Baha'i

Prayer Of Abdu'l Baha - Persian

Part 2: Recreating Ourselves in the Image of the Master

Baha’i music composer Tom Price delivered six great talks at the 2012 Tennessee Baha’i School, called “Recreating Ourselves in the Image of the Master”.

For those of you who have yet to hear one of Tom’s talks, you’re in for a treat! Tom Price’s talks on The Five Year Plan are still one of our most popular posts ever and you can listen to them here: https://soundcloud.com/bahai-blog/sets/the-5-year-plan-tom-price

In these wonderful talks Tom Price shares six of Abdu’l-Baha’s attributes and looks at how we can learn from them and adopt them into our own lives.

Abdu’l-Baha, (also referred to as the Master) was Baha’u’llah’s eldest son and appointed successor, and He is considered the perfect example of how to live according to the Baha’i teachings. 

We hope you enjoy these talks as much as we do, and please let us know what you think in the comments section and feel free to share this post with your friends. You'll also find a variety of other talks, discourses and lectures here: https://soundcloud.com/bahai-blog/sets/bahai-talks

Happy Listening, and a BIG THANK YOU to Tom Price for this wonderful service!

Part 1: Recreating Ourselves in the Image of the Master

Tom Price delivers a talk titled ‘The Role of Religion in Today’s Society’ at the Hornsby Baha’i Centre of Learning in Sydney, Australia on 3rd Jan, 2015.

Tom Price’s talks have been extremely popular on Baha’i Blog, and a lot of our readers have been requesting that we post more Baha’i-related talks on the site, so we hope you enjoy this one too.

Special thanks to Qi-Jie of Nonagon Productions for helping Baha’i Blog capture the talk, and to Bobby Azami of Fiona+Bobby Photography for the photo.

Happy listening!

Tom Price - The Role of Religion in Today's Society

The song "Education is Not a Crime" was inspired by the #EducationisNotaCrime campaign, which aims to highlight educational discrimination in Iran aimed at the members of the Baha'i Faith. The song hopes to inspire individuals to take action. 

The song was written by Phoenix Baha'i Hip-Hop artist Colby Jeffers, and features Cameroonian singer Lucy Brand, and was produced by Cameroonian music producer D-Grey, so it was an international production! 

Colby aims to use music to inspire and uplift humanity, as well as educate and raise awareness on important social issues.

You can check out Colby's website: www.colbyandawu.com

Education is Not a Crime - Colby Jeffers featuring Lucy Brand

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 the Gold Coast, Australia with sisters Devina and Raneesha Saberi who sing "Shine Ye", based on an excerpt from a tablet by Abdu'l-Baha.

Here is the quote below followed by the quote with the chords:

"Shine ye like unto the sun and roar and move like unto the sea; impart life to mountain and desert like unto clouds, and similar to the vernal breeze, bestow freshness, grace and elegance on the trees of human temples."  -Abdu'l-Baha


(Capo 3)

Em         Bm/D       Cmaj7      G  (repeat) 
Shine ye like unto the sun 
and roar and move like unto the sea
Shine ye like unto the sun 
and roar and move like unto the sea
The sea, the sea,
the sea 

Impart life to mountain 
and desert like unto clouds, 
and similar to the vernal breeze, bestow 
freshness, grace and elegance 

Em    Bm6/D     Em/C#     Em/C     Em/B      Em/A      G 
Ooooooh
Em    Bm6/D     Em/C#     Em/C     Em/B      Em/A      G 
Ooooooh

Em         Bm/D       Cmaj7      G  (repeat) 
Shine ye like unto the sun 
and roar and move like unto the sea
Shine ye like unto the sun 
and roar and move like unto the sea

Bestow freshness, grace and elegance on the
trees of human temples
Bestow freshness
on the trees of human temples

Shine ye like unto the sun 
and roar and move like unto the sea
Shine ye like unto the sun 
and roar and move like unto the sea

----------------------

You can also download the audio version of this song from Baha'i Blog's Soundcloud page here:


This song was filmed and recorded at Louie Shelton's home studio in the Gold Coast, Australia, July 2015.

