Befriended Stranger

I invite you and your loves ones on Saturday, July 31st, at 8 pm to a very special Musical Prayer Station and House Concert with Hillary Chapman. He will play some Nashville songs to give us all a flavor of his own song writing, then ease into spiritual music and conclude with group singing.

You don’t want to miss this! And you should tell your friends about it too! Let me know if you need the directions!

The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.
- Abdu’l-Baha

Dear friends!

What nurtures your soul? What makes your heart tender? Prayer, music, fellowship, tea poured in peace, cake shared with a smile? Whatever the answer might be, sharing songs and prayers with friends gets us all closer to the Creator and recharges us for the week ahead.

This Friday, June 25th, at 8 pm, I invite you and your loves ones to a very special interfaith Prayer Station in Arlington with the music of Gustaff Besungu, Pam Hill and Ali Youseffi. What do a Cameroonian percussionist, an American-born South American-raised Iranian-American guitarist and vocalist, and a Southern violinist have in common?  Music for the soul!

Music for the Soul – Summer tour 2010 from Ali Youssefi on Vimeo.

You don’t want to miss this! And you should tell your friends about it too!

And if you want to join me, please contact me for directions!

Last night nine of us gathered around the table to share a meal which was a mix of foods as diverse as the people around the table — from USA, Scotland, Togo, Peru, Norway, Mexico, Iran, Bolivia, and Bulgaria. I suspect Abdu’l-Baha would have liked this. And that was the point, for we were together to commemorate His Ascension.

After the meal, we watched a movie “The Promise of All Ages” and after a break, we tried for the first time the board game “Spiritual Pursuit”. I am not sure we actually figured the rules but we had fun. It was quite fascinating to observe the gentlemen, in a typical ignoring-directions fashion, pull back as the ladies were reading the instructions trying to figure out how to play the game. Lo and behold, we did play the game and it truly challenged our knowledge of the Baha’i Faith. I highly recommend it. I also recommend reading the rules in advance

Then the time came to get into a more reflective mood. Music helped set the tone. We started with “Dastam Begir (Hold My Hand) Abdu’l-Baha”:

Then we listened to the narration by Hand of the Cause of God, William Sears, on the life of the Master, Abdu’l-Baha, followed by the beautiful song “The Most Great Branch” by Vahid N’Dobe and then read from the story of the Passing of Abdu’l Baha. We sang together “Look At Me, Be As I Am” and offered some prayers, in Farsi and English, before we concluded with The Tablet of Visitation and the “Prayer for the Southern States” from Red Grammer’s CD “Prayers from the Tablets of the Divine Plan”:

O my God!  O my God! Thou seest me in my lowliness and weakness, occupied with the greatest undertaking, determined to raise Thy word among the masses and to spread Thy teachings among Thy peoples.  How can I succeed unless Thou assist me with the breath of the Holy Spirit, 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!  Assist me with Thy triumphant and effective might, so that my tongue may utter Thy praises and attributes among all people and my soul overflow with the wine of Thy love and knowledge.

Thou art the Omnipotent and the Doer of whatsoever Thou willest.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

On this Baha’i Rights Day, day of awareness of the denial of human rights to Baha’s in the cradle of this world-unifying religion, we sigh with relief — the trial of the 7 Iranian Baha’i leaders has been postponed. But can you imagine the prolonged agony and anxiety of not knowing what will happen next? Can you imagine the spiritual strength these souls must have acquired in their reliance on God alone? Can you imagine how they must face moments of weakness when it would be only natural to wonder if they are forgotten — by the world, by the friends, by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, by Baha’u'llah, by God?

Many creative people have shared their inspiration online — see this video of Elika Mahony‘s beautiful song “Persecution“:

or this video adopted from the award winning movie “Persepolis”:

But what most personally touches my heart these days, probably because I relate to it on a very deep level, is the beautiful, touching song “Forgotten” by Grant Hindin Miller:

The cell was like a kennel, they dropped him like a dog
Staring at cold metal, in a blurred and darkened fog
Plucked from his own work-place, innocent of crime
Taken, shaken, in the late daylight

The prison was a chasm, wind was in the yard
They took him out an hour each day, herded by the guards
Shuffling over concrete, with the other inmates there
Not allowed to speak in open air

And the iron bars, dark and hard, spider-webbed, human cage
Especially when evening came, they drilled into his brain

