No Man Is an Island

First off, I'm not Christian in any way, and I'm not atheistic. I am a spiritual wanderer at this point in my life, which feels like such an aberrant, social pariah type title to carry in a world that is mired by obnoxious categorical thinking, and vacuous forms of "nominal" descriptions of one's spiritual identity. It's all so tidy and sterile, almost too symmetrical, for something as wondrously mysterious, exciting, and endlessly enthralling as the deepest questions that really get to the heart of "What it means to be human?" I discovered Thomas Merton by pure happenstance, at a small, private catholic college, where I felt I misjudged him terribly, letting my own spiritual conflicts completely taint my thorough enjoyment of the depth of Thomas Merton's wonderful autobiography. Nonetheless, something from his autobiography lingered with me;otherwise, I doubt I'd search out for his more spiritual-centric books, like this one. The title is derived from a John Donne sermon, where the famous, yet so deceptively simple line "No Man is an Island," sticks out of that sermon like a sore-thumb. Our meditation on the death of another shouldn't be self-pitying, morbid, or an attempt to utilize it selfishly for another fundamentalist hell sermon (providing reasons for gloating/self-gratification over the thought that you're in heaven, and those many others are not..). Like John Donne, Thomas Merton's thoughtful, poetic book, exploring the tenets of true spirituality-charity,love, peace, humane poverty, Elizabeth Bishop style empathy- is thankfully the greatest antithesis to the life-hating, very dark, cold, almost nihilistic fundamentalism that is out there to steal out hearts away, make us fear life, and cause us to think love and charity is only for our own selfish benefit. This is spirituality that heals, and makes spiritual wanderers, lost in the mire of so many voices saying "what is right theology, what is wrong theology," and all those clashing, irritating, world-shrinking shouts of "God is this..." "God is that.." All this stuff deprives any real spiritual thinker from peace, forbearance of the soul, and it is Thomas Merton's writing that will keep you afloat, offering you such wise words of wisdom about how to live life fully with the right type of mindset; one that emanates peace.

We are a part of the main. Each and every one of us is connected to one another. We are always a part and never apart! The question is to discover if we will be our true selves or perpetuate the illusions of the false self. Merton has again plumbed the depths of silence and solitude and service in a way that offers new perspective on what it means to be a person in this world. In silence, solitude, and charity to others we learn who we are with God and with others.