"Shine Ye" by Devina & Raneesha Saberi

Converging on Canada’s Vancouver Island, songwriter/recording artists Eric Dozier (Harlem Gospel Choir, One Human Family) and JB Eckl (Santana, WAR, Ozomatli) set out to bring their diverse musical backgrounds together for a music-infused devotional experience. Drawing on the Baha’i sacred Writings for lyrics and inspiration, and incorporating elements of soul, rock, Gospel, folk and world music, this first collaboration weaves a rich tapestry of sound at once expansive and intimate, introspective and jubilant.

The Badasht Project seeks to explore how the use of beauty, music and the arts can serve as a catalyst for change, consciousness, revolution, and insight.

He Maketh Victorious

In this talk, given at the Grand Canyon Baha'i Conference (Phoenix, USA) in December, 2012, Dr. Vahid Rafati explores the life, achievements and works of Abdu'l-Baha.

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. 

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://grandcanyonbahai.org), or from this Baha'i Blog article about the conference: http://bahaiblog.net/site/2016/12/grand-canyon-bahai-conference-phoenix-arizona/#more-24531

You can also watch a lecture by Dr. Rafati on the evolving role of Baha'i scholarship here: http://bahaiblog.net/site/2015/04/the-evolving-role-of-bahai-scholarship-a-talk-by-vahid-rafati/

Abdu'l-Baha the Exemplar - A Talk by Dr. Vahid Rafati

Baha’i Blog’s “Studio Sessions” is an initiative where we invite Baha’is 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 New York City, USA with Nadia Affolter and Nura Jones who sing “Verily I Say”, from the Writings of Baha'u'llah. 

You can also watch the recording of this song on Baha’i Blog’s YouTube channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urJyeAmuem8

This song was filmed and recorded in New York City, USA January, 2017.

Here is the quotation used for the lyrics and the chords below:

"Verily I say, this is the day, in which mankind can behold the face and hear the voice of the promised one."  - Baha'u'llah

----------------------
C, G, Am, F
----------------------

You can also watch the "Studio Sessions" video series on Baha'i Blog's YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLePDtgwcyKAScvchcLzY-XZTmP2tdN-EY

"Verily I Say" by Nadia & Nura

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 San Francisco, USA with Seaon Shin, Sasha Bayan and Sam Suggs who sing “Aye Pesar-e-Ruh” in Persian, from the Writings of Baha'u'llah.

You can also watch the video of this song on Baha'i Blog's YouTube channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4rbY_UvaME

This song was filmed and recorded on 5 February, 2017 in San Francisco, USA.

Here is the link for the quotation sung, followed by its English translation:

https://www.scribd.com/document/341203023/Aye-Pesar-e-Ruh-O-Son-of-Spirit-by-Seaon-Sasha-Sam

"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

You can also watch the "Studio Sessions" video series on Baha'i Blog's YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLePDtgwcyKAScvchcLzY-XZTmP2tdN-EY

"Aye Pesar-e-Ruh (O Son of Spirit)" by Seaon, Sasha & Sam

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

Members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors joined in a conversation with the Baha'i World News Service in a podcast about the impact of spiritual and moral education programs offered by the Baha'i community on youth and the communities in which they live. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1264/.

Podcast: Counsellors’ conversation on spiritual transformation and social change: Part 1

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 the United Kingdom with the friends in Bristol who sing “Thy Presence” from the Writings of Baha’u’llah.
 
You can also watch the recording of this song on Baha’i Blog’s YouTube channel here: 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OmTIRxQ9UQ
 
This song was filmed and recorded in Bristol, UK, May 2018.

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

Here is the quotation used for the lyrics below followed by the chords and lyrics:
 
"O Thou Who art the Lord of all names and the Maker of the heavens! I beseech Thee by them Who are the Daysprings of Thine invisible Essence, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, to make of my prayer a fire that will burn away the veils which have shut me out from Thy beauty, and a light that will lead me unto the ocean of Thy Presence."
- Baha’u’llah
 
----------------------
 
Capo 5
Repeat: Am Em

I beseech Thee to make my prayer a fire that will burn away the veils that have shut me out from Thy beauty. And the light that will lead me to the Ocean of Thy Presence. Allah-u-Abha

"Thy Presence" by the Friends in Bristol

The Gold Coast Baha’i Community in Australia hosts information evenings that seek to explore a Baha’i perspective on topics that relate to the life of society. In this talk given on September 27, 2018, Dr Reza Samvat explores the meaning of dreams and what they tell us about our souls. Dream interpretation, he offers, can be a powerful tool for self-reflection, sanctifying the heart, acquiring virtues, and minimizing prejudice.

