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Quote by Thomas Merton

“The mission of Christian humility in social life is not merely to edify, but to keep minds open to many alternatives. The rigidity of a certain type of Christian thought has seriously impaired this capacity, which nonviolence must recover.”

Quote by Thomas Merton

Book:Thomas Merton: On Peace

Work

Thomas Merton: On Peace

This book delves into the thoughts of Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk and prominent writer, regarding the nature of peace. Merton's essays and meditations touch upon the complexities of peace, examining it from various angles including its role in spirituality, society, and the individual's journey towards harmony. more

Author

Thomas Merton (January 31, 1915 - December 10, 1968) was an American writer, poet, social critic, and mystic. His works covered a wide range of topics including philosophy, religion, and social justice, and were highly appreciated by readers. more

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“My own personal task is not simply that of poet and writer (still less commentator, pseudo-prophet); it is basically to praise God out of an inner center of silence, gratitude, and 'awareness.' This can be realized in a life that apparently accomplishes nothing. Without centering on accomplishment or nonaccomplishment, my task is simply the breathing of this gratitude from day to day, in simplicity, and for the rest turning my hand to whatever comes, work being part of praise, whether splitting logs or writing poems, or best of all simple notes.”

“The things I thought were so important -- because of the effort I put into them -- have turned out to be of small value. And the things I never thought about, the things I was never able to either to measure or to expect, were the things that mattered.”

Important Able Values Effort

Book:A Thomas Merton Reader

Source: A Thomas Merton Reader

“After all, what is your personal identity? It is what you really are, your real self. None of us is what he thinks he is, or what other people think he is, still less what his passport says he is. And it is fortunate for most of us that we are mistaken. We do not generally know what is good for us. That is because, in St. Bernard's language, our true personality has been concealed under the 'disguise' of a false self, the ego, whom we tend to worship in place of God.”

People Thinking Knows Has Beens Stills Real Self Language Identity Personality Ego Worship Fortunate Disguise Mistaken Concealed Passports Real Self Personal Identity

Author:Thomas Merton

“In general, it can be said that no contemplative life is possible without ascetic self-discipline. One must learn to survive without the habit-forming luxuries which get such a hold on men today. I do not say that to be a contemplative one absolutely has to go without smoking or without alcohol, but certainly one must be able to use these things without being dominated by an uncontrolled need for them.”

Men Needs Said Self Use Today Able Life Is Habit Discipline Alcohol Luxury Smoking Self Discipline Contemplative Contemplative Life

Book:New Seeds of Contemplation

Source: New Seeds of Contemplation

“The basic problem is not political, it is apolitical and human. One of the most important things to do is to keep cutting deliberately through political lines and barriers and emphasizing the fact that these are largely fabrications and that there is another dimension, a genuine reality, totally opposed to the fictions of politics: the human dimension which politics pretend to arrogate entirely to themselves. This is the necessary first step along the long way toward the perhaps impossible task of purifying, humanizing and somehow illuminating politics themselves.”

“The whole aim of Zen is not to make foolproof statements about experience, but to come to direct grips with reality without the mediation of logical verbalizing.”

Whole Reality Direct Aim Statements Logical Mediation Foolproof

Book:The Golden Age of Zen: Zen Masters of the T'Ang Dynasty

Source: The Golden Age of Zen: Zen Masters of the T'Ang Dynasty

“I see no contradiction between Buddhism and Christianity ... I intend to become as good a Buddhist as I can.”

I Can Christianity Buddhism Buddhist Contradiction Buddhism And Christianity

Author:Thomas Merton

“The devil is no fool. He can get people feeling about heaven the way they ought to feel about hell. He can make them fear the means of grace the way they do not fear sin. And he does so, not by light but by obscurity, not by realities but by shadows; not by clarity and substance, but by dreams and the creatures of psychosis. And men are so poor in intellect that a few cold chills down their spine will be enough to keep them from ever finding out the truth about anything.”

“When society is made up of men who know no interior solitude it can no longer be held together by love: and consequently it is held together by a violent and abusive authority. But when men are violently deprived of the solitude and freedom which are their due, then society in which they live becomes putrid, it festers with servility, resentment and hate.”

Knows Men Made Wisdom Together Hate Solitude Authority Dues Violent Resentment Interiors Deprived Abusive Servility

Author:Thomas Merton

“For our duties and our needs, in all the fundamental things for which we were created, come down in practice to the same thing.”

Needs Wisdom Practice Duty Fundamentals

Author:Thomas Merton