Baha'i Talks

Mr. Lample gave a talk in August 2013 at the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette, USA, and he covers a number of topics including his personal thoughts on the current Plan and the activities propelling the community-building process forward.

Paul Lample - Community Building Process

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

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 do something a little different. We're in Los Angeles, USA with Tom Francis who sings a cover of the song “Mona With the Children”,  originally by Doug Cameron.

The song is a protest song based on the true story of an Iranian Baha’i girl named Mona Mahmudnizhad, who, in 1983, at the age of 16, together with nine other Baha’i women, was sentenced to death and hanged in Shiraz, Iran, because she was a Baha’i. 

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

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

This song was filmed and recorded in Los Angeles, USA, August 2015.

You can also check out Baha'i Blog's interview with Tom Francis here: 

http://bahaiblog.net/site/2014/12/interview-tom-francis/

Here are the lyrics to the song:

A 16 year old girl living in a land so cruel, she said this where I've got to be.
Taken in the night, her heart full of light, she said this where I've got to be.
How can I tell you, how could she be so young to know the truth in all her dreams.
She stands before them to hear them say, save your life and throw your faith away.
Mona With the Children send your love to me
All around the world we'll go dancing.
Mona With the Children send your love to me
Every precious moment you'll be dancing
Every precious moment we'll be free.
I can see her in my heart when the whole world is falling apart she said, this where I've got to be.
Captive in the light, a love that burns so bright, this where I've got to be.
When they asked her, what could she say, she said
You can't break my heart, you can't take my faith away
When they told her the price she'll have to pay
She said take my life, take it all the way, all the way.
Mona With the Children send your love to me
All around the world I see you dancing.
Mona With the Children send your love to me
Every precious moment you'll be dancing
Every precious moment you'll be free.
Mona With the Children send your love to me
All around the world our souls go dancing.
Mona With the Children you gave your life
All around the world we’ll go dancing
All around the world we’ll be free.
Mona With the Children send your love
All around the world souls are dancing.
Mona With the Children, send your love to me
All around the world I see you dancing, so pretty dancing.
Mona With the Children Mona send your love
All around the world we’ll go dancing.
Mona With the Children send your love to me
Every precious day, I’ll be dancing, I’ll be dancing.

"Mona With the Children" by Tom Francis (Cover)

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

Drawing Nigh to Baha'u'llah (9 of 12) - A Talk by Adib Taherzadeh

Drawing Nigh to Baha'u'llah (10 of 12) - A Talk by Adib Taherzadeh

Drawing Nigh to Baha'u'llah (11 of 12) - A Talk by Adib Taherzadeh

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

This talk titled "Becoming the Vanguard and Champions of a New Civilization" was given by Dr. Rod Clarken at the Justice Conference, 2019.

In this talk, Dr. Clarken asks, "How do we become a source of social good and lay hold of all those instrumentalities that promote the peace and well-being and happiness, the knowledge, culture and industry, the dignity, value and station, of the entire human race?", as Abdu’l-Baha has hoped for us? The presentation addresses this question by developing a conceptual framework derived from the Baha'i Writings that provide insight into human nature, purpose and transformation, and that challenge the dominant narratives of progress, accomplishment, meaning, power and happiness that pervade contemporary societies; by instead exploring truth, love and justice as the foundational instruments for transforming the individual, community and institutions; and discuss how we can develop our spiritual virtues, powers and capacities to enable us to become the vanguard and champions of a new civilization. 

Dr. Clarken was a professor and director of teacher education for over three decades and has given presentations throughout the world on topics related to developing potential. More information and his books, papers, webcasts, courses and other material are available on his website: https://rodclarken.wordpress.com/

You can also watch the video recording of this talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy8Lnz7-0Qk

The views expressed in this talk reflect the individual perspectives of the invited speaker to the Justice Conference.

The Justice Conference is an annual Baha'i-inspired forum for the exploration of international law, global governance, justice and ethics. It takes place in the Netherlands and all are welcome to participate!