Dr Reza Samvat is highly sought after researcher and presenter. He is a chiropractor with 16 years of experience in various areas of chiropractic and holistic health. Dr Samvat has completed post graduate training in acupuncture, applied kinesiology, the treatment of learning disability and hyperactivity and chiropractic neurology. He is interested in neurology and its connection to personal transformation and acquiring virtues.

Special thanks to the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the Gold Coast for organizing these talks and for granting Baha’i Blog permission to film them. You can find out more about the Gold Coast Baha’i Community here on their website: http://www.goldcoast.bahai.org.au/

You can also watch this talk on Baha'i Blog's YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsCZCoUTGg8 

For more Baha’i-inspired talks, you can check out Baha’i Blog’s collection of talks here on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bahai-blog/sets/bahai-talks or visit Baha’i Blog’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMElelRsEM4&list=PLePDtgwcyKAR-YtCDQomfurBPiEKxPPQg

Dreams: The Language of the Soul - A Talk By Dr. Reza Samvat

Cloud9 interviews multidisciplinary artist and activist Masud Olufani about how the narrative of racism guides his creative pursuits. We also learn about his new podcast series, America’s Most Challenging Issue, hosted by BahaiTeachings.org.

SUBSCRIBE to our YOUTUBE channel to receive notifications about our latest videos: goo.gl/IaupVU

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Masud Olufani: An Artist Rooted in Justice and Unity

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 Frankfurt, Germany with Naim Zabihi, Naim Schmidt and Negin Zabihi who sing “The Gate of God” based on a quotation by 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=V8v7SAG2iGg
 
This song was filmed and recorded in Frankfurt, Germany, December 2018.

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 who art the first to believe in Me! Verily I say, I am the Bab, the Gate of God, and thou art the Babu’l-Bab, the gate of that Gate. Eighteen souls must, in the beginning, spontaneously and of their own accord, accept Me and recognise the truth of My Revelation."
- The Bab
 
----------------------
 
Capo 3

Intro: picking around these chords: Em, G, Am, C

Em, G, Am, C
O thou who art the first to believe in Me!

(x4)

Em, G, Am, C
Eighteen souls must, of their own accord, accept Me, accept Me
Em, G, Am, C
and recognise the truth (the truth), the truth of My Revelation.

(x2)

Em, G, D, C
Verily I say, I am the Bab, Verily I say, I am the Gate of God

(x4)

Two voices:

Em, G, D, C
Eighteen souls must, of their own accord, accept Me, accept Me
Verily I say, I am the Bab, Verily I say, I am the Gate of God

(x2)

Em, G, D, C
Verily I say, I am the Bab, Verily I say, I am the Gate of God

(x2)

Outro: picking around these chords: Em, G, Am, C

“The Gate of God” by Naim Z, Naim S & Negin

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 Frankfurt, Germany with Naim Zabihi, Naim Schmidt and Negin Zabihi who sing “The Bab” 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=8qH6yCWVEBc
 
This song was filmed and recorded in Frankfurt, Germany, December 2018.

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

Here is the quotation used for the lyrics below followed by the quotation and chords:
 
"I am the Primal Point from which have been generated all created things. I am the Countenance of God Whose splendour can never be obscured, the Light of God Whose radiance can never fade."
- The Bab
 
----------------------
 
Cadd9, G, Em7, D/F#
I am the Primal Point from which have been

Cadd9, G, Em7, D/F#
generated all created things. 

(x2)

Cadd9, G, Em7, D/F#
I am I am I am the Countenance of God 

Cadd9, G, Em7, D/F#
I am I am I am  the Light of God

(x2)

C, Am, Em, D
Whose splendour can never be obscured

Am, C, G, D
Whose radiance can never fade.

C, Am, Em, D
Whose splendour can never be obscured

Am, C, Em, D
Whose radiance can never fade.

(x1)

Cadd9, G, Em7, D/F#
I am the Primal Point from which have been

Cadd9, G, Em7, D/F#
generated all created things. 

(x2)

Cadd9, G, Em7, D/F#
I am I am I am the Countenance of God 

Cadd9, G, Em7, D/F#
I am I am I am  the Light of God

(x2)

“The Bab” by Naim Z, Naim S & Negin

This song called “Thy Confirmations”, is the eighth song in a collection of 10 songs called ‘Music Inspired by the Heroes Teaching Conference’.

