Thomas Merton on Spirituality - 2 Author:Thomas Merton Thomas Merton on Spirituality - Part 2 of 2 (5 Titles, 5 CDs) In these live audio CD recordings you will hear Thomas Merton's own voice discussing his thoughts on spirituality with visiting novices during his stay at the Abbey of Gethsemani. — SEEKING AND FINDING GOD — Merton articulates the paradoxical truth that we seek God because we have found... more » God. He also gives a brief theology of grace and contrasts Catholic and Reformation views on grace. He then gives St. Bernard's view on what is required in loving God.
AWAKENING THE HEART
Drawing on Sufi masters and St. Bernard, Merton explains the importance of the limits of knowledge about God. What is important in both traditions is the more direct knowledge of God, the knowledge that comes through love. Merton shares some of the techniques contemplatives have traditionally used to cultivate this more direct knowledge.
FACING THE TRUTH OF LIFE
Merton uses Greek tragedy and Sufi philosophy to talk about two sides of the same problem: death. He explains how Greek tragedy meditated on facing disorder in life, then he shows how Sufi philosophy helps us see that unless we face death with rootedness in God, we will never find meaning.
SANCTITY
You don't get to heaven by being good. Merton's Catholic belief is that sanctity is the work of the Holy Spirit acting in us. Our life is more complex and diffcult than just being good.
THE DOOR OF PARADISE
Merton loves the symbolic theology of the Syrian theologians and St. Ephrem's theology of Paradise delights him. He explains portions of the spiritual life using the symbols of Paradise. He also rejects the pessimism of some of the early 60's thought coming from France.« less