Merton Reflection for October 10th 2011

The man who has truly found his spiritual nakedness, who has realized he is empty, is not a self that has acquired emptiness or become empty. He just "is empty from the beginning," as Dr. Suzuki has observed. Or, to put it in more affective terms of St. Augustine and St. Bernard, he "loves with a pure love."

Merton, Thomas. Zen and the Birds of Appetite. (New York: New Directions, 1973) 129

Thought for the Day

Purity of heart is not the ultimate end of the monk's striving in the desert. It is only a step towards it.

Zen and the Birds of Appetite: 131

Contemplative Pause: Throughout this week, pause, take a breath, and listen with your heart. How are your actions, thoughts, and words expressions of "loving with a pure heart"?