Left alone in shadow, not knowing noon from night
Mealtimes infrequent, rudimentary slop
The cell was cramped, inhuman, with a never-ending smell
He tried to pray, but every day, his thoughts went to himself

I’m forgotten, I’m forsaken, I’ve been left here on my own
I’m forgotten, I’m forsaken, left here to die alone

Cut off from his family, cut off from his friends
Where was Baha’u'llah, now he needed Him
Even Abdu’l-Baha, neglected where he was
He felt his consciousness slip down – to the abyss

I’m forgotten, I’m forsaken, You have left me on my own
I’m forgotten, my faith is shaken, left here to die alone

In the yard a prisoner brushed against his arm
No bigger than a finger-nail, something squeezed between his palms
And in his cell when guards had gone, he found it like a star
The torn-off photograph of Abdu’l-Baha

And words arose, in the Master’s tone, stirred up from long ago
Learnt by heart in a children’s class, now they echoed in his cell
“Do not think that ye are forgotten, for one moment, do not think
Do not think that ye are forgotten, for one moment, do not think ”

And the iron bars, like candelabras, they dissolved in a rosy gold
Angels soared within his soul, as the words spoke to his heart

“Do not think that ye are forgotten, for one moment, do not think
Do not think that ye are forgotten, for one moment, do not think.“

The video from the 3rd Baha’i Chorale Festival has been posted on YouTube and you can enjoy the full concert or if you are in a hurry but still curious about my participation, you can see my expressions at minute 26 and my mini solo, among many truly capable singers, at minute 46:

I’m going back to my father…

I am exhausted but amazed and grateful for the marvelous power of God’s Messenger for this day and age. Baha’u'llah is lining up for me both blessings and tests in such a remarkable way that there is no doubt His purpose is to cleanse me of all defilement and make me a purer channel of His love so I can get closer and closer to God.

The 3rd Baha’i Chorale Festival was just outstanding. I will be reflecting on this amazing experience later but just to mention briefly — the weekend was filled with encounters with amazing souls, each one of which had a silent gift to give me along with inspiration for more and more dedicated service to the Blessed Beauty and God’s creation.

I had many heartfelt talks with my wonderful roommate and many others and had an opportunity to pray and pray and pray at the Mother-Temple.

I did not have time to prepare for a solo with the Metropolitan Washington Baha’i Chorale but then Van Gilmer honored me with an opportunity to be part of a group of soloists who each contributed a different but beautiful voice to the gorgeous song “O Baha’u'llah”. What an honor to sing with Roya, George, Roxy, Sean and yes, Red Grammer, and 150 other talented singers at the top of my lungs “May my life be a sacrifice to Thee, may my soul be offered up for Thee”. What a spiritual experience to sing “I am going back to my Father”, then “He has come back as He said that He would and I am so glad I found Him” and finally “Rejoyce Ye With Great Joy”. Just wait for the “Sacred Songs III” live CD to be out! These two concerts were out of this world!

Coming back home I had soft landing into the “real” world with the Prayer Station which gave Baher and me an opportunity to encourage a seeker who had grown up in a Baha’i family but is now searching independently for truth. Is there any better way to look for the truth?

In addition to the prayers and selection of Holy Writings on the theme of Divine Remembrance, we listened to two songs, the first one of which was “Cause Me To Taste” by Van Gilmer from the Canadian performance of the Metropolitan Washington Baha’i Chorale:

Cast not away, O my Lord, him that hath turned towards Thee, nor suffer him who hath drawn nigh unto Thee to be removed far from Thy court. Dash not the hopes of the suppliant who hath longingly stretched out his hands to seek Thy grace and favors, and deprive not Thy sincere servants of the wonders of Thy tender mercies and loving-kindness. Forgiving and Most Bountiful art Thou, O my Lord! Power has Thou  to do what Thou pleasest. All else but Thee are impotent before the revelations of Thy might, are as lost in the face of the evidences of Thy wealth, are as nothing when compared with the manifestations of Thy transcendent sovereignty, and are destitute of all strength when face to face with the signs and tokens of Thy power. What refuge is there beside Thee, O my Lord, to which I can flee, and where is there a haven to which I can hasten? Nay, the power of Thy might beareth me witness! No protector is there but Thee, no place to flee to except Thee, no refuge to seek save Thee. Cause me to taste, O my Lord, the divine sweetness of Thy remembrance and praise. I swear by Thy might! Whosoever tasteth of its sweetness will rid himself of all attachment to the world and all that is therein, and will set his face towards Thee, cleaned from the remembrance of anyone except Thee.
(Baha’u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha’u'llah, p. 82)

