This is from a lecture by the Catholic monk Thomas Merton, delivered at the Abbey of Gethsemani near Bardstown, Kentucky. The lecture was delivered around 1965. Merton instructed novice monks at the monastery, where he lived from 1941 until his death in 1968. Part Two is posted as a response to this video; part three is posted as a response to part two...hope you enjoy!
I have used the JC ...( 9 months ago by gdnuf)
I have used the JC prayer for 40 years. It does work. It does not matter actually if one believes in a god. It is a deep part of the inner context of the individual the words are immaterial. One has to own the inner pneuma that breath of the inner knowing self consciousness. Each cell in the body has enough oxygen for survival for three seconds. It is this inner knowingness of breath that is called into action in this form of contemplation.
Thanks for sharing ...( 9 months ago by Journeys2008)
Thanks for sharing this! This sheds a lot of light for me.
Perhaps we could ...( 9 months ago by gdnuf)
Perhaps we could email outside of this system?
This sounds good. ...( 9 months ago by Journeys2008)
This sounds good. Feel free to send me a pm. I have to be stepping out now. I am heading out of town for a meeting. I'll be back at the computer tomorrow evening. Peace to you!
How and where on ...( 9 months ago by gdnuf)
How and where on this section do I post a private message?
On my home page, ...( 9 months ago by Journeys2008)
On my home page, there is a section on there where, if you click on it, you can send a private message. It is under my channel profile info.
Please put up the ...( 9 months ago by gdnuf)
Please put up the url to your homepage so we can chat outside this location. thanks.
Thank you for ...( 7 months ago by titanicdays)
Thank you for posting these videos. I have recently discovered the writings of Thomas Merton and am really excited to hear his voice after having only heard his writing "voice." You've made a total stranger very happy tonight.
Well, I'm glad to ...( 7 months ago by Journeys2008)
Well, I'm glad to have made a "total stranger" happy! :D And now, we are no longer strangers! Thanks for watching!
I've made the same ...( 6 months ago by vdmaart)
I've made the same experience as titanicdays. I'm glad that there's still so much interest in Th. Merton. I've only heard of him by chance, it was only a little note in a book on Cartusian monks. When I started to read Merton's writings I've found treasures of wealth unmeasurable. So I can recommend it to everyone who is open to God's words and those of his people. Thanks for sharing, thanks for letting the voice of Merton sound again! (Sorry for my bad English... I'm not a native speaker.)
Array( 6 months ago by acpinheiross)
Hello, Do you have the a transcription of this text? I am not a native english speaker and, so, i have difficult to understand. Thank you very much!
if it makes you ...( 6 months ago by twominutepenalty)
if it makes you feel any better, he speaks kind of fast. faster than I normally hear anyway.
Try to listen to ...( 6 months ago by vdmaart)
Try to listen to him several times. After a while you get used to his language (I think he does not only speak fast but also mumbles a lot) and you can make out most of the sentences you have missed until then. :-) Practice is the best way for understanding!
Sadly, I don't have ...( 6 months ago by Journeys2008)
Sadly, I don't have a transcript of his text. :( I agreee with what 'vdmaart' said. I listened to this CD several times before it all began to 'click'.
The jesus prayer ...( 6 months ago by Por0)
The jesus prayer was adopted by the russian monks, it comes originally from the Holy Mount Athos, in greece, and its history can be traced back to the early desert fathers of egypt and palestine. It is indeed a very powerful prayer, but the eastern orthodox monks believe that it should not be practiced outside of the orthodox tradition because it may inflict severe harm.
I'm with " ...( 4 months ago by primemover17)
I'm with "titanicdays." I'm 38 and was only confirmed a year ago. Two Christmases ago, my mother gave me one gift, a copy of "The Seven Storey Mountain." She said "You're ready." I've since read 3 more Merton books, and can't wait to read more. It's nice to hear him on YouTube! Thanks!
You're welcome! " ...( 4 months ago by Journeys2008)
You're welcome! "The Seven Storey Mountain" truly is a wonderful gift! It is a wonderful spiritual biography.
I guess it all ...( 4 months ago by Journeys2008)
I guess it all depends on what you mean by prayer "working". I don't want to make assumptions, so I'd like to ask what do you mean by "prayer doesn't work"?
I now realize this ...( 4 months ago by Journeys2008)
I now realize this and I am sorry for the mistake.
(Sorry for my bad English... I'm not a native speaker.)
Do you have the a transcription of this text? I am not a native english speaker and, so, i have difficult to understand.
Thank you very much!