The year 2015 is being celebrated worldwide as the Centenary of Thomas Merton, who has influenced literally millions of lives. More than 100 international contributors, including well-known celebrities such as Richard Rohr, Parker Palmer, Cynthia Beaugeaut, Thomas Moore, Robert Thurman, Huston Smith, Kallistos Ware, Joan Chittister, James Forest, Matthew Fox, Roger Lipsey, Judith Simmer- Brown, and Seyyed Hossein Nasr honor Merton's centenary by reflecting on the monk and writer's impact on their lives and careers. These highly personal, rather than academic, reflections attest to Merton's continuing importance in the 21st century. Over a quarter of the reflections are by young people which shows that Merton still speaks to a new generation. These profound contributions are deeply thought-provoking, reminding the reader of much he or she has come to understand about life from Merton, and loved about him. This volume is a spiritual treasure, bringing so much full circle: what Merton had to say and how this came to enrich our lives in so many various ways.
Jonathan Montaldo is the general editor (with Gray Henry) of the Fons Vitae Thomas Merton Series. He is a former director of the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University and served as associate director of the Merton Institute for Contemplative Living. He lives in Mantua, New Jersey. Richard Rohr is a Franciscan priest and directs the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which he founded in 1987. He is the author of many books includingDancing Standing Still, Everything Belongs, Immortal Diamond,The Naked Now, and Silent Compassion. He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.Parker J. Palmer is a writer, speaker, activist, and the founder and senior partner of the Center for Courage & Renewal. He is the author of nine books, includingThe Active Life, The Courage to Teach, The Company of Strangers,Healing the Heart of Democracy, A Hidden Wholeness, and The Promise of Paradox. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin.Cynthia Bourgeault is an Episcopal priest, writer, and internationally known retreat leader who is principal teacher and advisor at the Contemplative Society. She is the author of eight books:Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, Chanting the Psalms, The Holy Trinity and the Law of Three,Love Is Stronger than Death, The Meaning of Mary Magdalene, Mystical Hope,The Wisdom Jesus, and The Wisdom Way of Knowing. Thomas Moore is the author of the bestselling bookCare of the Soul and 19 other books on psychology and spirituality. His most recent book isA Religion of One’s Own. Robert Thurman is the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University. At H. H. Dalai Lama’s request, he cofounded the American Institute of Buddhist Studies. He is the translator ofThe Tibetan Book of the Dead, and author of many other books, including The Central Philosophy of Tibet, Inner Revolution,Why the Dalai Lama Matters, and Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet.Huston Smith is the Thomas J. Watson Professor of Religion and distinguished adjunct professor of philosophy, emeritus, at Syracuse University. He is the author of 14 books, including the bestsellingThe World’s and Why Religion Matters. Kallistos Ware is Metropolitan of Diokleia within the Eastern Orthodox Church under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. He is one of the best-known contemporary Eastern Orthodox theologians, and has authored and translated many books including The Inner Kingdom: Collected Works, Volume 1; In the Image of the Trinity: Collected Works, Volume 2, and Praying with Orthodox Tradition.Joan Chittister is a Benedictine nun, an international lecturer and award-winning author of more than 50 books, for which she has won 13 Catholic Press Association awards. She is the founder and executive director of Benetvision, a resource and research center for contemporary spirituality. She lives in Erie, Pennsylvenia. James Forest is the author of several books, including biographies of Dorothy Day (All Is Grace) and Thomas Merton (Living with Wisdom). He was a managing editor of the Catholic Worker and is currently international secretary of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship.Matthew Fox is a spiritual theologian and author of 31 books on spirituality and culture, includingThe Coming of the Cosmic Christ, Original Blessing, and A Spirituality Named Compassion. His most recent books are Christian Mystics: 365 Readings and Meditations and Hildegard of Bingen, A Saint for Our Times: Unleashing Her Power for the Twenty-first Century. Roger Lipsey is the author of Angelic Mistakes: The Art of Thomas Merton, which won the “Louie” from the Internat