The second one was a gorgeous rendition by Ava of “Ay Yadeh To / Thy Remembrance”. Ava was gracious enough to respond to my request for help with the translation of the lyrics to this beautiful Persian song. She replied:

“I’m glad that you are playing this song. The song is about how when you remember Him, all the sadness will go away, and you ask Him (The Blessed Beauty) to be on your side… And you will get more power and strength by saying Allah’u'Abha…”

I will keep on remembering Him for He has never forgotten me:

I bear witness that Thou hadst turned toward Thy servants ere they had turned toward Thee, and hadst remembered them ere they had remembered Thee.

Allah’u'Abha! God is All-Glorious!

I am on my way to Chicago to participate in the 3rd Baha’i Chorale Festival. Come see me perform with 150 other singers at the Baha’i House of Worship on Sunday, May 24th, 2009. There will be two concerts, at 10 am and 12:30 pm. And as part of the chorale festival I will get to solo with the Washington Metropolitan Baha’i Chorale. This should all be fun and very refreshing change from the grueling weeks.

Part of the fun will be seeing old and new friends. Curiously, my hotel roommate will be no other than Red Grammer, the Grammy Award nominated singer. See Red perform his “See Me Beautiful” at the Great Wall of China:

And as promised to myself and a dear soul who played instrumental role in my healing, I have started taking a series of online courses on the Tanakh, the New Testament and overall Christianity. I will be writing more about my study progress in due time.

Until then, remain in peace and in God’s All-Embracing Grace!

Last night my friend Lucien and I listened to three different versions of  “O Son of Justice” put to music — one in English by The Toronto Baha’i Chorale, “Wither can a lover go”, and two by Vedad, one in Farsi and one in Spanish:

4. O SON OF JUSTICE!
Whither can a lover go but to the land of his beloved? and what seeker findeth rest away from his heart’s desire? To the true lover reunion is life, and separation is death. His breast is void of patience and his heart hath no peace. A myriad lives he would forsake to hasten to the abode of his beloved.
(Baha’u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words)

If such musical variety is impressive, the abundance of Holy Writings on Divine Justice is just staggering. Here is a selection from which we picked but a few to read last night as we prayed for nearness to God, detachment, protection and most of all justice:

Amongst us are some that submit their wills (to Allah), and some that swerve from justice. Now those who submit their wills — they have sought out (the path) of right conduct: But those who swerve, they are (but) fuel for Hell Fire.
(Islam, The Holy Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah  72)

For the word of the LORD is upright; and all His work is done in faithfulness. He loveth righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD
(Judaism, Kesuvim (Writings), Tehillim (Psalms))

XII. Bestir yourselves, O people, in anticipation of the days of Divine justice, for the promised hour is now come. Beware lest ye fail to apprehend its import and be accounted among the erring.

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 16)

2. O SON OF SPIRIT!
The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.
(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel

To know wisdom and instruction; to comprehend the words of understanding; To receive the discipline of wisdom, justice, and right, and equity; To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion; That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning, and the man of understanding may attain unto wise counsels; To understand a proverb, and a figure; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and discipline.
(Judaism, Kesuvim (Writings), Mishlei (Proverbs))

And now concerning thy question regarding the nature of religion. Know thou that they who are truly wise have likened the world unto the human temple. As the body of man needeth a garment to clothe it, so the body of mankind must needs be adorned with the mantle of justice and wisdom. Its robe is the Revelation vouchsafed unto it by God. Whenever this robe hath fulfilled its purpose, the Almighty will assuredly renew it. For every age requireth a fresh measure of the light of God. Every Divine Revelation hath been sent down in a manner that befitted the circumstances of the age in which it hath appeared.
(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 81)

O people of Justice! Be as brilliant as the light, and as splendid as the fire that blazed in the Burning Bush. The brightness of the fire of your love will no doubt fuse and unify the contending peoples and kindreds of the earth, whilst the fierceness of the flame of enmity and hatred cannot but result in strife and ruin. We beseech God that He may shield His creatures from the evil designs of His enemies. He verily hath power over all things.
(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 95)

