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Seeds
Thomas Merton is often considered the most prominent Christian contemplative of the twentieth century, but he was also a political activist, social visionary, and literary figure whose writings combine the candor of Thoreau and the moral vision of Gandhi. Here is a remarkably accessible introduction to his work: a collection of a short, vivid excerpts arranged in four parts so as to parallel the journey of a seeking soul in the modern world.
• "Real and False Selves" distinguishes between our real selves, a deep religious mystery known entirely only to God, and the identities we take on in order to function in society.
• "The World We Live In" provides a spiritual context to modern life, moving from a stark rejection of its empty promises to a deep compassion for its tragic limitations.
• "Antidotes to Illusion" reflects on contemplative practices that can serve as the allies of our "real selves" in the battle against illusion: silence, solitude, meditation, prayer, charity, and faith.
• "Love in Action" explores the role of the contemplative in the modern age and the challenges and pitfalls of living a life of active love.
Merton's startling critique of a society driven by technology and rampant acquisition, the politics of "good versus evil," and the self-deluding complacency of the spiritual "lifestyle" demonstrate beyond doubt that his writings are as urgent today as they were in his lifetime.
• "Real and False Selves" distinguishes between our real selves, a deep religious mystery known entirely only to God, and the identities we take on in order to function in society.
• "The World We Live In" provides a spiritual context to modern life, moving from a stark rejection of its empty promises to a deep compassion for its tragic limitations.
• "Antidotes to Illusion" reflects on contemplative practices that can serve as the allies of our "real selves" in the battle against illusion: silence, solitude, meditation, prayer, charity, and faith.
• "Love in Action" explores the role of the contemplative in the modern age and the challenges and pitfalls of living a life of active love.
Merton's startling critique of a society driven by technology and rampant acquisition, the politics of "good versus evil," and the self-deluding complacency of the spiritual "lifestyle" demonstrate beyond doubt that his writings are as urgent today as they were in his lifetime.
192 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 2002
15 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Merton
554 books1,902 followersThomas 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 18, 2011
Thomas Merton: Rebel with an Existential Cause
To describe Thomas Merton as a Trappist monk and writer falls short. In my reading of his ideas, Merton seemed to me to be a “rebel with an existential cause” a sort of James Dean of Catholic philosophers. Maybe there is a ‘bad boy” heritage in Catholicism, that of someone who awakens from debauchery to spirituality (arguably Saint Augustine was one). Or maybe Merton was just born cool. On the cover of Seeds we see Merton standing strong, arms down and with a steely, cool look that would bring down even Rocky Marciano. He stares you down into considering rejecting the material world in favor of the spiritual, to thinking about how God can inspire us. How did Merton feel about success? When asked for a contribution to a book entitled Success he told that author, “If I had a message to my contemporaries, I said it was surely this: Be anything you like, be madmen, drunks, and bastards of every shape and form, but at all costs avoid one thing: success.” Merton wryly comments that he never heard from that writer. Merton also wrote, “I drink beer whenever I can lay my hand on any. I love beer, and by that very fact, the world.” This is a monk?? But that’s what drew me to read on, because interspersed in the heavy philosophical thoughts was humor and a keen sense of an understanding of the human psyche. I was struck by these observations and insights by Merton:
Dan Smee
Author, "Totally American"
To describe Thomas Merton as a Trappist monk and writer falls short. In my reading of his ideas, Merton seemed to me to be a “rebel with an existential cause” a sort of James Dean of Catholic philosophers. Maybe there is a ‘bad boy” heritage in Catholicism, that of someone who awakens from debauchery to spirituality (arguably Saint Augustine was one). Or maybe Merton was just born cool. On the cover of Seeds we see Merton standing strong, arms down and with a steely, cool look that would bring down even Rocky Marciano. He stares you down into considering rejecting the material world in favor of the spiritual, to thinking about how God can inspire us. How did Merton feel about success? When asked for a contribution to a book entitled Success he told that author, “If I had a message to my contemporaries, I said it was surely this: Be anything you like, be madmen, drunks, and bastards of every shape and form, but at all costs avoid one thing: success.” Merton wryly comments that he never heard from that writer. Merton also wrote, “I drink beer whenever I can lay my hand on any. I love beer, and by that very fact, the world.” This is a monk?? But that’s what drew me to read on, because interspersed in the heavy philosophical thoughts was humor and a keen sense of an understanding of the human psyche. I was struck by these observations and insights by Merton:
Dan Smee
Author, "Totally American"
December 19, 2014
Merton is by far my favorite monk, and I dig monks, poets and troubadours. These are the folks who help keep me from cynicism, despair and hopelessness in this modern world. It's easy to lose one's spiritual thirst in a world filled with false prophets, hucksters and religious fanatics but Merton was the real deal and his thoughts and teachings are timeless and as relevant today as the they were in the time they were written.
