Audiobooks narrated by Paul Bazely

"“It may be that I shall find it good to get outside my body — to cast it off like a worn-out garment. But I shall not cease to work. I shall inspire men everywhere, until the world shall know that it is one with God.” — Swami Vivekananda Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), a well-known religious figure in America, is cherished with respect and affection by an ever increasing number of readers of his books. His genius was revealed to the world at large in the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893, where he indicated India’s rightful place in the spiritual map of the world. The first cultural ambassador of his motherland to the West, and the builder of the spiritual bridge connecting the two hemispheres, Vivekananda dreamed of One World based upon a synthesis of religion and science and a knowledge of the solidarity of humankind. In his utterances, the souls of East and West, the one oppressed by the tyranny of society and the other by the dead weight of secularism, found the way to freedom. Spiritual freedom was the central message of Swami Vivekananda. This biography by Swami Nikhilananda, revealing the life and message of a great World Teacher, is inspiring to hear."

Swami Nikhilananda (Author), Paul Bazely (Narrator)

Audiobook

Vivekananda: Chicago Addresses

"Swami Vivekananda made an unforgettable impression upon religious minds in America at the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893. He spoke of the harmony of religions and the innate divinity of every human soul. The swami taught that true harmony of religions is based on the spiritual oneness of existence. There is one life that pulsates in the whole universe. Spiritual oneness transcends the limitations of race, culture, creed, and dogma. Swami Vivekananda said that the further we move away from God, the greater will seem the differences between one religion and another. The nearer we move to God, the closer we shall feel to other religions. When Swami Vivekananda spoke of all religions being different denominations of one universal religion, the religion of God-consciousness, people realized that he was a world teacher. All religions belong to one and the same family of God. Swami Vivekananda (1863 – 1902) has been recognized as India’s first cultural ambassador to America and the West. His words have the power to inspire weary souls and strengthen our faith in ourselves. This book offers a short introduction by Swami Adiswarananda (1925 – 2007). The introduction explains the essential teachings of Yoga and Vedanta as taught by Swami Vivekananda, especially the idea of the divinity of the soul. By following religious practices such as meditation and service to our fellow human beings, we do not generate or acquire divinity, but gain faith in ourselves. We gain faith in the reality of God, and we recognize the divinity in every one of us and all of nature."

Swami Vivekananda (Author), Paul Bazely (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Mahabharata and The Ramayana: Two full-cast BBC Radio dramatisations based on the classic Indian

"Full-cast dramatised retellings of the two most important epic Sanskrit poems of ancient India The Mahabharata and the Ramayana are literary classics, the longest epic poems in world literature, as significant as the Bible, the Qu'ran and the works of Shakespeare. Estimated to have been composed over a period of time around the 3rd and 4th centuries BC, they encompass some of the greatest stories ever told - tales of the deeds of gods and men, and the eternal battle between good and evil. Included here are full-cast BBC Radio adaptations of both, directed by award-winning producer Claire Grove and with original music by acclaimed composer Niraj Chag. Viewed from the perspective of one of the central characters, Yudhishtra, The Mahabharata recounts the struggles of a divided family as they fight over their inheritance and destroy the very thing they seek most - a peaceful and harmonious land. Exiled for 13 years, Yudhishtra knows his cousin will never give up the throne. War is inevitable - but which side will Krishna be on? Paul Battacharjee, Nitin Ganatra and Raad Rawi star in this intimate, accessible reimagining by Jatinder Verma and Claudia Mayer. One of the world's most popular love stories, The Ramayana centres around the separation and reunion of Rama and Sita. When Sita first glimpses the beautiful Prince Rama, she determines to marry him or die. She wins his heart - but his stepmother's plot sees him banished from his position as heir to the throne. Exiled, he retreats to the forest, where Sita is abducted by a ruthless warlord. Rama enlists the help of an army of monkeys to get her back - but has she betrayed him with the evil ruler of Lanka? Manjinder Virk stars as Sita, with Lloyd Thomas as Rama in Amber Lone's distinctive modern version of the ancient legend. Also included is the 5-part series Let's Talk About Rama and Sita, in which award-winning poet and broadcaster Daljit Nagra takes stories from The Ramayana into his community and finds the ancient tales alive with contemporary Asian dilemmas. Are Rama and Sita useful role models for men and women nowadays? How is the duo's relationship relevant to marriage today? And what lessons can the Indian epic teach us about loyalty and betrayal? Produced and directed by Claire Grove Music composed by Niraj Chag The Mahabharata Yudhishtra - Paul Bhattacharjee Krishna - Nitln Ganatra Bhishma - Raad Rawi Dhirtrashtra - Sam Dale Duryodhana - Zubln Varla Arjuna - Paul Bazely Bhima - Danny Sapani Draupadi - Sasha Behar Gandhari - Sudha Buchar Kunti - Indira Joshi Shakuni - Jude Akuwudike Uttara - Saikat Ahamed Dramatised by Jatinder Verma and Claudia Mayer First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 4-18 February 2007 The Ramayana Sita - Manjinder Virk Rama - Lloyd Thomas Lakshman - Adeel Aktar Ravan - Paul Bhattacharjee Surparnaka - Sasha Behar Dasarath/Sugreeva - Jude Akuwudike Sister/Mandodari - Deeivya Meir Bharat - Saikat Ahamed Hanuman - Kulvinder Ghir Kush - Omar Kent Lava - Neil Reynolds Dramatised by Amber Lone First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 31 October-7 November 2010 Let's Talk About Rama and Sita Presented by Daljit Nagra First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 24-28 February 2014 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Amber Lone, Claudia Mayer, Jatinder Verma (Author), Adeel Akhtar, Full Cast, Kulvinder Ghir, Lloyd Thomas, Manjinder Virk, Nitin Ganatra, Paul Bazely, Paul Bhattacharjee, Raad Rawi, Sasha Behar (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

