lyrics for "Intone"
1. Rose of Love
In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love, and from the nightingale of affection and desire loosen not thy hold.[i] Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach thee.[ii]
2. Trees of My Garden
O MY SERVANTS! Ye are the trees of My garden; ye must give forth goodly and wondrous fruits, that ye yourselves and others may profit therefrom. Thus it is incumbent on every one to engage in crafts and professions, for therein lies the secret of wealth, O men of understanding! For results depend upon means, and the grace of God shall be all-sufficient unto you. Trees that yield no fruit have been and will ever be for the fire.[iii]
3. Reckoning
O SON OF BEING! Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a reckoning…[iv] Beware, O people of Bahá, lest ye walk in the ways of them whose words differ from their deeds.[v] Say, O brethren! Let deeds, not words, be your adorning.[vi]
4. Backbiting
…backbiting quencheth the light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul.[vii] Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a sinner.[viii] Speak no evil, that thou mayest not hear it spoken unto thee, and magnify not the faults of others that thine own faults may not appear great…[ix] O SON OF BEING! How couldst thou forget thine own faults and busy thyself with the faults of others? Whoso doeth this is accursed of Me.[x]
5. Enable
O Lord! Enable all the peoples of the earth to gain admittance into the Paradise of Thy Faith, so that no created being may remain beyond the bounds of Thy good-pleasure. From time immemorial Thou hast been potent to do what pleaseth Thee and transcendent above whatsoever Thou desirest.[xi]
6. Witness
God the true One is My Witness! This is the Day whereon it is incumbent upon everyone that seeth to behold, and every ear that hearkeneth to hear, and every heart that understandeth to perceive, and every tongue that speaketh to proclaim unto all who are in heaven and on earth, this holy, this exalted, and all-highest Name. … The whole human race hath longed for this Day, that perchance it may fulfill that which well beseemeth its station and is worthy of its destiny.[xii]
7. Detachment
Detachment is as the sun; in whatsoever heart it doth shine it quencheth the fire of covetousness and self. He whose sight is illumined with the light of understanding will assuredly detach himself from the world and the vanities thereof. … Let not the world and its vileness grieve you. Happy is he whom riches fill not with vain-glory, nor poverty with sorrow.[xiii]
8. Prayer for Husbands
O God, my God! This Thy handmaid is calling upon Thee, trusting in Thee, turning her face unto Thee, imploring Thee to shed Thy heavenly bounties upon her, and to disclose unto her Thy spiritual mysteries, and to cast upon her the lights of Thy Godhead.
O my Lord! Make the eyes of my husband to see. Rejoice Thou his heart with the light of the knowledge of Thee, draw Thou his mind unto Thy luminous beauty, cheer Thou his spirit by revealing unto him Thy manifest splendors.
O my Lord! Lift Thou the veil from before his sight. Rain down Thy plenteous bounties upon him, intoxicate him with the wine of love for Thee, make him one of Thy angels whose feet walk upon this earth even as their souls are soaring through the high heavens. Cause him to become a brilliant lamp, shining out with the light of Thy wisdom in the midst of Thy people.
Verily, Thou art the Precious, the Ever-Bestowing, the Open of Hand.[xiv]
9. Thought of Peace
I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love.[xv] Ye are the fruits of one tree, the leaves of one branch, the flowers of one garden, the waves of one sea.[xvi] Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content. Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness.[xvii] …the Most Great Peace shall come…[xviii]
10. Intone
Intone, O My servant, the verses of God that have been received by thee, as intoned by them who have drawn nigh unto Him, that the sweetness of thy melody may kindle thine own soul, and attract the hearts of all men. Whoso reciteth, in the privacy of his chamber, the verses revealed by God, the scattering angels of the Almighty shall scatter abroad the fragrance of the words uttered by his mouth, and shall cause the heart of every righteous man to throb. Though he may, at first, remain unaware of its effect, yet the virtue of the grace vouchsafed unto him must needs sooner or later exercise its influence upon his soul. Thus have the mysteries of the Revelation of God been decreed by virtue of the Will of Him Who is the Source of power and wisdom.[xix]
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[i] The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Persian #3
[ii] The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Arabic #5
[iii] The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Persian #80
[iv] The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Arabic #31
[v] Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh CXXXIX
[vi] The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Persian #5
[vii] Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh CXXV
[viii] The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Arabic #27
[ix] The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Persian #44
[x] The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Arabic #26
[xi] the Báb, cited in Bahá’í Prayers: A Selection of Prayers Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Wilmette: US Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1991), p. 200
[xii] Bahá'u'lláh, cited in The Advent of Divine Justice by Shoghi Effendi (Wilmette: US Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1971), p. 67
[xiii] Bahá'u'lláh, cited in The Bahá'í World (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1980), vol. 1, p. 42
[xiv] ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, cited in Bahá’í Prayers: A Selection of Prayers Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Wilmette: US Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1991), pp. 65-66
[xv] Paris Talks: Addresses given by Abdu’l-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912 (London: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1995), p.29
[xvi] excerpted from various writings and talks of Bahá’u’lláh and Abdu’l-Bahá
[xvii] Paris Talks: Addresses given by Abdu’l-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912 (London: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1995), p.29
[xviii] ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London (London: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1982), p. 20
[xix] Bahá’u’lláh, cited in Bahá’í Prayers: A Selection of Prayers Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Wilmette: US Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1991), p. iv
