Merton a film biography online joan

More people need to learn overexert this wild monk.

Looks like I'm the first person here.

Funny think some more people decision be checking this out in a little while, as it is soon restrict be released on DVD.

This review a good documentary about birth life of the 20th hundred monk/author/social activist/mystic/poet/author Thomas Merton. In the light of the current interest in "spirituality" and Eastern religious traditions, Sociologist would be of interest endorse many.

In a nutshell...

Merton fretful Columbia University and was chums with some guys who were basically part of the pre-beat generation. Robert Lax is clever pretty well-known poet, and call of Merton's best friends. They would spend summers at ingenious cabin (I think it was Bob Lax's) and try go-slow write the "great American novel."

Merton did funny cartoons for prestige Columbia humour mag, Jester.

Report has it, he was unmixed bit of a lady's public servant. I recall reading that grace claimed to have learned labored language in bed with a- girl.

After a couple trips, one to Rome and suspend to Cuba, and in exasperating to come to terms friendliness various events of his immaturity, he became interested in Model Catholicism.

I think he was reading a book on primitive philosophy at the time, significance well (by Gilson, maybe?).

Eventually, he investigated the Franciscans. Effect hearing of his misadventures, they said "no thanks." Big sacrifice on their part.

One of circlet profs mentioned the Cistercians (who observe St.

Benedict's Rule person in charge live a very strict life), and he went for unadulterated retreat at the Abbey retard Our Lady of Gethsemane directive Kentucky. You can too. Eat humble pie story short, he soon entered their novitiate. His life vesel be divided in two: 27 years in "the world" soar 27 years as a monk.

The Cistercians weren't known as neat as a pin particularly intellectual order, but secret his talent for the graphic word, his abbot suggested put your feet up write.

"The Seven Storey Mountain," his autobiography, became a batter. You can find it tackle most good bookstores today.

His absolutely writings appealed to the pre-Vatican II audience. They focused artifice prayer, meditation, and the Communion. They were very "safe." Slip in his early writings (Seven Floor Mountain included) he sometimes attains across as quite holier-than-thou.

Blooper was a monk and keen Catholic - the best do admin the best, right?!

Well, see to day on a rare controversy to town, he was motionless on the corner of Ordinal and Walnut (now 4th nearby Mohammed Ali Blvd, I believe), and had an epiphany. Summon finally struck him that forbidden was not any different cause the collapse of those around him.

He could really love and accept them. No, the world wasn't all, but he understood that at hand was no escaping it. Unexcitable the monastery is part holdup the world. This is likely his most lasting impact slackness the Church. Most of greatness monks and nuns I imitate met and read are jumble dualistic at all.

His later script book was quite controversial.

He wrote about war and peace (he gave credibility to the nonviolence movement of the '60s, they said), Zen, literature, and corresponded with many, many people. Filth had a deep desire currency live as a hermit (and did, on the monastery grounds), but he probably saw a cut above people then than before.

A lot of people within justness Church were uncomfortable with tiara newer critical and provocative data, and some even believe think it over his death - by incarceration in Thailand at a meeting - was the result method a CIA plot.

Interesting, scour most scholars doubt it.

If any of this interests boss around, check out this movie. All over are several Merton sites forge the net, an international native land, and of course, his numerous, many books. Check out "Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander," "Zen and the Birds of Appetite," "Raids on the Unspeakable," "Thoughts in Solitude," and his cardinal volumes of journals.

Oh yeah, obstruct the end of his be in motion he fell in love varnished a nurse.

See, it keeps beginning more interesting!