Merton and Me 3

Thomas Merton:

Thomas Merton Thomas Merton Merton and Me: A Meditation In Sunshine and Shadow : Merton

Dualism:

Dualism Darkness/Light Evil/Good Body/Spirit Natural/Supernatural Language/Silence Action/Contemplation Worldliness/Solitude Autonomy/Obedience Materialism/ Spirituality Complexity/Simplicity Despair/Hope Man/God Me 2

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An examination of the life of Thomas Merton bears witness to the ongoing theme of dualism that weaves its way throughout his story. Yet Merton’s story is no different from my story or yours. Only the details create our differences. Merton 3

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Merton questioned, as do I, the separation of mind and matter; the physical and the spiritual; good and evil; health and sickness; life and death . Merton juxtaposed paradoxical images and expressions throughout his prose just as he captured light and darkness in his photographs. From Thomas Merton we learn to embrace contradictions and hold them together as one Me 4

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In Thomas Merton’s words; In his photographs And mine We seek understanding, Resolution, And acceptance of the fact that Merton 5

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We all live In the cloud of unknowing Me 6 And must learn To look into the darkness To find the ligh t

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When solitude was a problem I had no solitude. When it ceased to be a problem, I found I already possessed it. Merton, Thoughts in Solitude, p. 81 Merton 7

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As soon as you are really alone You are with God. Merton, Thoughts in Solitude, p. 117 Me 8

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Words stand between silence And silence Merton, Thoughts in Solitude, p. 83 Merton 9

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The inner “I” is certainly the sanctuary of our most personal And individual solitude, yet paradoxically It is precisely that which is most solitary and personal in ourselves which is united With the “thou” who confronts us. Merton, The Inner Experience, p. 22 Me 10

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Merton …where God is there can be no despair, and God is in me even if I despair . Merton, The Hidden Ground of Love, p. 157 11

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Me 12 …our nothingness and helplessness in the presence of God…. can be deeply tranquil and joyful since it brings us in direct contact with the source of all joy and life .. Merton, Contemplative Prayer, p. 69.

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Merton 13 His presence is present in my own presence. If I am than He is. Merton, Thoughts in Solitude, p. 64

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Me 14 …the awakening and enlightening of the inner man goes with with the darkening and the blindness of the exterior man. Merton, The Inner Experience, p. 90

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Merton 15 …Contemplative prayer is not so much a way to find God as a way of resting in Him whom we have found… Merton, T. Contemplative Prayer, p.29

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Me 16 The Desert F athers believed that the wilderness had been created as supremely valuable in the eyes of God precisely because it had no value to man. Merton, T. Thoughts in Solitude. pp. 4-5.

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17 Merton …the unitive and mystical knowledge of God is ineffable darkness and yet it is essential light. Merton, T. Contemplative Prayer. Pp.74-75

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18 Me Contemplation is the light of God playing directly upon the soul. Merton,T . The Inner Experience. P.75

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19 Surrounded by the Divine night the soul seeks him who is hidden in darkness. Merton, T. Contemplative Prayer.p . 81

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20 Me We stumble and fall constantly even when we are most enlightened. But when we are in true spiritual darkness, we do not even know that we have fallen. Merton, T. Thoughts in Solitude. P. 38

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21 Merton Do not fear the dark place

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22 Me God may be waiting for you there

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23 Merton Choose not to run from silence

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24 Me In the quiet of your soul you may hear the voice of God

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25 Merton Be still…

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26 Me and know…. Psalm 46:10

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27 Merton

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28 Me

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29 Me

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30 Me

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31 References Merton,T . (1985 ). The Hidden Ground of Love . Letters, Volume 1. William H. Shannon , editor. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Merton,T . (1999). Thoughts in Solitude . New York: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux. Merton, T. (2004) The Inner Experience: Notes on Contemplation . New York:Harper Collins Merton,T . (1971) Contemplative Prayer. Kindle Version. (2009) Random House Digital, Inc. Patnaik , D.P. (Editor) 1980. Geography of Holiness:The Photography of Thomas Merton. New York:Pilgrim Press The Holy Bible. King James Version. Public Domain

