Contents
Foreword vii
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xvii
List of Abbreviations xix
List of Tables xxi
Introduction xxiii
Chapter 1 Merton’s Own Inner Experience and Interreligious Dialogue
1
Chapter 2 Merton’s Pioneering Work with Buddhist-Christian Dialogue
61
Chapter 3 Merton’s Pioneering Work with
Inter-Monastic/Contemplative Dialogue 123
Chapter 4 Merton’s Legacy: Beyond His Encounter with Buddhism
181
Conclusion 243
Bibliography 257
Index 275
Jaechan Anselmo Park, OSB is a member of St. Benedict Waegwan Abbey
in South Korea, where he has been vocation director and director of
the Monastic Experience program. He received his STL and ThD from
Regis College at the University of Toronto, Canada, where he is
currently completing a doctorate in sacred theology. Park is
interested in spiritual direction, Thomas Merton and inter-monastic
religious dialogue. Presently, he engages in Dialogue
Interreligieux Monastique/Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (DIMMID)
as an at-large director for intra-monastic dialogue in Asia.
Bonnie B. Thurston, after years as a university and seminary
professor, lives quietly in her home state of West Virginia. She is
the author of many books on Scripture and spirituality and
eight books of poetry. These include Liturgical Press
publications Saint Mary of Egypt: A Modern Verse Life and
Interpretation;Shaped by the End You Live For: Thomas Merton’s
Monastic Spirituality; Maverick Mark: The Untamed First Gospel; The
Spiritual Landscape of Mark;Philippians in the Sacra Pagina series;
and Belonging to Borders: A Sojourn in the Celtic Tradition
(poetry).
"In Thomas Merton's Encounter with Buddhism and Beyond Jaechan Park
explores Thomas Merton's dialogue with Buddhism getting to the very
heart of it as only a fellow monk, steeped in the daily monastic
rhythm of prayer and work, could do. Park then builds on Merton's
legacy suggesting important ways monastic and contemplative
interreligious dialogue can continue to develop in the twenty-first
century and beyond."Paul M. Pearson, Director, Thomas Merton
Center, Bellarmine University
"Jaechan Anselmo Park has gifted us with a carefully written,
well-organized exploration of Thomas Merton's understanding of
inner experience, interreligious dialogue, and
inter-monastic/inter-contemplative dialogue. His detailed
exploration of Merton's legacy concerning these matters establishes
a context for considering the future of inter-monastic exchange and
contemplative dialogue in Asia, and more specifically, Korea.
Thomas Merton's Encounter with Buddhism clearly describes each of
the topics that are explored, providing a historical overview and a
critical analysis, drawing from well-recognized Merton scholars.
Park makes extensive use of the books and journals of Merton,
demonstrating both a familiarity and a critical knowledge of these
works. He carefully—and this is much appreciated—repairs the
exclusive language found in the older texts. Whether readers have
an interest in the work of Thomas Merton, interreligious dialogue,
orinter-monastic discourse, they will find this book to be an
essential companion."Dennis Patrick O'Hara, St. Michael's College,
University of Toronto
"Fr. Park's profound study of Thomas Merton's multi-religious
encounters reveals the enormous impact and importance of Merton's
legacy for the church and for the world. It is the first extensive
study to explore Merton's legacy in terms of how it has shaped the
institutional church, through the activities of the Pontifical
Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) and through the Monastic
Interreligious Dialogue (MID), which functions under its aegis.
This is a convincing portrayal of Merton's pivotal importance in
the history of interreligious dialogue."Joe Raab, Professor of
Religious Studies and Theology, Siena Heights University, co-editor
of The Merton Annual
"This is a well-researched and readable analysis of Thomas Merton's
understanding of and engagement with Buddhism. The work is enhanced
by an extended consideration of the Christian-Buddhism dialogue
from a monastic perspective. Since the author himself is an Asian
monk he brings a fresh angle to his task. Like the good householder
of the Gospel, Father Park brings forth old things and new."
Lawrence S. Cunningham, The University of Notre Dame
"This book is written by an experienced Asian Benedictine. It
delves into the process of Thomas Merton's spiritual transformation
through his encounter with Zen and Tibetan Buddhist thought, and
his involvement in the dialogue of religious experience with their
practitioners. Father Park makes it clear that the dialogue between
Catholicism and Buddhism must be of a different kind from that with
Judaism and Islam which centers on the dialogue of theological
exchange. And indeed, because the practitioners of Buddhism
emphasize the priority of experience over faith, a fruitful
dialogue between Catholics and Buddhists may well be impossible
without a dialogue on contemplative prayer. The book should be of
special interest not only to lay and monastic contemplatives, but
to those interested in double religious belonging and the new
evangelization."Ovey N. Mohammed, SJ, Professor Emeritus of
Catholicism and Eastern Religions, Regis College, University of
Toronto
"An intriguing and significant contribution to interfaith
encounter, Benedictine Jaechan Anselmo Park's carefully researched
Thomas Merton's Encounter with Buddhism and Beyond provides fresh
insight into the way that Merton's evolving sense of contemplation
and his exploration of experiential interfaith dialogue broke new
ground. Park's passionate concern for human self-transformation is
evident as he chronicles Merton's explorations of the inner
dimensions of contemplative practice, despite the Cistercian's
sometimes limited understanding of Buddhism. These explorations,
both existential and intellectual, continue to provide a
challenging yet fruitful model for interfaith dialogue that goes
beyond theology and action-orientation to the contemplative core of
religious experience however variously it might be conceptualized
or experienced."Wendy M. Wright, Professor Emerita of Theology,
Creighton University
"The author's detailed, clearly articulated, logically developed
argument, based on a thorough familiarity with the full range of
relevant primary and secondary sources, makes a strong, persuasive
case for the crucial importance of Merton's contribution to
interreligious dialogue generally and to Buddhist-Christian
inter-monastic/contemplative interaction in particular."Catholic
Books Review
"I am aware of no other study that combines both a critical
appraisal of Merton’s limitations with respect to Buddhism while
celebrating his capacious desire to learn from and be transformed
by the other. Although set as an academic study, this is a book
written from the heart of contemplative prayer and gratitude, such
that Pieris’ conviction bears out, with a welcome twist:
Christianity can recover its Eastern sense by dialoguing with its
own monks, especially those from the East."
Christopher Pramuk, Regis University
"Even though various books and articles about Thomas Merton’s keen
interest in Buddhism and his dialogue with particular Buddhists
have already appeared, Jaechan Anselmo Park’s recently published
work is a valuable addition to these studies. The book offers
extensive reflections on the way in which Merton’s legacy continues
in our own day, including in Park’s native South Korea."
American Benedictine Review
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