The theme of the Spring 2008 issue of the magazine <i>Parabola</i> is silence. Articles describe silence in varous spiritual traditions, from Judaism, Sufism, Taoism, Quakerism, Buddhism, etc. Includes a feature article accessible online. Thanks to a friend of Hermitary for bringing it to our attention.
Thomas Moore on silence
Popular writer and former Catholic monk Thomas Moore reflects on silence in a short article for Resurgence entitled “The Silence of Sounds.” Includes the poem “Keeping Quiet” by Pablo Neruda. URL: http://www.resurgence.org/2005/moore233.htm.
“Friends of Silence”
Nan Merrill has pubished a modest newsletter, “Friends of Silence,” for many years as a labor of love. In its pages, she explores silence, solitude, and community with the universe, grand themes but in a gentle and modest tone. In this interview with Heron Dance, she discusses her published books, favorite books, and life-changing experiences.
URL: http://www.herondance.org/page/art/CTGY/merrill.
Practicing silence
From the Spirituality & Health web site, “Practice Silence,” a page focusing on silence, with links to articles, quotations, book selections, and film reviews. Suggested by a friend of Hermitary. URL: http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/items/blank/item_206.html.
Music of Silence
An article about Alain de Brunhoff, a talented Parisian pianist and teacher who abruptly left society, first as a Benedictine, then as a hermit. Brunhoff told the writer: “The point of passing time in solitude is to strip yourself bare, to discover what is essential and true. When you’re strippped down to this point, you see how little you amount to. But that little is all that God is interested in. He doesn’t give a damn about the rest.” In Atlantic Monthly, October 1997; URL: http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/97oct/silence.htm.