In April this year, some 1,000 Baha’is and like-minded friends from all over Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales, Australia, gathered together in the city of Brisbane to attend a historic conference aimed to help its participants find their place in service to Baha’u’llah and humanity.

The conference was called ‘The Heroes Teaching Conference’, and woven throughout the two-day program were beautiful songs performed by conference participants who were inspired by stories of heroism in the Baha’i Faith’s history, and from the spirit generated at the event. Within a few weeks after the conference, these songs were recorded live in a music studio in Brisbane, and we’re so excited to share this wonderful collection of inspiring songs!

Here is the quote from the Baha’i Writings used for the lyrics of the song:

“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? O my Lord!”
-Abdu’l-Baha

This song called “Thy Confirmations”, is the eighth song in a collection of 10 songs called ‘Music Inspired by the Heroes Teaching Conference’.

In April this year, some 1,000 Baha’is and like-minded friends from all over Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales, Australia, gathered together in the city of Brisbane to attend a historic conference aimed to help its participants find their place in service to Baha’u’llah and humanity.

The conference was called ‘The Heroes Teaching Conference’, and woven throughout the two-day program were beautiful songs performed by conference participants who were inspired by stories of heroism in the Baha’i Faith’s history, and from the spirit generated at the event. Within a few weeks after the conference, these songs were recorded live in a music studio in Brisbane, and we’re so excited to share this wonderful collection of inspiring songs!

Here is the quote from the Baha’i Writings used for the lyrics of the song:

“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? O my Lord!”
-Abdu’l-Baha

LYRICS & CHORDS:

THY CONFORMATIONS:

  Em                D/F#    G                              C/G                          Em                   D/F#                        
Help me to triumph by the hosts of Thy glorious, Thy glorious kingdom and shower upon
  G                      C/G
 
me Thy confirmations x 3

Chorus
                 
Am                          G/B                C           Am                  G/B                  C
Which alone can change a gnat into an eagle, a drop of water into rivers and seas
Am           G/B                       C        D
an atom into lights and suns, O my Lord.

-------------
Included below are the video and audio playlists for the ‘Music inspired by the Heroes Teaching Conference’, and you may also enjoy watching the highlight video about the conference, and some of the talks from the conference:

* YouTube playlist: https://bit.ly/35SsRNg
* Soundcloud playlist: https://bit.ly/2Dzizp6
* Talks from the Heroes Teaching Conference: https://bit.ly/2DtGBBQ
* Highlights from the Heroes Teaching Conference: https://bit.ly/33un7ri

Thy Confirmations - Music inspired by the Heroes Teaching Conference

Baha'i Blog is thrilled to share this series of 12 talks collectively called "Drawing Nigh to Baha'u'llah" given at the Alaskan Baha'i Summer School in 1984 by Adib Taherzadeh.

Here's the complete playlist of these talks: https://bit.ly/36xAdGp

Adib Taherzadeh was a member of the Universal House of Justice, the governing body of the international Baha'i community (https://universalhouseofjustice.bahai.org/). You can read more about his life in this One World newsletter from the Baha'i International Community: https://www.onecountry.org/story/adib-taherzadeh-member-universal-house-justice-passes-away

Of his many legacies, Adib Taherzadeh's scholarship and strength as a writer live on in his works, such as the four volumes of 'The Revelation of Baha'u'llah'. You can read more about these invaluable books in this Baha'i Blog article: https://www.bahaiblog.net/2018/04/revelation-bahaullah-books-adib-taherzadeh/ 

For more talks that explore Baha'i subjects, please check out our Baha'i Talks playlist: https://bit.ly/36Gfu2O

Drawing Nigh to Baha'u'llah

Drawing Nigh to Baha'u'llah (1 of 12) - A Talk by Adib Taherzadeh

An excerpt from The Seven and Four Valleys - The Valley of Knowledge. 
Cited by Bahá'u'lláh in The Valley of Knowledge (oringinally in Qur'an). 

THESE ARE NOT MY WORDS - JUST MY MUSIC:

''Split the atoms heart, and lo! 
Within it thou wilt find a sun.''

Baha'i

Kolya Schweppe