Since ancient times, humans have expressed their love and longing for God through singing and music. These holy songs connect us with the Divine and remind us of our heavenly Home. In today’s show, we are delighted to share with you three Buddhist Songs from Bangladesh. The first song is called “Lumbini Kanon,” which praises the Lord Buddha. “Lumbini Kanon is a flower. The name is Buddha. In the sweet aroma of the flower, the world is fascinated today in meditation, in thoughts and philosophy. Make life pure.” Our next song is “Ajj Ki Je Valo Lagche,” or “I Feel So Good Today,” is also performed by Ms. Moumita Barua with lyrics by Pankaj Dev Opu and music by Subrata Das Anup. By following Buddha’s Teachings, many Buddhists have found inner peace and happiness. The next song is “Buddham Saranam Gacchami,” or “I Take Refuge in the Buddha” Sung by Apon Barua Ami. We thank all the singers and songwriters for making these beautiful songs that remind us of Buddha’s love and wisdom.

Fully embracing their multi-culture identity, Malaysians have a unique custom called, “open house,” which means during important cultural and religious festivals, they would open their houses to welcome not only friends and families, but also strangers. Through feasting and chatting together, cultural barriers are broken and new friendships are formed. Though 60% of the population are Muslims, national holidays such as Christmas, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, and native harvesting festivals are also celebrated, alongside various Islamic holidays such as the holy month of Ramadan, Eid-ul Fitr, and Eid-ul Adha. Now let’s take a look at how Malaysians celebrate some of their other holidays. His Excellency, Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, actively promotes harmonious existence among citizens of different races and backgrounds. “Malaysia was built on the foundations of tolerance, goodwill, mutual respect, the readiness of giving and sharing, selflessness, and a desire to make sacrifices for the sake of the country.” “Without such traits, Malaysia would not have grown into a developed country, which is capable of giving its people all the comforts and progress it has today.”

Dance is an integral part of the African culture, and today we are delighted to share with you a very exceptional and unique dance form from West Africa. Zaouli is regarded as a homage to feminine beauty. The dance was created in the 1950s by the Gouro, an ethnic group in the midwestern part of Côte d’Ivoire, with each Gouro village having a prized Zaouli dancer. The dance and accompanying music were inscribed on the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017. Let's now enjoy a spirited Zaouli performance. An interesting component of the distinctive dance is that it is always performed by a male! The costume consists of bright colors. The mask and cloth adorn the body from the head down to the shoulders and arms. They will perform at parties, social gatherings, and funerals. Zaouli is viewed as a peace-making component of West African culture. Ethnic Jewels Magazine describes the dance as “a celebration of calm following conflict.”

Since ancient times, humans have expressed their love and longing for God through singing and music. In today’s show, we would like to present a few holy songs as a dedication to this beloved Enlightened Master. Our first song is called “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” performed by !Audacious Band from !Audacious Church, Manchester. Our next song is “Oh How I Love Jesus” performed by Upper Room Church of God in Christ with music. "There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth. It sounds like music in my ears, The sweetest name on Earth. Jesus is His name." We can never get tired of listening to these elevating Christmas songs. They remind us of the Divine Love embodied by Lord Jesus Christ, the same Love that’s within us all.

The proud Bribri cultural legacy passes from one generation to the next through an oral tradition. This indigenous group has a strong bond with Mother Earth. Their language is called Bribri, which approximately 60% of the residents of the Talamanca Bribri Indigenous Reserve speak. Within the Bribri, people belong to different clans, and membership is based on the clan affiliation of one’s mother. Today, the Bribri remain an agricultural group, and besides corn, raise tubers, cacao, bananas, pejibaye, yucca, rice, and beans. Their belief regarding their origin as a people has agricultural roots. There is a belief among the Bribri that all are equal and that humans are not above the trees or water in the forest in terms of importance. As a result, nature is treated in a reverential manner.

Both the Baka and the Mbuti see the forest as their spiritual father and mother. They are a semi-nomadic group who have historically lived by foraging in the forest to supply all their needs. Whether Mbuti or Baka, everyone participates in the making of music as part of their every day interaction with others in their community and the forest. The Mbuti are categorized as a peaceful society for several reasons. Social customs are built around sharing, cooperating, interdependence, and avoiding disharmony with other groups of forest dwellers.

Since ancient times, humans have expressed their love and longing for God through singing and music. These holy songs connect us with the Divine and remind us of our heavenly Home. The artists are able to emulate the heavenly melodies and the beauties from above and try to express them on Earth as much as they can through their physical instrument and vocals. Sufism is a noble and beautiful branch of Islamic faith that is practiced in various regions across the world. Sufism focuses on the inward search for God and spiritual development of the soul. Because of so, Sufism is often referred to as Islamic mysticism. Today, let us enjoy a few devotional songs of Sufism.

The “World Tour 2018” was very impressive with the 39 “Small Island Big Song” concerts garnering over 100,000 attendees. The musician and dance troupe from eight island nations covered 20 cities in 12 countries on four continents! When we looked out at that stage and they were all such strong, proud musicians who are absolutely respected cultural voices and it was so humbling for us to be amongst those people and for them to be standing up on stage and the presence that they bring, because it’s not just them, they’re all representing this lineage, and they’re aware of that, too, when they’re standing there. The respect (they have) for each other.

Today is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, and to mark the occasion, we are excited to share with you an introduction to an extraordinary album celebrating unity, music and traditional culture. “Small Island Big Song” that unites indigenous island musicians who share an ancient seafaring ancestry across the two oceans. The album was composed and recorded in nature, on the artists’ custodial land, with all songs featuring only traditional instruments and lyrics in indigenous languages. Over a hundred musicians from 16 island nations are showcased.

