When the Trees Say Nothing: Writings on Nature

by Thomas Merton, Kathleen Deignan (Editor), John Giuliani (Illustrator)

Millions know Thomas Merton as the author of The Seven Storey Mountain, the autobiography that became an international bestseller and a modern spiritual classic. Merton, a prolific spiritual writer and social activist, inspired a generation from the silence and solitude of a Trappist monastery. Decades after his death, he remains a modern spiritual master, a source of wisdom on peace, racial harmony, poverty, alienation, and the engagement of Eastern and Western spiritual traditions. Now Merton is also revealed as a man whose spirituality is rooted in nature, an environmentalist ahead of his time. His writings on nature serve as a primer on eco-spirituality. He approaches ecology as a spiritual issue, one that exposes the degree of human alienation from the sacredness of the planet. When The Trees Say Nothing gathers for the first time over 300 of Merton's nature writings, grouping them thematically into sections on the seasons, elements, creatures and other topics. Edited by Merton scholar Kathleen Deignan, the collection is cohesive and accessible, drawing from both Merton's public writings and his recently published private journals. The lyrical writings are enhanced with Deignan's own informative Introduction, along with a Foreword by Thomas Berry, renowned spiritual mentor for the environmental movement. Unique and powerful on its own, When the Trees Say Nothing is enhanced with the art of John B. Giuliani, known for his stunning iconography. Giuliani's drawings harmonize exquisitely with Merton's meditations on nature, making When the Trees Say Nothing a spiritual and aesthetic prize.

Genres: Nature, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Religion, Poetry, Philosophy, Essays

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Thomas Merton, religious name M. Louis, was an American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist and scholar of comparative religion. In December 1941 he entered the Trappist Abbey of Gethsemani and in May 1949 he was ordained to priesthood. He was a member of the convent of the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, near Bardstown, Kentucky, living there from 1941 to his death.
Merton wrote more than 50 books in a period of 27 years, mostly on spirituality, social justice and a quiet pacifism, as well as scores of essays and reviews. Among Merton's most enduring works is his bestselling autobiography The Seven Storey Mountain (1948). His account of his spiritual journey inspired scores of World War II veterans, students, and teenagers to explore offerings of monasteries across the US. It is on National Review's list of the 100 best nonfiction books of the century.
Merton became a keen proponent of interfaith understanding, exploring Eastern religions through his study of mystic practice. His interfaith conversation, which preserved both Protestant and Catholic theological positions, helped to build mutual respect via their shared experiences at a period of heightened hostility. He is particularly known for having pioneered dialogue with prominent Asian spiritual figures, including the Dalai Lama XIV; Japanese writer D.T. Suzuki; Thai Buddhist monk Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, and Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh. He traveled extensively in the course of meeting with them and attending international conferences on religion. In addition, he wrote books on Zen Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, and how Christianity is related to them. This was highly unusual at the time in the United States, particularly within the religious orders.

Reviews

[Tomek · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very disappointing book. The only real reason I gave it two, rather than 1 star, is because of Merton's writing. The book is a compilation of Merton's "nature writing." I use the quotes because many of the excerpts are nothing more than sentences. I am sorry, but a sentence in which Merton merely mentions a bird does not nature writing make. This also makes the book jumpy and disjointed; hard to follow for any length of time. There were several longer excerpts which were wonderful. Merton's writing style is simple and to the point, yet beautiful and illustrative. It reminds me much of Hemingway's prose. All in all, this would be a nice thesis topic for an essay, as much of Merton's writing surely was influenced by his upbringing in France and his meditations in the forests of Kentucky. However, there just isn't enough substance here for a full book.

[Gearóid · Rating 5 out of 5]

The introduction to this book way very heavy going theology talk which nearly made me stop reading it.

But when I got to the actually book and the descriptions of nature it was really very nice.
Almost poetic at times.

[Lee Kuiper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here lies a fine encapsulation of the poetry of Merton’s non-poetry writing. (Perhaps a perfect book for the poetry skeptic.) He writes with clarity, stating his observations quite plainly. Yet, in these simple and small paragraphs he captures the reader with his ability to pick the most fitting (and surprising) words to describe things in a way that gives new life, in which it becomes new to the reader.

His writing is unassuming. His approachably simple and straightforward style offers a low barrier of entry. Once immersed in these snippets and vignettes, Merton’s writing begins to open like a blossom. This is not high poetry and, thus, does not require one to wrestle with hidden meaning and symbolism. It is, in a sense, quite easy reading. Much of the book is journal entries from his day-to-day life. What could be more monotonous than the day-to-day life of a monk following the same strict routine day-in and day-out? Yet, among his routine Merton is able to dive into the idiosyncrasies of the world around him and the very hidden beauty lurking behind the obvious and ignored. He is able to silence himself enough that the world slowly begins to reveal itself, showing him and, through his well-practiced and effective skill of writing, us of its wonders rather than monotony. Where many might see boredom, Merton, true to form, is able to plumb the depths of life’s exuberant elegance and the essence of an embodied life on this very physical earth.