"Sri Ramakrishna is revered in India and the West as a prophet belonging to the spiritual line of Krishna, Buddha, and Christ. Seekers of all religions will find in this book courage and faith, hope and illumination. You will feel God to be very real and within reach. Listen to Sri Ramakrishna’s conversations, and be in the company of a great soul. Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886) had a passionate yearning for the vision of God. At the age of sixteen he went to Calcutta, but was disappointed by the materialistic ideals of the people of the great city. Refusing to direct his attention to secular studies, he became a priest in the Dakshineswar temple, where God is worshipped as the Divine Mother of the Universe. By his intense prayer and longing, and through a series of unprecedented spiritual practices, he obtained the vision of God. Through the various systems of Hinduism and the religions of Christianity and Islam, Ramakrishna always reached the same goal of God-consciousness, and said, “As so many faiths, so many paths” – the basis of interfaith harmony today. There came to him all kinds of people, men and women, young and old, educated and illiterate, agnostic and orthodox, who asked him questions about spiritual life and accepted his words as true. Ramakrishna’s love for all people knew no barriers of race, color, or culture, and he spoke freely to everyone who sought his counsel and blessings without expecting anything in return. This audiobook, read by Paul Bazely, brings to life the words of a great prophet and God-man. This audiobook contains a short biography of Sri Ramakrishna, which is also published separately as an audiobook under the title “Sri Ramakrishna, A Biography,” by Swami Nikhilananda."

Swami Nikhilananda (Author), Paul Bazely (Narrator)

Audiobook

Sri Ramakrishna: A Biography

"The biography of Sri Ramakrishna is the story of an intense search for God. Sri Ramakrishna was not satisfied until he realized God to be real with every fiber of his being. He ultimately saw God more intensely than he saw the world. Sri Ramakrishna talked with God as a young child speaks to the mother throughout the day. In him, there was only the thought of God, and he saw God everywhere and in everything. The Nobel Laureate Romain Rolland described Sri Ramakrishna’s life as the fulfillment of the spiritual aspirations of three hundred million Hindus for the last two thousand years. Mahatma Gandhi said, “No one can read the story of his life without being convinced that God alone is real and all else is illusion.” Swami Nikhilananda was a disciple of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, the wife and spiritual companion of Sri Ramakrishna. He was a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Order of India, and founder in 1933 of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York. As a gifted speaker, he taught classes and spoke on spiritual life and the harmony of religions in New York until his passing away in 1973. He was a beloved teacher to many spiritual aspirants, and also to students of philosophy, history, and religion. Nikhilananda had the rare privilege of intimately associating with many of the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. His translations of the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and his biographies of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother, and Swami Vivekananda, are considered modern classics of spiritual literature."

Swami Nikhilananda (Author), Paul Bazely (Narrator)

Audiobook

Hazelbeach: The Complete Series 1-3: A BBC Radio Comedy

"Nerdy Nick's life takes an abrupt turn into surreal chaos when he returns to England to find the mysterious Ronnie Hazelbeach living in his late father's house. Ronnie has certainly lived an interesting life. He's been a wrestler, a sailor, a thief and a jailbird, a gambler, a husband, a conman, a salesman, a getaway driver, a cook, a priest and much more. James can learn a lot about life from him. Ronnie hatches a plan to help Nick get his ex-girlfriend back, while selling heart monitors to Monty Python fans and purchasing an extraordinary amount of sinks in a bid to shore up their finances. But just as the unlikely pair find domestic harmony, they are visited by an unwanted guest... The complete series 1-3 stars Jamie Foreman as Ronnie, Paul Bazely as Nick, Tracy Wiles/Claire Harry as Chloe and John Dougall/Neil Stuke as James. Written by Caroline and David Stafford Produced by Marc Beeby"

Caroline Stafford, David Stafford (Author), Claire Harry, Full Cast, Jamie Foreman, John Dougall, Neil Stuke, Paul Bazely, Tracy Wiles (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dinner: A full-cast production of the acclaimed black comedy

"A deliciously black satirical comedy about the dinner party from hell. The fastidious host, Paige, decides to throw a dinner party in honour of her husband Lars, who is celebrating the success of his pop psychology book, Beyond Belief. She carefully plans a surprise menu that will mark the occasion, and anxiously checks with the waiter she has employed to make sure that everything is perfectly prepared. Her lucky guests include a post-feminist vegetarian artist, a distinguished microbiologist, a TV journalist and an uninvited guest who ends up staying for dinner. But it soon becomes apparent that the meal may contain some rather nasty surprises… Moira Buffini's outrageous comedy Dinner started life in the National Theatre's Loft in 2002, and became her first West End smash. In this production, adapted by the writer for BBC Drama on 3, Harriet Walter returns to the role she created: Paige, the hostess and architect of an evening which her guests will never forget. Two other original leads, Nicholas Farrell and Penny Downie, and four new cast members join her in this viciously black chamber piece about appetite, which will make you think twice about ever accepting another invitation to dinner. Moira Buffini was nominated for an Olivier Award for Dinner in 2003, and won the Olivier in 2014 for her play Handbagged. Cast Paige……………………Harriet Walter Lars……………………Nicholas Farrell Wynne……………………Penny Downie Hal……………………Paul Bazely Sian……………………Pippa Bennett-Warner Mike……………………Peter McDonald Waiter……………………David Hounslow Produced and directed by Jonquil Panting"

Moira Buffini (Author), David Hounslow, Harriet Walters, Nicholas Farrell, Paul Bazely, Penny Downie, Peter Mcdonald, Pippa Bennett-Warner (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Paul Bazely