Talks by Abdul Baha Given in Paris: Free Audiobook and Listening Guide

Talks by Abdul Baha Given in Paris, credited to Abdu’l-Bahá ‘Abbás, is available as a LibriVox volunteer audiobook. This guide identifies the recording, its source summary and its audio tracks.

About the work

The LibriVox catalogue summary, preserved with the recording, reads:

LibriVox recording of Talks by Abdul Baha Given in Paris, by 'Abdu'l-Bahá 'Abbás. Read by Nicholas James Bridgewater. “Much has already been written of the visit of Abdul Baha, Abbas Effendi, to Europe,” writes Lady Blomfield in her Preface to Paris Talks, “During his stay at Paris at 4, Avenue de Comoens, he gave short “Talks” each morning to those who crowded, eager to hear His Teaching. These listeners were of many Nationalities and types of thought, learned and unlearned, members of various religious sects, Theosophists and Agnostics, Materialists and Spiritualists, etc., etc. Abdul Baha spoke in Persian, which was translated into French. Of these “Talks” my two daughters, my friend and I took notes. Many friends asked us to publish these notes in English, but we hesitated. At length when Abdul Baha himself asked us to do so we, of course, consented—in spite of our feeling that our pen is “too weak for such high message.”” Paris Talks is a book transcribed from talks given by `Abdu'l-Bahá, the son and successor of Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, while in Paris. It was originally published as “Talks by `Abdu'l-Bahá Given in Paris” in 1912. `Abdu'l-Bahá did not read and authenticate the transcripts of his talks in Paris, and thus the authenticity of the talks is not known. Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, has said that while the texts are not authenticated, the compilations can still be used by Bahá’ís and in the future work will be done to find which parts are authentic. Lady Blomfield's copious notes are the basis of the volume. Lady Sara Louisa Blomfield [née Ryan] (1859-1939), who was given the title of Sitárih Khánum by `Abdu'l-Bahá, was the second wife to noted Victorian era architect Sir Arthur Blomfield, who died in 1899. She became a Bahá’í in 1907 and later served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the British Isles for eight of its first eleven years.

Recording facts

• Recording title: Talks by Abdul Baha Given in Paris
• Author credits: Abdu’l-Bahá ‘Abbás
• Language: English
• Original MP3 tracks: 39
• Listed recording duration: 6:26:34

Catalogue topics

• Bahai
• Bahá'í
• Bahá'í Faith
• Baha'i
• Abdul-Baha
• 'Abdu'€™l-Bahá
• 'Abbás Effendi
• Paris Talks

Opening tracks: first 24 of 39

1. 00 - Preface; Introductory Note — 8:51
2. 01 - (PART I) - THE DUTY OF KINDNESS AND SYMPATHY TOWARDS STRANGERS AND FOREIGNERS; THE POWER AND VALUE OF TRUE THOUGHT DEPEND UPON ITS MANIFESTATION IN ACTION — 9:26
3. 02 - GOD IS THE GREAT COMPASSIONATE PHYSICIAN WHO ALONE GIVES TRUE HEALING; THE NEED FOR UNION BETWEEN THE PEOPLES OF THE EAST AND WEST — 9:35
4. 03 - GOD COMPREHENDS ALL: HE CANNOT BE COMPREHENDED — 11:36
5. 04 - THE PITIFUL CAUSES OF WAR, AND THE DUTY OF EVERYONE TO STRIVE FOR PEACE — 7:05
6. 05 - THE SUN OF TRUTH; THE LIGHT OF TRUTH IS NOW SHINING UPON THE EAST AND WEST — 10:17
7. 06 - THE UNIVERSAL LOVE; THE IMPRISONMENT OF ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ — 13:41
8. 07 - GOD'S GREATEST GIFT TO MAN — 5:25
9. 08 - THE CLOUDS THAT OBSCURE THE SUN OF TRUTH; RELIGIOUS PREJUDICES — 14:02
10. 09 - THE BENEFITS OF GOD TO MAN; BEAUTY AND HARMONY IN DIVERSITY — 11:35
11. 10 - THE TRUE MEANING OF THE PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE COMING OF CHRIST; THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE INTERMEDIARY POWER BETWEEN GOD AND MAN — 11:49
12. 11 - THE TWO NATURES IN MAN; MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL PROGRESS — 10:11
13. 12 - THE EVOLUTION OF MATTER AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUL — 5:36
14. 13 - THE SPIRITUAL MEETINGS IN PARIS; THE TWO KINDS OF LIGHT — 7:10
15. 14 - SPIRITUAL ASPIRATION IN THE WEST; LECTURE GIVEN AT A STUDIO IN PARIS — 9:59
16. 15 - BAHÁ’U’LLÁH — 9:23
17. 16 - GOOD IDEAS MUST BE CARRIED INTO ACTION; THE TRUE MEANING OF BAPTISM BY WATER AND FIRE — 9:35
18. 17 - DISCOURSE AT “L’ALLIANCE SPIRITUALISTE” — 11:38
19. 18 - THE EVOLUTION OF THE SPIRIT; THE DESIRES AND PRAYERS OF ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ — 17:05
20. 19 - CONCERNING BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT; THE BAHÁ’ÍS MUST WORK WITH HEART AND SOUL TO BRING ABOUT A BETTER CONDITION IN THE WORLD — 12:41
21. 20 - ON CALUMNY; THERE CAN BE NO TRUE HAPPINESS AND PROGRESS WITHOUT SPIRITUALITY — 17:03
22. 21 - PAIN AND SORROW; THE PERFECT HUMAN SENTIMENTS AND VIRTUES — 10:18
23. 22 - THE CRUEL INDIFFERENCE OF PEOPLE TOWARDS THE SUFFERING OF FOREIGN RACES; WE MUST NOT BE DISCOURAGED BY THE SMALLNESS OF OUR NUMBERS — 9:40
24. 23 - WORDS SPOKEN BY ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ IN PASTOR WAGNER’S CHURCH (FOYER DE L’AME) IN PARIS — 11:57

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