The Silent Life

by Thomas Merton

Thomas Merton wrote The Silent Life a decade after he took orders. In his Prologue, Merton describes the book as "a meditation on the monastic life by one who, without any merit of his own, is privileged to know that life on the inside . . . who seeks only to speak as the mouthpiece of a tradition centuries old." It is a remarkable work-one that combines a lucid and informative description of the nature and forms of monasticism, communal and solitary, with a passionate defense of the contemplative's quest for God. The intense beauty of Merton's meditation, radiating from beneath its surface calm, makes The Silent Life a classic of its kind.

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

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

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

[Steve Barrera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in the late 1950s and written by a famous American Trappist monk, this book is a short primer on what it means to be a monk in the Catholic tradition. It introduces basic concepts, and describes the lives of monks in several different orders, both cenobitic and hermetical. The main difference is that cenobitic monks have a communal life, whereas hermetic ones spend most of their time in solitude. The latter is much more demanding, and has fewer practitioners. The book describes the history of Roman Catholic monasticism, going back to St. Benedict in the 6th century, and also lists modern monasteries in Europe and North America. Many of these are still in place, and can easily be found with a web search, often having their own web sites. It's a great book for learning about Roman Catholic monastic practice, and I found, not surprisingly, that in essence it is like the religious devotion of other traditions. It is ultimately an effort to transcend ego. As the book says on p. 26, "The inner, basic, metaphysical defilement of fallen man is his profound and illusory conviction that he is a god and that the universe is centered upon him." That's the Catholic way of describing a similar concept found in Eastern religion, of the veil of illusion that obscures our perception of reality. Piercing the veil requires faith, an opening of the heart, and to live with humility and with charity - meaning to never put yourself before others - the highest Christian virtue. This is the calling of the monk.

[Jeremy · Rating 2 out of 5]

My rating is no reflection on the quality of the book as a whole or the writing in particular. I simply expected a book about how to live a more silent life. I suppose this is technically true, as the book is basically an overview of the Benedictine Rule and the various iterations of communities across time and geography applying this rule in various ways. As always, Merton speaks with clarity and depth, but I do not know many who would be interested in the majority of the content of this book.

The beginning was rich in description of the monk's pursuit of union with God, but I would recommend many of Merton's other works if union with God is the reader's primary pursuit. New Seeds of Contemplation for starters!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, mysticism ❤️

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, insightful little book on the nature of Christian monasticism. Wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this book on a whim from my local used book store, other than a dim awareness that Merton wasn’t your typical “Christian” writer. What I found was a book that is partially an explanation of the principles that underlie the monk’s way of life, partially a description of how these principles manifest in various monastic orders.

Even as a non Christian, I could still see the universal significance of the ideas Merton writes about. This is probably because Merton is concerned not only with dogma and liturgy, but how true adherence to the principles of Christian faith manifest in the real world, and how our society as it stands has fallen so far from those principles. You know you are dealing with a real one when Merton decries the way the “totalitarians” and “capitalists” have deformed modern man, or how a monk that pretends to mere bourgeois values can never reach true spiritual purity. Merton recognizes that society as it stands is lacking, and is unsustainable in the long term. The monastic life provides not only the conditions for a closer relationship with god, but also a model for the way man can organize his relationship with his environment, his tools, his work, and his fellow human beings. A monk shares in the work of the cloister, never slacking but also always allowing for plenty of time for contemplation and rest. Mutual aid is a requirement of the communal like style in the cloister, but a monk must always respect the solitude and space of another. A monk is encouraged to take up a creative exploit and devote time to its mastery. A monk lives simply and without extraneous things; the possessions he does own, he treats with the care and dignity befitting tools made to do God’s work.

One might see the monastic lifestyle as meaningless asceticism, a wholesale denial of a big part of what it means to be human; Merton would argue (I think convincingly) that the excision of all unnecessary things makes space for the sliver of human existence that truly makes a life significant, a sliver that has all but been buried by the modern world.

