Thomas Merton - What the Contemplative has to offer

[windstorm1000]

His writings are one of the few by a Christian that is inpsired and makes common sense--and go beyond Christianity's hubris--fear.

[vandrosiglio]

Of course , gothos 1000@, what can happen is that our behavior will be rooted in the empty silence and be directed by it rather than my our ego mind and wants., alone.

[vandrosiglio]

I resonate with Thomas Merton when he says we act as if THINKING is what makes us exist. The courage to sit in the silent Stillness of our Being deepens our confidence to fully live without words.

Vincent vandrosiglio@yahoo.com

[dadasopher]

@vandrosiglio Good point, Vincent. I need to be reminded of that!

[vandrosiglio]

@dadasopher . REMINDING keeps me on track; otherwise I get lost . where are you from? in wordy chatter

[vandrosiglio]

@dadasopher . REMINDING keeps me on track; otherwise I get lost in wordy chatter. Where are you from?

[gothos1000]

@vandrosiglio But he also taught that 'meditation' is a living thing. The silence is to energize the living presence in you so that you may take forth that 'state' into the rest of your life. You don't just meditate in silence and open your eyes and go, 'Ahh I think i feel better'.. and then go back to being 'normal'.. The Lord's 'presence' is a tangible energy.. it's here to govern us in love and guide man's 'creative impulse'..

[magicalhats15]

"...but simply he who has risked his mind in the desert beyond language and beyond ideas..."

If he had gone into writing literature full time instead of the monastery, modern literature would have been much better off for it-- though, he would not have been.

[dadasopher]

@magicalhats15 Well said.

[profchicoaraujo]

que belo!!!! grato a quem postou. conheçam também a música contemplatica do brasileiro Urbano Medeiros. um abraço do fã de Merton - Professor Chico

[Change012409]

Today, contemplative life is a call for everyone. As Thomas Merton wrote in the Epilogue of his Autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, "There is only one vocation. Whether you teach or live in the cloister or nurse the sick, whether you are in religion or out of it, married or single, no matter who you are or what you are, you are called to the summit of perfection: you are called to a deep interior life perhaps even to mystical prayer & to pass the fruits of your contemplation to others"

[dadasopher]

Thank you for this quote - it's perfect.

[Restitvtvs]

Thank you very much for creating and posting this video. More beams of light. :^) Pax tecvm. +

[surrected4526]

Beautifully read! Thank you!

[frankbough1955]

buddhist catholic

[porkyo123]

Don't worry buddist is just a philosophy on life and will make you a better person or maybe a better christian

[cheesemonkey1990]

no, Catholic Monk, buddhism has a completley different metod and purpose from contemplative prayer.

[Salmocymraeg]

For cheesemonkey1990

May I recommend the book "Living Buddha, Living Christ" by Thich Nhat Hanh a buddhist monk who met Thomas Merton - they corresponded and co-authored a book "Engaged Spirituality in an Age of Globalization".

Peace...

[cheesemonkey1990]

sounds interesting, thanks.

[sandman4224]

An imperfect man in an imperfect world of man...

He constantly battled between being of this world and being in it...

A journey we all undertake...

Peace...

[dadasopher]

indeed

[SuperBoomtown]

Well said sandman. Well said. Pax.

[gruntbrother]

Yes...Fr. Thomas Merton, another of my favorite Catholic writers...genius.

[DuduTucci]

the real meditation

[jenjoy511]

Profound...

[Journeys2008]

Thanks for sharing this! I like your choice of images to go along with the reading.

[chriskarma]

excellent, thank you very much.

[wanman0813]

Excellent, thanks!

[JackKarma]

Thank you for elevating YouTube to a plain of potential for peace far surpassing that which is found in arm pit fart jokes that abound on this superficial website.

[loveryoufeel]

mmmmm

thats really nice...