Comments on: Thomas Merton – A Psalm http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2013/02/01/thomas-merton-a-psalm/ Sacred Poetry from Around the World Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:08:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Jaga http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2013/02/01/thomas-merton-a-psalm/#comment-111866 Jaga Sat, 30 Mar 2013 14:49:15 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/?p=2407#comment-111866 "While God sings by himself in acres of night And walls fall down, that guarded Paradise." These lines are a perfect expression for Holy Saturday - today - suspended between Good Friday - God the Son's sacrifice unto death to take on the burden of our offenses - and Easter Sunday - His resurrection opening to us the gates to eternal life!... “While God sings by himself in acres of night
And walls fall down, that guarded Paradise.”
These lines are a perfect expression for Holy Saturday – today – suspended between Good Friday – God the Son’s sacrifice unto death to take on the burden of our offenses – and Easter Sunday – His resurrection opening to us the gates to eternal life!…

]]> By: Dina http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2013/02/01/thomas-merton-a-psalm/#comment-98525 Dina Sun, 10 Feb 2013 17:39:38 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/?p=2407#comment-98525 When I first read the poem, which was unkown to me, even though I've read a lot of Merton, the first thing that jumped to my mind was the ten bulls of enlightenment by Kakuan. The last verse of Merton's is the tenth bull. The seeker once enlightened goes back to the marketplace. Like Joko Beck's book title: Nothing Special, Living Zen. Thank you, Ivan, sending metta, Dina When I first read the poem, which was unkown to me, even though I’ve read a lot of Merton, the first thing that jumped to my mind was the ten bulls of enlightenment by Kakuan.

The last verse of Merton’s is the tenth bull. The seeker once enlightened goes back to the marketplace. Like Joko Beck’s book title: Nothing Special, Living Zen.

Thank you, Ivan, sending metta, Dina

]]> By: Peg http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2013/02/01/thomas-merton-a-psalm/#comment-97799 Peg Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:46:35 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/?p=2407#comment-97799 Thank you Carol for "a quiet holding of ecstasy." BEAUTIFUL. Ivan, much love and light to you. For a long time I assumed my issues were chronic fatigue but it was really kundalini. Jana Dixon has a great web site going into the biology and that it takes years to allow the body to complete the many changes that kundalini facilitates. Peg Thank you Carol for “a quiet holding of ecstasy.” BEAUTIFUL.

Ivan, much love and light to you. For a long time I assumed my issues were chronic fatigue but it was really kundalini. Jana Dixon has a great web site going into the biology and that it takes years to allow the body to complete the many changes that kundalini facilitates.

Peg

]]> By: isabel tipple http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2013/02/01/thomas-merton-a-psalm/#comment-96379 isabel tipple Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:01:37 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/?p=2407#comment-96379 I very much like the ending of the poem - letting the question mark hover. It does indeed suggest the spaciousness of not knowing. Spaciousness has a different flavour to ' emptiness' though, there is a fullness of potential in it. Hovering on the brink of potential has an excitment about it. Being in the stillness, yet hovering on the edge, perhaps the state of true meditation - fully relaxed, yet fully alert. What comes next? - in the stillness, a hidden voice whispers .....'It's in your heart'. I very much like the ending of the poem – letting the question mark hover. It does indeed suggest the spaciousness of not knowing. Spaciousness has a different flavour to ‘ emptiness’ though, there is a fullness of potential in it. Hovering on the brink of potential has an excitment about it. Being in the stillness, yet hovering on the edge, perhaps the state of true meditation – fully relaxed, yet fully alert. What comes next? – in the stillness, a hidden voice whispers …..’It’s in your heart’.

]]> By: Carol Teresa http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2013/02/01/thomas-merton-a-psalm/#comment-95837 Carol Teresa Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:57:53 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/?p=2407#comment-95837 It was indeed delightful to find your mail today, Ivan ... yes, you were missed. Thank you for directing your recovering energy outwards to all of us who so enjoy your posts. With this poem I too ponder your question with fascination, and your words "...moving beyond to a state of utter stillness, where all of creation opens into a cavernous spaciousness,..." resonate with a sense of stepping into clouds of expansiveness, a maturing of unbounded intimacy. Also, I don't feel the last stanza to be a 'deflation' as much as a reprieve, or a breath ... a quiet holding of ecstasy ...? May you be nourished by the beauty you share. It was indeed delightful to find your mail today, Ivan … yes, you were missed. Thank you for directing your recovering energy outwards to all of us who so enjoy your posts.