When the Trees Say Nothing can be picked up and read in small doses. That is, in fact, exactly what I did. Over the course of an entire year, I turned to it when life in urban San Francisco felt overstimulating and I needed brief but essential respite. When I couldn’t afford the the time or energy to get out of the surrounding concrete and noise of the city but craved the silent spaciousness of nature, this book was an effective salve to my mind and soul.

I will treasure this book and look forward to reading it again (and again). His tactile images, observations, and poetic elucidation of the natural world are often stunning. Merton has the power to make any modern city-dweller (religious or not) long to live a simple life of rural contemplation. Of course, in curating these beautiful “nature” writings of his, an element of romanticism bleeds into the projected life of a Trappist monk. Yet, perhaps this is exactly what a world obsessed with progress, technology, constant movement and action needs in order to anchor itself to the fact that we are part of the very physical earthly nature that Merton paints. We are a small but essential part of the ecosystem that surrounds us. Merton models this humbling fact by choosing a simple life where he is able to better attune himself to the environment around him. “Why do I live alone? I don’t know… In some mysterious way I am condemned to it. … I cannot have enough of the hours of silence when nothing happens. When the clouds go by. When the trees say nothing. When the birds sing. I am completely addicted to the realization that just being there is enough, and to add something else is to mess it all up.”

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of reflections, comments, and observations of the natural world by Merton

[Lisal Kayati Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merton is unparalleled. Simple. Brilliant. God-inspired. Sigh

[Christine Dolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful book. Thomas Merton was a Cistercian monk who was a mystic, a poet, social commentator and spiritual writer. This is a collection of his musings on nature gleaned from his journals. I find it very spiritual and soothing. Mostly it consists of descriptions of nature, but Merton makes it clear that he finds God here. This is one of my favourite quotes:

"There I sat in the silence and loved the wind in the forest and listened a good while to God."

[Scott Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

The roughly 260 brief selections in this slender book are drawn mostly from Merton's journals, ranging from 1939, two years before he entered the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, to 1968, the year of his death. Rather than present the selections chronologically, which would have illustrated the evolution of his thought about nature, the book is organized by topics—rain, forests, mountains, birds, butterflies, etc. For such a small volume, the editor provides a long introduction, with much emphasis on the Catholic sources of Merton’s views of nature, a short acknowledgment of the influence from Zen Buddhism, and scant attention to his sources in the American nature writing tradition. In all of his writings, Merton seems to me most eloquent and persuasive when he is least concerned with translating his experiences into the language of a particular religion. Still, even at his most doctrinaire, Merton’s words reflect a mind and heart keenly attuned to the living world.

[Jenifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a very poorly edited book, but if you love Merton, you may like it. All of the excerpts are organized thematically rather than chronologically and there are no notes or dates (at least in the Kindle edition) to let you know whether Merton is at the Abbey or on a trip somewhere, what season it is and how old Merton was when he made the observation. The problem with this approach is that it is impossible to understand how his thinking on nature evolved over his life - and to draw out deeper themes that are likely there. At least adding a date to each excerpt would have helped. Feels like the book was meant as a coffee table book of ‘affirmations’ rather than as a book that can provide insight into Thomas Merton. Really disappointed.

[Lora · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most Catholics of my generation have heard of the Trappist theologian, Thomas Merton, even if they've not read him. The editor of this volume, Kathleen Deignan compiled these writings to bring notice to the 'subtheme' of nature in his spiritual writings, which many Merton authorities overlook.

Merton is a gifted descriptive writer. The son of 2 landscape artists, he has their eye for detail. His nature writings - however well they describe what he sees - always revert his focus back to himself. Like the capitalists he criticises for wanting to sell us the rain, his perception of nature commodifies it as spiritual currency he uses to increase his 'stock' with God.

Merton sees this failing in himself, writing about not looking for Spring '. . . for fear of taking out title deeds to it, and making it my real estate, as I have everything else. For fear of devouring it like a feast, making it my party, - and so losing it.'

