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.

In this episode I'm in LA with playwright and author, Tom Lysaght. Tom and I talk about being a hippie and what it really meant. He tells me about the three books he took with him on his mystical journey around the world and how he became a Baha'i. We talk about the history of the Baha'i Faith, music, career-ism, the importance of storytelling, the book he's been working on for over 30 years, and the crucial role love plays in religion. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy our conversation!

* To find out more about Tom Lysaght and some of the things we covered in this episode, check out the following links:

* Learn more about Tom Lysaght and what he's been up to here on his website: http://www.yourcreativestage.com/

* Tom's latest book is called 'Persian Passion: Of Gods and Gargoyles: https://amzn.to/2ZnraUp

* Tom's interview about 'Persian Passion': https://bit.ly/2KOBEYP

* Tom's interview about 'Twin Witnesses': https://bit.ly/2P7H05m

* Find out more about the Bab: https://www.bahai.org/the-bab/ ; and the bicentenary of the Birth of the Bab: https://news.bahai.org/story/1316/

* Tom talks about the following books:

- The Seven Valleys by Baha'u'llah: https://bit.ly/2ZjlAGA

- Thief in the Night by William Sears: https://amzn.to/2ZhXZSo

- The Book of Certitude (Kitab-i-Iqan) by Baha'u'llah: https://bit.ly/2Clie9q

- Baha'u'llah, the King of Glory by HM Balyuzi: https://amzn.to/2Zgzrcn

- Abdu'l-Baha by HM Balyuzi: https://amzn.to/2Hmt958

- The Dawn-Breakers by Nabil-i-Azam: https://bit.ly/2BqbFRr

- Baha'i Administration by Shoghi Effendi: https://amzn.to/2KO7lS7

- Dawn over Mount Hira by Marzieh Gail: https://amzn.to/2Z9ulnd

- Resurrection and Renewal by Abbas Amanat: https://amzn.to/2ZlxKP5

- The Bassoon King by Rainn Wilson: https://amzn.to/2ZjuorR

- The Portable Walt Whitman by Walt Whitman: https://amzn.to/2zpQNcF

- The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead: https://amzn.to/2KOKhT6

* We talk about Hands of the Cause: https://bit.ly/2Zm0XVY and Baha'i pilgrimage: https://bit.ly/2ZaUylp

* Tom mentions Nader Saiedi who was also a guest on this podcast: https://bit.ly/2KZ1xnz

* We mention Steven Phelps, who's been on the Baha'i Blogcast Episode 7: https://bit.ly/32OmMAF and Episode 37: Physics and Mysticism with Steven Phelps [VIDEO]: https://bit.ly/2Y3hOkK

* Tom talks about Tahirih (https://bit.ly/2NpEV2i) and the Letters of the Living (https://bit.ly/2P7idP5).

* Tom shares this quote from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha: "...make ye a mighty effort, and choose for yourselves a noble goal...".

* Tom shares a quote from the Seven Valleys by Baha'u'llah: "If the wayfarer’s goal be the dwelling of the Praiseworthy One (Maḥmud), this is the station of primal reason which is known as the Prophet and the Most Great Pillar. Here reason signifieth the divine, universal mind, whose sovereignty enlighteneth all created things—nor doth it refer to every feeble brain; for it is as the wise Sana’i hath written:

How can feeble reason encompass the Qur’an,

Or the spider snare a phoenix in his web?

Wouldst thou that the mind should not entrap thee?

Teach it the science of the love of God!"

* Rainn shares a quote from Baha'u'llah: "Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements."

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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: bahaiblog.net/

Thanks for listening!

-Rainn Wilson