false 727578 5 "It can become almost a magic word," Thomas Merton says of contemplation; "or if not magic, then inspirational, which is almost as bad." With these words, Merton takes us through the reality of contemplation, which is, the author says, "life itself, fully awake, fully active, fully aware that it is alive. It is spiritual wonder." Above all, contemplation is "awareness of the reality" of the Source, "with a certitude that goes beyond reason and beyond simple faith." As these definitions should suggest, in this 20th-century classic on the contemplative life, as in the best of Merton's work, this Trappist monk wonderfully combines a disciplined and deeply learned intellect with the lyrical passion of the poet. It is this rare combination that makes this book not only informative but also moving. Covering a diverse range of subjects ("Faith," "The Night of the Senses," "Renunciation"), it moves the reader through certain traditional "phases" of contemplation, and gives an idea of what to expect in this spiritual process (including despair and darkness). The book describes, but it also enacts. In its own prose it invites the reader to "cast our awful solemnity to the winds and join in the general dance." <I>--Doug Thorpe</I> 1133302 1972 New Seeds of Contemplation total:400|5:188|4:154|3:49|2:7|1:2| 400 1719 623 49 5 1 false false Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2005 Sat Apr 07 17:13:53 -0700 2007 Sat Apr 07 17:14:48 -0700 2007
For a few years, I fostered a very robust fascination with Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk who was a prolific writer. I can’t remember how I found Merton, maybe some long ago professor of mine or a reference in someone else’s book, but since I started reading him almost a decade ago, ...more...]]> 5 1 false false Thu Jun 12 09:04:34 -0700 2008 Sat Sep 20 11:10:33 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sun May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat May 09 16:31:12 -0700 2009 Sun May 10 21:36:12 -0700 2009
That being said, Brother Tom plunges into a book in which he attempts to lay the groundwork, or to set the vibe for one...more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2002 Sat Oct 18 16:37:19 -0700 2008 Sat Oct 18 16:37:53 -0700 2008 1 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Jul 28 07:59:23 -0700 2008 Mon Jul 28 08:25:33 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 0 false false Mon Mar 31 14:19:52 -0700 2008 Thu Mar 20 10:16:47 -0700 2008 Thu Mar 20 10:30:06 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Mar 20 20:45:37 -0700 2008 Thu Mar 20 20:56:26 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Jun 09 16:31:02 -0700 2009 Tue Jun 09 16:32:19 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sun Sep 13 19:19:39 -0700 2009 Sun Sep 13 19:21:00 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Fri Oct 02 15:00:52 -0700 2009 Fri Oct 02 15:02:38 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon Sep 21 22:17:47 -0700 2009 Mon Sep 21 22:19:55 -0700 2009 Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville, Virginia.]]> 4 0 false false Wed Jan 21 10:50:47 -0800 2009 Wed Jan 21 10:55:05 -0800 2009 5 0 false false Tue Aug 14 21:26:07 -0700 2007 Thu Sep 24 14:30:33 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Wed May 13 11:57:15 -0700 2009 Wed May 13 11:59:02 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Fri Nov 06 08:42:20 -0800 2009 Fri Nov 06 08:42:58 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Wed Dec 24 07:40:11 -0800 2008 Wed Dec 31 07:17:03 -0800 2008 5 0 false false Wed Nov 12 08:52:19 -0800 2008 Wed Nov 12 08:53:10 -0800 2008 more...]]> 3 1 false false Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri May 29 11:30:54 -0700 2009 Thu Jun 04 14:49:34 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Fri Sep 07 17:52:07 -0700 2007 Fri Sep 07 17:57:03 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 0 false false Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0800 2005 Fri Mar 13 12:08:10 -0700 2009 Thu Apr 02 22:30:47 -0700 2009