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32 References Photographs N.B. All photographs have been digitally altered by the author Slide 1 Merton, T. (Photographer) Untitled (Photograph). Retrieved 7/20/2011 from : http:// fatherlouie.blogspot.com /search/label/Merton%20photography?updated-max=2009-10-17T12%3A46%3A00-05%3A00&max-results= 20 Slide 3 Merton, T. ( Photographer). Trees (Photograph). Retrieved 7/18/2011 from http:// www.threecentstamp.com / wp -content/uploads/2008/12/bw-trees1.jpg.

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33 References Photographs Slide 5 Merton, T.(Photographer). Snowtracks (Photograph). Retreived 7/14/2011 from http:// fatherlouie.blogspot.com /search/label/Merton%20photography Slide 7 Merton, T.(Photographer). Untitled (Photograph). Retrieved from: http:// www.thephotoargus.com /tips/using-lines-to-improve-photographic-composition/ Slide 9 Merton, T.(Photographer). Gethsemani (Photograph)1965. Geography of Holiness: Photography of Thomas Merton. D.P. Patnaik (Editor) 1980. New York: Pilgrim Press.

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34 References Photographs Slide 11 Merton, T. (Photographer). Gethsemani Tool Shed (Photograph). 1967. Geography of Holiness: Photography of Thomas Merton. D.P. Patnaik (Editor). 1980. New York:The Pilgrim Press. Slide 13 Merton, T. (Photographer), California (Photograph). 1964. Geography of Holiness: Photography of Thomas Merton. D.P. Patnaik (Editor) 1980. New York: Pilgrim Press. Slide 15 Merton, T.(Photographer), California Redwoods (Photograph). 1968. Geography of Holiness: Photography of Thomas Merton. D.P. Patnaik (Editor) 1980. New York: Pilgrim Press.

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35 Slide 17 Merton, T.(Photographer) Untitled (Photograph). Retreived 7/14/2011 from http:// fatherlouie.blogspot.com /2007_04_01_archive.html Slide 19 Merton, T.(Photographer) Three Rocks (Photograph) Retrieved 7/18/2011 from http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VtJFutq7rtk/TB0MVWszU6I/AAAAAAAADGM/ upHlNlJZaxM /s1600/merton-3rocks.jpg Slide 21 Merton, T,(Photographer) Kentucky Rock(Photograph). Retrieved 7/19/2011 from http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VtJFutq7rtk/ TBpslDgvNqI /AAAAAAAADF8/TAF7sdIdYdo/s1600/ MertonKYrock.jpg Slide 23 Merton, T.(Photographer) Snowtracks (Photograph). Retrieved 7/21/2011 from http:// fatherlouie.blogspot.com /search/label/Merton%20photography

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36 Slide 25 Merton, T.(Photographer) India (Photograph) 1968. Geography of Holiness: Photography of Thomas Merton. D.P. Patnaik (Editor) 1980. New York: Pilgrim Press. Slide 27 Merton, T.(Photographer)Tree on Hill (Photograph). Retrieved 7/21/2011 from http:// fatherlouie.blogspot.com /search/label/Merton%20photography Slide 2 Hartigan, E. (Photographer). Cliffs of Moher (Photograph) 2007. Slides 4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20,22,24 26,28,19,30 Hartigan, A. (Photographer)

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37 References Music Number One: Taizé Community Choir. Within Our Darkest Night . Songs of Taizé - O Lord, Hear My Prayer & My Soul Is At Rest (Volume One ). Number Two: Taizé Community Choir. Ubi Caritas . Songs of Taizé - O Lord, Hear My Prayer & My Soul Is At Rest (Volume One). Number Three: Taizé Community Choir. Adoramus Te Domine . Songs of Taizé - O Lord, Hear My Prayer & My Soul Is At Rest (Volume One) . Number Four: Taizé Community Choir. Jesus Remember Me . Jubilate. Created by Anne Hartigan. 7/24/2011