“Recite the Greatest Name at every morn, and turn thou unto the Kingdom of Abhá, until thou mayest apprehend my mysteries.”
— `Abdu'l-Bahá (Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v3, p. 674)
Photo credit: Farzam Sabetian (instagram: @farzam09)
*All photos were generously donated to the Bicentenary Meditation Project. Click on the photo for more of Farzam Sabetian’s work.
Significance of Repeating
The Greatest Name: Alláh-u-Abhá
“`Abdu'l-Bahá teaches how the practice of invocation or repetition of “The Greatest Name” (Alláh-u-Abhá, God is Most Glorious) leads to union with God, illumination and spiritual rebirth. The use of invocation is well developed among the mystics of Islam, the Sufis. The repetition of sacred phrases is called dhikr (promounced zikr, meaning remembrance). This spiritual practice of invocation is praised by `Abdu'l-Bahá. He encourages spiritual seekers to “recite the Greatest Name at every morn, and (to) turn…unto the kingdom of Abhá, until though mayest apprehend the mysteries.
Through the invocation fo the Greatest Name, `Abdu'l-Bahá maintains that “the doors of the kingdom of God open, illumination is vouchsafed and divine union results…The use of the Greatest Name, and dependence upon it, causes the soul to strip itself of the husks of morality and to step forth freed, reborn, a new creature.”
`Abdu'l-Bahá encourages the use of the sacred phrase Alláh-u-Abhá as a focus for invocation: “The Greatest Name should be found upon the lips in the first awakening moment of early dawn. It should be fed upon by constant use in daily invocation, in trouble, under opposition, and should be the last word breathed when the head rests upon the pillow at night. It is the name of comfort, protection, happiness, illumination, love and unity. “
Pages 57-58 from the Book, Wisdom of the Masters: The Spiritual Teachings of `Abdu'l-Bahá, References 54-56 (The reference in the back of the book is below if you would like further details)
“The Greatest Name, Symbol of the Cause”, Baha’i News (Oct 1964), p. 2. Also see Steven Scholl, “The Remembrance of God: An invocation Technique in Sufiism and the Writings of the Bas and Baha’u’llah, “ Baha’i Studies Bulletin (1985).
“Alláh-u-Abhá” is an Arabic phrase meaning “God the All-Glorious.” It is a form of the Greatest Name of God (see note 137). In Islám there is a tradition that among the many names of God, one was the greatest; however, the identity of this Greatest Name was hidden. Bahá’u’lláh has confirmed that the Greatest Name is “Bahá.”
The various derivatives of the word “Bahá” are also regarded as the Greatest Name. Shoghi Effendi’s secretary writing on his behalf explains that
“The Greatest Name is the Name of Bahá’u’lláh. “Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá” is an invocation meaning: “O Thou Glory of Glories!” “Alláh-u-Abhá” is a greeting which means: “God the All-Glorious.” Both refer to Bahá’u’lláh. By Greatest Name is meant that Bahá’u’lláh has appeared in God’s Greatest Name, in other words, that He is the supreme Manifestation of God. “
The greeting “Alláh-u-Abhá” was adopted during the period of Bahá’u’lláh’s exile in Adrianople.
The repetition of “Alláh-u-Abhá” ninety-five times is to be preceded by the performance of ablutions (see note 34).”
Alláh-u-Abhá also appears in the Prayer for the Dead as indicated in Note 11 from the The Kitáb-i-Aqdas,
“The passages that form part of the Prayer for the Dead comprise the repetition of the greeting “Alláh-u-Abhá” (God is the All-Glorious) six times, each followed by nineteen repetitions of one of six specifically revealed verses.”
If you would like to learn more about the Symbol of the Greatest Name itself, click here to be directed to a detailed explanation by Hand of the Cause Abu'l-Qasim Faizi.
What is Yoga Nidra?
Yoga Nidra is a form of a meditative yogic sleep technique.
According to the 8 Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga, it is considered under the umbrella of Step 5, Pratyahara, the type of meditation that focuses on withdrawal of the physical senses.