He commits this mistake repeatedly in this volume, so it's unknown from this selection of writings alone, whether Merton ever changed this very Western interaction with nature. There are many spiritual writers who don't separate nature from themselves, that Merton's writings on the subject hardly seem worth printing in even this small volume.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merton was a Cistercian by discipline but a Franciscan at heart. Nothing could make this more apparent that this masterfully curated collection of Merton's writings on the natural world. For Merton, experiencing the kingdom of God required no more than stepping out one's front door in awareness. I chose this book as my primary reading for a recent retreat at Merton's Abbey of Gethsemani and it complimented the beauty and tranquility of that location perfectly.

I'm on to reading another collection of Merton's writings by Deignan "The Book of Hours". It is difficult to categorize Merton's incredible mind but Deignan comes as close as any to capturing his heart.

[Priscilla Lotfy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Thomas Merton’s writing and this book is no exception. His descriptions were vivid and brought me to the peaceful place where he was. My problem with it is that it is merely a collection of disjointed short writings on topics such as Seasons or Firmament or Creatures. Although I enjoyed many of the individual pieces there was no continuity from one to the next. So it was much like reading a book of quotes, each lovely in itself but tiring when read as a whole.

[Aleah Litterell-Sa'id · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compilation of Thomas Merton’s diary entries as pertains to nature. Because the book is arranged topically rather than chronologically it does not have great cohesion and flow. Definitely a book to pick away at little pieces. This is no fault of Merton’s but the editor who compiled it. What Merton has to say I found quite impactful and thought provoking. He sure can make the mountains sound sexy!

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2003. A bit disjointed. Gathers quotes excerpted from various books by Thomas Merton organizing them in categories, such as the seasons, rain, creatures, trees, etc. Many of the quotes are enjoyable, beautiful, memorable and poetic since Merton is such an excellent writer. Not a lot of God talk, for those who are put off by it.

[DW · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read despite Merton's occasional leanings towards a more Buddhist point of view. I have spent time at this monestary and even spent an afternoon in the hermitage where much of this was written, so being having seen this forest and fields and knobs added a lot.

[Andrea Engle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saturated with peace and calm, these writings on the natural world reveal Thomas Merton at his most luminous ... he is living in solitude at a hermitage deep in the lovely woods of rural Kentucky ... instinctively one envies him ...

[Halle McGuire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was left wanting so much more from Merton. I feel as though I was hoping to understand his life philosophy and theology, and received his ponderings on his surroundings. Lovely ponderings, and I feel that I have just scratched the surface of Merton's look on life

[Joyce Barrass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Merton's writing. Exquisitely expressed, with an honesty and openness to nature and a deep spirituality that speaks to my heart.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the writing of Merton....<3

[Brandy Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely poetry

Poetry from a Christian mystic, that has the power to transport me to another place and time. All while bringing me to a new vision of God.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughts and lessons about seeking God in the natural world and the beauty of creation.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible compilation of Merton's writing about nature. He was so connected to the Mystery through its creations. I especially loved the reading toward the end of the book Day of the Stranger.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice for daily meditations. A little awkwardly arranged by similar subject chapters (Deer, Mountains, Woods), but nice to spend a few moments each day with Merton’s thoughts.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had high expectations but his nature writing is frankly quite dull and carefully developed. A few longer pieces at the end were worth the whole book

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflections on nature, and God who is the source.

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Organization lacks context which could have made it so much better. Hang on for the las few pages which are the BEST.

[Diane Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very peaceful, quiet book to think about and meditate with.

[Gregory M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really lovely passages in this collection but the structure and framing of it seemed random at times with no context as to where the passages originally came from.

[elzinga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes please and thank you.

[Chelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book finished in 2022 (I started reading it in 2021, obviously) is this lovely compilation of Thomas Merton’s nature writings. I love finding the sacred in the ordinary, and especially in nature, so this is delightful to me, especially after having had the opportunity to visit the Abbey of Gethsemani, where Merton lived, last fall. These little writings are not chronological but instead arranged by theme, and most of them are short, so this would be a great book to read bit by bit and slowly digest and contemplate.

[Bobby · Rating 2 out of 5]

First thing I would say about When The Trees Say Nothing is that it is possibly of interest only to very serious fans of Thomas Merton (and for the record I myself have read literally thousands of pages of Merton). This is a highly edited collection, almost entirely taken from published journals, of Merton entries that in some way refer to something in the natural world, whether it be rain or trees or deer or whatever. I found this book unsatisfying because most of the readings, often only a couple of sentences long, just didn't stand by themselves very well, were not really meant to be taken out of the context of the journals. And in the end you have a book that offers very little insight into Merton's attitude/approach to nature. Mostly you just end up seeing that he mentioned things about the natural world with some frequency, but not finding much of interest otherwise. The only redeeming factor in this book is Merton's writing but you can do much, much better than this collection if you're looking for a starting place.