Know verily that the essence of justice and the source thereof are both embodied in the ordinances prescribed by Him Who is the Manifestation of the Self of God amongst men, if ye be of them that recognize this truth. He doth verily incarnate the highest, the infallible standard of justice unto all creation. Were His law to be such as to strike terror into the hearts of all that are in heaven and on earth, that law is naught but manifest justice. The fears and agitation which the revelation of this law provokes in men’s hearts should indeed be likened to the cries of the suckling babe weaned from his mother’s milk, if ye be of them that perceive. Were men to discover the motivating purpose of God’s Revelation, they would assuredly cast away their fears, and, with hearts filled with gratitude, rejoice with exceeding gladness.
(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 174)

Beware lest thou be led to connive at injustice. Set thy heart firmly upon justice, and alter not the  Cause of God, and be of them whose eyes are directed towards the things that have been revealed in His Book. Follow not, under any condition, the promptings of thine evil desires. Keep thou the law of God, thy Lord, the Beneficent, the Ancient of Days. Thou shalt most certainly return to dust, and shalt perish like all the things in which thou takest delight. This is what the Tongue of truth and glory hath spoken.
(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 230)

CXVIII. Lay not aside the fear of God, O kings of the earth, and beware that ye transgress not the bounds which the Almighty hath fixed. Observe the injunctions laid upon you in His Book, and take good heed not to overstep their limits. Be vigilant, that ye may not do injustice to anyone, be it to the extent of a grain of mustard seed. Tread ye the path of justice, for this, verily, is the straight path.
(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 250)

Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer of the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men. Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts. Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility.
(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 285)

A Book sent down in truth unto men of insight! It biddeth the people to observe justice and to work righteousness, and forbiddeth them to follow their corrupt inclinations and carnal desires, if  perchance the children of men might be roused from their slumber.
(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 306)

Say: Let truthfulness and courtesy be your adorning. Suffer not yourselves to be deprived of the robe of forbearance and justice, that the sweet savors of holiness may be wafted from your hearts upon all created things. Say: Beware, O people of Baha, lest ye walk in the ways of them whose words differ from their deeds. Strive that ye may be enabled to manifest to the peoples of the earth the signs of God, and to mirror forth His commandments. Let your acts be a guide unto all mankind, for the professions of most men, be they high or low, differ from their conduct. It is through your deeds that ye can distinguish yourselves from others. Through them the brightness of your light can be shed upon the whole earth. Happy is the man that heedeth My counsel, and keepeth the precepts prescribed by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 304)

Members of the human race! Hold ye fast by the Cord which no man can sever. This will, indeed, profit you all the days of your life, for its strength is of God, the Lord of all worlds. Cleave ye to justice and fairness, and turn away from the whisperings of the foolish, them that are estranged from God, that have decked their heads with the ornament of the learned, and have condemned to death Him Who is the Fountain of wisdom. My name hath uplifted them to lofty grades, and yet, no sooner did I reveal Myself to their eyes than they, with manifest injustice, pronounced the sentence of My death. Thus hath Our Pen revealed the truth, and yet the people are sunk in heedlessness.
(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 342)

Whoso cleaveth to justice, can, under no circumstances, transgress the limits of moderation. He discerneth the truth in all things, through the guidance of Him Who is the All-Seeing. The civilization, so often vaunted by the learned exponents of arts and sciences, will, if allowed to overleap the bounds of moderation, bring great evil upon men. Thus warneth  you He Who is the All-Knowing. If carried to excess, civilization will prove as prolific a source of evil as it had been of goodness when kept within the restraints of moderation. Meditate on this, O people, and be not of them that wander distraught in the wilderness of error. The day is approaching when its flame will devour the cities, when the Tongue of Grandeur will proclaim: “The Kingdom is God’s, the Almighty, the All-Praised!”
(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 342)

The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the third leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: O son of man! If thine eyes be turned towards mercy, forsake the things that profit thee and cleave unto that which will profit mankind. And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself. Humility exalteth man to the heaven of glory and power, whilst pride abaseth him to the depths of wretchedness and degradation.
(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Tablets of Baha’u'llah, p. 64)

