Audio Books & Readings

Recorded June 2021, after graduating from Townshend.

video here: https://youtu.be/fztcxgZr0Sg?si=Ip8GIPCLmmeVafpe

I did not compose this beautiful song :-)  
I believe that it was composed by one or more Bahá'í friends in Australia
This is the link to the original song, from Bahá'í Blog: https://youtu.be/L_Np-yo5wyU?si=StruExDpTii8QWVh
Thank you for this special, beautiful piece of music.
This song always reminds me of when we would sing it together in the dorms♥︎

Paradise -cover

Baha'i Blog is happy to provide an audio recording of the 2016 Ridvan Message from the Universal House of Justice.

Each year on the first day of Ridvan, the Universal House of Justice addresses a letter to the worldwide Baha’i community, known as the Ridvan message. These letters touch on many subjects, including the growth and vibrancy of the Baha’i community, its efforts to contribute to the life of society, and the progress of specific projects and plans. 

This message is read by Mr. Intalik Milne. 

The 2016 Ridvan message can also be viewed and downloaded from the official site of the Universal House of Justice here: http://universalhouseofjustice.bahai.org/ridvan-messages/20160420_001

Audio Recording of Ridvan Message 2016

This is an audio recording of the 'Toward Prosperity: The Role of Women and Men in Building a Flourishing World Civilization' statement released by the Baha'i International Community (BIC).

This five-page statement was prepared as a contribution to the 61st United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. It includes these powerful words:
"Women and men are equal, and always have been." This document examines prosperity, as it relates to "the economic empowerment of women in the changing world of work" and the BIC states that "while the path towards prosperity has many obstacles, it is also paved with hope." 

With the recent release of this statement and the celebration of International Women's Day on March 8th, we wanted to help spread the word about this statement as it offers the leaders of the world a Baha'i perspective on a critical subject.

The Baha'i International Community represents the worldwide Baha'i community, in all its diversity, at the United Nations. The BIC has UN offices in New York City and Geneva, as well as regional offices in Addis Ababa, Brussels, and Jakarta.

'Toward Prosperity: The Role of Women and Men in Building a Flourishing World Civilization' can be read and downloaded here on the website of the BIC:

www.bic.org/statements/toward-prosperity-role-women-and-men-building-flourishing-world-civilization#ziFxOxDFklJQmBsQ.97

You can also follow their YouTube channel here: 

www.youtube.com/user/BICUNoffice

*This statement was read and recorded by Samira Eblaghi for Baha'i Blog.
*Total length: 11 minutes

Audio Reading of the 'Toward Prosperity' Document

Baha'i Blog is happy to provide an audio recording of the 1 March, 2017 letter on economic life from the Universal House of Justice.

You can read the message in full or download it from the website of the Universal House of Justice: http://universalhouseofjustice.bahai.org/activities-bahai-community/20170301_001

This letter, worthy of much study and reflection, relates to our economic lives and its implications for the welfare and prosperity of humanity. Although intended to reach institutions and communities, this letter is directed especially to us all as individuals. 

We hope this audio recording of the message assists you in your study of it. We are grateful to Kevin Mehrabi for the reading and recording of this letter for us.

Audio Reading: Universal House of Justice Letter on Economic Life

In honour of this year's joyous celebration of the bicentenary anniversary of Baha'u'llah's birth, we are thrilled to to share with you a downloadable audio reading of Edward Granville Browne's account of meeting Baha'u'llah.

E. G. Browne, a professor from Cambridge University, met Baha'u'llah in the Mansion of Bahji in April 1890 on four separate occasions and recorded his thoughts and impressions of his first meeting for posterity. He was the only Westerner to meet Baha'u'llah and his account, although brief, is a treasure as it offers us a unique perspective of what it was like to attain Baha'u'llah's presence. 

This reading, performed by Ata Farhadi, and recorded by Kevin Mehrabi,  is from E. G. Brown's introduction in his translation of Abdu'l-Baha's 'A Traveller’s Narrative', which was published in 1891 by the Cambridge University Press.

Here is a transcript of the text:

The distinguished orientalist, the late Professor Edward G. Browne, of the University of Cambridge, visited Baha’u’llah at Bahjí in the year 1890, and recorded his impressions as follows:

"… my conductor paused for a moment while I removed my shoes. Then, with a quick movement of the hand, he withdrew, and, as I passed, replaced the curtain; and I found myself in a large apartment, along the upper end of which ran a low divan […]. Though I dimly suspected whither I was going and whom I was to behold (for no distinct intimation had been given to me), a second or two lapsed ere, with a throb of wonder and awe, I became definitely conscious that the room was not untenanted. In the corner where the divan met the wall sat a wondrous and venerable figure, crowned with a felt head-dress of the kind called taj by dervishes […], round the base of which was wound a small white turban. The face of him on whom I gazed I can never forget, though I cannot describe it. Those piercing eyes seemed to read one's very soul; power and authority sat on that ample brow; while the deep lines on the forehead and face implied an age which the jet-black hair and beard flowing down in indistinguishable luxuriance almost to the waist seemed to belie. No need to ask in whose presence I stood, as I bowed myself before one who is the object of a devotion and love which kings might envy and emperors sigh for in vain!

