devotional music, arts & crafts

7/31/2019 Devotional Music, Arts & Crafts

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DevotionalMUSIC, ART & CRAFTSMusic and spirituality have been intertwined throughout humanhistory. Music has been a part of the spirituality of Man for manyyears, long before the whole melody of sweet music which is usedto David's Psalter(Confessions of St Augustine, Book 10).

Instructions such as If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing,with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise andthanksgiving. (LDS (Mormon), The Doctrine and Covenants) canbe found in diverse sacred texts. There are many references in theBible David playing the lyre, the Psalms, the Song of Solomon,Joshuas trumpet. Some religions use instruments, others usevoices alone. Others, like Christianity, wanted that music forworship should be of such a nature that members of thecongregation should participate (Council of Trent).Muslims believe that music is the Divine created melody and harmony of life itself.In other words, through the singing of the Quran, the dancing of the Hindi, the chanting of the Psalms

or the intoning of the Bahi writings, music and the arts have been and will always be a ladder to thesoul.

Admonishing can also be found, lest music itself, amongst other things, becomes an excess.

Hunting, gambling, sleeping by day, censoriousness, (excess with) women, drunkenness, (aninordinate love for) dancing, singing, and music, and useless travel are the tenfold set (of vices)springing from love of pleasure. (Hindu, Laws of Manu)

We have made it lawful for you to listen to music and singing. Take heed, however, lest listeningthereto should cause you to overstep the bounds of propriety and dignity. Let your joy be the joy born

of My Most Great Name, a Name that bringeth rapture to the heart, and filleth with ecstasy the mindsof all who have drawn nigh unto God. We, verily, have made music as a ladder for your souls, ameans whereby they may be lifted up unto the realm on high; make it not, therefore, as wings to selfand passion. Truly, We are loath to see you numbered with the foolish.

(Baha'u'llah: Kitb-i-Aqdas, Page: 38)

Opening Prayers:

Create in me a pure heart, O my God, and renew a tranquil conscience within me, O my Hope!Through the spirit of power confirm Thou me in Thy Cause, O my Best-Beloved, and by the light ofThy glory reveal unto me Thy path, O Thou the Goal of my desire! Through the power of Thytranscendent might lift me up unto the heaven of Thy holiness, O Source of my being, 142 and bythe breezes of Thine eternity gladden me, O Thou Who art my God! Let Thine everlasting melodiesbreathe tranquillity on me, O my Companion, and let the riches of Thine ancient countenance deliverme from all except Thee, O my Master, and let the tidings of the revelation of Thine incorruptibleEssence bring me joy, O Thou Who art the most manifest of the manifest and the most hidden of thehidden!

Bah'u'llh (Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 141)


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1.Music is the mediator between intellectual and sensuous life the one spiritual entrance into thehigher worldLudwig van Beethoven

2. For a musician, music is the best way to unite with God. Inayat Khan

3. All true and deeply felt music, whether sacred or profane, journeys to heights where art andreligion can always meetAlbert Schweitzer

4. Music can name the unnamable and communicate the unknowable Leonard Bernstein

5. People who make music together cannot be enemies, at least not while the music lasts.Paul Hindemith

Music

6. This wonderful age has rent asunder the veils of superstition and has condemned the prejudiceof the people of the East.Among some of the nations of the Orient, music and harmony was not approved of, but theManifested Light, Bah'u'llh, in this glorious period has revealed in Holy Tablets that singing andmusic are the spiritual food of the hearts and souls. In this dispensation, music is one of the arts thatis highly approved and is considered to be the cause of the exaltation of sad and desponding hearts.Therefore ... set to music the verses and the divine words so that they may be sung with soul-stirring

melody in the Assemblies and gatherings, and that the hearts of the listeners may becometumultuous and rise towards the Kingdom of Abha in supplication and prayer.

Abdul-Bah, Baha'i World Faith -Abdul-Bah Section, p. 378

7.In the world of existence physical things have a connection with spiritual realities. One of thesethings is the voice, which connects itself with the spirit; and the spirit can be uplifted by this means --for though it is a physical thing, it is one of the material, natural organizations -- therefore, it iseffective. 'Abdul-Bah, Compilations: Music, Page: 15

8. All forms when understood aright gladden the spirit. Melodies are like water. The voice is like agoblet. The pure water in a pure glass is pleasing. Therefore, it is acceptable. But even though thewater be pure, if it be in a goblet which is not so, this receptacle will make it unacceptable. Therefore,a faulty voice even though the music be good, is unpleasing.

'Abdul-Bah, Compilations: Music, Page: 15

9. O nightingale of the rose-garden of God! Singing melodies will bring animation and happiness tothe world of humanity, the hearers will be delighted and joyful and their deeper emotions stirred. Butthis gladness, this sense of emotion is transitory and will be forgotten within a short time. However,praise be to God, thou hast blended thy tunes with the melodies of the Kingdom, wilt impart solace tothe world of the spirit and wilt everlastingly stimulate spiritual feelings. 'Abdul-Bah,Compilations: Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith, Page: 10


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10. Even music, art, and literature, which are to represent and inspire the noblest sentiments andhighest aspirations and should be a source of comfort and tranquility for troubled souls, have strayedfrom the straight path and are now the mirrors of the soiled hearts of this confused, unprincipled anddisordered age.