The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the sixth leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is the following: The light of  men is Justice. Quench it not with the contrary winds of oppression and tyranny. The purpose of justice is the appearance of unity among men. The ocean of divine wisdom surgeth within this exalted word, while the books of the world cannot contain its inner significance. Were mankind to be adorned with this raiment, they would behold the day-star of the utterance, ‘On that day God will satisfy everyone out of His abundance,’[1] shining resplendent above the horizon of the world. Appreciate ye the value of this utterance; it is a noble fruit that the Tree of the Pen of Glory hath yielded. Happy is the man that giveth ear unto it and observeth its precepts. Verily I say, whatever is sent down from the heaven of the Will of God is the means for the establishment of order in the world and the instrument for promoting unity and fellowship among its peoples. Thus hath the Tongue of this Wronged One spoken from His Most Great Prison.
[1 cf. Qur'án 4:129.]
(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Tablets of Baha’u'llah, p. 66)

In the land shall be his possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; and the rest of the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their tribes. Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD.
(Christianity, King James Bible, Ezekiel,45:8)

And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
(Christianity, King James Bible, Genesis)

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
(Christianity, King James Bible, Isaiah)

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
(Christianity, King James Bible, Jeremiah)

Verily, God bids you pay your trusts to their owners, and when ye judge between men to judge with justice. Verily, God, excellent is what He admonishes you with; verily, God both hears and sees.
O ye who believe! obey God, and obey the Apostle and those in authority amongst you; and if ye quarrel about anything, refer to God and the Apostle, if ye believe in God and the last day; that is better and fairer as a settlement.
(Islam, The Holy Qur’an (E.H. Palmer tr), Sura   4 – Women)

O ye who believe! be ye steadfast in justice, witnessing before God though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kindred, be it rich or poor, for God is nearer akin than either. Follow not, then, lusts, so as to act partially; but if ye swerve or turn aside, God of what ye do is well aware.
(Islam, The Holy Qur’an (E.H. Palmer tr), Sura   4 – Women)

Verily, God bids you do justice and good, and give to kindred (their due), and He forbids you to sin, and do wrong, and oppress; He admonishes you, haply ye may be mindful! Fulfil God’s covenant when ye have covenanted, and break not your oaths after asseverating them, for ye thereby make God your surety; verily, God knows what ye do.
(Islam, The Holy Qur’an (E.H. Palmer tr), Sura  16 – The Bee)

O people of God! That which traineth the world is Justice, for it is upheld by two pillars, reward and punishment. These two pillars are the sources of life to the world. Inasmuch as for each day there is a new problem and for every problem an expedient solution, such affairs should be referred to the Ministers of the House of Justice that they may act according to the needs and requirements of the time. They that, for the sake of God, arise to serve His Cause, are the recipients of divine inspiration from the unseen Kingdom. It is incumbent upon all to be obedient unto them. All matters of State should be referred to the House of Justice, but acts of worship must be observed according to that which God hath revealed in His Book.
(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Tablets of Baha’u'llah, p. 26)

I love music. I love it live but I also love it recorded. I’ve always loved the feeling of getting a new CD in my hands, unwrapping it with anticipation of the joy of hearing the music for the first time. Years ago, in Bulgaria, I used to run a small business selling tapes and CDs on the main street of my home town. I started the business the year after I became a Baha’i, and it turned out to be a nice venue for introducing those who walked by my music table to the Baha’i teachings by directing them to the other table covered with Baha’i brochures. The Baha’i travel teachers visiting from the U.S. thus introduced a number of dear friends to the Baha’i Faith and invited them later to discussions and prayer meetings. From those days of new music and new faith, I love the feeling of receiving my shipment of CDs and anticipating the joy of introducing others to the music.

Today I received my shipment of 30 brand new CDs by MANA, the Baha’i inspired Pacific Island music and cultural performance group based in Australia. The word MANA means ‘The Almighty’ or ‘The Powerful’ and signifies strength of spirit in most languages of the Pacific. As their website indicates, the members of MANA are originally from Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti and the Cook Islands, so the songs on their CDs are in a mix of English and their native tongues.

