Rating: 
Summary: Unknown Knowing
Review: "Without true, deep contemplative aspirations, without a total love for GOD and an uncompromising thirst for his truth, religion tends in the end to become an opiate." These are the words with which Thomas Merton (1916-1968) closes this book. I learned to appreciate that meditation is an embracing of reality more than a retreat from reality. I have been inspired to focus more clearly on the situation at hand and to reveal how my spiritual relationship can improve what I see. It is easy for me to be distracted by many things during the day, and this tendency is only exacerbated when the task is daunting. Thomas Merton has taught me that, in meditation, I am advantaged by an attitude or outlook of faith, openness, attention, reverence, expectation, supplication, trust, and joy. All these finally permeate my being with love in so far as my living faith tells me I am in the presence of the LORD, that I live in Christ, that in the Spirit of the LORD I "see" the LORD, my GOD, without "seeing." I know her in "unknowing." Faith is the bond that unites me to him in the Spirit who gives me light and love. If you are interested in meditation in the twentieth century, or in building a stronger spiritual awareness, this book will be interesting to you.
Rating:
Summary: Unknown Knowing
Review: "Without true, deep contemplative aspirations, without a total love for GOD and an uncompromising thirst for his truth, religion tends in the end to become an opiate." These are the words with which Thomas Merton (1916-1968) closes this book. I learned to appreciate that meditation is an embracing of reality more than a retreat from reality. I have been inspired to focus more clearly on the situation at hand and to reveal how my spiritual relationship can improve what I see. It is easy for me to be distracted by many things during the day, and this tendency is only exacerbated when the task is daunting. Thomas Merton has taught me that, in meditation, I am advantaged by an attitude or outlook of faith, openness, attention, reverence, expectation, supplication, trust, and joy. All these finally permeate my being with love in so far as my living faith tells me I am in the presence of the LORD, that I live in Christ, that in the Spirit of the LORD I "see" the LORD, my GOD, without "seeing." I know her in "unknowing." Faith is the bond that unites me to him in the Spirit who gives me light and love. If you are interested in meditation in the twentieth century, or in building a stronger spiritual awareness, this book will be interesting to you.
Rating:
Summary: Comptemplative Prayer Is Found in Emptiness
Review: Thomas Merton, a great teacher of spiritual principles above and beyond religion and institutionalized group consciousness.
Merton became a Buddhist at the end of his journey. Not the Buddhist of religious philosophy but the Zen experience far beyond explanation,structure and preconceived verbal formulas with absolutely no objectification, including that of God. Notice this quote and ask yourself, "Is this a description of the Christian contemplative or a Zen Master? Then again, the Zen ontological experience of say D.T. Suzuki can no doubt be likened to the Christian mystic, Meister Eckart. "Comtemplative prayer comes only when we are able to "let go" of everything within us, to enter into "emptiness," that is to let go of all desire to see, to know, to taste and to experience the presence of God. It is only then when we truly become able to experience his presence. It is neither the desire nor the refusal of desire that counts, but only that "desire" which is a form of "emptiness." Not the false emptiness of simply "blacking out" our thoughts in systematic methods and techniques, where emptiness becomes a thing, but rather the true emptiness that is a no-thing, a nothing, which is total inclusivenss, able to trancend all things, and yet is immanent in all. For what seems to be emptiness in this case is pure being. Or at least a philosopher might so describe it, but to the Christian contemplative is it other than that. It is not this, not that. Whatever you say of it,it is other than what you say. The character of emptiness, at least for a Christian contemplative, is pure love, pure freedom, free of everything, not determined by any thing, or held down by any special relationship, but a pure unconditional, nonparitial, nonjudgemental, inclusive love. 5 stars do not do this book any justice."
Rating:
Summary: A great way to bring monastic prayer to the common people
Review: In this book, Merton has given us a view of the contemplative prayer as practiced by the order in which he was a member. He then goes on to explain why the practice is done and the meaning that it holds. Even more effective though, is how Merton then takes the lay person who has an interest into the role of a contemplative. He opens the door for the lay person to begin a life of contemplative prayer ahile learnign to understand it as the monks do. It is also phenomenal how well it relates to the Bhuddist prayer life as related in the introduction. this book is highly recommended by this reader for those who are searching for a start, or an explanation of why, there is a contemplative prayer life.
Rating: 
Summary: 3.4 stars: Helpful to a degree
Review: Merton has done better. "Contemplative Prayer" reads like a term paper, done more out of duty than out of love, a somewhat academic treatise in which we are presented with a collage of quotations about prayer -- from impeccably trustworthy sources, Ruysbroeck, Tauler, Dom Augustine Baker, Abbe Monchanin -- but we are not left with the impression that the author of this treatise has recently prayed. Merton's best writing, in this reader's opinion, is to be found in "Thoughts in Solitude," "New Seeds of Contemplation," the letters of "The Road to Joy," a goodly portion of the journals -- although they can become wearisome when Merton is exhibiting the symptoms of grouchiness -- and several of the poems. We owe a debt to Robert Waldron for his book "Poetry as Prayer: Thomas Merton" (Boston, Pauline Books & Media, 2000), in which a handful of poems generate elegant in-depth meditations that almost rise to the level of theology. For a straightforward treatise on contemplative prayer that is useful, accessible, and edifying, might we recommend "Be Still and Know: A Study in the Life of Prayer" by the late Anglican archbishop Michael Ramsey (Boston, Cowley Publications, 1993). Merton is mentioned with evident approval in Ramsey's lucid and slender volume. Perhaps, too, the books of Orthodox metropolitan Anthony Bloom ("Beginning to Pray," "Living Prayer") would prove profitable. And finally -- also from Orthodoxy -- there is Bishop Kallistos Ware's audiocassette "Discovering the Inner Kingdom: Prayer of the Heart" (Torrance, Calif., Oakwood Publications, 1997). Of course, if "Contemplative Prayer" by Thomas Merton helps you, then by all means ... stick with it!