[Liana✞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"the deepest need of our darkness is to comprehend the light which shines in the midst of it...the monastic life is a rejection of that which obstructs the spiritual rays of this mysterious light"

asceticism disposes the soul for union with god, it's the recovery of our true selves created for union with God, it's a purification and a liberation. however asceticism when misused to serve ourselves instead of God, can often harden our hearts and blind us from his grace and light. as St Benard said "woe to those who carry the cross of Christ and do not follow Christ; to those who share in his sufferings, and yet refuse to follow him in his humility". pursuing self-discipline to simply appear in a certain way to others or ourselves, just isn't the way. we pursue such things to better open ourselves up to HIM and for HIM only, others need not know what we do, neither should we ourselves be dwelling on and thinking ourselves the better for it all. sp, any asceticism we take part in, any sort of discipline, should always be rooted in humility and obedience to Christ, and just Christ in general lest it lead us astray from Him and towards pride, airs of superiority, etc

"man, created in the image of God loses his likeness to God by becoming centered on himself" -- through deepening our faith and our relationship with Him, by allowing ourselves to lose all and any selfish motivations in life, we become more like Him and thus more like our true selves, puritas cordis is a heart that is empty of self, and it is a puritas cordis we need to seek in order for Him to fill us with his spirit and love instead

"do not desire to be called a saint, but be one" - St Benedict

to live is Christ, and to die is gain

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm surprised to like this book. I picked it because I thought I might have missed my life's calling. So I thought I'd investigate being a monk. About 30 pages into it, I became bogged down by Christian dogma and nearly quit. But instead I skimmed and then got back into about 20 pages later. From then on, it was interesting and engaging.
It's all about monks. Monks are men who devote their entire lives to the search for God. I don't believe God is like a man or an intelligent being who overseas the universe. I just don't see any evidence for it. But I understand the hardcore man who decides he wants to figure things out. That, to me, is what monks are all about.
Merton makes it clear that they devote themselves to humility, silence, solitude, and study. Dig it, man.

[path · Rating 3 out of 5]

On one hand, the book is a description of monastic life (cenobitic and hermetic) and the daily routines of that life. On the other, it is a trim and often poetic explanation of the monastic mindset, the reasoning (religious and philosophical) behind choosing the silent life. For the un-initiated, like myself, the line of rationality through scripture and other religious thought was sometimes difficult to follow, but Merton seemed very aware of his broader audience and patiently kept at it.

[Brad B · Rating 2 out of 5]

As an atheist, my 2-star rating of Thomas Merton's The Silent Life might be unfair, as I'm clearly not part of the intended audience. Strictly as an exploration of monastic life, I don't feel much more knowledgeable now than before I read the book. More importantly, while Merton writes frequently about humility and charity, he still writes from the perspective of one who believes he has the one and only truth, and that does not seem humble or charitable to me.

[Desmond Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

An awkward mix of monastic history and an explanation of what monks are trying to do, and why. Public fascination with the monastic life, and the rapid growth in monastery numbers during the 1950's, were at least in part due to Merton's autobiography and spiritual books. His diaries make clear that writing books like this was not really what he wanted to do, and it shows.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly skimmed most of this book - the religion dogma was too much for me - I will admit toward the end there was more interest into an unknown world - Just not enough to slow down and read each word. Perhaps at another time I can revisit ....

[Patricia Tennesen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a deep read, challenging for me to understand. I took my time in hopes of understanding the monastic life. I now not only understand this lifestyle choice but see how I could quickly turn to it as I crave quiet reflection.

[Scott Rushing · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Silent Life is ostensibly a reflection about monasticism for his fellow monks. In part 1, he answers the question “What is a monk?” In part 2, he writes brief summaries of the contemplative orders of the Benedictines, Cistercians (including Trappists), Carthusians, and Camaldolese.

[Pawel Szymczak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kim jest mnich? Opisane przez jednego z najsłynniejszch mnichów. Krótkie i treściwe.

[NK · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small book with powerful messages. Take time to read it carefully. Not a quick read.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A weaving together Benedictine tradition with various forms of monastic life

[Mikey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great explanation of the contemplative journey.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you ever wanted to understand the reasoning behind monks and monasteries. Also their varieties and differences this is the book for you.

[elora · Rating 5 out of 5]

if I were a man and of the catholic decent, I would be a monastic. lovely

[Elise M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and engaging overview of monastic traditions, finding something of value in each one whilst never assigning any kind of biased hierarchy of value.

