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bryce_is_a_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
There is some extremely real shit.
But reading it while you're taking care of a nine month old is objectively hilarious.
But reading it while you're taking care of a nine month old is objectively hilarious.
allisonjpmiller's review against another edition
5.0
Exemplifies, especially toward the end, a fascinating paradox: trying to explain in words how futile it is to explain God in words.
"One who has a very little of this prayer, the mere beginning of contemplation, and who scarcely even realizes anything of what he has, can do immense things for the souls of other men simply by keeping himself quietly attentive to the obscure presence of God, about which he could not possibly hope to formulate an intelligible sentence. And if he did try to start talking about it and reasoning about it, he would at once lose the little that he had of it and would help no one, least of all himself."
This passage, which comes late in the book (Seed 37) made me think of Merton himself, who spends many, many words (and impressively intelligible sentences) talking about "the obscure presence of God". And yet, I would argue, he does "immense things for the souls" of many people through his words. It's that wonderful paradox I stumble across whenever I dig deep into the divine mysteries: God is utterly beyond all language, but he chooses to speak it anyway. Through Christ, a human being like us. And through the Bible - a collection of human voices throughout history, echoing God in eternity.
Merton knocks on the door of all these juxtapositions with more grace, humility, and startling insight than any philosopher or theologian I have ever read. Perhaps it is precisely because he would not call himself either that he is not bound like they are. He freely denounces his own efforts to explain the unexplainable, sympathizing with Aquinas that all his theology "reminds him of straw" in the end. Yet he is dogged in at least explaining the spiritual psychology of humanity - how we so desperately seek after the heart and mind of God, but so often go about it in all the wrong ways. Merton deftly points out what those wrong ways are while cautioning against self-judgment, since that doesn't help anyone in the end.
Parts of "New Seeds of Contemplation" were a comfort to read, especially the passages on wordless prayer. Parts were a challenge. Others were a window to another age ("The Root of War is Fear" is about WWII). Most were a window into my own self. I have never more clearly understood myself (both the "external" self that I wear in front of others, and my true self hidden in Christ, a mystery even to me) than I do now, thanks in large part to Merton's writings, which have prompted much prayer and meditation over the early days of this new year.
I cannot recommend this book enough.
"One who has a very little of this prayer, the mere beginning of contemplation, and who scarcely even realizes anything of what he has, can do immense things for the souls of other men simply by keeping himself quietly attentive to the obscure presence of God, about which he could not possibly hope to formulate an intelligible sentence. And if he did try to start talking about it and reasoning about it, he would at once lose the little that he had of it and would help no one, least of all himself."
This passage, which comes late in the book (Seed 37) made me think of Merton himself, who spends many, many words (and impressively intelligible sentences) talking about "the obscure presence of God". And yet, I would argue, he does "immense things for the souls" of many people through his words. It's that wonderful paradox I stumble across whenever I dig deep into the divine mysteries: God is utterly beyond all language, but he chooses to speak it anyway. Through Christ, a human being like us. And through the Bible - a collection of human voices throughout history, echoing God in eternity.
Merton knocks on the door of all these juxtapositions with more grace, humility, and startling insight than any philosopher or theologian I have ever read. Perhaps it is precisely because he would not call himself either that he is not bound like they are. He freely denounces his own efforts to explain the unexplainable, sympathizing with Aquinas that all his theology "reminds him of straw" in the end. Yet he is dogged in at least explaining the spiritual psychology of humanity - how we so desperately seek after the heart and mind of God, but so often go about it in all the wrong ways. Merton deftly points out what those wrong ways are while cautioning against self-judgment, since that doesn't help anyone in the end.
Parts of "New Seeds of Contemplation" were a comfort to read, especially the passages on wordless prayer. Parts were a challenge. Others were a window to another age ("The Root of War is Fear" is about WWII). Most were a window into my own self. I have never more clearly understood myself (both the "external" self that I wear in front of others, and my true self hidden in Christ, a mystery even to me) than I do now, thanks in large part to Merton's writings, which have prompted much prayer and meditation over the early days of this new year.
I cannot recommend this book enough.
jbmorgan86's review against another edition
5.0
Since this book has 39 chapters, it's a nice read as a Lenten discipline. The book reads like wisdom literature. Some chapters are hit-or-miss. Most are very profound. I did a lot of underlining!
stephen11's review against another edition
It was much more Christian based than I thought it would be. I tried reading past, or through, the Christian ideas and get the wider reaching spiritual ideas, but I think they're too embedded in his writing for me to get through. I quit at page 72 / 303
davehershey's review against another edition
5.0
Over the last few years, I have found it beneficial to include reading a bit from different spiritual masters each day. I've been reading a chapter of this book each morning, and it is absolutely fantastic. The first 2/3 of the book was a wealth of thought provoking spiritual depth. This book could easily be included in my top ten books of all time. The last 1/3 started to get away from me. I'm not sure how to explain it. Merton is writing on a different level of spiritual connection with the Divine, a level I am sure I've never experienced. I know Merton would not want his book to be read an forgotten, so I think I need to spend more time chewing on his words (and the words of scripture, and sitting in silence and other spiritual disciplines). In essence, you can't just read about contemplation without putting yourself in a place to experience it. I look forward to a time, maybe when I'm around fifty, and I pick this one up again and hopefully, with a dose of grace, the whole book hits me the way the first 2/3 did this time.
volivier's review against another edition
5.0
i have finished it once and am confident i will pull it out and read at random for many years to come. I could start over right now and it would be a different book because i missed so much the first time.
novelideea's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0