In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love, and from the nightingale of affection and desire loosen not thy hold.[i] Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach thee.[ii]
2. Trees of My Garden
O MY SERVANTS! Ye are the trees of My garden; ye must give forth goodly and wondrous fruits, that ye yourselves and others may profit therefrom. Thus it is incumbent on every one to engage in crafts and professions, for therein lies the secret of wealth, O men of understanding! For results depend upon means, and the grace of God shall be all-sufficient unto you. Trees that yield no fruit have been and will ever be for the fire.[iii]
3. Reckoning
O SON OF BEING! Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a reckoning…[iv] Beware, O people of Bahá, lest ye walk in the ways of them whose words differ from their deeds.[v] Say, O brethren! Let deeds, not words, be your adorning.[vi]
4. Backbiting
…backbiting quencheth the light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul.[vii] Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a sinner.[viii] Speak no evil, that thou mayest not hear it spoken unto thee, and magnify not the faults of others that thine own faults may not appear great…[ix] O SON OF BEING! How couldst thou forget thine own faults and busy thyself with the faults of others? Whoso doeth this is accursed of Me.[x]
5. Enable
O Lord! Enable all the peoples of the earth to gain admittance into the Paradise of Thy Faith, so that no created being may remain beyond the bounds of Thy good-pleasure. From time immemorial Thou hast been potent to do what pleaseth Thee and transcendent above whatsoever Thou desirest.[xi]
6. Witness
God the true One is My Witness! This is the Day whereon it is incumbent upon everyone that seeth to behold, and every ear that hearkeneth to hear, and every heart that understandeth to perceive, and every tongue that speaketh to proclaim unto all who are in heaven and on earth, this holy, this exalted, and all-highest Name. … The whole human race hath longed for this Day, that perchance it may fulfill that which well beseemeth its station and is worthy of its destiny.[xii]
7. Detachment
Detachment is as the sun; in whatsoever heart it doth shine it quencheth the fire of covetousness and self. He whose sight is illumined with the light of understanding will assuredly detach himself from the world and the vanities thereof. … Let not the world and its vileness grieve you. Happy is he whom riches fill not with vain-glory, nor poverty with sorrow.[xiii]
8. Prayer for Husbands
O God, my God! This Thy handmaid is calling upon Thee, trusting in Thee, turning her face unto Thee, imploring Thee to shed Thy heavenly bounties upon her, and to disclose unto her Thy spiritual mysteries, and to cast upon her the lights of Thy Godhead.
O my Lord! Make the eyes of my husband to see. Rejoice Thou his heart with the light of the knowledge of Thee, draw Thou his mind unto Thy luminous beauty, cheer Thou his spirit by revealing unto him Thy manifest splendors.
O my Lord! Lift Thou the veil from before his sight. Rain down Thy plenteous bounties upon him, intoxicate him with the wine of love for Thee, make him one of Thy angels whose feet walk upon this earth even as their souls are soaring through the high heavens. Cause him to become a brilliant lamp, shining out with the light of Thy wisdom in the midst of Thy people.
Verily, Thou art the Precious, the Ever-Bestowing, the Open of Hand.[xiv]
9. Thought of Peace
I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love.[xv] Ye are the fruits of one tree, the leaves of one branch, the flowers of one garden, the waves of one sea.[xvi] Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content. Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness.[xvii] …the Most Great Peace shall come…[xviii]
10. Intone
Intone, O My servant, the verses of God that have been received by thee, as intoned by them who have drawn nigh unto Him, that the sweetness of thy melody may kindle thine own soul, and attract the hearts of all men. Whoso reciteth, in the privacy of his chamber, the verses revealed by God, the scattering angels of the Almighty shall scatter abroad the fragrance of the words uttered by his mouth, and shall cause the heart of every righteous man to throb. Though he may, at first, remain unaware of its effect, yet the virtue of the grace vouchsafed unto him must needs sooner or later exercise its influence upon his soul. Thus have the mysteries of the Revelation of God been decreed by virtue of the Will of Him Who is the Source of power and wisdom.[xix]
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[i] The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Persian #3
[ii] The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Arabic #5
[iii] The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Persian #80
[iv] The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Arabic #31
[v] Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh CXXXIX
[vi] The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Persian #5
[vii] Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh CXXV
[viii] The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Arabic #27
[ix] The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Persian #44
[x] The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, Arabic #26
[xi] the Báb, cited in Bahá’í Prayers: A Selection of Prayers Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Wilmette: US Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1991), p. 200
[xii] Bahá'u'lláh, cited in The Advent of Divine Justice by Shoghi Effendi (Wilmette: US Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1971), p. 67
[xiii] Bahá'u'lláh, cited in The Bahá'í World (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1980), vol. 1, p. 42
[xiv] ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, cited in Bahá’í Prayers: A Selection of Prayers Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Wilmette: US Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1991), pp. 65-66
[xv] Paris Talks: Addresses given by Abdu’l-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912 (London: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1995), p.29
[xvi] excerpted from various writings and talks of Bahá’u’lláh and Abdu’l-Bahá
[xvii] Paris Talks: Addresses given by Abdu’l-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912 (London: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1995), p.29
[xviii] ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London (London: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1982), p. 20
[xix] Bahá’u’lláh, cited in Bahá’í Prayers: A Selection of Prayers Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Wilmette: US Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1991), p. iv
