Customer Reviews

Merton & Hesychasm: The Prayer of the Heart & the Eastern Church (The Fons Vitae Thomas Merton series)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of the best books for those seeking a deeper understanding of the Eastern Orthodox approach to reality, the Holy Trinity, and themselves, along with the strong connection to the life and writings of Thomas Merton. The contributors to this fine collection include Bishop Kallistos Ware, James Cutsinger, A.M. Allchin, Rowan Williams and many many other fine writers on the spiritual life. In fact, "The Power of the Name", the not too easy to find introduction to the Jesus Prayer by Bishop Kallistos Ware, is included as a chapter, alone worth the modest price of this thick book.

This is also an excellent introduction to Thomas Merton and his connection to the fathers from the East.

This is one of the best books on the subject around! Amazingly detailed.

Contents of some of the chapters:
1. How do we enter the heart? Kallistos Ware
2. Silence in prayer: the meaning of hesychia Ware
3. The power of the Name Ware
4. The Ladder of divine ascent: the yoga of hesychism Custinger
5. A sufic perspec6tive on St. Seraphim of Sarov Gary Henry
6. Merton and the eastern fathers: the worship of the whole creation Allchin
7. Our lives, a powerful Pentecost: Merton and Russian spirituality Allchin
8. Merton and the Xpian East
9. Merton and Icons Jim Forest
10. Merton and Evdokimov

PLUS 21 other chapters, all of strong erudition and scholarship. Very nourishing for mind and soul.