Nov. 6, 2014–Tracy Grubbs grew up fascinated, curious and also afraid of death. Her curiosity, plus her interest in Buddhism led her to volunteer at the Zen Hospice Project, a San Francisco center for the dying supported by the Buddhist community. Grubbs spoke with her colleague Lisa Messano. When I heard there was something like the Zen Hospice Project and they would train you to be with people who were dying, I was intrigued. I was also afraid. The piece was produced by KALW’s The Spiritual Edge series, in collaboration… [Listen Now…]
Spiritual Edge Radio Stories
Listen: A good attitude until the end
October 7, 2014–Frank Hatch lived with HIV for more than 20 years, only to be diagnosed with late-stage prostate cancer in 2010. For comfort and guidance, he turned to his Buddhism practice. And then, with encouragement from his nephew Jason Friend, he decided to do something he never thought he could: a 16-day rafting trip in the Grand Canyon. The two discuss Frank’s determination to live life to the fullest. Buddhism just sort of put to words what I’ve always sort of inherently known. The key to being happy is to… [Listen Now…]
Listen: Native American sweats out trauma of the past
September 10, 2014–It’s intense in a sweat lodge. You enter a round structure, about five feet high at the center, and sit down on an earthen floor. The flap of heavy blankets closes and you’re left in utter darkness. Moments later, the leader pours water over hot, volcanic rocks. Like a sauna, thick steam rises and spreads. For some people, the experience can be terrifying, at least at first. For others, it’s a welcome home. Samuel Martinez’s first sweat lodge ceremony was like a déjà vu, he says, a coming home. In this… [Listen Now…]
Listen: How to open the voice, with Silvia Nakkach
August 8, 2014–The human voice is a demanding instrument. Handling it requires precision and skill. But for composer and musician Silvia Nakkach, it’s more than a tool to make pretty sounds. She sees it as a gateway to spiritual growth. Nakkach’s musical philosophies are influenced by both Western and Eastern traditions. She was born in Argentina and attended Mills College before meeting the person who would become her teacher for more than 30 years: Ali Akbar Khan, a great maestro of Indian classical music. Her own music has an ethereal, haunting quality… [Listen Now…]
Listen: Religion the American way, dynamic and innovative
August 18, 2014–These days a lot of people prefer the word “spirituality” over “religion”. Many people associate religion with dogma handed down by inflexible institutions that don’t keep up with the times. Religion is also considered a highly divisive topic, one of the subjects you don’t bring up in polite conversation. Spirituality on the other hand, is defined by an individual’s personal belief system, which seems to have more of a warm, fuzzy feeling to it. But David Campbell, professor of political science at Notre Dame University, is less condemning of religion and… [Listen Now…]