Find out more about the Justice Conference and register to attend here on their website: http://justice-conference.com/

And check out the Justice Conference Facebook page here: https://bit.ly/2TTtbbJ

Becoming the Vanguard and Champions of a New Civilization - Rod Clarken

This interview from the 2019 Ink of Light Baha'i Writers' Festival features author, poet and blogger June Perkins. 

'Ink of Light' (https://inkoflight.org/) is an annual festival that explores and celebrates the work of Baha'i writers and creatives, who all come together to share ideas, learn from one another, and celebrate creative expression.

Dr. June Perkins is a Brisbane-based poet, blogger and children's author, of Indigenous Papua New Guinean and Australian background, raised in Tasmania by Baha'i parents. She utilizes multi-arts and multicultural stories to inspire an enriched sense of belonging and compassion in those who encounter her work. She recently shared Magic Fish Dreaming at the Asia Pacific Triennial Pacific, Summer Program 2019 APT9 and became a member of Mana Pasifika research Institute. She maintains an interest and dedication to promoting diversity in the Australian, Pasifika and Baha'i literary landscapes.

Find out more about June Perkins and her works here: https://juneperk.wixsite.com/gumbootspearlz

Check out the 'Ink of Light Baha'i Writers' Festival' website here: https://inkoflight.org/

June Perkins Interview from the Ink of Light Baha'i Writers' Festival

In this talk titled 'Shaken, Divided, Separated…” Reflections on the State of the World' given by Colleen Dawes at the Justice Conference 2019, Colleen looks at the state of the world through the lens of Baha'u'llah's Writings, and explores the idea that everything that is happening is a necessary part of the transformation of society. 

Colleen Dawes is an Australian lawyer who, since 1990, serves in the Department of Legal Affairs at the Baha’i World Centre in Haifa, Israel. Prior to her service at the Baha’i World Centre, she practiced law in Australia. She is interested in the intersection of technology and the Baha’i Faith and in 2009, established Baha'i eBooks Publications (www.bahaiebooks.org), where you can find more than 140 eBooks, including all the sacred Baha'i Writings, available for free download, with new titles being added each year. 

The views expressed in this talk reflect the individual perspectives of the invited speaker to the Justice Conference.

The Justice Conference is an annual Baha'i-inspired forum for the exploration of international law, global governance, justice and ethics. It takes place in the Netherlands and all are welcome to participate!

You can watch the video recording of this talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ElAa4xVWlo

Find out more about the Justice Conference and register to attend here on their website: http://justice-conference.com/

And check out the Justice Conference Facebook page here: https://bit.ly/2TTtbbJ

Shaken, Divided, Separated: Reflections on the State of the World

Shaken, Divided, Separated: Reflections on the State of the World - Colleen Dawes

This talk titled "Making Space for Truth: The Healing that Precedes Reconciliation" was given by Dr. Tiffany Jana at the Justice Conference, 2019.

Dr. Tiffany Jana shares experiences in creating space for healing through an emerging national, grassroots truth and reconciliation movement in the United States. While many such efforts have taken shape around the world, this equity and inclusion expert has collaborated with a diverse cohort of leaders to model a contemporary way forward. Come hear about a journey that has taken them from the Deep South, up the east coast and across to California in search of personal, local, and national narratives that reveal the pain and truth of America’s shared and shattered history. Dr. Jana and her American Truth and Reconciliation collaborators believe that the truth can and must be exposed and shared in order to begin the healing that must precede the desperately needed reconciliation in the United States and beyond.

Dr. Tiffany Jana is the CEO of TMI Portfolio, a network of socially responsible, interconnected companies that cultivate organization inclusion worldwide. TMI was the world’s first diversity and equity-focused Certified Benefit (B) Corporation. Dr. Jana’s military upbringing, and subsequent predilection towards travel, exposed them to dozens of countries and cultures that made them question whether all of the focus of difference and discrimination was the best use of human energy. 

The views expressed in this talk reflect the individual perspectives of the invited speaker to the Justice Conference.

