The shallow “I” of individualism can be possessed, developed, cultivated, pandered to, satisfied: it is the center of all our strivings for gain and satisfaction, whether material or spiritual.
“But the deep “I” of the spirit, of solitude and of love, cannot be had, possessed, developed, perfected. It can only be, and act, according to the inner laws that are not of man’s contriving, but which come from God. . . .
“It is beyond limitation. It is beyond selfish affirmation.”
— Thomas Merton
Merton and You-Know-Who, Shortly Before Merton was Electrocuted in 1968
My main man the mystic monk Mr. Merton was born on this day in 1915. He died in December 1968 all too young, but left behind a body of spiritual writings of depth and breadth.
Down below is a clip from the PBS documentary “Soul Searching: The Journey of Thomas Merton,” by filmmaker Morgan Atkinson.
And click here for a video of a TV interview with Atkinson and Merton scholar Jonathan Montaldo.
Where did you find this quote from Merton?
Hi, Rinie
It’s from “Choosing to Love the World: On Contemplation”
The quote on the gate of heaven’ from “Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander”