Life of Thomas Merton - Essay Example

Life of Thomas Merton Photograph of Merton by John Lyons. Photograph by Ralph Eugene Meatyard Copyright the Meatyard E Introduction: Why did you choose this person? Thomas Merton is the only individual in the 20th century who is considered a Classic or Modern Christian Mystic. In particular, Merton was purported to be a very quiet, yet outspoken person. These qualities tend to mimic my life and therein rest my reason for making him my personality of choice. Biographical Data: List important dates, location, & historical background info. 1915, January 31, Merton was born at Prades, France to two artists- his father a New Zealander and his mother, an American. 1961 moved to USA to live with mother until she died in 1921 1922 lived in Bermuda with his father 1925 went to school in France where he lived with his father 1928 went to school in England 1931 his father dies 1934 entered Columbia University 1938 graduated from Columbia and received into the Catholic Church 1941 entered the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, Trappist, Kentucky 1944 published first set of poems, “Thirty poems” 1946 published first book, “A man in the divided sea” 1948 published autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain and What are these Wounds? 1949 ordained as priest 1951 Master of Scholastics until 1955 1955 Master of Novices until 1965 1965 lived in solitaire at a shed in the monastery 1968 died on December 10, at Bangkok, Thailand Spiritual Journey: How did he or she develop in their spiritual walk? Did he or she have any unique spiritual habits?        Interestingly, Thomas Merton entered the Abbey of Gethsemani on December 10th, 1941. Thus, he became a monk in one of the strictest Roman Catholic order of monks. In order to deepen his spiritual walk Thomas Merton was known for his desire to remain in solitude and meditate on his heavenly father. Further, he would write endless poems and books about various topics one of which was his spiritual experiences. Merton appeared to have an insatiable appetite for discovering his inner being and obtaining a deeper walk with God thus later in his life he visited Bangkok to discuss the possible integration of Western and Eastern religions. So impressed was the Dali Lama on his encounter with Merton that he expressed his opinion of Merton as the first Christian to ever grasp such a deep understanding of Buddhism. Merton loved to be in solitaire and spent four years of his life in a shed on the monastery. He spent time fasting and praying as well as meditating. In his ‘New Seeds of Contemplation’ describes contemplation as being ‘visibly touched’ by God who is invisible yet real. Contemplation played a great part in Merton’s life. For Merton contemplation was the essence of one’s life. Contribution to Christian History: What can we learn from this person? What have they written or influenced in the history of Christianity? The Merton Institute suggests that Merton was perhaps the ‘most influential American Catholic author of the twentieth century.’ His autobiography entitled, The Seven Storey Mountain, has been translated in more than twenty-eight languages. Remarkably, Merton was responsible for the teaching of the young monks who came straight from the outside world. Eventually, he became a Master of novice where he was responsible for the socialization and the training of novice monks. The Merton institute states that during this life as a monk he wrote more than sixty books and hundreds of poems. Yet in spite of this plethora of writing Jim Forest insists that Merton always maintained that his first duty was to his life as a monk and everything else took second place. Consequently, one can conclude that not only did Thomas Merton contribute to the spiritual dimension of the Roman Catholic monks but also his involvement and thoughts on nonviolence, racial discrimination, and the integration of Western religion with the Roman Catholic Faith influenced the entire world. Merton was criticized by Catholics and non Catholics alike for his outspoken nature in terms of discrimination, war and integration of Zen Buddhism with Catholicism but he was fearless before his foes and as recently as 2006 a new book was published with authorship of Thomas Merton on the Cold War. Compare/Contrast: What did you relate to? What couldn’t you “get” about them? On page four of his autobiography, Merton states, ‘If happiness were merely a matter of natural gifts, I would never have entered a Trappist monastery when I came to the age of a man.’ What is noteworthy is that Merton again expounded on happiness in his later works as ‘Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.’ In this respect I can see clearly through Merton’s mind and understand what he means. I too find happiness to be a state of being rather than physical acquisitions. His desire for solitude in order to be closer to God is directly in line with my life. Merton suggests that at the centre of our being is a place where no one but God can touch. It is my belief that there is a place reserved only for God hence it is a place where we always want to go. It is perhaps this desire that pressed Merton to yearn for a deeper level of meditation to touch with God. Thirdly, Merton insisted that faith was not the ‘suppression of doubt’ but rather the ‘overcoming of doubt’ was indeed an eye opener for me. It is true that after thorough analysis of what faith is one could not understand the true meaning of faith without first experiencing the total experience of doubt. Nevertheless, Merton insistence on matching Western religion with Christianity was a bit unnerving. Christianity has a monotheistic background unlike most Western religions. Thus, I could not relate to this aspect of Merton. Conclusion: What lessons can you learn or have you learned from your topic person? Interestingly, Merton’s in the year of his death 1968 stated that he was yearning for something that he did not yet receive. While searching in the West for something more he died on the same day that he had entered the monastery. Although Merton said that he had accepted himself in who he was in God yet he was unsatisfied. Perhaps this is what God wants from us a continuous search for more of Him on this earth. Merton spent his life being the voice of the disadvantaged and creating opportunities for the less fortunate whether in spirituality or socially to function. In spite of his seemingly endless duties an accomplishments Merton had a laugh that came from heaven. It must be that he was comfortable in himself. That is my goal to be so comfortable with myself that I can laugh heartily in the midst of life’s journey. . Bibliography Forest, Jim. Living with Wisdom. NY: Orbis Books, 1991. Jett, Jan. “Soul Searching: The Journey of Thomas Merton,” Soul Searching. http://www.pbs.org/soulsearching/ The Merton Institute for Contemplative Living.”Thomas Merton (1915-1968) A Brief Biographical Sketch,” The Merton Institute for Contemplative Living. http://www.mertoninstitute.org/aboutThomasMerton/Biography/tabid/82/Default.aspx (accessed June 6, 2011). Thomas, Merton. The Seven Storey Mountain. Florida: William H. Shannon, 1998. Thomas Merton Center. “Thomas Merton’s Life and Works,” W.L. Lyons Brown library. http://www.mertoncenter.org/chrono.htm (accessed June 6, 2011). Read More