The Justice Conference is an annual Baha'i-inspired forum for the exploration of international law, global governance, justice and ethics. It takes place in the Netherlands and all are welcome to participate! Find out more about the Justice Conference and register to attend here on their website: http://justice-conference.com/ and check out the Justice Conference Facebook page here: https://bit.ly/2TTtbbJ

You can watch the video recording of this talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuhmbGICwCA

Making Space for Truth: The Healing that Precedes Reconciliation - Tiffany Jana

Baha’i Blog is delighted to share an audio recording of one of our articles titled, “Seasons of Spirituality: Ayyam-i-Ha, the Fast and Naw-Ruz",” in which we learn how all these holy days are connected in their emphasis on the unity of humanity and service to others. This article is read by its author, Preethi. 

You can read this article here: https://www.bahaiblog.net/2018/02/seasons-spirituality-ayyam-ha-fast-naw-ruz/

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

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: www.bahaiblog.net/bahai-calendar/about-ayyam-i-ha/

Here are more Baha'i Blog resources dedicated to the Fast: https://www.bahaiblog.net/about-the-bahai-fast/

And last but not least, here are some about Naw-Ruz: https://www.bahaiblog.net/bahai-calendar/naw-ruz/

Seasons of Spirituality: Ayyam-i-Ha, the Fast, and Naw-Ruz

This interview from the Ink of Light Baha'i Writers' Festival 2019 features singer, songwriter, Grant Hindin Miller.

'Ink of Light' (https://inkoflight.org/) is an annual festival that explores and celebrates the work of Baha'i writers and creatives, who all come together to share ideas, learn from one another, and celebrate creative expression.

Grant is a New Zealander who, at night as a child in his Auckland brick house, learned to play the ukelele and would accompany his father at the piano. He bought his first guitar around the age of 16 and as soon as he had learned five chords, he immediately tried to 'write' a song. It wasn't as easy as he thought but he persevered. In the spaces between family responsibilities, earning a living as a teacher and writer, (we won't mention interminable Baha'i commitments), he still toys with making music. He has produced nine albums of original songs, and he is the published author of three books, the scriptwriter of three produced NZ feature films, and the composer/lyricist of one stage musical. Grant is married to Jenny and they have two children, Rebeccah and Isaac. They live in a warm house east of Christchurch on a hill overlooking Lyttelton Harbour, in the South Island.

You can find Grant Hindin Miller's music here: https://9starmedia.com/grant-hindin-miller

And you can also watch his two recordings on Baha'i Blog's Studio Sessions here:

1. O Son of Dust: https://bit.ly/39fEU8Z
2. Humble Thyself: https://bit.ly/39ahNMT

Check out the 'Ink of Light Baha'i Writers' Festival' website here: https://inkoflight.org/

Grant Hindin Miller Interview at Ink of Light Baha'i Writers' Festival 2019

Baha’i Blog is delighted to share an audio recording of one of our articles titled, “Fasting for Love,” in which we learn a little about the significance of the Baha'i Fast. The article is read by its author, Kamelia. 

You can read this article here: https://www.bahaiblog.net/2016/03/fasting-for-love/

You can also listen to this reading on Baha’i Blog’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faKYdav28e8

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 the Fast here on Baha'i Blog: https://www.bahaiblog.net/about-the-bahai-fast/

Fasting for Love

Baha’i Blog is delighted to share an audio recording of one of our articles titled, “4 Things The Fast Helps Us Strengthen” in which the author shares four ways in which the Baha'i Fast helps strengthen our "spiritual muscles". The article is read by its author, Naysan Naraqi. 

You can read this article here: https://www.bahaiblog.net/2013/03/4-things-the-fast-helps-us-strengthen/

You can also listen to this reading on Baha’i Blog’s YouTube channel: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

If you’d like to hear more audio readings and talks, check out Baha’i Blog’s Audio Books & Readings playlist (https://bit.ly/2VZzBHa) and the Baha’i Talks playlist (https://bit.ly/331P7UC).

You can find more resources about the Fast here on Baha'i Blog: https://www.bahaiblog.net/about-the-bahai-fast/

4 Things The Fast Helps Us Strengthen

Baha’i Blog is happy to provide an audio reading of the Naw-Ruz 177 Message from the Universal House of Justice.

