New Seeds of Contemplation (Shambhala Library) - Merton, Thomas Review & Synopsis

Synopsis In print for more than forty years, New Seeds of Contemplation has served as a guide to the contemplative life for several generations of spiritual seekers. The word contemplation is itself somewhat problematical, according to Thomas Merton: "It can become almost a magic word, or if not magic, then 'inspirational,' which is almost as bad." In this modern Christian classic, Merton reveals contemplation to be nothing other than "life itself, fully awake, fully active, fully aware that it is alive." The thirty-nine short "seeds" that make up this book are intended to awaken and cultivate the contemplative, mystical dimension of the spiritual path for everyone. New Seeds of Contemplation is a revised and expanded version of Merton's earlier book Seeds of Contemplation. Review "It can become almost a magic word," Thomas Merton says of contemplation; "or if not magic, then inspirational, which is almost as bad." With these words, Merton takes us through the reality of contemplation, which is, the author says, "life itself, fully awake, fully active, fully aware that it is alive. It is spiritual wonder." Above all, contemplation is "awareness of the reality" of the Source, "with a certitude that goes beyond reason and beyond simple faith." As these definitions should suggest, in this 20th-century classic on the contemplative life, as in the best of Merton's work, this Trappist monk wonderfully combines a disciplined and deeply learned intellect with the lyrical passion of the poet. It is this rare combination that makes this book not only informative but also moving. Covering a diverse range of subjects ("Faith," "The Night of the Senses," "Renunciation"), it moves the reader through certain traditional "phases" of contemplation, and gives an idea of what to expect in this spiritual process (including despair and darkness). The book describes, but it also enacts. In its own prose it invites the reader to "cast our awful solemnity to the winds and join in the general dance." --Doug ThorpeThomas Merton (1915-1968) was a Trappist monk, spiritual director, political activist, social critic, and one of the most-read spiritual writers of the twentieth century. He is the author of many books, including The Seven Storey Mountain. New Seeds of Contemplation In print for more than forty years, New Seeds of Contemplation has served as a guide to the contemplative life for several generations of spiritual seekers. The word contemplation is itself somewhat problematical, according to Thomas Merton: "It can become almost a magic word, or if not magic, then 'inspirational,' which is almost as bad." In this modern Christian classic, Merton reveals contemplation to be nothing other than "life itself, fully awake, fully active, fully aware that it is alive." The thirty-nine short "seeds" that make up this book are intended to awaken and cultivate the contemplative, mystical dimension of the spiritual path for everyone. New Seeds of Contemplation is a revised and expanded version of Merton's earlier book Seeds of Contemplation. " The thirty-nine short "seeds" that make up this book are intended to awaken and cultivate the contemplative, mystical dimension of the spiritual path for everyone." Becoming an Ordinary Mystic Do you ever feel like you are walking in spiritual circles? While we might think it would be different for a Franciscan priest, Father Albert Haase shares the same struggles. Yet he also affirms that we are all called to be ordinary mystics. This book offers a daily path to help us learn to be a mystic—cultivating a life with God in which we draw close, listen, and respond moment to moment. Our idea of God: Thomas Merton , New Seeds of Contemplation , Shambhala Library (Boston: Shambhala , 2013), 17. God, by definition: Ronald Rolheiser, “The Richness of the Mystery of God,” RonRolheiser.com, May 30, 2010, ..." Tapestries One quarter of Americans have begun or are beginning to work on the second half of their lives. Tapestries was written for all those trying to gracefully move through this rich yet confusing period. The meditations focus on topics that relate to the reader's passage through this life stage: change, impermanence, transformations, immortality, growth and survival.Tapestries can be creativity used to fit the needs and interests of the reader. Some may want to choose a specific topic, others may want to randomly select a page and still others may choose to start at the beginning and work their way through to the end. Quotations from a variety of authors, time periods and religious traditions are an important part of each reading. The World As I See It . New York : Carol Publishing Group , 1999 . Emerson , Ralph Waldo . ... New York : The Pocket Library , 1956 . Gandhi , Mohandes K. All Men are Brothers : The ... Merton , Thomas . New Seeds of Contemplation ." The God Who is Here New World Library , 1999). 