Rating:
Summary: 3.4 stars: Helpful to a degree
Review: Merton has done better. "Contemplative Prayer" reads like a term paper, done more out of duty than out of love, a somewhat academic treatise in which we are presented with a collage of quotations about prayer -- from impeccably trustworthy sources, Ruysbroeck, Tauler, Dom Augustine Baker, Abbe Monchanin -- but we are not left with the impression that the author of this treatise has recently prayed. Merton's best writing, in this reader's opinion, is to be found in "Thoughts in Solitude," "New Seeds of Contemplation," the letters of "The Road to Joy," a goodly portion of the journals -- although they can become wearisome when Merton is exhibiting the symptoms of grouchiness -- and several of the poems. We owe a debt to Robert Waldron for his book "Poetry as Prayer: Thomas Merton" (Boston, Pauline Books & Media, 2000), in which a handful of poems generate elegant in-depth meditations that almost rise to the level of theology. For a straightforward treatise on contemplative prayer that is useful, accessible, and edifying, might we recommend "Be Still and Know: A Study in the Life of Prayer" by the late Anglican archbishop Michael Ramsey (Boston, Cowley Publications, 1993). Merton is mentioned with evident approval in Ramsey's lucid and slender volume. Perhaps, too, the books of Orthodox metropolitan Anthony Bloom ("Beginning to Pray," "Living Prayer") would prove profitable. And finally -- also from Orthodoxy -- there is Bishop Kallistos Ware's audiocassette "Discovering the Inner Kingdom: Prayer of the Heart" (Torrance, Calif., Oakwood Publications, 1997). Of course, if "Contemplative Prayer" by Thomas Merton helps you, then by all means ... stick with it!
Rating:
Summary: 3.4 stars: Helpful to a degree
Review: Merton has done better. "Contemplative Prayer" reads like a term paper, done more out of duty than out of love, a somewhat academic treatise in which we are presented with a collage of quotations about prayer -- from impeccably trustworthy sources, Ruysbroeck, Tauler, Dom Augustine Baker, Abbe Monchanin -- but we are not left with the impression that the author of this treatise has recently prayed. Merton's best writing, in this reader's opinion, is to be found in "Thoughts in Solitude," "New Seeds of Contemplation," the letters of "The Road to Joy," a goodly portion of the journals -- although they can become wearisome when Merton is exhibiting the symptoms of grouchiness -- and several of the poems. We owe a debt to Robert Waldron for his book "Poetry as Prayer: Thomas Merton" (Boston, Pauline Books & Media, 2000), in which a handful of poems generate elegant in-depth meditations that almost rise to the level of theology. For a straightforward treatise on contemplative prayer that is useful, accessible, and edifying, might we recommend "Be Still and Know: A Study in the Life of Prayer" by the late Anglican archbishop Michael Ramsey (Boston, Cowley Publications, 1993). Merton is mentioned with evident approval in Ramsey's lucid and slender volume. Perhaps, too, the books of Orthodox metropolitan Anthony Bloom ("Beginning to Pray," "Living Prayer") would prove profitable. And finally -- also from Orthodoxy -- there is Bishop Kallistos Ware's audiocassette "Discovering the Inner Kingdom: Prayer of the Heart" (Torrance, Calif., Oakwood Publications, 1997). Of course, if "Contemplative Prayer" by Thomas Merton helps you, then by all means ... stick with it!
Rating:
Summary: Frightening & Comforting: Merton Lets Truth Speak For Itself
Review: Merton is not out to convince anyone of anything in this book. His is a mission to destroy the defenses we all build which shield us from Truth -- from God. Therefore, it is frightening. However, it is comforting as well: Merton has experienced the "dread" of which he speaks and also the wellspring of new life which travels in its wake. If you read this book with an open mind and a ready heart -- BE PREPARED TO BE CHANGED!
Rating:
Summary: Frightening & Comforting: Merton Lets Truth Speak For Itself
Review: Merton is not out to convince anyone of anything in this book. His is a mission to destroy the defenses we all build which shield us from Truth -- from God. Therefore, it is frightening. However, it is comforting as well: Merton has experienced the "dread" of which he speaks and also the wellspring of new life which travels in its wake. If you read this book with an open mind and a ready heart -- BE PREPARED TO BE CHANGED!
Rating:
Summary: a gem among the spiritual classics
Review: Merton wrote this, his last book, to offer guidance to contemplatives, particularly with their inevitable encounter with inward times of darkness and barrenness. Citing many different monks, Merton has graced us with a work of incredible profundity and beauty--and in doing so put his final touch on the mission described so poetically by Blake: "We are put on earth for a little space to learn to bear the beams of love."
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