New Seeds Of Contemplation

Book Summary

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. New Seeds of Contemplation is one of Thomas Merton's most widelyread and best-loved books. Christians and non-Christians alike havejoined in praising it as a notable successor in the meditative traditionof St. John of the Cross, The Cloud of Unknowing, and themedieval mystics, while others have compared Merton's reflections withthose of Thoreau. New Seeds of Contemplation seeks to awaken thedormant inner depths of the spirit so long neglected by Western man, tonurture a deeply contemplative and mystical dimension in our lives. ForMerton, "Every moment and every event of every man's life on earthplants something in his soul. For just as the wind carries thousands ofwinged seeds, so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitalitythat come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most ofthese unnumbered seeds perish and are lost, because men are not preparedto receive them: for such seeds as these cannot spring up anywhereexcept in the soil of freedom, spontaneity and love."

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