Ship of Fools: Thomas Merton. Recommendations?

Thread: Thomas Merton. Recommendations? Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Gamaliel (# 812) on :

I keep coming across references to Thomas Merton's writings. I hear that they're a bit dated now but worth a read.

Has anyone any good tips on where to start and which ones to go for?

Posted by quetzalcoatl (# 16740) on :

He wrote so widely, that any list is a bit haphazard. I would recommend, first, Seven Storey Mountain, his autobiography, which is excellent, and probably the place to start.

On contemplation, 'New Seeds of Contemplation', 'Raids on the Unspeakable' and 'Contemplative Prayer'. On Eastern thought, 'Zen and the Birds of Appetite'.

On the spiritual life, 'Contemplation in a world of action', and 'The Monastic Journey'.

There is also 'Selected Poems', and his journals and letters are published. A prolific writer - over 80 books!

Posted by fletcher christian (# 13919) on :

'The Living Bread'. One of the central ideas is freedom in God in a world where people feel trapped by government decisions, corporations that act with impunity, injustice reigns etc. The sense of freedom being striped away. But Merton talks about how God can bring a true sense of freedom and dignity - among many other things. It makes the book very relevant to today. Overall, it's a reflection on the Eucharistic presence.
"Contemplation In A World Of Action' is also very good - and again, quite relevant. It's about reviving the core elements of what monasticism and asceticism was really about to see if it can be maintained in Christianity today when the monastic experience appears to be disappearing.

Posted by quetzalcoatl (# 16740) on :

I forgot 'The Asian Journal' his last book, about his meetings with teachers and spiritual leaders in the East. He was killed on that journey, by a faulty electric switch.

Posted by Desert Daughter (# 13635) on :

Broadly (very broadly!) speaking one could find three categories of publications in Merton's considerable oeuvre : First, the autobiographical writings, starting with the Seven Storey Mountain (a book from which the later Merton distanced himself), and then going on to his writings on monastic life (The Sign of Jonas). Then there's his work on spirituality (Seeds of Contemplation; No Man's an Island; Mystics and Zen Masters; Zen and the Birds of Appetites etc). Thirdly, there's the theological stuff, mostly the lectures he gave while acting as Novice Master. This includes gems for anyone interested in the spirituality of Benedictine monasticism (of which the Trappists are part): Titles here include Cassian and the Fathers; Pre-Benedictine Monasticism; The Rule of Saint Benedict; A Introduction to Christian Mysticism.

It really depends on
which Merton you are interested in.

Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :

Merton's works were very helpful to me.

I agree with the above recommendations, especially "Seven-Storey Mountain" and "New Seeds of Contemplation".

If you want to walk on the wild side a bit, try "My Argument With The Gestapo". It's written in macaronic language, which means that several languages are mixed in. (All European, as I recall.) I don't think I read it through, but it was fun to play with.

Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :

I found Seven-Storey Mountain to be artificial, and am interested to hear that the later Merton distanced himself from it.

His Asian Journal seemed much more honest. It spoke to me, anyway.

Posted by Galilit (# 16470) on :

Definitely Seven Story Mountain.
Monica Furlong's Merton A Biography
Nice readings Thomas Merton Essential Writings by Christine M. Bochen

Posted by Macrina (# 8807) on :

I loved the Seven Storey Mountain. I think it's had a huge bearing on me as an individual ever since, even in my vast wanderings. I really should read more of what he wrote and so shall follow this thread with interest.

Posted by Rosa Winkel (# 11424) on :

His "Contemplative prayer" was influential upon me.

An excerpt can he read here.

Posted by Angloid (# 159) on :

quote:
Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
He wrote so widely, that any list is a bit haphazard. I would recommend, first, Seven Storey Mountain, his autobiography, which is excellent, and probably the place to start.

It's a dangerous place to start! Merton himself, without actually disowning what he wrote there, admitted that it was a very immature work. It was written at a very triumphalist period in the life of the Catholic Church (between WW2 and the Second Vatican Council) and Merton comes across as a rather pious prig in some ways. That might be enough to put off a newcomer from exploring his much more powerful work.

Having said that, it is an excellent book, and reveals much of his humour and humanity. It's just that, IMHO, it is easier to appreciate that in 7SM if you come to it after reading some of his journals, like the Sign of Jonas. The whole of his private journals have now been published and they are fascinating... his deepening call to the solitary life is counterpoised with his increasing commitment to social justice and political involvement.

