The 2021 Fons Vitae Thomas Merton & World Religions Series – 8 books (25% discount).

“A beautiful, rich and well considered dialogue of mystics, artists and scholars. Merton would be pleased.” – Jack Kornfield, Buddhist Teacher, author of A Path With Heart

“Thomas Merton’s mature monastic perspectives included his increasing openness to persons of other faith traditions that included Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism. Through personal contacts and by correspondence, Merton practiced hospitality to experiences of faith by those seeking God in ways that might differ from but also complement his own Roman Catholicism.” – Jonathan Montaldo- Editor for the Fons Vitae Series

Merton & Confucianism – Rites, Righteousness and Integral Humanity: This eighth and penultimate volume of the acclaimed Fons Vitae Thomas Merton Series is a compendium of all relevant material for a thorough consideration of Merton’s knowledge and appreciation of the Confucian tradition. Merton’s profoundly “catholic,” holistic Catholicity, open to the broadest and deepest sources of authentic human insight, explicitly embraces Confucianism along with the other major streams of Chinese wisdom, and demonstrates his recognition that “the tone and value of my own interior world . . . is open also to China, to Confucianism and to Zen, to the great Taoists”

Merton and Indigenous Wisdom: The essays included in this 7th volume of the Fons Vitae Merton Series, serve as spiritual exercises for exploring Merton’s globally inclusive religious imagination, helping us to drink from springs of ancient views and practices. They help us to not only recognize the damage of European colonization, but to taste indigenous American wisdom as a still-living sacrament for our collective salvation.

Merton & Buddhism Wisdom, Emptiness & Everyday Mind: The ideas Merton was drawn to in Buddhism provide inspiration for readers of any practice. We are introduced to the masters and their teachings which most affected his thinking: The Dalai Lama, Chatral Rinpoche, Karlu Rinpoche, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Khamtrul Rinpoche, as well as Thich Nhat Hanh. This book contains a plethora of previously unpublished photography as well as new material from persons who were with Merton in Asia in the weeks preceding his untimely death in 1968.

Merton And Hesychasm: The Eastern Church & The Prayer of the Heart: A groundbreaking work that introduces the West to Eastern Christian spirituality through the “lens” of Thomas Merton—to the “Prayer of the Heart”—as practiced from the time of the Desert Fathers. Merton and Hesychasm: The Prayer of the Heart brings to light what inspired the monk’s captivation with the Oriental mystical tradition.
Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury (ret.) said: “Merton’s spirituality would not be what it is without his devoted and careful study of Greek patristic thought and the Desert Fathers.”

Merton And Sufism: The Untold Story – A Complete Compendium: The most comprehensive study available. Merton here explains the Sufi tradition for the spiritual seeker. This collection is comprised of essays, Merton’s Sufi poems, reviews of Sufi texts, and transcriptions of his Sufism lectures given to at the Abbey of Gethsemani. Also included is Merton’s famous correspondence with Abdul Aziz and Marco Pallis, and a photo essay depicting similarities among Sufi and Christian practices.

Merton and the Protestant Tradition: Thomas Merton’s thoughts on Protestantism as expressed in traditions from Episcopal to Baptist to Quaker includes quotes of Merton from his various writings and conversations. The book describes the evolution from Merton’s early Catholicism to his growing appreciation of Protestantism.

Merton and Judaism: Holiness In Words – Recognition, Repentance And Renewal: Outstanding writers discuss Thomas Merton’s discovery of and developing relationship with Judaism. Features Merton’s correspondence with Jewish scholars and participation in Catholic Church’s opening to respect for Jewish faith and spirituality, especially in the Ecumenical Council of 1962-65.

Merton & The Tao: This fifth volume in the highly regarded Fons Vitae Thomas Merton series reveals the depth of the monk’s interests in Taoism and in particular the sage Chuang-Tzu from whose writings Merton selected, translated and presented a work that he called his personal favorite, The Way of Chuang Tzu.