Thomas Merton - Journey into the Wilderness - New Seeds of Contemplation

[@otterrivers3765]

He mentions that for people who find they end up daydreaming and being lazy while meditating, a spiritual book can be helpful. Honestly videos like these help with that same purpose. They help me notice when my mind has wandered from sincere meditative inquiry. lately I spend about 80% of my life in my dark bedroom in complete silence except for this channel. I can't sit for long because of a sciatic nerve sensitivity so I have to stand or lay down for most of my meditation. Videos like this also help me maintain consciousness while lying down. Even when I do fall asleep though, I often hear the spoken words in my dreams too! I've even had experiences of a much higher receptivity in my "sleep". I'm constantly reminded of how awesome it is and how grateful I am to have access to all of these teachings anytime I want. and I don't even have to "read" it! I can listen while I walk or work or travel or even lying down with eyes closed. And it's basically for free too, other than Wi-Fi cost! Buddha taught that it was rare to be born during a time when these types of teachings are accessible. Even IF there really is no reincarnation, still, how much *more* fortuitous is it to be alive at this time when channels like this exist which contain such a wealth of wisdom for free at any time?! I pray I never take this for granted.

[@marciestoddard730]

Fat solvable b1, or benfotiamine cured my neuropathy and a lot of the sciatic pain.

[@DrMusicStarr]

oh my, after decades of richness of Dzog Chen, non-dual, Sufi teachings, you have brought me back full circle to the essence of Chrisitanity, which my church never revealed. Thank you from my overflowing Heart 💖

[@SolveEtCoagula93]

You haven't returned - you never left - you just changed some names.

[@angryherbalgerbil]

This excerpt is possibly one of the best ways in which a person can untangle the subtle definitions between acts in works, acts in faith, acts in prayer, and inactive acts in meditation. The deliniation between the cognitive pulls, the physical pulls, and the spiritual pulls which all obscure and distract from true connection and union is detailed about as accurately as the limitations of words and speech could suffice. I've listened to this one three times over, and will likely be working with this one alone for some time to come. Why is it that Thomas Merton is able to convey what no preacher or bible can suffice to do? *This is* what religions should be conveying rather than the finger wagging admonitions of the angry Sky-Daddy in the clouds that says *"surrender or else!"*. Merton is wise to point out that "laziness masquerading as silent serenity" as being one of the more subtle and seductive traps of the golden chain. Even many organised religions still seem to trip up over whether salvation comes from faith alone and to what degree works are necessary to spiritual growth, often doing more spiritual harm than good in their application of instructions. This talk emphasises the necessity of both full surrender, but also the necessity of internal discernment between what is from faith and God, and from that which is ego, but also from that which is the outward constructs of the ego structures built by others and constituted into systems and institutions. The interplay of this tangle between surrender, discernment, and will is definitely where a large stumbling block has occured for me, especially regarding the complications that arise between faith and works. This talk works very much with the subtleties within the confusions and trappings that present as pitfalls and stumbling blocks on the spiritual path, and in a way that, as of yet on the journey I haven't heard detailed or conveyed in such a degree that the nuances are laid out so well. Thank you Samaneri for putting the work into these videos! 🙏

[@tylercorderman5386]

Thank you.

[@JasonWilliams-ro8nm]

My heart is full. So much love for Merton he is such a deep and wonderful messenger of God

[@DrMusicStarr]

being "heroically faithful to Grace and Love". wow, this is pure 💖🔥💖

[@stoicafanel]

I do not know. I am free in my expectațions I admire the purity and emptines in all momentse Thank you Jayasera. Thank you Thomas Merton

[@CaptainOfTheLostWaves]

True contemplation and a beautiful shelter in the current climate of noise, opinion and blame x

[@otterrivers3765]

ex ZACT ly !!!

[@asrah14]

A year on since you wrote this beautiful comment and the world feels in more of a state of confusion and duality than ever before. I have also found so much peace and stillness in the solitude of contemplation, when listening to such profound and moving audio as this. Much love xx

[@myshir0]

Go out in nature, book, heroically faithful to grace and love

[@MarcosOliveira-kq6it]

This youtube channel Samaneri Jayasara is a brigth jewel in the internet. Budhist, vedantic, now christian knoledge. Maybe one day you will read Meister Eckhart. Also sufi texts ? Thank you, thank you.

[@SamaneriJayasara]

Glad you are enjoying the channel and the readings. Just to let you know that there is another channel which has done a good job of reading a range of Meister Eckhart's teachings. Their channel is called The Priory Librarian and here is the link to one of the readings. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3yXXommmq2oodE All the best

[@otterrivers3765]

Oh! I was also going to recommend priory librarian! Wonderful!

[@emaho8210]

Thank you 🙏🏻 💕

[@angelajanebowes]

So so beautiful beyond words 🙏🙏🙏♥️

[@holyghostpilgrim]

Very helpful, thankyou

[@christopherconlogue5373]

Eastern Christian sources, hesychism, the Philokalia, would be excellent to hear.

[@arunatamang3783]

Contemplation does indeed help when there is sufficient faith and belief.

[@chromakey84]

This may be my favorite. Thank you so much. It would be great to hear the lectures on the 10 ox herding pictures by mumon.

[@SamaneriJayasara]

Thanks for feedback Ryan and for the suggestion on the Mumon text. You are actually the second person to request that but I can't find it anywhere. It is out of print and I can't locate a PDF copy. You don't happen to know where I could get one from or if you have a copy you could send me? Thanks

[@SolveEtCoagula93]

@@SamaneriJayasara I was also thinking about asking for you to read some of this text. It can be found at terebess.hu/zen/mesterek/ten-oxpict.pdf

[@hartmutnolte]

You touched my soul! Thank You! borris98 Hungary

[@cherylmburton5577]

Thomas Merton was a Catholic Priest. Starting around 17mins in he is making suggestions for when a person becomes distracted. They are suggestions from a Catholic perspective. He says the best thing to do if possible is sit quietly before the Blessed Sacrament. In his Author Introduction, he said he would adhere to Catholic Theology whenever necessary.

[@cobyleebrooks]

does anyone here ever think that writings like Merton’s are simply existential idealizations of what humans think we need to survive? these are anciently held beliefs, but why do we dream of purity, simplicity, perfection, or bliss? is it for the sole purpose of providing hope in a otherwise complicated, harsh and unpredictable experience? I tend to wonder

[@sonofsophia]

Well it does that, but more than that, too. Spiritual life often goes against the grain of our biological imperatives, denies the self and can even create social conflicts. Jesus didn't come to bring peace but a sword 😂