Conversations

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To Go Beyond Thought, an Interview with Karen Armstrong

Parabola EditorsSep 9, 202213 min read

One bright spring day, Parabola met with Karen Armstrong  in her suite at the Parker Meridian hotel in Manhattan.  The petite, friendly 62-year-old British ex-nun, arguably the most influential commentator on religion in the English-speaking world, was on tour to…

The Gates of Paradise

The Gates of Paradise

In the following passage from his new autobiography, Becoming Who You Are, Joseph Rael (Beautiful Painted Arrow) relates to David Kopacz, M.D., some of his extraordinary shamanic experiences.– The Editors Some people call me a shaman or a medicine man.…

Wonder is a Level Within Us: A conversation with Rabbi Dr. Raphael Shuchat

Wonder is a Level Within Us: A conversation with Rabbi Dr. Raphael Shuchat

Roger Lipsey and Kenneth KrushelJan 30, 202214 min read

Parabola reached out recently, via a Zoom link, to Raphael Shuchat at his home in Israel. We had met him with his family at a vacation spot in upstate New York in summer 2021, not far from his original home…

Make This Moment a Diamond

Make This Moment a Diamond

Jon Pepper and Patrizia De LiberoJan 30, 202221 min read

Father Guidalberto Bormolini asks people to take a new view of death—and life. After training as a lute maker, he became a priest and monk and studied extensively about both ancient and modern spiritual and religious teachings. He has created…

Pure Gold

Pure Gold

Margaret WolffNov 3, 202115 min read

The Bhagavad Gita—the “Song of Spirit”—has been a living scripture and moral doctrine, a veritable “golden rule” of Indian civilization for thousands of years. Its seven-hundred verses are a sacred dialogue between the Lord Krishna in his role as Cosmic…

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To Go Beyond Thought, an Interview with Karen Armstrong

Parabola EditorsSep 9, 202213 min read

One bright spring day, Parabola met with Karen Armstrong  in her suite at the Parker Meridian hotel in Manhattan.  The petite, friendly 62-year-old British ex-nun, arguably the most influential commentator…

The Gates of Paradise

The Gates of Paradise

In the following passage from his new autobiography, Becoming Who You Are, Joseph Rael (Beautiful Painted Arrow) relates to David Kopacz, M.D., some of his extraordinary shamanic experiences.– The Editors…

Longing for Wholeness: An Interview with Satish Kumar

Longing for Wholeness: An Interview with Satish Kumar

Parabola EditorsJan 29, 20163 min read

Photograph of Satish Kumar courtesy of The Resurgence Trust Satish Kumar: When you accept the state of being a stranger, you are no longer a stranger.…

All Life is Sacred: A Conversation with John Malloy

All Life is Sacred: A Conversation with John Malloy

Parabola EditorsJan 29, 201515 min read

John Malloy’s father was in Army Intelligence and assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Shanghai when Malloy was an infant. When Chiang Kai-shek fled China three years later, in 1949,…

The Yoga Master at Ninety, an Interview with B.K.S. Iyengar

The Yoga Master at Ninety, an Interview with B.K.S. Iyengar

Annie SchlifferJun 21, 201613 min read

EKA PADA VIPARITA DANDASANA (ONE LEG REVERSED STAFF POSE) Born in India in 1918, B.K.S. Iyengar has been teaching yoga since the age of seventeen. An…

Wonder is a Level Within Us: A conversation with Rabbi Dr. Raphael Shuchat

Wonder is a Level Within Us: A conversation with Rabbi Dr. Raphael Shuchat

Roger Lipsey and Kenneth KrushelJan 30, 202214 min read

Parabola reached out recently, via a Zoom link, to Raphael Shuchat at his home in Israel. We had met him with his family at a vacation spot in upstate New…

The Meaning of Tradition: A Conversation with Huston Smith

The Meaning of Tradition: A Conversation with Huston Smith

Parabola EditorsDec 31, 201614 min read

Remembering Parabola contributor, Huston Smith who left us on December 30, 2016 at the age of 97. Parabola’s first issue, Winter 1976, included the magazine’s first interview. Conducted by then-editor…

To Try To Have Some Healing, A Conversation with Silas Hagerty

To Try To Have Some Healing, A Conversation with Silas Hagerty

Richard WhittakerNov 22, 201612 min read

Silas Hagerty. Photo by and courtesy of Richard Whittaker Silas Hagerty was a young filmmaker in his twenties when I met him at a Servicespace retreat.…

The Great Unknown Is Me, Myself: A Conversation with Jacob Needleman

The Great Unknown Is Me, Myself: A Conversation with Jacob Needleman

Parabola EditorsMar 4, 201632 min read

Photograph of Jacob Needleman by David Ulrich Jacob Needleman’s voice has been prominent in the conversation about man’s inner possibilities for some forty years. Turning away…

Meditation and Service: A Conversation with Nipun Mehta

Meditation and Service: A Conversation with Nipun Mehta

Parabola EditorsMay 7, 201715 min read

Nipun Mehta. Photograph by Richard Whittaker Photographs by Richard Whittaker Nipun Mehta was born in Ahmedabad, India, in 1975. When he was twelve, his family moved…

Make This Moment a Diamond

Make This Moment a Diamond

Jon Pepper and Patrizia De LiberoJan 30, 202221 min read

Father Guidalberto Bormolini asks people to take a new view of death—and life. After training as a lute maker, he became a priest and monk and studied extensively about both…

Friendship

Friendship

For several years, journalist Judith Valente and Trappist monk Paul Quenon exchanged letters on essential topics. Here is one exchange. —The Editors Dear Brother Paul, There are many things about…

To Feel the Love: A Conversation with Barry Svigals

To Feel the Love: A Conversation with Barry Svigals

Jeff ZaleskiAug 1, 201618 min read

Main Entry Perspective, new-Sandy Hook School How do you heal from sorrow beyond compare? In the beautiful woods of Newtown, Connecticut, a new elementary school is…

A Conversation with Alexandra Isles

A Conversation with Alexandra Isles

Patty de LlosaSep 9, 20195 min read

Patty de Llosa: The theme for this issue of Parabola is “Seeing,” so can you tell me how you come up with an idea and then turn it into a visual action?…