The Path of the Friend is the primary project of the Boulder Institute for Nature and the Human Spirit, a non-profit organization founded and directed by Elizabeth Rabia Roberts and Elias Amidon.
The Path of the Friend is a name that accurately describes our wide-ranging work in citizen diplomacy. For the past 25 years this work has been dedicated to environmental education, social justice and peace building in places of conflict around the world.
Today this work is focused primarily in the Middle East and Central Asia. We are not Muslims, but have a great respect for Islam, and believe it is important to offset the propaganda of the radical jihadist movement and demonstrate friendship and solidarity with the people in these regions.
We journey alone, as a couple, or with small groups, meeting and working with people on a range of citizen diplomacy projects. An on-going part of our work for the past 10 years is raising money and disbursing micro-grants from a special Flow Fund in the places we travel.
Our activities emerge out of our understanding of and respect for cultures and faith traditions in different regions of the world. We are committed to grounding social action in the recognition of the universality of spirit.
An integral part of this work involves sharing the stories and lessons we encounter through speeches, writings, our emailed Letters from the Road and Elizabeth’s Blog.
We invite you to join us – whether by listening to the stories we bring home, participating in our programs and journeys, or by helping to support our work.
JOIN US ON THE PATH
Interfaith Pilgrimage of Peace to Syria
September 19 – October 2, 2010
This is the 4th Pilgrimage of Peace to Syria we have led. It includes both silent retreat and contemplation at sacred sites, and many encounters with Syrians from all walks of life
Wilderness Quest in Utah
April 29 – May 8, 2011
This is a nine-day rite-of-passage into the desert wilderness of southeast Utah – a fitting place to renew, clarify, or determine your life’s purpose and direction. We have been leading these Quests since 1991.
Open Path Trainings & Retreats
2010 – 2011
The Open Path is a non-sectarian approach to spiritual realization. It is a process of natural enlightenment that belongs to everyone. The next 10-month Open Path Trainings start in June, 2010 in Somerset, England and Whidbey Island, Washington. These programs are sponsored and produced by our sister organization, the Sufi Way International (www.sufiway.org).
Afghanistan Projects
Ongoing, 2010
Join us in supporting grassroots projects and building bridges between the Afghan people and U.S. churches, businesses, and community organizations.
May we have the strength to question our own gods,
and the grace to respect others’;May we, on a globe that is shrinking and expanding,
honor our differences,
while finding a language in which to speak of them together.May we recall that the responsibility of the fortunate
is to answer the prayers of others,
and the privilege of the blessed is to make cause for general gratitude.
- Pico Iyer
from Prayers for a Thousand Years
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The Path of the Friend is a project of the Boulder Institute for Nature and the Human Spirit,
a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. 2434 Mapleton Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80304 USA.