My introduction to the music of MANA coincided several years ago with my plunge into the study circles based on the courses developed by the Ruhi Institute. MANA had recorded a joyful CD full of songs based on the quotations from the Ruhi 1 book “Reflections on the Life of the Spirit”. We all participants of the study circle so loved it that the songs became a favorite way of memorizing the quotations. A few years later MANA assisted by their new manager, Naysan Naraqi, produced a beautiful video based on the song “Backbiting“:

MANA’s creativity is put to service with the aim of assisting the spread of study circles, so they are not in the business of making money. Just as the other day New Creation and TaliaSafa indicated, most Baha’i musicians do not make profit from their recordings but strive to invest whatever proceedings they might have from selling the CDs into the recording of subsequent albums. That is exactly the case with MANA too. You too can help them by ordering their CDs. If you prefer download version you will have to wait a couple of more months until the MP3 versions of the songs becomes available on iTunes and possibly on DivineNotes. But holding the CD in your hands is always nice, plus you get to read the gorgeous CD cover. That is why I decided to order the CDs. And since MANA do not have a distributor in the U.S. yet, I sent an email around asking friends from the DC area if they would be interested in making a joint bulk order, and as a result I was able to order 30 CDs directly from the producer. Do not be scared by this number, though — ordering a set of 10 CDs would still make it economical, and you can mix and match your order from all 4 CDs MANA have produced so far.

Today, as soon as I received the shipment, I immediately opened “The Twin Manifestations” CD because I have always loved the Ruhi 4 book. My favorite songs from the first run are “They Suffered” and “No Time To Lose”:

…they suffered the most grievous difficulties and severe ordeals. They withstood the tests with wonderful power and sublime heroism. Thousands were cast into prison, punished, persecuted and martyred. Their homes were pillaged and destroyed, their possessions confiscated. They sacrificed their lives most willingly and remained unshaken in their faith to the very end. Those wonderful souls are the lamps of God, the stars of sanctity shining gloriously from the eternal horizon of the will of God.
(Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 138)

There is no time to lose. There is no room left for vacillation. Multitudes hunger for the Bread of Life. The stage is set. The firm and irrevocable Promise is given. God’s own Plan has been set in motion …. The powers of heaven and earth mysteriously assist in its execution …. Let the doubter arise and himself verify the truth of such assertions. To try, to persevere, is to ensure ultimate and complete victory.
(Shoghi Effendi, Messages to America, p. 17)

I will listen to the “Teaching Children” CD tomorrow but in the meantime I encourage you all to contact MANA and order their CDs. Not only you will enjoy their music but you will also help them continue producing beautiful CDs for the whole sequence of Ruhi Institute books. And while you are at it, please order TaliaSafa’s CD as well as “Let All Associate” by New Creation!

Last night’s Prayer Station was the most special I have ever hosted. Why? Because not one but two outstanding Baha’i bands came to perform and bless my humble apartment not only by  praising God but by sharing their talents with us as well!

New Creation and TaliaSafa performed a selection of their songs starting with the beloved “Let All Associate” and continuing with a musical presentation on the fundamental verities of the Baha’i Faith. They are truly talented musicians and it was wonderful to hear them perform such a diverse set of songs, from a bluesy-rock piece dedicated to the Covenant of God through tender acoustic songs based on the Writings of Baha’u'llah:

This is the Day in which God’s most excellent favors have been poured out upon men, the Day in which His most mighty grace hath been infused into all created things. It is incumbent upon all the peoples of the world to reconcile their differences, and, with perfect unity and peace, abide beneath the shadow of the Tree of His care and loving-kindness.
(Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 6)

We had a chance to reflect and comment on a song called “The Conversation” imagining a talk Lua Getsinger had with Abdu’l-Baha on sacrifice. We had a chance to sing along New Creation’s rendition of “We Are One”, in honor of Dan Seals. We had a chance to hear the story how the  remarkable song “Let All Associate” was created — I will let the musicians to tell the story in their own words soon but let’s just say that someone from the Abha Kingdom was helping them all along. We had a chance to share refreshments (Conchita brought some very delicious potato and egg frittata to complement my traditional menu). We had a chance to simply be in the company of remarkable souls and praise God together.

Five musicians, ten listeners, and a lot of spirit and joy to be shared by all — God is all glorious indeed! And God loves when we all associate:

Let all associate, therefore, in this great human garden
even as flowers grow and blend together side by side.
(Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 68)

Love ye all religions and all races with a love that is true and sincere
and show that love through deeds.
(Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 69)

The Tongue of Grandeur hath,however, in the day of His manifestation proclaimed:
“It is not his to boast who loveth his country, but it is his who loveth the world.”
(Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 95)