(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the Iranian believers resident in variouscountries throughout the world, February 10, 1980) (Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 127)

11. The musician's art is among those arts worthy of the highest praise, and it moveth the hearts ofall who grieve. Wherefore, O thou Shahnz, play and sing out the holy words of God with wondroustones in the gatherings of the friends, that the listener may be freed from chains of care and sorrow,and his soul may leap for joy and humble itself in prayer to the realm of Glory."

Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 112

Music

12. One of the names of God is the Fashioner. He loveth craftsmanship. Therefore any of Hisservants who manifesteth this attribute is acceptable in the sight of this Wronged One.Craftsmanship is a book among the books of divine sciences, and a treasure among the treasures ofHis heavenly wisdom. This is a knowledge with meaning, for some of the sciences are brought forthby words and come to an end with words.

Bah'u'llh, from a Tablet -- translated from the Persian

13. The one true God, exalted be He, loveth to witness handiworks of high craftsmanship producedby His loved ones. Blessed art thou, for what thy skill hath produced hath reached the presence o

thy Lord, the Exiled, the Wronged. Please God every one of His friends may be enabled to acquireone of the crafts, and be confirmed in adhering to what hath been ordained in the Book of God, theAll-Glorious, the All-Wise.

Bah'u'llh, from a Tablet -- translated from the Persian and Arabic

14. 'Abdul-Bah said...: "All Art is a gift of the Holy Spirit. When this light shines through the mindof a musician, it manifests itself in beautiful harmonies. Again, shining through the mind of a poet, it isseen in fine poetry and poetic prose. When the Light of the Sun of Truth inspires the mind of apainter, he produces marvellous pictures. These gifts are fulfilling their highest purpose, whenshowing forth the praise of God."

Lady Blomfield, "The Chosen Highway" (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1954), p. 167

15. Strive as much as possible to become proficient in the science of agriculture, for in accordancewith the divine teachings the acquisition of sciences and the perfection of arts are considered acts ofworship. 'Abdul-Bah, Compilations: Agriculture and Related Subjects, Page: 4

16. Knowledge is as wings to man's life, and a ladder for his ascent. Its acquisition is incumbentupon everyone. The knowledge of such sciences, however, should be acquired as can profit the


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peoples of the earth, and not those which begin with words and end with words. Great indeed is theclaim of scientists and craftsmen on the peoples of the world. Unto this beareth witness the MotherBook on the day of His return...."Tablets of Baha'u'llah Revealed After the Kitab-i-Aqdas", pp. 51-52

17. God has given us eyes, that we may look about us at the world, and lay hold of whatsoever willfurther civilization and the arts of living. He has given us ears, that we may hear and profit by thewisdom of scholars and philosophers and arise to promote and practice it. Senses and faculties havebeen bestowed upon us, to be devoted to the service of the general good 'Abdul-Bah, Compilations: Cultural Diversity in the Age of Maturity, Page: 22

18. It is natural for the heart and spirit to take pleasure and enjoyment in all things that show forthsymmetry, harmony, and perfection. For instance: a beautiful house, a well designed garden, asymmetrical line, a graceful motion, a well written book, pleasing garments -- in fact, all things thathave in themselves grace or beauty are pleasing to the heart and spirit

'Abdul-Bah, Compilations: Music, Page: 15

Closing Prayer

From the sweet-scented streams of Thine eternity give me to drink, O my God, and of the fruits of thetree of Thy being enable me to taste, O my Hope! From the crystal springs of Thy love suffer me toquaff, O my Glory, and beneath the shadow of Thine everlasting providence let me abide, O my LightWithin the meadows of Thy nearness, before Thy presence, make me able to roam, O my Beloved,and at the right hand of the throne of Thy mercy, seat me, O my Desire! From the fragrant breezes ofThy joy let a breath pass over me, O my Goal, and into the heights of the paradise of Thy reality letme gain admission, O my Adored One! To the melodies of the dove of Thy oneness suffer me to

hearken, O Resplendent One, and through the spirit of Thy power and Thy might quicken me, O myProvider! In the spirit of Thy love keep me steadfast, O my Succourer, and in the path of Thy good-pleasure set firm my steps, O my Maker! Within the garden of Thine immortality, before Thycountenance, let me abide for ever, O Thou Who art merciful unto me, and upon the seat of Thy glorystablish me, O Thou Who art my Possessor! To the heaven of Thy loving-kindness lift me up, O myQuickener, and unto the Day-Star of Thy guidance lead me, O Thou my Attractor! Before therevelations of Thine invisible spirit summon me to be present, O Thou Who art my Origin and myHighest Wish, and unto the essence of the fragrance of Thy beauty, which Thou wilt manifest, causeme to return, O Thou Who art my God!

Potent art Thou to do what pleasest Thee. Thou art, verily, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, the All-

Highest. Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 257

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