May 18, 2019
This is a book of excerpts and quotes from Merton's various writings compiled posthumously. While some of Merton's writings are incomprehensible to me and feel circular and bewildering, even more of them are profoundly impactful and help me approach reality and Christianity from a different angle than my late 20th century Southern American upbringing trained me for. Convicting, challenging, and refreshing.
February 8, 2021
if you're wondering whether it's worth reading a book of just Merton's excerpts, this title fulfilled my hopes and more. the intro says his strength as a writer is the cogency and solidity of his paragraphs of which many therein are spiritually magnificent.
September 22, 2022
Very insightful paragraphs from his works. I would rather read the works in their entirety.
August 25, 2007
Non-fiction. A book to read & think about one little chunk at a time...Merton's critique of world societies driven by technology, acquisition and self-deluding/complacent spirituality forces you to think .Not an easy read at first, but you want to stay with it! Amazing insights. His life is amazing. Born in 1915 in France. Experiences loss & turbulence. Travels between Europe & US with his father. Highly intelligent but feeling lost / seeking meaning. In young & crazy days, he lost his scholarship & was kicked out of college @ Cambridge because of wild partying, fathered a child out of wedlock,etc,etc. Set out meeting many prominent thinkers of the time, writers, artists, etc. explored many things - communism, studied eastern religions (Hinduism), Western spiritual writers - finally traveled to the Abby @ Gethsemani in Ky. Called the place "the wilderness, but the only real city in Amreica, an axle around which the whold country turns yet knows nothing about". He stayed there, became a monk and wrote several AMAZING books. There are Thoman Merton study groups (societies) in almost every major city. This was the first Merton book I've read. I'd heard of Gethsemani years ago & know folks who get away there anually . I will be traveling to Gethsemani to spend a weekend there with a few friends. Hmmmmmmmm.
July 9, 2009
Thomas Merton has got to be the sexiest monk that ever lived...and not sexy in the American Hollywood adolescent sense, but sexy in the juicy, raw, fire-in-your-veins, full of life sense. He was a man who reflected, questioned, challenged, and committed himself to the difficult practice of living what he preached. A religious man who went beyond the trappings of religion to the deeper meanings and exploration of the existential experience...A monk who was the opposite of a passive hermit; an activist, a writer, and we are offered his gifts for enrichment if we choose. The book is divided into four sections which editor Robert Inchausti selected: Real and False Selves, The World We Live In, Antidotes to Illusion, and Love in Action. I am impressed with how one can discern flavors of the time period in which Merton was writing, while at the same time glean the transcendant meanings which are applicable in our own day and age...especially his writings on commercialism, advertisements, and technology. I really enjoyed this book and the format is such that it is easy to pick up and read a few passages at a time.
Read
May 10, 2011A book that changed my life! It was my first introduction to the writing of Thomas Merton. Robert Inchausti has successfully drawn paragraphs from Merton's many works and compiled them together under themes such as "Real and False Selves" and "Unquiet City". Each paragraph is like a stepping stone on a path that leads the reader deeper into the knowledge of self, man, and God.
October 25, 2007
As time goes by this book is more revelant, not less. It helps to differentiate between illusion and reality. It gives us the right and obligation to call out the absurdity in society, to turn our backs on it and face the truth stamped within us.
December 30, 2015
More of a smorgasbord of some great zencatholic Merton stuff than anything coherent. Some great insights in social media. Worth having on the shelf for either super casual or intense Merton/Zen/60s Catholics, but you'll want it as a sort of encyclopedic supplement, not a standalone.
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February 1, 2008i'm just starting it. excerpts from his writings. i'm stoked for it.
March 4, 2008
truest meditation on modern life.
January 29, 2009
How to live! This is the best book ever.
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November 6, 2009More brilliance from TM
October 21, 2010
This book was so timely for me. I read it and then journalized each thought/meditation that impacted me.
June 5, 2017
Loved it at the time - don't know about now.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews