Thomas Merton: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series) [Paperback]

Thomas Merton (Author), Christine M. Bochen (Editor, Introduction)

Product Details

• Paperback: 191 pages
• Publisher: Orbis Books (December 29, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570753318
• ISBN-13: 978-1570753312
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,613 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thomas Merton (1915-1968) is arguably the most influential American Catholic author of the twentieth century. His autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, has millions of copies and has been translated into over fifteen languages. He wrote over sixty other books and hundreds of poems and articles on topics ranging from monastic spirituality to civil rights, nonviolence, and the nuclear arms race.

After a rambunctious youth and adolescence, Merton converted to Roman Catholicism and entered the Abbey of Gethsemani, a community of monks belonging to the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappists), the most ascetic Roman Catholic monastic order.

The twenty-seven years he spent in Gethsemani brought about profound changes in his self-understanding. This ongoing conversion impelled him into the political arena, where he became, according to Daniel Berrigan, the conscience of the peace movement of the 1960's. Referring to race and peace as the two most urgent issues of our time, Merton was a strong supporter of the nonviolent civil rights movement, which he called "certainly the greatest example of Christian faith in action in the social history of the United States." For his social activism Merton endured severe criticism, from Catholics and non-Catholics alike, who assailed his political writings as unbecoming of a monk.

During his last years, he became deeply interested in Asian religions, particularly Zen Buddhism, and in promoting East-West dialogue. After several meetings with Merton during the American monk's trip to the Far East in 1968, the Dali Lama praised him as having a more profound understanding of Buddhism than any other Christian he had known. It was during this trip to a conference on East-West monastic dialogue that Merton died, in Bangkok on December 10, 1968, the victim of an accidental electrocution. The date marked the twenty-seventh anniversary of his entrance to Gethsemani.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Essential" for Merton readers -- old and new, January 21, 2001

By 

Robert G. Toth (Campbellsburg, KY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thomas Merton: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series) (Paperback)

In Thomas Merton, Essential Writings, Christine Bochen has performed a wonderful service to all who know and will come to know Merton through his writings. She presents his works in the framework of his vocation -- the call to contemplation, the call to compassion, and the call to unity. These calls are the essence of his vocation which is an archetype of all vocations. Through the carefully selected excerpts from his writings she presents insights for reflection on our own calling, which is no less than a personal version of Merton's vocation. Christine succeeds in reaching a deeper level of understanding why Merton's appeal is so universal and opens the door to approaching Merton in a new way.

Thomas Merton, Essential Writings will facilitate teaching Merton in academic settings and also serve as one of the best introductions to Thomas Merton for those who are looking for a place to start

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ORBIS SENDS US THIS VERY USEFUL SAMPLER BUT GET THE PRIMARY SOURCES, November 15, 2006

By 

C. Scanlon "least helpful reviewer" (among us humans) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thomas Merton: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series) (Paperback)

We must ever be grateful to the long standing Catholic Publisher Orbis Books, an arm of the MAryknoll Missioner Society, for the excellent catalogue it has developed over the decades. What Orbis published in the eighties is without compare in the world of CAtholic printings, yet much is now lost and no longer available, tragically, as long gone as Pope Paul VI's crucial encyclical Populorum Progressio, also no longer available. See instead the NAtional COnference of Catholic Bishop's own Economic Justice for All.

With that opening salute to Orbis Books, please support their excellent work by receiving gratefully this wonderful sampler of Merton's prolific and prophetic writings. But I urge you to use this as springboard into the corpus itself. Amazon may be the only source left of much of his original writings, and the reader is urged heartfully to search this mighty amazon for all of the Merton you can. Or simply one text, perhaps the one concerning War in the Post-Christian world, or the Letter to a Young Activist, or of course New Seeds of Contemplation, or his study of the Zen Masters.

Orbis is correct, as always. We need this sampler, as finding one particular text of Merton is so difficult. If you are stranded on a desert island, better this sampler than a limited Merton Library.

They say the great intellectual and spiritual Pope Paul VI always flew with trunks full of books, just in case. This is one book to take with you on your journey.

Try, please, to study Merton as he prepared his work for publication, and not in bits and pieces. Thomas Harte certainly helped prepare useful texts post-humously after his assassination in 1968. Study also if you are able the wonderful works of the good priest, Father Ernesto Cardenal, who studied under Merton in his Trappist novitiate, writing poems together until forbidden as un-monkly in the military Abbot's limited perception. In particular, Cardenal's Image Book To Live is to Love is excellent food for contemplation, especially and above all for its super-imposed introduction by Merotn himself.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Introduction?, April 18, 2006

By 

Richard B. Calpin Jr. "rickctwo" (Ashburn, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thomas Merton: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series) (Paperback)

For some this book may be an introduction. For others, like myself, it may be more insight on a spiritual journey. Wherever you are, Thomas Merton has no intention of handing out free tickets. He was, and still is a mystic. He offers suggestions, and he teaches. His words are guidance, and they give direction. Some will accept them and understand, others will not. If you pick up this book looking for answers to your questions you may only find more questions. Instead, just contemplate on the words he speaks. All books by and about him offer a glimpse of who he was, and what he was/is trying to convey. You'll get out of this book whatever you put into it, and nothing more. He is my mentor, and he can be yours.