11 For a classic definition of contemplative Christianity see Thomas Merton , New Seeds of Contemplation (Boston: Shambhala , 2003). 12 For example, Ken Wilber, No Boundary: Eastern and Western Approaches to ..." Religion and Art in the Heart of Modern Manhattan "When you're in New York" the sculptor Louise Nevelson once said, "you're in perpetual resurrection." She might have said the same thing about St. Peter's Lutheran Church, set in the heart of midtown Manhattan. In the 1970s the church made a radical move, scrapping its neo-gothic building for a sleek modern structure in the shadow of a skyscraper. The transformation was not just architectural. Inside, Nevelson created a shimmering chapel, while over the years artists and designers such as Willem de Kooning, Kiki Smith, and Massimo and Lella Vignelli produced works for the sanctuary. This fusion of modern art, architecture, and design was complemented by an innovative jazz ministry, including funerals for Billy Strayhorn and John Coltrane, and performances by Duke Ellington and other jazz legends. For the first time, this volume examines the astounding cultural output of this single church. Just as importantly, the story of St. Peter's serves as a springboard for wider reflections on the challenges and possibilities which arise when religion and art intersect in the modern city. Working from a wide range of disciplines, including art history, theology, musicology, and cultural studies, a distinguished group of scholars demonstrate that this church at the center of New York City deserves an equally central place in contemporary scholarship. New York Times, February 25, 1986. Mehlman, Robert. “Elevating the urban Environment.” Industrial Design 24(3) (May/June, 1977). Merton , Thomas . New Seeds of Contemplation . Boston: Shambhala , 2003. Meyer, Betty H. The ARC Story: A ..." Solitude Years after losing his lower right leg in a motorcycle crash, Robert Kull traveled to a remote island in Patagonia's coastal wilderness with equipment and supplies to live alone for a year. He sought to explore the effects of deep solitude on the body and mind and to find the spiritual answers he'd been seeking all his life. With only a cat and his thoughts as companions, he wrestled with inner storms while the wild forces of nature raged around him. The physical challenges were immense, but the struggles of mind and spirit pushed him even further. Solitude: Seeking Wisdom in Extremes is the diary of Kull's tumultuous year. Chronicling a life distilled to its essence, Solitude is also a philosophical meditation on the tensions between nature and technology, isolation and society. With humor and brutal honesty, Kull explores the pain and longing we typically avoid in our frantically busy lives as well as the peace and wonder that arise once we strip away our distractions. He describes the enormous Patagonia wilderness with poetic attention, transporting the reader directly into both his inner and outer experiences. Boston: Shambhala , 1987. Merry, Wayne. St. John Ambulance Official Wilderness First Aid Guide. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1994. Merton , Thomas . New Seeds of Contemplation . Boston: Shambhala , 1972. ———." Christians and Muslims On the Sunday following September 11, 2001, Reverend Kenneth Cragg worshipped as usual in his sanctuary, located directly across the street from a Muslim mosque. In a gracious act of good faith, the Islamic congregation invited the Christian congregation to join them after worship for an introduction to Islam. This event inspired Cragg to learn more about the true tenets of Islam. Was Islam really what the terrorists were saying it was, or were their beliefs terribly skewed by a deceptive human agenda? Cragg soon realized that Islam is not the enemy, terrorism is. In this study, Cragg carefully traces the history of Islam, clarifying the differences between true believers and radical terrorists. He encourages followers of Islam and Christianity alike to wage war on terror by acting as partners to build shared communities for a peaceful world. Cragg allows us to see Islam as one of the worlds great religions, not a front for terrorism. Merton , Thomas . New Seeds of Contemplation . Boston: Shambhala , 2003. “Muslim Spain. ... Harry S. Truman Library & Museum. http://www .trumanlibrary.org/oralhist/wilkins.htm (accessed September 8, 2010). Pope Paul VI." Your Miracle After Miracle Life Celebrate Your Essence, Celebrate Your Eternity Your Miracle after Miracle Life: Celebrate Your Essence, Celebrate Your