JEWEL IN THE LOTUS was an album produced in 1987 by the keyboardist Jack Lenz for Don't
Blink Music, Inc., in Ontario, Canada. It is extremely difficult to find, even in Bahá'í
media centers. The compositions commemorate the dedication of the House of Worship in
India, pictured above. Several Bahá'í musicians perform on the album. Seals and Crofts, and the
children of Jimmy, appear on the title choral piece and the haunting song, "Traces," inspired by the deaths in
Shiraz of ten female believers, by hanging, in June of 1983.
02. Akbar's Dream. Lyrics by Alfred Lord Tennyson. Music by Jack Lenz and Tim McCauley.
03a. Om Mani Padme Hum. Tibetan Buddhist chant with appropriate English trans.
03b.Ya'Bahá'u'l'Á'bha - The Greatest Name. Written by Jack Lenz.
04. Taririh. Written and performed by Mary Davis.
05. The Search For Peace. Written and performed by Jack Lenz.
06. Forever in Bloom. Written by Tom Shoemaker..
07. The Royal Falcon. Written and performed by Paul Parrish.
08. Traces
09. Jubilation. Written by Jack Lenz. Sung by Eric Mercury.
10. Jewel in the Lotus. (instrumental version).
01. JEWEL IN THE LOTUS
(lyrics and music by James Seals and Jack Lenz in Costa Rica, 1987;
lyrics excerpted from and inspired by the writings of Bahá'u'llá'h and Abdu'l-Bahá')
Sung by Dash Crofts and "The Best Singers in Toronto" Choir.
Sing to the jewel in the lotus, sing in the temple of love.
Sing to the beauty he gives us, sing to the children above.
Hearts filled with gladness, overflowing in adoration, raise our voices to the glory.
Sing to the new creation, praise with our hearts full of love.
Sing to the jewel in the lotus, praise to the Kingdom above.
Listen oh people, thou art in safety. Thine is the sovereignty,
Ancient, imperishable and everlasting love.
Dash: Dawning place of the mansion of God, dawning place of the mansion of God.
Lift up our hearts to the [billions of stars?]. Sing, sing, sing. . .
Sing to the jewel in the lotus, sing in the temple of love.
Sing to the beauty he gives us, sing to the children above.
Hearts filled with gladness, overflowing in adoration,
Spirit will lift us, bless us, everlasting love.
Dash: Hand by hand the water is brought, heart to heart through deed and by thought
Age to age the servants have toiled, sacrificed, they raise from the soil
The Temple of God, Temple of God, Temple of God.
And now behold with eyes that are solaced
the light that is shining from the jewel in the lotus.
Sing to the new creation, praise with our hearts full of love.
Sing to the jewel in the lotus, praise to the Kingdom above.
Listen oh people, thou art in safety. Thine is the sovereignty,
Ancient, imperishable and everlasting love.
Sing for the earth is one country, sing in the springtime of love.
Sing for all the religions, sing to the glory of God.
Sing, sing, sing!
08. TRACES
Red is the color they wear. Death is the shadow that was never there.
(lyrics and music by James Seals, 1987; sung by Seals & Crofts, Layli Ericks,
Joshua Seals, Sutherland Seals, Juliette Seals, Leonard Ericks)
They left their traces in the sun, and thus they won the crown of martyrdom
In the Abha kingdom.
Faith is the essence they shared. Fate is the reason they cared.
I hear their voices proud and strong. It's a martyr song at the break of dawn
Saying, "carry on."
Ten is the number of angel's songs. Ten is the number of flowers that grow.
They line the pathway that he chose.
Crimson roses (crimson roses), beauteous roses (beauteous roses), martyr's roses (martyr's roses)
We must carry on.
Red is the color they wear. Shining, the faces so fair.
They mark the spirits soaring high. In the spaceless sky, so that you and I
Behold the traces. . . (recitation of the names of the ten martyrs).
Takin' It Easy
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