Tich Nhat Hanh and Thomas Merton

[pearl]

In 1966, Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Buddhist monk, visited the United States on a lecture tour to enlighten the American people about the war in Vietnam from the perspective of the Vietnamese. His trip included a series of meetings with politicians, thinkers and religious leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr., and in May of that year, he met the Trappist monk Thomas Merton.

On May 28, 1966, Nhat Hanh visited Merton’s home at the Abbey of Gethsemani. According to a mutual friend, the recently deceased Jim Forest, the two conversed late into the night. They talked about monastic chant, about meditation in each other’s traditions, about monastic formation. And they talked about the Vietnam War.

Remembering Thich Nhat Hanh, the Buddhist monk who Thomas Merton called a brother | America Magazine

 

[metis]

In 1966, Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Buddhist monk, visited the United States on a lecture tour to enlighten the American people about the war in Vietnam from the perspective of the Vietnamese. His trip included a series of meetings with politicians, thinkers and religious leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr., and in May of that year, he met the Trappist monk Thomas Merton.

On May 28, 1966, Nhat Hanh visited Merton’s home at the Abbey of Gethsemani. According to a mutual friend, the recently deceased Jim Forest, the two conversed late into the night. They talked about monastic chant, about meditation in each other’s traditions, about monastic formation. And they talked about the Vietnam War.

Remembering Thich Nhat Hanh, the Buddhist monk who Thomas Merton called a brother | America Magazine

Yes, and Merton stated that studying contemplative prayer as taught within Buddhism made him a better Catholic.

 

[juberlock]

"He has come among us as many others have, from time to time, bearing witness to the spirit of Zen. More than any other he has shown us that Zen is not an esoteric and world denying cult of illumination, but that it has its rare and unique sense of responsibility in the modern world. Wherever he does he will walk in the strength of his spirit and in the solitude of the Zen monk who sees beyond life and death. "

 

[Secret Chief]

Where did I read Merton appreciated a good Belgian ale? Westvleteren 12 and zen. Ticks all the boxes really