It is said that 20 minutes of Yoga Nidra meditation is considered to make up for 2 —3 hours of sleep, bringing one into a very relaxed state, in between consciousness and unconsciousness, awake and asleep.
The Alláh-u-Abhá Yoga Nidra meditation repeats the sacred phrase of Alláh-u-Abhá on each part of the body, as a form of remembrance, protection and symbolic spiritual union with Baha’u’llah. It was inspired to remove all forms of a false sense of self, and for there to remain in the body, only the vibrational sound of The Greatest Name - therefore union with Baha’u’llah through the sacred phrase of Alláh-u-Abhá .
Alláh-u-Abhá Yoga Nidra Meditation Script
The Bicentenary Meditation Project is a community karma-yoga-celebratory project and resource bank, which provides free meditations and their corresponding meditation-scripts based off of the Sacred Writings and Teachings of The Bab & Baha’u’llah for world-wide dissemination and use.
The purpose of the meditations are used primarily to draw a closer spiritual connection through the Manifestations of God to God.
One of the primary principles that The Bab & Baha’u’llah proclaimed is the Oneness of Humanity and how interrelated we are.
As host and coordinator of the project, Yoga Avec Moi would like to kindly request for those who will be downloading the meditations scripts, to used them in circumstances with the utmost dignity, reverence and respect for the Sacred Teachings and Personage of The Bab & Baha’u’llah.
You have permission to use them in devotionals, prayer gatherings, children’s virtues classes, junior youth animator gatherings, meditation classes & retreats, Hatha, Yin, Vinyasa yoga classes and retreats.
If you would like to use them in contexts that have not been mentioned above, please drop us a line at yogiavecmoi@gmail.com to say hi and to double check if in doubt that it would be appropriate.
This is primarily run on an honorary role basis, we have deep love in serving and providing for humanities spiritual needs, we ask that in return you respect our wishes to hold the Personages and Sacred Teachings of The Bab & Baha’u’llah with reverence and utmost dignity .
DOWNLOAD DANISH ALLAH’U’ABHA YOGA NIDRA MEDITATION SCRIPT
Where can you find and listen to the Bicentenary Meditations Project ?
Facebook - Like our Facebook Page, please rate and review the podcasts here and share your favorite ones!
Instagram - Follow us on Instagram!
Blog - You’re reading it, our very Bicentenary Meditation Blog - join the conversation of the experience of listening to the meditations in the comment section of each unique meditation blog!
Podcast (list below)
Apple iTunes - leave a comment & review Apple iTunes Podcast
Spotify - Search for “Bicentenary Meditation Project”
Himalaya - Bicentenary Meditation Project Himalaya
Youtube - Subscribe to our YouTube channel Bicentenary Meditation Project Playlist ! Join the conversation of the experience of listening to the meditations in the comment section!
Where to watch videos about the Bicentenary Meditation Project?
Facebook - Videos About the Project (bite size)
Youtube - Bicentenary Meditation Project Video Playlist videos of behind the scenes, meaning of the meditations, content creation process, statistics etc (videos range from 3-30 mins)
Sign up to receive more news and updates about the meditations in your inbox! By joining this newsletter, you will also be receiving information about our other products and services from Yoga Avec Moi.
How to help with the Bicentenary Meditation Project?
If you wish to participate in the content creation of it as either voluntarily providing the following,
1. Guided Meditation
2. Artistic image (painting drawing for meditation cover art)
3. Photography (nature or Holy sites for meditation cover art)
Please CLICK HERE further submission details, or look at the bullet options below for.
Bulletin of Needs - Yoga Nidra Meditations Translations Needs
Hidden Words Meditation Series - Google document sign up sheet
Contact us at meditationsofbbobb@gmail.com for any questions or more information.
Follow the day to day progress, updates, notifications on our hosts instagram account @yogaavecmoi (check out the instagram highlights icon in the instagram bio ‘birthday’, ‘bicentenary’, “BMP”, “BMPYoutube” tabs for previous updates on the project)