I first read Thomas Merton in the Society of Jesus Novitiate in Ungaran, Central Java, Indonesia in 1982. I have been searching for something like this throughout my life. Thank you Daniel, you have been very helpful. Greetings from Indonesia.

I'm fortunate to live in the middle of "Merton country," Louisville, Ky. In my studies and activism, I have come to feel as though I am acquainted with Thomas Merton, or "Father Louis." I have been delighted to meet and talk with many people who knew Merton, shared ideas with him, and sometimes were baffled at how such a free thinker could submit to Cistercian censorship policies. The gifts, courage and mystery of Thomas Merton will always challenge and inspire me.

There is only one thing needed. Read Thomas Merton's essay "Transcendent Experience" in his book ZEN AND THE BIRDS OF APPETITE

New seeds of contemplation is a good start to learn Thomas Merton

I am reading the new seeds of contemplation at the moment.

A friend told me about Thomas Merton. This video is the first thing I have heard on him, thank you! I will pursue his writings.

Paz y Bien. Saludos desde el Santuario de san Pedro de Alcántara, en Arenas de san Pedro (Ávila) España. Me alegra saber que siguen estudiando y hablando sobre Thomas Merton. Sin duda, un místico principal en el siglo XX.

Thank you for your video and your book. The world needs to be reintroduced to Merton. He is as relevant today as he was in his lifetime.

Here was my pathway: A piece in Time Magazine on the 50th anniversary of Merton's death and the publication of the 50th ann. edition of the Seven Story Mountain; then the Seven Story Mountain; then, all of Merton's published journals; then Contemplation In A World of Action. And then, a great deal of everything else. Feels now like a journey of a lifetime.

I am reading his diaries. Very good. I love this man.

Will definitely read 'the Franciscan Heart of Monastic Vision', thank you

Zen and the birds. Very very unique. It's an effort of a thousand years.

"The Seven Storey Mountain" is best voewed through the lens that Merton tried to distance himself from the book and downplay it in later years. He understood that it was lacking, immature in places, and he changed his stance on many things in his later works. It was his first book published. His later works are where his ideas and insights have the most body and profundity.

New seeds of contemplation is amazing. Chapter 5 will change your life if you are on the journey to enlightenment; if not it could very well set you on the path. I disagree brother Daniel with you that seven story mountain is hard to read. It is long yes, but I looked forward to curling up with his story every night because his style has the strange quality that even as he narrates his journey he makes it feel like he is experiencing it for the first time too. Hard to explain but incredibly charming and full of hope.

Thanks for your video! It gave me some new ideas on books to read, especially Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, Thomas Merton and the Monastic Vision and your book.

Thank you for your direction.

I often view "Conjectures" as one of the first blogs, or twitter feeds. The ideas are quick, relevant, and on point. But, let's not forget the difficulties he faced when he wrote too much. Which is often overlooked.

Thank you I just heard about Thomas Merton Small world..

A very very special personality searching and helping us to find out GOD !

Thank you Dan for a great overview.

What a great video! Thank you so much, hermano! God bless!

Hi Daniel, Many thanks for your suggestions and tips. I'm relatively new to Thomas Merton and have been reading his journals and some other books, but welcome your suggestions and I'll certainly check out your own book. Thank you.

Gracias por todas las recomendaciones, pude ver el vídeo con el traductor de google. Me encantaría poder conseguir su libro en Argentina y en español. Ojala algún día se conceda tal gracia. Saludos Paz y bien

You Tube vids on R.Rohr and M.Fox mention Thomas Merton so I went to iTunes and bought some of his books and audiobooks. But the collections were vast and varied. So I Googled "where to begin with Thomas Merton" and it referenced and linked this You Tube vid. So let me take a few seconds of your time (Fr.D.P Horan) to say "thank you" for your recommendations. I recognise your suggestions from the covers and titles presented at iTunes online store. And may I also add my love for you. For I easily feel love for people at first glance. This happens easily for me for One lives in me who loves all, evermore. My emotions wain and wax and my thoughts endlessly flutter about, but there is a constant love within me that cries out, or, whispers softly "love everyone - for that is what pleases God most". So Sir "I love you". That is my worship of God - for the God I know has made God's self know to me as the Parent of Jesus Christ and their love for one another "The Holy Spirit". May you experience that love as you read this Father. May you let go of ego and delusion and accept how beautiful and wonderful you are for God made you so - and God delights in you and cherishes you so. I believe this to be true because it manifests it's love through me and in me and i experience you as a loved member of my family. And I look forward to knowing you better, and more completely, in Eternity, in the divine vastness of infinite and eternal choices and gifts............................ for I experience it now as a present moment - but this is only a foggy glimpse at best. For God is in you. and God is in me, and in our togetherness we experience God evermore. May God be with you Father......... blessings from Perth Western Australia - st alex :)

