Customer Reviews

Seeds of Contemplation

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When this book appeared in its original version in 1949, its up-beat presentation of contemplative prayer -- or rather, of a contemplative perception of the world -- and the freshness of its style won immediate plaudits, and it is still worth reading today. There is nothing dated in its main message -- that we have to burrow beneath the superficial personalities of ourselves and others, defined by specific needs and inclinations, to the real person beneath, created to be flooded and transformed by the love of God.

There are brief, rather perfunctory, sections on dryness in prayer and the need not to be too hungry for what used to be called 'spiritual consolations', but the emphasis remains on joy as the fruit of the spiritual life. A striking final chapter describes life on earth as a continuation of the garden of Eden, without any mention of the Fall.

This vision of the spiritual life is arguably too rosy. A book like Ruth Burrows' Guidelines for Mystical Prayer is much more realistic about the up-hill character of the life of prayer and the distortions that arise from our self-love.

Thomas Merton's book, Seeds of Conteplation' is an inspiring and powerful book. Reading this book is blessing me to experience the presence of God in all creations.

I read this book when I was in monastic life myself, and I will never forget the impact it had on me. It simply is a great book, a testament to solitude and the cloistered life of service. Today, especially, it has tremendous relevance. Joseph Dispenza, author of "God On Your Own: Finding a Spiritual Path Outside Religion."