Baha'i Blogcast with Rainn Wilson - Episode 30: Omid Djalili

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 London, England with my dear friend, fellow actor and comedian, the hilarious Omid Djalili. Omid takes me on a ride full of stories and banter, where he tells me about his family and what it was like growing up in the UK as the only 13 year old with a mustache. We talk about soccer, prayer, dreams, gratitude, and the importance of connecting our lives to service and community building. Omid tells me how he got into comedy, and he shares four life-changing points about his career, which I think you'll find extremely interesting! Join me and Omid in this thought-provoking and fun conversation!

To find out more about Omid Djalili and some of the things we covered in the podcast, check out the following links:

* Omid shares the following passage about prayer from the Universal House of Justice: "Prayer is the essential spiritual conversation of the soul with its Maker, direct and without intermediation. It is the spiritual food that sustains the life of the spirit. Like the morning’s dew, it brings freshness to the heart and cleanses it, purifying it from attachments of the insistent self. It is a fire that burns away the veils and a light that leads to the ocean of reunion with the Almighty. On its wings does the soul soar in the heavens of God and draw closer to the divine reality. Upon its quality depends the development of the limitless capacities of the soul and the attraction of the bounties of God, but the prolongation of prayer is not desirable. The powers latent in prayer are manifested when it is motivated by the love of God, beyond any fear or favour, and free from ostentation and superstition. It is to be expressed with a sincere and pure heart conducive to contemplation and meditation so that the rational faculty can be illumined by its effects. Such prayer will transcend the limitation of words and go well beyond mere sounds. The sweetness of its melodies must gladden and uplift the heart and reinforce the penetrating power of the Word, transmuting earthly inclinations into heavenly attributes and inspiring selfless service to humankind."

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Thanks for listening!

-Rainn Wilson

[joethomas]

What a great and insightful chat between two of my favourite comedians, thank you

[andreahopeorg]

How fun! Being a Baha'i comedian is certainly a challenging balance. We all have slightly different definitions of edgy and it reminds me of Ruhiyyih Khanum saying (paraphrasing) that the Faith needs all kinds of people in order to attract all kinds of people.

[wendyscott]

How great to find out Omid had pioneered to Slovakia! I got to sing with the Voices of Baha in Bratislava with the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra in 2000. It was a thrill. We sang a live performance that was recorded and put out on CD.

[GretchenHewitt]

SO grateful for this episode! Thank you Rainn.

[navabastanisarracino]

This was hilarious. I wonder if I could use that goldfish example now- brilliant

[mikkonenyrjo]

Absolutely great, a lot to learn, a lot to feel relieved and more comfortable, thank you, thank you Omid and Rainn!

[voicetechvocalizing]

Thanks for this, now I don’t feel like so much of a renegade.

[ASSIR]

Thanks 🙏❤️ laughed and loved listening 👂

[ColbyJeffers]

Fantastic episode!! Love the advice he got from the members of the Universal House of Justice!! 🙌🏽

[fidalbassier]

Such a wonderful episode. Thank you Rainn Wilson, much love from Guyana

[ontariofareed]

the joke about Anis whispering to Bab ... would have been very offensive and hurtful to me 20 years ago ... now after living in western culture for long time ... does not hurt or anger me ... but just i see it as a freedom of speech.
my advise : please do not say these kind of jokes to relatively older Persian audiences .... we do not want to hurt felling am i right ? please comment if you wish