This doctoral dissertation studies the relationship between the development of Merton's view of contemplation and Merton's extensive interest in and writings on Zen and classical Taoism. It aims to show that Merton's later view of contemplation is influenced by his appropriation of the teachings of Zen-Taoism. The opening chapter of the dissertation explores the origin, the extent, and the reasons for Merton's interest in Zen and classical Taoism. It explains how Merton's interest in Zen-Taoism grew enormously in the mid 1950s. Zen-Taoism became one of his chief areas of interest between 1959 and 1968, during the last ten years of his life. The second chapter analyzes the content of Merton's writing on classical Taoism, particularly The Way of Chuang Tzu. The chapter indicates that The Way of Chuang Tzu consists of 62 passages chosen from the standard version of the Chuang Tzu. Merton's version of the Chuang Tzu reflects his personal appropriation of the teachings of Master Chuang. The third chapter studies Merton's writings on Zen, including Mystics and Zen Masters, Zen and the Birds of Appetite, and a number of other essays. The chapter shows how Merton's understanding of Zen is informed by the writings of Suzuki, Hui-neng, and other Chinese Zen Masters of the Southern school. Chapter four begins to explore the development of Merton's understanding of contemplation. It investigates Merton's foundational knowledge of contemplation by attending to his references to the works of Etienne Gilson, Jacques Maritain, Thomas Aquinas, Augustine of Hippo, and John of the Cross. Chapter five examines Merton's early view of contemplation by studying mainly three pieces of his early works, which were written in between 1999 and 1958: What Is Contemplation?, Seeds of Contemplation, and The Ascent to Truth. Chapter six studies Merton's later writings on contemplation, which were written in between 1959 and 1968. These writings betray a substantially different way of understanding contemplation, one which contains a number of new emphases and elements not found in the early writings. Chapter seven further explores the scope of the influence of Zen-Taoism on Merton's later view of contemplation. It focuses on several areas of change in the later writings and investigates the extent to which those changes are influenced by Zen-Taoism. The last chapter of this dissertation evaluates Merton's later view of contemplation. It points out that Merton's later view of contemplation reflects a more ecumenical attitude. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uottawa.ca/oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/6327 |
| Date | January 2001 |
| Creators | Tam, Ekman Pui-chuen. |
| Contributors | Peelman, Achiel, |
| Publisher | University of Ottawa (Canada) |
| Source Sets | Université d’Ottawa |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 287 p. |
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