New Seeds of Contemplation

by Thomas Merton, Sue Monk Kidd (Introduction)

One of the best-loved books by one of the great spiritual authors of our time, with a new introduction by best-selling author Sue Monk Kidd.

New Seeds of Contemplation is one of Thomas Merton's most widely
read and best-loved books. Christians and non-Christians alike have
joined in praising it as a notable successor in the meditative tradition
of St. John of the Cross, The Cloud of Unknowing, and the
medieval mystics, while others have compared Merton's reflections with
those of Thoreau. New Seeds of Contemplation seeks to awaken the
dormant inner depths of the spirit so long neglected by Western man, to
nurture a deeply contemplative and mystical dimension in our lives. For
Merton, "Every moment and every event of every man's life on earth
plants something in his soul. For just as the wind carries thousands of
winged seeds, so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitality
that come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most of
these unnumbered seeds perish and are lost, because men are not prepared
to receive them: for such seeds as these cannot spring up anywhere
except in the soil of freedom, spontaneity and love."

Genres: Spirituality, Religion, Nonfiction, Theology, Christianity, Christian, Philosophy

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

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 inter-religious dialogue, engaging in spiritual dialogues with the Dalai Lama XIV, Thich Nhat Hanh, D. T. Suzuki and poet Robert Lax. His life and career were suddenly cut short at age 53, when he was electrocuted stepping out of his bath.