With this poem I too ponder your question with fascination, and your words

“…moving beyond to a state of utter stillness, where all of creation opens into a cavernous spaciousness,…”

resonate with a sense of stepping into clouds of expansiveness, a maturing of unbounded intimacy. Also, I don’t feel the last stanza to be a ‘deflation’ as much as a reprieve, or a breath … a quiet holding of ecstasy …?

May you be nourished by the beauty you share.

]]> By: ebrahim http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2013/02/01/thomas-merton-a-psalm/#comment-95800 ebrahim Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:24:20 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/?p=2407#comment-95800 Give up the ghost of yourself and die! Give up the ghost of yourself and die!

]]> By: Zoe Durga Harber http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2013/02/01/thomas-merton-a-psalm/#comment-95799 Zoe Durga Harber Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:22:50 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/?p=2407#comment-95799 This is such a beautiful poem. I love the way it is sort of ragged, spontaneous, the words of a lover drunk with bliss. The "but" is such a surprising turn-around. I feel like he is saying that after all he must approach God as simply himself - all objects and sensory impressions and nature itself disappear - all the symbols of who we think we are - gone. Now he can directly encounter God, going forth just as he is and- the walls fall down. I hope you are feeling better. Thank you for this lovely poetry, It is giving me so much enjoyment. Best wishes. This is such a beautiful poem. I love the way it is sort of ragged, spontaneous, the words of a lover drunk with bliss. The “but” is such a surprising turn-around. I feel like he is saying that after all he must approach God as simply himself – all objects and sensory impressions and nature itself disappear – all the symbols of who we think we are – gone. Now he can directly encounter God, going forth just as he is and- the walls fall down.
I hope you are feeling better. Thank you for this lovely poetry, It is giving me so much enjoyment. Best wishes.

]]> By: vegete http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2013/02/01/thomas-merton-a-psalm/#comment-95747 vegete Sat, 02 Feb 2013 13:32:56 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/?p=2407#comment-95747 A stunning poem describing the ineffable experience of going beyond and seeing/feeling what is truly REAL. The ending does seem like a deflation, but I think it could be the ultimate letting go ... the last lines are stupendous: "While God sings by himself in acres of night And walls fall down, that guarded Paradise" I hope you'll feel better soon Ivan. You are such a energetic spiritual and creative soul and source. Vegete A stunning poem describing the ineffable experience of going beyond and seeing/feeling what is truly REAL.
The ending does seem like a deflation, but I think it could be the ultimate letting go … the last lines are stupendous:
“While God sings by himself in acres of night
And walls fall down, that guarded Paradise”

I hope you’ll feel better soon Ivan. You are such a energetic spiritual and creative soul and source.

Vegete

]]> By: bharati http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2013/02/01/thomas-merton-a-psalm/#comment-95642 bharati Sat, 02 Feb 2013 05:40:02 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/?p=2407#comment-95642 Vimala Thakkar had talked about the utter loneliness of enlightenment... there is no other. The journey doesn't end. There is no limit to the path that continues beyond 'enlightenment'. But there is no 'other' to share or understand. She spoke the truth of her own experience. I pass on to Judy and others only what I could grasp from being with her... Vimala Thakkar had talked about the utter loneliness of enlightenment… there is no other. The journey doesn’t end. There is no limit to the path that continues beyond ‘enlightenment’. But there is no ‘other’ to share or understand. She spoke the truth of her own experience. I pass on to Judy and others only what I could grasp from being with her…

]]> By: Judy http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2013/02/01/thomas-merton-a-psalm/#comment-95583 Judy Sat, 02 Feb 2013 00:09:59 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/?p=2407#comment-95583 Just thought of something else with this poem..he is talking about his inconsistency..how is with the Lord and then he isn't..maybe that's it..faithful and then faithless..because he is human and not able to be consistent.? Just thought of something else with this poem..he is talking about his inconsistency..how is with the Lord and then he isn’t..maybe that’s it..faithful and then faithless..because he is human and not able to be consistent.?

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