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The Wisdom of the Desert
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The Wisdom of the Desert
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Ideal for readers interested in Christian spirituality, early monastic traditions, and those seeking contemplative wisdom relevant to modern life.
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See moreThe Wisdom of the Desert was one of Thomas Merton's favorites among his own books-surely because he had hoped to spend his last years as a hermit.
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Description
The personal tones of the translations, the blend of reverence and humour so characteristic of him, show how deeply Merton identified with the legendary authors of these sayings and parables, the fourth-century Christian Fathers who sought solitude and contemplation in the deserts of the Near East.
The hermits of Screte who turned their backs on a corrupt society remarkably like our own had much in common with the Zen masters of China and Japan, and Father Merton made his selection from them with an eye to the kind of impact produced by the Zen mondo.
In The Wisdom of the Desert, Merton's translations highlight this profound connection, providing a valuable insight into both Christian and Zen traditions.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Father Daniel Berrigan praises Merton's work, stating, "In fact, Thomas Merton does not so much introduce the Fathers of the desert; he stands in their midst, one of them." This reflects the authenticity and deep engagement Merton brings to the text.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780811201025
Publisher: New Directions Publishing Corporation
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 17 January 1970
Country: United States
Imprint: New Directions Publishing Corporation
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 8.0mm
Width: 132.0mm
Height: 203.0mm
Weight: 109g
Pages: 88
About the Author
Thomas Merton (1915-1968) entered the Cistercian Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, following his conversion to Catholicism and was ordained Father M. Louis in 1949. During the 1960s, he was increasingly drawn into a dialogue between Eastern and Western religions and domestic issues of war and racism. In 1968, the Dalai Lama praised Merton for having a more profound knowledge of Buddhism than any other Christian he had known. Thomas Merton is the author of the beloved classic The Seven Storey Mountain.
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