An exploration into a systemic presentation of some of Thomas Merton's conceptions of the false self vs. the true self in light of the contemplative tradition.

The author had personal experience working with Merton and was manifestly profoundly influenced by him. He has taken on the mantle by attempting to systematize a bit of what Merton was exploring regarding the contemplative tradition and the search for relationship with God.

The premise of the book is the existence of the "false self" versus the "true self" - the "false self" being the one we have constructed in our fallenness, and the "true self" the person within we ought to be in full communion with God. The author explores the challenges and complexities of the construction of the false self and the great difficulty it requires to get glimpses of the true self. The value and power of the contemplative tradition is examined in light of this. The goal, it would seem, is to become okay with one's essential no-thing-ness in light of God being no-thing, and this leads to the idea of Merton's "palace of nowhere," finding full relationship in God through a recognition of our complete inability to stand before God by anything of our own merit and developing a relationship with God in prayer based in silence, meditation, and the "nothingness" that may seem to transpire in it, to arrive at nowhere in particular but in the light of God's presence.

The book is full of anecdotes and quotations of Merton. I cannot attest to how effectively the author has channeled Merton's thought process; while the strict duality of the "true" and "false" self causes me to blanch a bit, concerned about a little bit of Gnosticism which may be present, the conceits and deceits of the "false self" as described are real enough, and the mystical tradition is something which may have a word to speak in the current trials and distress of life.

An interesting exploration.

**--galley received as part of early review program ( )

Thomas Merton was a mystic and his words and thought are timeless and both Christians and non Christian can be inspired by them.
This books gave a lot of food for thought and touched some deep chords.
Highly recommended for spiritual people.
Many thanks to Ave Maria Press and Netgalley ( )

An excellent compilation of material from Thomas Merton on the subject of contemplative prayer and the true self in union with God. Finley also draws on his personal interactions with Merton during Finley's formation as a monk in the monastery under Merton's direction. ( )

James Finley, who for six years lived, prayed, and studied with "Brother Louis," as Merton was known at the Abbey of Gethsemani, shares with us the gifts passed on to him by this towering figure. At the heart of this quest are found Thomas Merton’s illuminating insights leading from an awareness of the false and illusory self to a realization of the true self. ( )