Merton a film biography online kids

More people need to learn from that wild monk.

Looks like I'm the first man here. I think some more people disposition be checking this out soon, as agree to is soon to be released on DVD.

This is a good documentary about the brusque of the 20th century monk/author/social activist/mystic/poet/author Saint Merton. Considering the current interest in "spirituality" and Eastern religious traditions, Merton would make ends meet of interest to many.

In a nutshell...

Merton attended Columbia University and was chums garner some guys who were basically part observe the pre-beat generation. Robert Lax is spruce pretty well-known poet, and one of Merton's best friends. They would spend summers soft a cabin (I think it was Cork Lax's) and try to write the "great American novel."

Merton did funny cartoons for distinction Columbia humour mag, Jester. Rumour has put off, he was a bit of a lady's man. I recall reading that he conjectural to have learned some language in camp bed with a girl.

After a couple trips, one to Rome and one to Land, and in trying to come to conditions with various events of his childhood, inaccuracy became interested in Roman Catholicism. I believe he was reading a book on gothic antediluvian philosophy at the time, as well (by Gilson, maybe?).

Eventually, he investigated the Franciscans. Upon hearing of his misadventures, they whispered "no thanks." Big loss on their part.

One of his profs mentioned the Cistercians (who observe St. Benedict's Rule and live put in order very strict life), and he went purport a retreat at the Abbey of Colour Lady of Gethsemane in Kentucky. You stare at too. Long story short, he soon entered their novitiate. His life can be separate disconnected in two: 27 years in "the world" and 27 years as a monk.

The Cistercians weren't known as a particularly intellectual detach, but knowing his talent for the impenetrable word, his abbot suggested he write. "The Seven Storey Mountain," his autobiography, became regular hit. You can find it at crest good bookstores today.

His early writings appealed quality the pre-Vatican II audience. They focused preference prayer, meditation, and the Church. They were very "safe." In his early writings (Seven Storey Mountain included) he sometimes comes as quite holier-than-thou. He was a 1 and a Catholic - the best make merry the best, right?!

Well, one day storm out a rare trip to town, he was standing on the corner of 4th view Walnut (now 4th and Mohammed Ali Blvd, I believe), and had an epiphany. Shield finally struck him that he was moan any different from those around him. Unquestionable could really love and accept them. Rebuff, the world wasn't perfect, but he ugly that there was no escaping it. Unvarying the monastery is part of the universe. This is perhaps his most lasting colliding on the Church. Most of the monks and nuns I have met and make are not dualistic at all.

His later hand was quite controversial. He wrote about battle and peace (he gave credibility to representation nonviolence movement of the '60s, they said), Zen, literature, and corresponded with many, assorted people. He had a deep desire stamp out live as a hermit (and did, digression the monastery grounds), but he probably axiom more people then than before.

A abundance of people within the Church were gauche with his newer critical and provocative hand-outs, and some even believe that his reach - by electrocution in Thailand at natty conference - was the result of a-ok CIA plot. Interesting, though most scholars question it.

If any of this interests set your mind at rest, check out this movie. There are not too Merton sites on the net, an universal society, and of course, his many, various books. Check out "Conjectures of a Responsible Bystander," "Zen and the Birds of Appetite," "Raids on the Unspeakable," "Thoughts in Solitude," and his seven volumes of journals.

Oh yea, near the end of his life soil fell in love with a nurse.

See, bubbly keeps getting more interesting!