durban Baha'i Choir.

You can watch the video recording of this song on Baha’i Blog’s Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UPDlIXsM7k

Here is the quotation used for the lyrics in English and Zulu, followed by the chords:

ENGLISH:

"Where there is love, nothing is too much trouble and there is always time."
- Abdu’l-Baha


ZULU:

"Lapho kukhona uthando akukho okuyinkinga futhi kunesikhathi." 
-Abdu’l-Baha


CHORDS & LYRICS:

Intro: D, G, A

D, G, A
Where there is love, Where there is love
A
Nothing is too much trouble, Nothing is too much trouble
D, G, A
Where there is love, Where there is love
A
Nothing is too much trouble, Nothing is too much trouble
                              D
An there is always time, time, time
                         G
there is always time, time, time, time
                         A                        G
there is always time, time, time, oooohoooo 
               D                      G
Lapho kukhona, khona uthando
A
ukuko ukuningkinga, ukuko ukingkinga
     D                      G
Lapho kukhona, khona uthando
         D
kunesikathi, 
         G
kunesikathi
           A         G
kunesikathi, ooooohooooo
                          D
There is always time


Check out BahaiBlog.net (http://bahaiblog.net/) for more great Baha'i-inspired content, and watch the Studio Sessions video series on Baha’i Blog’s YouTube Channel here: https://bit.ly/1LtjUx9

Where There Is Love (Lapho kukhona uthando)

"Where There Is Love (Lapho kukhona uthando)" by Durban Baha'i Choir

Baha’i Blog Studio Sessions is an initiative where we invite Baha’is and their friends from around the world to come into a studio and share the Baha’i Writings put to music.

In this Baha’i Blog Studio Session, we’re in Nashville, USA with Yosi Mesbah singing “Lord Help Me” from a prayer by Abdu'l-Baha.

This song was filmed and recorded in Nashville, USA, February 2017, and was composed by Katie Luxion.

You can also watch the video recording of this song on Baha’i Blog’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKCZdp36ZEA

Here is the excerpt from the prayer used for the lyrics:

"...help me to triumph by the hosts of Thy glorious kingdom, and shower upon me Thy confirmations, which alone can change a gnat into an eagle, a drop of water into rivers and seas, and an atom into lights and suns..."
-Abdu'l-Baha


Check out BahaiBlog.net (http://bahaiblog.net/) for more great Baha'i-inspired content, and watch the Studio Sessions video series on Baha’i Blog’s YouTube Channel here: https://bit.ly/1LtjUx9

Lord Help Me

"Lord Help Me" by Yosi

A few years ago, I was visiting Violette and Roderic Haake at their home in Melbourne, Australia, and I was filled with joy as we sat around their kitchen table, drinking tea and sharing stories.

Mrs. Violette Haake was a former member of the International Teaching Centre. She was born in 1928 and dedicated her life to sharing the teachings of the Baha'i Faith, whether in Iran, the United States, Australia or many of the other places she visited as an Auxiliary Board Member, Counsellor or member of the International Teaching Centre.

I was so moved by the recollections that she shared with me that we organized an impromptu get-together that same night and invited some of the young Baha'is in Melbourne to come hear about some of her extraordinary experiences and delight in her wisdom and encouragement.

Thankfully, we filmed what she said that evening and I feel honored to be able to share this video with you.

Mrs. Haake passed away on 24 September 2020 and I'd like to express my deepest condolences to Mr. Roderic Haake, who is seen sitting by Mrs. Haake's side in this video, and to their daughter, Susanne, at this hour of their loss. I'd also like to thank them for granting us permission to publish this video.

Special thanks also goes to Morris Salahifar for helping to organize the evening, and to Jordan Raj for bringing the camera and making it happen. I'd like to apologize: Mrs. Haake mentions my name a lot in the video, as this evening was, in many ways, a continuation of our earlier conversation and I was sitting off-camera. The Universal House of Justice wrote that "Violette possessed a character that blended extraordinary resilience, steadfastness, and inner strength with unfailing kindness, a nurturing instinct, and true joy." I hope this video gives you a glimpse of those attributes and qualities that she possessed in abundance. If you'd like, you can read more of the Universal House of Justice's tribute to her here: https://news.bahai.org/story/1452/

In her talk, Mrs. Haake mentions reading and studying the messages from the Universal House of Justice. You can find a selection of those letters, which she describes as "love letters" here: https://bit.ly/3ioMQcf

She also discusses studying the works of Shoghi Effendi. You can find them online here at the Baha'i Reference Library: https://bit.ly/2HPVLH0

Mrs. Haake mentions many others who dedicated themselves to serving the Baha'i Faith. To name but a few:

* She mentions Dr. Peter Khan, former member of the Universal House of Justice. You can read about him here: https://bit.ly/3ioKji6

* She talks about living close to Hand of the Cause Collis Featherstone. You can read about him here: https://bit.ly/2HNd8Il 

* You can also read about what a Hand of the Cause is here on Baha'i Blog: https://www.bahaiblog.net/2014/06/hands-cause/

* Mrs. Haake mentions Alvin Blum, who lived in the Solomon Islands. You can read a little more about him, and his biography, here: https://bit.ly/2GbGKip

* Mrs. Haake was a family friend and she mentions my dad, Sirus Naraqi. I wrote this article in his memory: https://bit.ly/36rMrTO

* Lastly, she mentions her uncle, the esteemed Mr. Samandari, who met Baha'u'llah and whose life was dedicated to serving Abdu'l-Baha, Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice. You can read about him here: https://bit.ly/34fYa5n

For more Baha'i-inspired talks, please check out this playlist: https://bit.ly/3ipONow

Thank you for listening. I hope you enjoy these recollections as much as I do.

- Naysan

An Evening of Stories with Violette Haake

Welcome to Baha’i Blog’s SoundCloud channel!

We are an independent initiative for Australian Baha’is and likeminded friends to connect with personal stories, inspiration, arts and media about the Baha’i Faith, its ideals and transformational impact. 

Here on SoundCloud we feature Baha’i-inspired music, resources, talks, and perspectives on the Baha’i Faith. Be sure to subscribe to support the channel and stay up to date. 

The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha’i Faith. The official website of the Baha’i Faith in Australia is: Bahai.org.au, and the global website for the Baha’i Faith is Bahai.org