A mild dignified voice bade me be seated, and then continued: "Praise be to God that thou hast attained!... Thou hast come to see a prisoner and an exile.... We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations … that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled - what harm is there in this?... Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come.... Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind...."

Such, so far as I can recall them, were the words which, besides many others, I heard from Beha […] consider well […] whether such doctrines merit death and bonds, and whether the world is more likely to gain or lose by their diffusion."

You can read more about E.G. Browne here on this Baha'i Blog article: http://bahaiblog.net/site/2017/07/tribute-edward-granville-browne/

A Dramatic Reading of E. G. Browne's Meeting with Baha'u'llah

A Dramatized Reading of E. G. Browne's Meeting with Baha'u'llah

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 Johannesburg, South Africa with Dominique Sylvester who sings “I Repair for Refuge” from the Writings of the Bab.
 
You can also watch the recording of this song on Baha’i Blog’s YouTube channel here: 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkMJjzGPwTo
 
This song was filmed and recorded in Johannesburg, South Africa, September 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 Lord! Unto Thee I repair for refuge, and toward all Thy signs I set my heart.
O Lord! Whether traveling or at home, and in my occupation or in my work, I place my whole trust in Thee.
Grant me then Thy sufficing help so as to make me independent of all things, O Thou Who art unsurpassed in Thy mercy!
Bestow upon me my portion, O Lord, as Thou pleasest, and cause me to be satisfied with whatsoever Thou hast ordained for me.
Thine is the absolute authority to command.”
- The Bab
 
----------------------
 
Pluck Chords:

Verse:
G maj, G maj/B, Cmaj7, G maj
Chorus:
A min, G maj/B, A min, G maj

O Lord! Unto Thee I repair for refuge and toward all Thy signs I set my heart.
O Lord! Whether travelling or at home and in my occupation or in my work, I place my whole trust in thee. X2

"I Repair for Refuge" by Dominique Sylvester

This is an audio recording of the 'Beyond Mere Economics: A Moral Inquiry into the Roots of Empowerment' statement released by the Baha’i International Community (BIC) for the 62nd UN Commission on the Status of Women (12-23 March 2018). 

You can read about the statement and the BIC's involvement, in this Baha'i World News Service story: http://news.bahai.org/story/1243/

This year’s Commission on the Status of Women focused on the empowerment of rural women. Highlighting this theme, the BIC statement draws on the insights of women in different settings around the world who are engaged in social transformation in their communities and societies.

The Baha’i International Community represents the worldwide Baha’i community, in all its diversity, at the United Nations. The BIC has UN offices in New York City and Geneva, as well as regional offices in Addis Ababa, Brussels, and Jakarta.

'Beyond Mere Economics: A Moral Inquiry Into the Roots of Empowerment' can be read and downloaded here, on the website of the BIC (https://www.bic.org/). You can also follow their YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/BICUNoffice).

If you’re interested in learning more about the role of women and men, we’d recommend watching the two-part video produced by the US Baha’i Office of Public Affairs called Advancing Toward the Equality of Women and Men (here’s the link to Part 1 https://bit.ly/2GYUSr2, and the link to Part 2 https://bit.ly/2GEWZ5J).

Sonjel Vreeland's Album

Audio Reading of the 'Beyond Mere Economics' BIC Statement

Baha’i Blog is delighted to share an audio recording of one of our articles titled, “An Introduction to Ayyam-i-Ha,” in which we learn a little about the significance of this Baha'i festival dedicated to socializing, being hospitable, giving generously to the poor and needy, and preparing for the upcoming month of fasting. This article looks at what Ayyam-i-Ha is, what it means, and how it's celebrated. The article is read by its author, Sonjel Vreeland.

You can read this article here: https://www.bahaiblog.net/2015/02/an-introduction-to-ayyam-i-ha/

You can also listen to this reading on Baha’i Blog’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh9zYlkKQqA

If you'd like to hear more audio readings and talks, check out Baha'i Blog's Audio Books & Readings playlist (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xLMN2tCC80&list=PLePDtgwcyKATXnKB4fbIUiQj90rIv5FiH) and Baha'i Talks playlist (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-f6oG-gSnc&list=PLePDtgwcyKAR-YtCDQomfurBPiEKxPPQg).

You can find more resources about Ayyam-i-Ha here on Baha'i Blog: https://www.bahaiblog.net/bahai-calendar/about-ayyam-i-ha/

An Introduction to Ayyam-i-Ha

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

An Introduction to Ayyam-i-Ha

Baha'i Blog

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