Eternity may very well be the most important scientific breakthrough to the best solutions and the best thinking to challenges posed by the greatest minds of all time. Science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature. And it is because in the last analysis we ourselves are part of the mystery we are trying to solve. —Max Planck, Nobel laureate, Berlin University The full meaning of life, the collective meaning of all human desires is fundamentally a mystery beyond our grasp . . . We have no right to expect that our intellect can formulate perfect concepts for the full understanding of inanimate nature’s phenomena. —Eugene Wigner, Nobel laureate, Princeton University It is difficult to imagine that we could be ever in the possession of final physical principles that have no explanation in terms of deeper principles. —Steven Weinberg, Nobel laureate, University of Texas M. Planck, E. Wigner, and S. Weinberg don’t help how humanity can solve the ultimate mystery of nature, the full meaning of life, nor how can we ever be in the possession of the final physical principles? Your Miracle after Miracle Life reveals the final demands of life and the best solutions belong to the Eternal Architect and Creator of the Universe. Now you can gain access to and mine the Eternal for the best and ultimate solutions to prosper and advance your divinity. Further than modern science, ahead of forbidden knowledge, here is your breakthrough to the Absolute Light and God. Experience miracle after miracle in your Christ Nature life. Merton , Thomas . New Seeds of Contemplation . New York: New DirectionsBooks, 1961. ———. The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton . Edited by Naomi Burton, Brother Patrick Hart, and James Laughlin. New York: New Directions Press, 1973. ———." Wendell Berry and Religion Farmer, poet, essayist, and environmental writer Wendell Berry is acclaimed for his ideas regarding the values inherent in an agricultural society. Place, community, good work, and simple pleasures are but a few of the values that form the bedrock of Berry's thought. While the notion of reverence is central to Berry, he is not widely known as a religious writer. However, the moral underpinnings of his work are rooted in Christian tradition, articulating the tenet that faith and stewardship of the land are not mutually exclusive. In Wendell Berry and Religion, editors Joel J. Shuman and L. Roger Owens probe the moral and spiritual implications of Berry's work. Chief among them are the notions that the earth is God's provisional gift to mankind and that studying how we engage material creation reflects important truths. This collection reveals deep, thoughtful, and provocative conversations within Berry's writings, illuminating the theological inspirations inherent in his work. David O'Neal (Boston: Shambhala , 1996), 108; The Cloud of Unknowing V (New York: Doubleday, 1973), 53. 7. Thomas Merton , New Seeds of Contemplation (New York: New Directions, 1961), 21. 8. Nicholas Lash, “Creation, Courtesy and ..." Three Mystics Walk into a Tavern In Three Mystics Walk into a Tavern, Jalal ad-Din Rumi, Moses de León, and Meister Eckhart—three of the greatest mystics of all time—meet in Venice for an imaginary night-long conversation that will inspire everyday individuals of the twenty-first century to find their own spirituality and realize that everyone can be a mystic. Although the mystics came from different backgrounds and religious traditions (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity), their spiritual paths led them to similar understandings of a union with the Divine. The three mystics have a timeless and timely message for people who walk the earth eight centuries after they did, no matter an individual’s religious background or even if they have none. It is a message of connecting with the “divine spark” deep within us and within the universe. Merton & Sufism: The Untold Story. A Complete Compendium. Edited by Rob Baker and Gray Henry. Louisville, KY: Fons Vitae, 2005. ———. New Seeds of Contemplation . New York: New Directions Publishing, 2007. ———. Thomas Merton : Choosing to ..." Finding God Beyond Religion Do you describe yourself as spiritual but not religious? Whether young or old, church connected or not, are you spiritually restless for an authentic faith life but do not find conventional religious teachings pertinent to you? This accessible guide to a meaningful spiritual life is a salve for your soul. It reinterprets traditional religious teachings central to the Christian faith - God, Jesus, faith, prayer, morality and more - in ways that connect with people who have outgrown the beliefs and devotional practices that once made sense to them. A Guide for Skeptics, Agnostics & Unorthodox Believers Inside & Outside the Church Tom Stella. Thomas Merton , New Seeds of Contemplation (New York: New Dimensions, 1972), p. 36. Pagels, BeyondBelief, p. 34. C. S. Lewis, Surprised byjoy ..." Encounters with the World's Religions A spectacular stretch of earth, the Eastern Sierra region of California reveals volcanic reefs, desert sand dunes, majestic mountains, and snow-fed lakes and rivers. Drawing on forty years of college teaching on the world's religions, Professor Brad Karelius is your guide, uncovering deep spiritual dimensions in this achingly beautiful place. This book shares crystallizations of religious wisdom collected through the ages, and finely tuned descriptions of holy sites, which you may visit, that will draw you deeper in your personal encounters with world spiritualities. Merton , Thomas . New Seeds of Contemplation . new York: new directions, 2007. ———. The Way of Chuang Tzu. new York: new directions, 1963. Mitchell, stephen, translator. Tao Te Ching. By lao tzu. A new English version with foreword and ..." Horses and the Mystical Path On a trip to Scotland, the psychotherapist family team of Adele, Deborah, and Thomas McCormick — pioneers in the psychotherapeutic use of horses — discovered that early Celtic mysticism held important insights into an equestrian-partnered spirituality. The McCormicks show how to integrate this spirituality with psychology, forming a new, powerful form of healing. Horses and the Mystical Path recounts their memorable journey and the lessons they learned from their amazing equine guides. The Celtic Way of Expanding the Human Soul Adele Von Rust McCormick, Thomas McCormick. Merton , Thomas . Contemplative Prayer. New York: Doubleday, 1969. ———. New Seeds of Contemplation . 1961. Reprint, New York: New Directions, 1972. ———." The Tibetan Book of the Dead In this classic scripture of Tibetan Buddhism—traditionally read aloud to the dying to help them attain liberation—death and rebirth are seen as a process that provides an opportunity to recognize the true nature of mind. This translation of The Tibetan Book of the Dead emphasizes the practical advice that the book offers to the living. The insightful commentary by Chögyam Trungpa, written in clear, concise language, explains what the text teaches us about human psychology. This book will be of interest to people concerned with death and dying, as well as those who seek greater spiritual understanding in everyday life. This book will be of interest to people concerned with death and dying, as well as those who seek greater spiritual understanding in everyday life." An Artist's Handbook Every art studio needs a comprehensive guide to drawing and painting materials and how to use them. Written by contemporary artist and instructor Margaret Krug with today’s artist in mind,An Artist’s Handbookis just that, complete with demonstration photographs, taken especially for this book, showing the materials and techniques described in action. The lively text demystifies a variety of historical and contemporary techniques, from the selection of media, preliminary sketching, and the preparation of canvas to fresco, oil, tempera, encaustic, and acrylic painting. Copious color art reproductions serve as both models and inspiration; along with her general instructions, Krug adds basic exercises for the reader to encourage and emphasize the value of independent exploration of media. This is the only “materials and techniques” book the contemporary artist and student will ever need. 4 Merton , Thomas . New Seeds of Contemplation . Boston : Shambhala , 2003 , p . 219 . ... 17 ( right ) : The Board of Trinity College , Dublin , Ireland / Bridgeman Art Library . 18 : Photograph © The Art Institute of Chicago ..." English Journal MacIntyre Mars ( Clarion Books ) The Shortest Day : Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer , illustrated by Jesse Reisch . ( Dutton Children's Books ) The White House : An Illustrated History by Catherine O'Neill Grace ..." Forthcoming Books How to Love a Black Woman . 176p . ... No Mentor but Myself " Jack London on Writing & Writers . 2nd ed . 