His work is so varied and multi-faceted that recommending anything else depends on your interests. Best I think to read the journals and get the flavour of the man, and let yourself be led through his various enthusiasms to his other writing. I'm reading just now The Ascent to Truth about St John of the Cross, which is quite hard going but very worthwhile. Raids on the Unspeakable is one of his later works and very powerful.

His letters to a wide variety of people illustrate I think what St Paul meant about being 'all things to all people'. He never wavers in his commitment to Christ or the faith, but he has the knack of tuning into the wavelength of his various correspondents, whether Buddhist holy men or political activists or teenage girls.

Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on :

I first read him in Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, which I still think is one of his best.

Posted by venbede (# 16669) on :

I read Seven Storey Mountain when I was first becoming interested, nay convinced, by catholic Christianity. It demonstrated that Roman Catholicism was not just peasant superstition for simple foreigners, but an intellectually powerful and humane, er, thing. (Sorry for the bathos.)

I don't recommend it as Gamaliel's first stop. I have Faith and Violence - a series of essays at the time of the Civil Rights movement. Maybe they are historically interested rather than dated, but show how superficial we (or at least I) are in many ways nowadays by comparison. It includes a devastating but charitable review of Honest to God: "I have small difficulty in imagining what a convinced Marxists might say about it."

Opening the Bible is good too.

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

I second what Angloid said. Merton's early stuff is not very helpful. i took his 'Seeds of Contemplation' on retreat and was stuck with it. Should have taken 'New Seeds of Contemplation' instead.

Posted by jbohn (# 8753) on :

For a different take, Merton's translation of Chuang Tzu is a decent read.

Posted by Gamaliel (# 812) on :

Thanks folks, interesting, if somewhat contradictory, advice ...

I'll delve around before plunging in. I'll need to get an overview, I think, then start to drill down.

Posted by quetzalcoatl (# 16740) on :

Kindle have quite a few books by Merton, some selections from his journals, nature writings, Zen, and so on. Prices sort of medium. I don't know if they have any free chapters or not.

Posted by uffda (# 14310) on :

Gamaliel-- I might recommend Merton's poetry as a good starting place. They're accessible and reveal much about the man.I have an old paperback from 1967 which I have carried across my life entitled "Selected Poems of Thomas Merton: Enlarged Edition." It has some of my favorite poems, including "For my Brother: Reported Missing in Action 1943" "To A Severe Nun" which begins:

I know, Sister, that solitude
Will never dismay you. You have chosen
A path too steep for others to follow,
I take it you prefer to go without them...

And especially moving "On the Anniversary of my Baptism"

"And this is the ninth november since my
world's end and my Genesis,
When with the sting of salt in my dry mouth,
Cross crowned with water by the priest,
Stunned at the execution of my old companion,
death,
And with the murder of my savage history,
You drowned me in the shallow font..."

Hope you enjoy searching through his works. Try the poems..

Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :

quote:
Originally posted by jbohn:
For a different take, Merton's translation of Chuang Tzu is a decent read.

I agree. It's a fine piece of writing. I'd say if anyone's remotely interested in Taoism, find a copy. It may be wishful thinking on my part, but when I read it I think I can detect the surprised delight of a writer who has looked at a completely different culture to his own, and found much to sympathise with.

Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :

quote:
posted by Angloid:
It's a dangerous place to start! Merton himself, without actually disowning what he wrote there, admitted that it was a very immature work. It was written at a very triumphalist period in the life of the Catholic Church (between WW2 and the Second Vatican Council) and Merton comes across as a rather pious prig in some ways. That might be enough to put off a newcomer from exploring his much more powerful work.

I'm another who would suggest you don't start with seven Story Mountain. Or at least, be aware as Angloid suggests that Merton does come across as pious and priggish. I found it came across with too much "newly-converted to catholicism/monasticism and it's the answer to everything" type zeal which annoyed me hugely. That said, I had been pre-warned about that, so was prepared to stick with it and was glad I did.

Posted by Angloid (# 159) on :

Anybody who is serious about understanding Merton should read Seven Storey Mountain at some stage. Just not, I suggest, as a first introduction. There are several biographies which give a better picture (and cover most of his monastic career which of course 7SM doesn't). Monica Furlong's has been referred to, but it is not very good because she is obsessed by what she sees as Merton's ongoing feud with Abbot James Fox. Michael Mott's Seven Mountains of Thomas Merton, and William H Shannon's Silent Lamp are both well worth reading.

Posted by Gamaliel (# 812) on :

Thanks Uffda. I've heard of his poetry but not read any. I'll certainly look at those alongside the other works. Looks like I've got some reading and catching up to do ...

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