Thomas Merton
Born: 01-01-1915
Thomas Merton was a Trappist monk, writer, theologian, and poet known for his profound contributions to spirituality and religious studies. Born in 1915, Merton's works, including "The Seven Storey Mountain," explore themes of faith, contemplation, and social justice. His writings bridge Eastern and Western spiritual traditions, making him a pivotal figure in 20th-century religious thought. Merton's legacy continues to inspire those seeking deeper spiritual understanding.
Book summaries for books written by Thomas Merton
Quotes
The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image.
Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.
Every moment and every event of every man's life on earth plants something in his soul.
We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God.
The more you try to avoid suffering, the more you suffer, because smaller and more insignificant things begin to torture you in proportion to your fear of being hurt.
The beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves, the resolution not to twist them to fit our own image.
The beginning of prayer is silence. If we really want to pray we must first learn to listen, for in the silence of the heart God speaks.
The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another.
The greatest temptations are not those that solicit our consent to obvious sin, but those that offer us great evils masking as the greatest goods.
Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy.
The beginning of freedom is the realization that you are not the possessing entity, the thinker. Knowing this enables you to observe the entity. The moment you start watching the thinker, a higher level of consciousness becomes activated.
To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.