[Will Whitmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant text that is inspiring and informative. It is hard to underestimate how good of a writer Merton is. A real treat to the soul

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
My second Thomas Merton book, and not my last. A classic book on "What it Means to be a Monk".

[Thomas J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peace in a troubled world

We, as Christians, should strive to know God better. To extols our virtues, to care for all mankind as Christ and the monastic tradition has taught us.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, unlike many of Merton’s writings, is specifically targeted at those who are exploring the monastic life. It is Merton’s fairly academic approach. He starts in a way that resonates clearly for all readers…“No one can find God without having first been found by Him. A monk is a man who seeks God because he has been found by God.” And so the door is open to the Silent Life.

Merton is one of my favorite authors. I love when he quotes the great theologians of the past, such as St. Bernard – “Could we not have found for ourselves a more pleasant road to hell? If it is necessary for us to go there why don’t we at least choose the broad path, which is followed by so many, and which leads to death, so that we might pass from joy to grief, instead of grieving all the way to hell. Woe to those who carry the Cross of Christ and do not follow Christ: to those who share in His sufferings, and yet refuse to follow Him in His humility.” His knowledge of the Bible is encyclopedic, and always leads to wonderful insights such as the following commentary regarding John 1:5, The deepest need of our darkness is to comprehend the light which shines in the midst of it.” These are insights that I don’t typically arrive at without the aid of magnificent scholars such as Merton.

Unfortunately, most of the rest of the text was so specially directed that I found myself on the outside of Merton’s target group. He remains one of my favorite writers, but for casual readers, I would recommend his other work.

See my other reviews here!

[Alex Strohschein · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well if you want to be a monk or are interested in the monastic tradition, this is a great resource and you would probably find this book being a 4-5/5. If, on the other hand, you read this book solely because you were drawn to the name of the writer, Thomas Merton, like I was, this might prove to be a disappointment.

Merton's early (and orthodox) work is insightful and illuminating and "The Silent Life" hails from this era. I thought, with a title like "The Silent Life", that this book would be about prayer and solitude; it is, but it concentrates on the lives of monks instead of offering advice or guidance to a layperson. Merton goes into great detail about the various monastic Orders (the Benedictines, the Camaldolese, etc...), outlining how they are structured, how their daily life looks like, and what areas of spirituality they focus on (e.g. prayer, meditation, study). He briefly discusses the history of the Orders and explains whether or not they are community or hermit-based.

Merton's writing is simple but profound. The first 25 pages or so are accessible to laypeople and contain some excellent passages, but the rest of the book is heavy with discussion of the numerous monastic Orders.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Silent Life is rather academic and dry; a disappointment for one who loves Merton’s more personal and contemplative writings. I suppose this book would be useful for a person seeking to find out more detail about the various branches of monastic life; and for a lay person, Merton does an admirable job of explaining the contemporary relevance of monastic ideals in a world in which such a life appears to be obsolete. Merton’s devotion to Christianity is apparent, but the book carries an overall heaviness of purpose making it inaccessible compared to his other works.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of writings in his earlier years which has a different flavor than his later ones. It is one that most people can relate to even if not of the same religions thoughts. It is not really a religious book but something we all think about and don't know how to express. Merton had the ability to say things in this book that makes one sit back and shake his head that yeah that is just what I thought too. He helps us formulate those loose cannons running round in our spiritual thoughts.

[Ce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Busqué este libro para entender un poco más, que es lo que mueve a un ser humano a dejarlo TODO y buscar en la soledad al que lo es TODO. Merton saca una buena radiografía de lo que San Benito tenía en mente cuando estableció su regla y lo que ha sucedido con algunas reformas. Un buen pantallazo a lo que son los trapenses, cisticircenses, cartujos y camadulenses. En definitiva, se requiere más coraje del imaginado para dejar todo y hallar en la soledad al Creador.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not: a comparative analysis of modern monastic communities; a memoir of a monastic experience; theology. I don't know what the hell it is.

Die Große Stille is a better bet for an intimate portrait of monasticism — equally uncritical, but much more experiential.

[Elaine de Jong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merton gives a thorough explanation of the history of the monastic life. This is not a guide to “the silent life” but a description of different orders of monks and how they live out vows of solitude and silence.

[Nathaniel Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book about monastic spirtuality. I have really nothing else to compare it to, but I think it's a fairly good introduction.