From Audible notes: "In this audio program, Merton will challenge you with questions about man's individual destiny, the human condition, prayer, and nature of time. Originally delivered in 1965, these timeless lectures have been remastered and released as a set for your enjoyment. Delivered with wit and profound insight,these recordings will transport you into the abbey where Morton taught and imparted his spiritual wisdom.
"In the first part you will look at Greek tragedy and Chinese philosophy, both of which rise to prominence in the 5th and 6th centuries BC. The wisdom in Greek tragedy and Chinese thought is linked to that of the Scriptures, and in them we discover similar developments of thought. We see man acquiring a sense of identity and destiny as he comes to terms with freedom and responsibility.
"In the second half you will look at the Greek concept of time and how it relates to prayer. The monastic life that Merton lived was one of constant prayer, in which time is was differently. Merton looks at such great literary works as Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time and William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury to explore the concept of time in our lives."
Thomas Merton wrote more than 70 books, mostly on spirituality, as well as scores of essays and reviews. Merton was a keen proponent of interfaith understanding.
Interest in his work contributed to a rise in spiritual exploration beginning in the 1960s and 1970s in the US. Merton's letters and diaries, reveal the intensity with which their author focused on social justice issues, including the civil rights movement and proliferation of nuclear arms. He had prohibited their publication for 25 years after his death. Publication raised new interest in Merton's life.
... Show more