Thank you. Have just come across Merton.

Thank you for sharing

Thank you very much for all your information. I just found out about a 2015 translation into Dutch of "New seeds of contemplation" ("Zaden van contemplatie"). You brought me closer to go and buy this book!

"Raids on the Unspeakable" contains a powerful essay on the Eichmann Trial.. Before the trial began psychiatrists were consulted by the Israeli court and found Eichmann fit to stand trial in that he met the legal requirement of knowing right from wrong. What concerned Merton was that Eichmann, who had been the officer charged with bringing about the "Final Solution" didn't or couldn't imagine the misery he was inflicting on millions of people. In Merton's view, such a person, who might be called well adjusted, showed a disturbing possibility of adjusting himself to hell.

"Writing in the 1940s" aka you have to think. I love Merton.

VERY nice synopsis of Thomas Merton! A compact intro such as you shared is very difficult to pull off because, as you know, Merton's writings span a broad spectrum. I remember that his Sign of Jonas was the first book that I had ever read outside of required texts in high school. Needless to say his books changed my life. Since that time I have never gotten over the desire to be a monk. Of course God had different plans for my life, but I have always considered myself to be a Secular Monastic. Thank you again for your book and this vlog. Pax et bonum! Captain vantastic.

The Postmaster is within you who delivers the Little YOU 'I' to the Extraordinary YOUR SELF 'I AM' The ones who know the true meaning of 'I' AND 'I AM' within THEMSELVES are the ONES who are closer to GOD

did you hear about the guy that met him but didnt know it was him, prettty epic

Thankyou

Hi Fr. Horan thanks for this video. I want to learn about him but was afraid he'd be too high falutin' for me. I attended two of your lectures at the RECongress last year. I pray that all is well with you. :)

Paz y Bien

Merton is great

Very nice. But how could he have omitted The Seven Mountains of Thomas Merton by Michael Mott? Otherwise very interesting and well presented.

That was very nice, thank you x

Journal # 6 is very troubling. Why was it ever allowed to be published?

Did he speak of how we might deal with are own demons and temptations

👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

And his relationship with the Dal Lama

no man is an island ???

Voice

It would seem odd to me if he actually used the term *people of color*.

Look up Thomas Morton instead 😁

When something comes out of the beasts mouth.... forget about it.

😇🙏❤👍

And his relationship with the Dalai Lama

Thomas Merton really stood for Vatican 2 the world is the kingdom of God the Catholic Church and the religions of the world and we are all one in God therefore evangelisation is irrelevant were all going to heaven because there is no Hell. Thomas Merton imbibed eastern mysticism into his Catholic thinking and so has the modern church always evolving always changing, making it easier for other religions to accept. Gone has the dogma there is no salvation outside of the Catholic Church.

According to Fr. John Hardon he was not a good teacher not even intellectually fully Catholic. Case closed.

Unfortunately Thomas Merton was very confused. He dabbled a lot in Buddhism, it's unfortunate that so many are so confused on this subject including Pope Francis. Go to spirituadirection.com and look up Thomas Merton for the truth on this poor confused man.

Great monk. He could have become enlightened in this life if he went beyond christianity.

Priests shouldn't be preaching politics. Stick to the word, not the world.

Where: nowhere. The church doesn't need Merton, no need for an orientalist which had an affair with his nurse in a monastery.

If this far left, dissident “priest” is recommending Merton’s works, it’s an indication to stay far, far away from them. Other than Merton’s first book which Archbishop Sheen actually liked, I’d be wary of anything else he did-especially if Horan endorses it.

Why are you wearing this Christian monk uniform?? That is very deceitful