Conversations

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 myself of which I am not proud. One thing in…

A Path of Love and Freedom

A Path of Love and Freedom

Amir FreimannMay 6, 202114 min read

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

Stroked

Ram Dass with Rameshwar DasJan 31, 202116 min read

“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

Awakening in the Yard D Sangha

James GrossJan 31, 20219 min read

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

Moving Toward Hope: A Conversation with Elaine Pagels

Sam MoweJan 29, 202020 min read

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

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…

To Live With Gratitude, an Interview with Robert Kennedy, S.J., Roshi

To Live With Gratitude, an Interview with Robert Kennedy, S.J., Roshi

Tracy CochranMar 15, 201612 min read

“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

Stroked

Ram Dass with Rameshwar DasJan 31, 202116 min read

“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

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…

Earth as Goddess: A conversation with African healer and guide Baba Mandaza Augustine Kademwa

Earth as Goddess: A conversation with African healer and guide Baba Mandaza Augustine Kademwa

ThanissaraOct 28, 201914 min read

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

Conscience

Parabola EditorsJan 29, 201520 min read

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

Awakening in the Yard D Sangha

James GrossJan 31, 20219 min read

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

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…

Part of an Ancient Story: A Conversation with Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee

Part of an Ancient Story: A Conversation with Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee

Llewellyn Vaughan-LeeOct 28, 201519 min read

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

“A Wing And A Prayer,” An Interview with Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori

Parabola EditorsApr 2, 201912 min read

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

A Path of Love and Freedom

Amir FreimannMay 6, 202114 min read

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

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…

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 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.…