The Naw-Ruz 177 message can be viewed and downloaded from the official site of the Universal House of Justice here: https://universalhouseofjustice.bahai.org/ridvan-messages/20200319_001

You can listen to this audio recording on Baha'i Blog's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWPYOviTDq0

Special thanks to Maha Shahidinejad for reading this message for us.

You can also listen to audio recordings of recent letters and messages on our YouTube playlist here: https://bit.ly/2G2Pfd8

Naw-Ruz 177 Message from the Universal House of Justice

Baha’i Blog is delighted to share an audio recording of one of our articles titled “Remembering Clara Dunn” in which we hear a tribute to the woman whose efforts, alongside those of her husband Hyde Dunn, brought the teachings of the Baha'i Faith to Australia 100 years ago. The article is written by Melanie Lotfali and is read by Sana Jamali.

You can read this article here: https://www.bahaiblog.net/2012/11/remembering-clara-dunn/

You can also listen to this reading on Baha’i Blog’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXhwLRkT4YA

If you’d like to hear more audio readings and talks, check out Baha’i Blog’s Audio Books & Readings playlist (bit.ly/2VZzBHa) and Baha’i Talks playlist (bit.ly/331P7UC).

You can find out more about the Baha'i Community of Australia here on its website: https://bahai.org.au/

Remembering Clara Dunn

Baha’i Blog is delighted to share an audio recording of one of our articles titled “The Life of Effie Baker” in which we hear a tribute to the first Australian Baha'i woman. This article was written and read by Sonjel Vreeland.

You can read this article here: https://www.bahaiblog.net/2013/12/the-life-of-effie-baker/

You can also listen to this reading on Baha’i Blog’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ylz-c0VeOM

If you’d like to hear more audio readings and talks, check out Baha’i Blog’s Audio Books & Readings playlist (bit.ly/2VZzBHa) and Baha’i Talks playlist (bit.ly/331P7UC).

You can find out more about the Baha'i Community of Australia here on its website: https://bahai.org.au/

Dellaram also wrote about the centenary of the Baha'i Faith in Australia in this article: https://www.bahaiblog.net/2020/04/some-personal-reflections-on-100-years-of-the-bahai-faith-in-australia/

And lastly, you can read a tribute to Effie Baker's spiritual parents in this article, Remembering Clara Dunn (https://www.bahaiblog.net/2012/11/remembering-clara-dunn/), or listen to it here: https://soundcloud.com/bahai-blog/remembering-clara-dunn

The Life of Effie Baker

Hello and welcome to the Baha’i Blogcast with me your host, Rainn Wilson.

In this series of podcasts I interview members of the Baha’i Faith and friends from all over the world about their hearts, and minds, and souls, their spiritual journeys, what they’re interested in, and what makes them tick.

As Baha'is and their friends around the world celebrate the 12-day Festival of Ridvan, I thought it would be nice to create a special episode about Ridvan and its significance, so I got online with my friend, Tom Price, to have a chat about this special time for Baha'is. I hope you find this little conversation about Ridvan interesting and informative.

* Find out more about Ridvan by checking out this Baha'i Blog page full of articles and resources: https://www.bahaiblog.net/bahai-calendar/about-the-festival-of-ridvan/

* Check out the 'Ridvan Is Everywhere' playlist, which brings you family-friendly programming for all 12 days of the Festival of Ridvan: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsn_g0OpWDwIp99WjEHvuNIYIbOfz-WIr

* Learn more about Tom Price by listening to this previous Baha'i Blogcast episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF2kiyY_uZ0&list=PLePDtgwcyKAQmifUJTw0Kk-hBGL2ZGMJi&index=37&t=1s

Be sure to subscribe to the Baha’i Blogcast for more episodes on: 

*YouTube: http://bit.ly/2JTNmBO 
* iTunes: http://apple.co/2leHPHL 
*Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bahaiblogcast 
*Spotify: http://spoti.fi/2IXRAnb 

If you would like to find out more about the Baha'i Faith visit BAHAI.ORG, and for more great Baha'i-inspired content check out BAHAIBLOG.NET: http://bahaiblog.net/

Thanks for listening!

-Rainn Wilson

Baha'i Talks

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