A final work by the late Trappist monk and civil activist draws connections between his earlier and later writings while drawing on Christian and Eastern traditions to consider the meaning of daily contemplation and the heart of monastic and religious experience. Reprint. Now in paperback, revised and redesigned: This is Thomas Merton's last book, in which he draws on both Eastern and Western traditions to explore the hot topic of contemplation/meditation in depth and to show how we can practice true contemplation in everyday life. Never before published except as a series of articles (one per chapter) in an academic journal, this book on contemplation was revised by Merton shortly before his untimely death. The material bridges Merton's early work on Catholic monasticism, mysticism, and contemplation with his later writing on Eastern, especially Buddhist, traditions of meditation and spirituality. This book thus provides a comprehensive understanding of contemplation that draws on the best of Western and Eastern traditions. Merton was still tinkering with this book when he died; it was the book he struggled with most during his career as a writer. But now the Merton Legacy Trust and experts have determined that the book makes such a valuable contribution as his major comprehensive presentation of contemplation that they have allowed its publication. Introduction vii ONE A Preliminary Warning 1(5) TWO The Awakening of the Inner Self 6(13) THREE Society and the Inner Self 19(16) FOUR Christian Contemplation 35(22) FIVE Kinds of Contemplation 57(14) SIX Infused Contemplation 71(9) SEVEN Five Texts an Contemplative Prayer 80(9) EIGHT The Paradox of the Illuminative Way 89(6) NINE What to Do: The Teaching of St. John of the Cross 95(6) TEN Some Dangers 101(9) ELEVEN Contemplation and Neurosis 110(5) TWELVE The Desire of Contemplation 115(3) THIRTEEN The Sense of Sin 118(5) FOURTEEN Problems of the Contemplative Life 123(19) FIFTEEN Prospects and Conclusions 142(13) APPENDIX A References to 'The Inner Experience' 155(2) APPENDIX B Tables of Contents: A Comparison 157(2) Notes 159(14) Index 173