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 myself of which I am not proud. One thing in…
A Path of Love and Freedom
Born in London in 1953, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee has followed the Naqshbandi Sufi path since he was nineteen. In 1991 he became the successor of Irina Tweedie, author of Daughter of Fire and who brought this particular Indian branch of Sufism…
Stroked
“Are you sick?” Jai asked. When I couldn’t articulate a response, Jai said to tap with the phone, once if I was okay, twice if I needed help. I kept tapping. He immediately called my secretaries, Marlene Roeder and Jo…
Awakening in the Yard D Sangha
As surely as there is a voyage away, there is a journey home. —Jack Kornfield, After the Ecstasy, the Laundry The premise behind the Buddhist precepts is freedom from suffering, fostering wellbeing—no matter how invincible unskillful words and actions leading…
Moving Toward Hope: A Conversation with Elaine Pagels
Gospel of Thomas and The Secret Book of John. Codex II The Nag Hammadi manuscript. 2011 As a young scholar, Elaine Pagels breathed new life into the dusty subject of early Christianity in 1979 with the publication of her influential…
Make This Moment a Diamond
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…
To Live With Gratitude, an Interview with Robert Kennedy, S.J., Roshi
“We shall not cease from exploration,” wrote the Catholic poet T.S. Eliot. “And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place…
Stroked
“Are you sick?” Jai asked. When I couldn’t articulate a response, Jai said to tap with the phone, once if I was okay, twice if I needed help. I kept…
To Feel the Love: A Conversation with Barry Svigals
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…
Earth as Goddess: A conversation with African healer and guide Baba Mandaza Augustine Kademwa
Baba Mandaza Augustine Kademwa, from Zimbabwe, was born a Svikiro (in Shona, his native tongue), a carrier of many earth and water spirits, and a Mondhoro (Lion), one who is…
Conscience
In the autumn of 1971, John G. Bennett inaugurated the International Academy for Continuous Education at Sherborne House, Gloucestershire, England. From that time until his death three and one-half years…
Awakening in the Yard D Sangha
As surely as there is a voyage away, there is a journey home. —Jack Kornfield, After the Ecstasy, the Laundry The premise behind the Buddhist precepts is freedom from suffering,…
Pure Gold
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…
Part of an Ancient Story: A Conversation with Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee
Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee photographed by Richard Whittaker One August day recently in northern California, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee sat down with Parabola to speak about free will and destiny. The…
“A Wing And A Prayer,” An Interview with Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori
Katharine Jefferts Schori in 2008 (Wikipedia) On Nov. 4, 2006, at a ceremony in Washington’s National Cathedral, Katharine Jefferts Schori became the presiding bishop of the…
A Path of Love and Freedom
Born in London in 1953, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee has followed the Naqshbandi Sufi path since he was nineteen. In 1991 he became the successor of Irina Tweedie, author of Daughter of…
Wonder is a Level Within Us: A conversation with Rabbi Dr. Raphael Shuchat
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…
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 Try To Have Some Healing, A Conversation with Silas Hagerty
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.…