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Mystics and Zen Masters
Thomas Merton was recognized as one of those rare Western minds that are entirely at home with the Zen experience. In this collection, he discusses diverse religious concepts-early monasticism, Russian Orthodox spirituality, the Shakers, and Zen Buddhism-with characteristic Western directness. Merton not only studied these religions from the outside but grasped them by emp...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
November 29th 1999
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
(first published 1967)
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I found the sections on classical Chinese thought, Zen, Ecumenism, and the Kentucky Shakers to be the most interesting. Merton is a Catholic writing about other religions in the wake of the Vatican's second council. The second Vatican council, among other things, was a monumental step for the Catholic Church towards a less exclusive world view. It occurred in the sixties (i think), and in it the Catholic Church formally admitted that other religions contained truths that the Catholics could lea...more
Thomas Merton was a Christian monk who lived and wrote in the early to mid-1900s. A Catholic author of noteworthy influence, he had a gift for analytical writing. While Merton lived from 1915 to 1968 he participated in talks with the Dalai Lama and traveled the world, paying particular attention to the Far East where he struggled to learn all he could of Zen and Buddhist mysticism.
I admire the breadth of Merton's reading and am somewhat envious of his travel record. I am not, however, impressed...more
I admire the breadth of Merton's reading and am somewhat envious of his travel record. I am not, however, impressed...more
This was an interesting little book. It is a work comprised of Merton's essays which analyze and summarize a selection of mystical texts individually. There is obviously a Christian odor about it, but that is easily ignored if that sort of thing is distasteful to you (considering many of the addressed mystics are Christian as well, it is recommended for non-Christians to read this work with a vigilant suspension of judgment...there are many, many fruits for those who can do this). This book insp...more
This is not a book about Zen Christianity. But it does describe some methods that modern Christians would do well to incorporate. Contemplative prayer is a nearly lost art. This book is for anyone who is trying to discover new ways to sit still and let God be God.
I really love this book! An exhaustive study of the worlds various religious practices, and how the vast majority deal with care of the self, and askesis (the exercise of the self in thought).
This is hit or miss. I think this book was compiled from independent essays. I set about to read a book about Zen and found this in my library (oddly enough). This is a survey of various contemplative traditions, with a little bit of comparing and contrasting. I'm 90% through the book and am powering through it out of sheer tenacity. Not going back to Merton any time soon. The book was written in the 60's as well, and it's starting to feel dated in places.
Having finished this book now, I firmly...more
Having finished this book now, I firmly...more
Really interesting. The Christian/Catholic stuff was a bit over my head but the Buddhism essays were fantastically clear and well-written.
Any book that takes 6-months to finish speaks for itself. A few interesting late chapters on inter-religious dialogue and the crossover points between Catholic monasticism and Zen, but other than that Merton is well over my head. The closing chapter on existentialism was the literary version of 15-mile ocean swim. Onto lighter fare...
Lots of different little articles - easier to read once I got into that "intense theology" reading mindset.
It can be like reading Greek sometimes.
It can be like reading Greek sometimes.
An amazing writer who has an uncany ability to clearly explain Eastern and Western religious thought, and throw in just a dash of Christian Existentialism.
Merton was the first Catholic figure to embrace Buddhism...this book explores the connection between Christianity and Buddhism..esp the role of meditation.
"Zen insight is not our awareness, but Being's awareness of itself in us."
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Thomas Merton was one of the most influential Catholic authors of the 20th century. A Trappist monk of the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, in the American state of Kentucky, Merton was an acclaimed Catholic spiritual writer, poet, author and social activist. Merton wrote over 60 books, scores of essays and reviews, and is the ongoing subject of many biographies. Merton was also a proponent of int...more
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