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.

Oh my goodness, this book. Before this book, I didn't have any prior knowledge of or experience with Merton. Merton's Palace of Nowhere was not only the perfect introduction to all things Merton, but was beautifully impactful to my spiritual life. I found myself stopping what I was reading, to allow myself the chance to really mull over what I had just read. (Because of this, it took me about two months to finish this book! Which is highly unusual for me.) I just felt that if I rushed through, I would miss deeply hidden treasures. And I found that this was absolutely the case. What an incredible book that I will read again and again.

As a young contemplative, James Finley had the opportunity to learn under Thomas Merton at the Abbey of Gethsemani. Years later, he shared those insights into Merton’s thinking in his book, Merton’s Palace of Nowhere. Now forty years later, Finley’s work is being reissued, and this book remains as startlingly insightful as it was when first published. Merton was capable of seeing through to the truth of our reality in a way that few us achieve, and Finley’s writing makes that wisdom all the more accessible for us. This small volume, which begins by distinguishing our true and false selves and ends by instructing on the two selves’ ultimate conclusion in death, provides sufficient material for a lifetime of contemplation. Whether revisiting this volume or discovering it for the first time, Merton’s Palace of Nowhere should not be missed by the serious contemplative, lay or otherwise.

Merton's Palace of Nowhere gazes at the heart of Thomas Merton's (a Trappist monk, Catholic writer and Christian mystic) theology, its importance and applications for those searching for spiritual realities.

WHO WOULD ENJOY READING IT?
Though Christian mysticism is not as popular as it once was, there is a lot to learn from that branch of Christianity. people with an affinity for that spiritual stream will love this book. Adherents of other religions can also glean valuable insights as the book examines a few basic tenets shared across most spiritualities - the human soul, prayers, the value of silence, etc.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT
The topic of "self" and the role it spiritually plays is a key part of Christianity. There are debates as to whether it helps or distracts humans from pursuing spiritual ideals. With a bit of elaboration from James Finney, Merton dissects this in a clear way - such that I have never heard or read before. It was also life-changing to hear what Merton has to say about prayers and how he approaches it without anxiety, stress, and ego's demand to perform it well.

MEMORABLE PASSAGE

"We pray not to recharge our batteries for the business of getting back to the concerns of daily life, but rather to be transformed by God so that the myths and fictions of our life might fall like broken shackles from our wrists. We withdraw within not to retreat from life but to retreat from the constant evasion, the constant fearsome retreat from all that is real in the eyes of God.

"The desert where prayer flourishes is the desert of our own hearts barren of all the slogans that we have been led to believe to be our very identity and salvation."


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Merton's Palace of Nowhere by James Finley was first published in 1978. The 40th year anniversary edition will be available to buy on all major online bookstores by February 2018.

Many thanks to Ave Maria Press for review copy.

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

The timeless wisdom of Merton ( if you have not read Merton before, then it's high time- seriously), coupled with wise discernment and guidance. This is a book for the ages.

The ways of contemplative prayer as taught by Thomas Merton could heal a great many of the rifts we find between ourselves and our God if we let them. This state of mind is so far outside the typical materialistic, must-own mindset present in modern America that it almost seems to be from another age. Maybe it is.

Finley crystallizes the mind of Merton, giving a rich overview of his philosophy and method. In no small part because he knew Merton, this is an ideal introduction to the humble monk who brought together East and West and allowed them to be united in Christ.

I would recommend reading this book second. First, I would recommend at least one Merton book as an introduction. For me, New Seeds of Contemplation was an atomic bomb. If that sticks, then this book will give a good indication of where you can go with the spiritual direction Merton offers even decades after his death.

I consider this book a treasure. Not an easy read, but a worthwhile one in many ways. I found myself highlighting often, taking time to process individual nuggets as I came across them. Doing so will certainly lengthen the time it takes to read the book, but that really is the point of contemplation.