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A review by allisonjpmiller
New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton
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.