Northwind Theological  Seminary

Robert A. Jonas, Ed.D. (Harvard University), M.T.S. (Weston Jesuit School of Theology) is the author of The Essential Henri Nouwen, (Shambhala Publications), as well as Henri Nouwen (Orbis) and Rebecca(Crossroad). He is now working on a book about the Holy Trinity as three dimensions of consciousness.

Dr. Jonas is the director of The Empty Bell, a contemplative sanctuary in Northampton, MA, whose website (emptybell.org ) is an extraordinary resource for contemplative Christians and for Buddhist-Christian dialogue. Trained as a psychotherapist, Dr. Jonas is now a retreat leader, author, video artist, musician and environmental steward. A Christian in the Carmelite tradition, he also received spiritual formation with Buddhist teachers. He has been a guiding teacher at the Guild for Spiritual Guidance. (www.spiritualguidance.org), and the Rowe Conference Center.

Jonas is a past Board member of the Henri Nouwen Society and a member of the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies and the Eckhart Society.  He recently retired as Chair of the Board of the Kestrel Land Trust in Amherst, MA (www.kestreltrust.org)

Jonas is a student of Sui-Zen, the Japanese bamboo flute (shakuhachi). He has played in many secular and spiritual contexts and has played at three Buddhist-Christian retreats with the Dalai Lama, including a performance under the Bodhi Tree in India. Jonas has produced three CD's of shakuhachi music: "Blowing Bamboo," "New Life from Ruins" and "Many Paths, One Joy." “Blowing Bamboo” is available on iTunes.