224p . ... Desert Queen : The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell : Adventurer , Adviser to Kings , Ally of Lawrence of Arabia ." The Twelve Steps May , Robert M. , Physicians of the Soul : The Psychologies of the World's Great Religious Teachers , New York , Crossroad , 1982 . Merton , Thomas , New Seeds of Contemplation , New York , New Directions Books , 1961 ." Public Library Core Collection Wilson's Public Library Core Collection: Nonfiction (13th Edition, 2008) recommends reference and nonfiction books for the general adult audience. It is a guide to over 9,000 books (over 6,500 titles are new to this edition), plus review sources and other professional aids for librarians and media specialists. Acquisitions librarians, reference librarians and cataloguers can all use this reliable guide to building and maintaining a well-rounded collection of the most highly recommended reference and nonfiction books for adults. All titles are selected by librarians, editors, advisors, and nominators-all of them experts in public library services. The collection is a valuable tool for collection development and maintenance, reader's advisory, weeding your collection, and curriculum support. Richly enhanced records provide a wealth of useful information. 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Author, Title, Subject and Analytical Index - An in-depth key to the information in Classified Catalogue-including author and title analytics for works contained in anthologies and collections. Richly enhanced records provide complete bibliographic data, price, subject headings, descriptive annotations, grade level, Dewey classification, evaluative quotations from a review, when available. Listing works published in the United States, or published in Canada or the United Kingdom and distributed in the United States, Public Library Core Collection: Nonfiction features extensive revisions in the areas of health, science and technology, personal finance, sports, cooking and gardening, and handicrafts. Biography, poetry and literary criticism continue to receive comprehensive treatment. Reference works in all subject fields are included. Merton , Thomas , 1915-1968 - Continued Love and living ; [ by ] Thomas Merton ; edited by Naomi Burton Stone & Patrick Hart . Harcourt 2003 232p pa $ 14 1. ... Publ Wkly New seeds of contemplation ; introduction by Sue Monk Kidd ." The Book of Tea This modern classic invites the reader to discover a unique tradition that has come to symbolize the wisdom, beauty, and the elegant simplicity of Asian culture. The author celebrates the Way of Tea from its ancient origins in Chinese Taoism to its culmination in the Zen discipline known as the Japanese tea ceremony—an enchanting practice bringing together such arts as architecture, pottery, and flower arranging to create an experience that delights the senses, calms the mind, and refreshes the spirit. Tea was first used as a medicine and an alchemical elixir by the ancient Chinese Taoists, who praised its spiritual powers. Buddhist monks made drinking tea part of a tradition honoring the founder of Zen; this ritual was later refined in the performance of the Japanese tea ceremony as a meditative practice. The Book of Tea describes the rich aesthetic of Asian culture through the history, philosophy, and practice of brewing and drinking tea. This edition contains an introduction by Sam Hamill that provides historical insight into the significance of the tea ceremony within Zen Buddhism. shambhala . library . The Art of War: The Denma Translation, by Sun Tzu. Translated by the Denma Translation Group. ... Translated by Thomas Cleary. The Book of Tea, by Kakuzo Okakura. ... New Seeds of Contemplation , by Thomas Merton ." American Indian Culture and Research Journal For an example of his writing on the subject , see Thomas Merton , New Seeds of Contemplation ( Norfolk , CT : New Directions Books ... Meditation , and Action ( Dharamsala , India : Library of Tibetan Works and Archives , 1991 ) ." On Thomas Merton From the best-selling novelist and memoirist: a deeply personal view of her discovery of the celebrated modern monk and thinker through his writings. “If Thomas Merton had been a writer and not a monk, we would never have heard of him. If Thomas Merton had been a monk and not a writer, we would never have heard of him.” So begins acclaimed author Mary Gordon in this probing, candid exploration of the man who became the face and voice of mid-twentieth-century American Catholicism. Approaching Merton “writer to writer,” Gordon illuminates his life and work through his letters, journals, autobiography, and fiction. Pope Francis has celebrated Merton as “a man of dialogue,” and here Gordon shows that the dialogue was as much internal as external—an unending conversation, and at times a heated conflict, between Merton the monk and Merton the writer. Rich with excerpts from Merton’s own writing, On Thomas Merton produces an intimate portrait of a man who “lived life in all its imperfectability, reaching toward it in exaltation, pulling back in anguish, but insisting on the primacy of his praise as a man of God.” But Seeds of Contemplation tempted me not at all. ... but that was nearly two decades later), and I was turned off by his excoriation of the fleshpots of New York, which I was heading for like a heat-seeking missile."