In fact, their firm belief is that they are the guardians of the heart of the world. With deep spiritual insight. Seeking to uplift global awareness on the vital need to safeguard the environment, the Kogi worked with BBC filmmaker Alan Ereira to make a 1990 film entitled “From the Heart of the World: The Elder Brothers’ Warning.” The work’s message is clear - the Kogi are gravely concerned about the future of our planet, and we, their “younger brothers,” must change our ways to protect the Earth.

Guelaguetza represents the longstanding, great occasion where native Oaxacans worshipped the ancient goddess of maize “Xilonen.” In order to pray for a bountiful harvest in the coming months, the people would gather and hold ceremonies and rituals. The modern-day festival is dedicated to the goddess of maize called “Centeotl”. The word “Guelaguetza” comes from a Zapotec term meaning “reciprocal exchange of gifts and services.” In other words, it is an event celebrating the spirit of sharing and giving, which is what makes a family, community, and county strong.

The word Wayúu means “person” or “people.” They’re Colombia’s largest indigenous ethnic group. The Wayúu live very traditional lives and are known for vibrantly colored weaving patterns and designs. The Wayúu consider Mareiwa to be one of their most important deities. This goddess symbolizes female protection, and woman have an essential position within this culture. In fact, the clans are matrilineal, with the names and lineages passed down through the mothers. The Wayúu woman plays a fundamental role in culture, as the transmitter of culture and a vital part of Wayúu society.

The traditional architecture of a country reflects its unique culture, and even spiritual attainment to a certain degree. As early as the Yayoi period (300 BC - 300 AD), the ancient Japanese constructed storage houses called Kura, as Buddhism grew in popularity, Kura evolved into large - scale Buddhist temples. One of the most unique features of Japanese architecture is Gassho - Zukuri, a roof resembling Buddhist praying hands pointed to the sky. Japanese architecture is strongly influenced by Zen ideology and there is great emphasis on integrating nature into building designs. Influenced by Zen Buddhist teachings of peace and simplicity, the Japanese people love their living space clean, uncluttered, and in order.

The first song is called “Igwe”. God Almighty who does good, God whom I am proud of, Igwe, Igwe, Only You are God. Our next song is “Great and Mighty”. Great and Mighty are You Jesus, Glory to the Lamb of God. Lord we lift our hands in worship. We magnify Your Holy Name. Our last song “By and By” is a lively Reggae Gospel. Send the Light, send the Light. Oh, Lord Jehovah. Send the Light into my soul.

Capture the unique enchanting traditions of the remarkable Wodaabe people of Africa, the largest nomadic ethnic group on earth. The gentle Wodaabe people often migrate in search of resources and trading opportunities. On average, the group move every three days. The Wodaabe adhere to the Islamic faith but also believe in the existence of spirits that reside in the natural environment, such as forests, rivers, mountains and oceans. The Wodaabe observe a strict code of conduct, designed to help guide the behavior of community members. May the Divine protect the beautiful Wodaddbe people of Africa.

In this landscape of green mountains and clear rivers, apart from the heavenly chorus of the Dong people, the folk songs of the Zhuang and Yao ethnic groups are also well known. March 3rd of the lunar calendar is the date of one of the most splendid traditional festivals for the Zhuang ethnic group. On this day, men and women as well as children and the elderly costumes to participate in the Folk Song Fair of the Double Third Festival. Through songs, they pray for favorable weather as well as pay tribute to their ancestors and the gods. Zhuang villages are known as “the sea of songs.” Zhuang singers are all masters of language. They converse with each other through songs and express their hearts by singing.

Originating in Chain’s Spring and Autumn as well as the Waring States periods, the Dong Grand Song is a homophonic, ancient Dong folk chorus without accompaniment. One of its features is the imitation of sounds found in nature. The Dong do not have a written language. Since olden times, their folklore, history and song lyrics have all been passed on through oral transmission. There is a saying among the Dong tribes, “Rice nourishes the body; song nourish the heart.” For the Dong people, songs play a significant role in their lives; it is how they express their hearts and culture.

As we continue our exploration of the Mapuche people in Chile and Argentina. The Mapuche traditionally lived in houses called rukas. The rukas were made of local materials. Like most aspects of their culture, music, singing and dance reflect the Mapuchen world view that they exist to live in harmony with everything around them- the earth, plants, animals and neighbors near and far. Many of the dances imitate and honor the animals that inhabit their environment. Let’s look at one of the more uplifting traditional dances.

The Mapuche have resided in modern day Argentina and Chile for over 2500 years. They make up the largest group of indigenous people in Chile, accounting for approximately 10% of the population. Another 300,000 reside in Argentina. The rituals and cultural traditions of the Mapuche people are designed to enable them to live in harmony with the stars, the earth and all her inhabitants. They believe humans and all animals, from the largest to the smallest insect, can only exist through the grace of a higher spiritual power. Humans are also viewed as essential and integral parts of everything that surrounds them, in the skies and on the earth.

In today's show, we are privileged to introduce to you three lrish songs. Our first song is "Be Thou My vision," an 8th century lrish hymn sung to the music of lrish folk song "Slane." Our next song is called "Between the Master and I" sung in Gaelic and English by Katie McMahon, an acclaimed lrish singer at the loving the Silent Tears concert in 2012 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the California, USA. Our last song is based on a famous lrish Blessing for travelers, "May the Road Rise to Meet You."