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This is a book to be sipped. Drink too fast and you will burn, but drink it slow and you get a lot of warmth and flavor. The format is a series of theological essays where each essay is composed of a topic and then a numbered list of elements that attempt to explain and add depth to the topic. There were parts that enlivened my thoughts and spoke to me, while there were others that weren't quite clicking for me. I highlighted the book over 80 times and I don't think I highlight easily. Here are a few quotes that stood out to me. --- LOVE This definition of love is so short, but so potent. I found myself keeping the quote in mind as I went about my day. When I would interact with someone and it got difficult, whether frustrating or complex, I would think back to this quote and it would allow me to take the higher road. Instead of doing what I want to someone I love, I would attempt to do what is "really good" for them objective of my personal desires. "To love another is to will what is really good for him. Such love must be based on truth." --- OBEDIENCE and SANCTITY I love this idea that obedience is not the point. "Sanctity does not consist merely in doing the will of God. It consists in willing the will of God. For sanctity is union with God, and not all those who carry out His will are united with His will." "He does not need our sacrifices, He asks for our selves. And if He prescribes certain acts of obedience, it is not because obedience is the beginning and the end of everything. It is only the beginning. Charity, divine union; transformation in Christ: these are the end." --- ACTION and CONTEMPLATION This harmony or yin/yang perspective of inward contemplation and charitable action turned into a metaphor of spring and stream is great symbolism. "Action is charity looking outward to other men, and contemplation is charity drawn inward to its own divine source. Action is the stream, and contemplation is the spring. The spring remains more important than the stream, for the only thing that really matters is for love to spring up inexhaustibly from the infinite abyss of Christ and of God." --- WORK vs AGITATION Ever feel like you are just going through the motions (agitation), or have you ever feel fully engaged in life or your vocation (work)? Merton explains it well. "Work occupies the body and the mind and is necessary for the health of the spirit. Work can help us to pray and be recollected if we work properly. Agitation, however, destroys the spiritual usefulness of work and even tends to frustrate its physical and social purpose. Agitation is the useless and ill-directed action of the body. It expresses the inner confusion of a soul without peace. Work brings peace to the soul that has a semblance of order and spiritual understanding. It helps the soul to focus upon, its spiritual aims and to achieve them. But the whole reason for agitation is to hide the soul from itself, to camouflage its interior conflicts and their purposelessness, and to induce a false feeling that 'we are getting somewhere.'" --- APPROACH to TRUTH I like this perspective of being a servant to truth or falsely attempting to become the master of truth. "There is a way of knowing the truth that makes us true to ourselves and God, and, therefore, makes us more real and holier. But there is another way of receiving the truth that makes us untrue, unholy. The difference between these two lies in the action of our will. If my will acts as the servant of the truth, consecrating my whole soul to what the intelligence has seen, then I will be sanctified by the truth. I will be sincere. “My whole body will be lightsome” (Matthew 6:22). But if my will takes possession of truth as its master, as if the truth were my servant, as if it belonged to me by right of conquest, then I will take it for granted that I can do with it whatever I please. This is the root of all falsity. The saint must see the truth as something to serve, not as something to own and manipulate according to his own good pleasure." --- LETTING GOD GO A key element of spirituality is the acknowledgement that you will never fully capture Him. He is too big. "God approaches our minds by receding from them. We can never fully know Him if we think of Him as an object of capture, to be fenced in by the enclosure of our own ideas. We know Him better after our minds have let Him go." I could go on. Lots of wisdom from a Catholic theologian and mystic.

A timeless classic filled with timeless ideas and ideals. I think Merton writes for all of us in this book. He leads us, he uplifts us, he motivates us, he accuses us, he challenges us, and he comforts us. He exudes such a solid spirituality. I read this for the first time in the mid 70's, riding the #7 IRT subway to and from Manhattan every day. I look back at how Merton (or maybe it was not him, but the one who inspired his words) had the ability to captivate me in that environment. He just seemed to draw me in, amidst all the noise and heat of summer (there was no air-conditioning). I still remember the experience--a challenging, transforming, spiritual experience. Part of my memory of this was that I encountered Truth--It was alive!--though I could not always describe how that was so. That memory has always allured me to reread this book. I did--a number of times. A reread of this is a completely new experience! I recently read him again, first the book--next as an audio book. I think the latter experience was even more impressive. Hearing his words has a remarkable effect. I don't think Merton (or Truth) leaves anybody unchanged! You will never consider this a waste of time!

No Man Is an Island strikes me as one of those books which are referenced by many but read by few. I stumbled upon this book by Divine Providence; and by virtue of having read it, already sense that I have been elevated to much greater levels of spirituality than I have ever known. While full of profound truth, this truth is presented not in complex theological terms as an intellectual exercise, but in truths which are readily accessible to most who simply desire to know God on a deeper level in very simple terms. Merton calls us away to a consecrated life of love of God and love of others and does so on a very practical level. Often these truths beg to be reread--not because they are difficult to understand, but because their impact begs to be fully felt in the depths of the heart. I would recommend this book to any person, believing or non-believing, who desires to know the amazing grace of God.

Merton is overflowing with exceptional insights, provocative assertions, starts his work with some of the most profound observations of love, then he readies his dazzling dismount with some of the best thoughts on Christian silence and solitude. This book is powerful.

This book is incredible—can’t recommend it highly enough. But the print quality of this edition is abysmal—it’s a grainy, gray, low-resolution edition closer to what I’d expect from Amazon’s legion of cheap reprint publishers than from a reputable press like HarperOne.

one of his better books

Book which will uplift your spirit.

Thomas Mertons most famous book comes highly recommended.

Merci

This was purchased for a gift, hopefully the recipient will allow me to enjoy it when she is finished with it. The book arrived in perfect condition