The Inner Experience: Notes on Contemplation

Thomas Merton, William H. Shannon

Harper Collins, May 25, 2004 - Religion - 192 pages

Now in paperback, revised and redesigned: This is Thomas Merton's last book, in which he draws on both Eastern and Western traditions to explore the hot topic of contemplation/meditation in depth and to show how we can practice true contemplation in everyday life.

Never before published except as a series of articles (one per chapter) in an academic journal, this book on contemplation was revised by Merton shortly before his untimely death. The material bridges Merton's early work on Catholic monasticism, mysticism, and contemplation with his later writing on Eastern, especially Buddhist, traditions of meditation and spirituality. This book thus provides a comprehensive understanding of contemplation that draws on the best of Western and Eastern traditions.

Merton was still tinkering with this book when he died; it was the book he struggled with most during his career as a writer. But now the Merton Legacy Trust and experts have determined that the book makes such a valuable contribution as his major comprehensive presentation of contemplation that they have allowed its publication.

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - allenkeith - LibraryThing

This is a book not so much on the how of contemplative prayer but on what is contemplation. It is a thorough work on the topic from a person who made this very thing his life's vocation. Merton looks ...

The inner experience: notes on contemplation

User Review  - Not Available - Book Verdict

A Trappist monk and prolific author, Merton (1915-68) was a pivotal figure in bringing Eastern mysticism to a wider audience in the West. He wrote the core of this book in 1948 (published as What Is ...

Contents

• ONE A Preliminary Warning: 1
• THREE Society and the Inner Self: 19
• SEVEN Five Texts on Contemplative Prayer: 80
• EIGHT The Paradox of the Illuminative Way: 89
• The Teaching of St John of the Cross: 95
• TEN Some Dangers: 101
• FOURTEEN Problems of the Contemplative Life: 123
• APPENDIX A References to The Inner Experience: 155
• Index: 173

About the author

Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was a Trappist monk, writer, and peace and civil rights activist. Merton's works have had a profound impact on contemporary religious and philosophical thought. He is best known for his autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain and New Seeds of Contemplation.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Inner Experience: Notes on Contemplation
• Authors: Thomas Merton, William H. Shannon
• Edition: reprint
• Publisher: Harper Collins, 2004
• ISBN: 0060593628, 9780060593629
• Length: 192 pages
• Subjects: Religion / Christianity / Catholic; Religion / Christianity / Literature & the Arts; Religion / Spirituality