May 05 2017
Thomas Merton – In Silence
In Silence
by Thomas Merton
Be still.
Listen to the stones of the wall.
Be silent, they try
to speak your
name.
Listen
to the living walls.
Who are you?
Who
are you? Whose
silence are you?
Who (be quiet)
are you (as these stones
are quiet). Do not
think of what you are
still less of
what you may one day be.
Rather
be what you are (but who?)
be the unthinkable one
you do not know.
O be still, while
you are still alive,
and all things live around you
speaking (I do not hear)
to your own being,
speaking by the unknown
that is in you and in themselves.
“I will try, like them
to be my own silence:
and this is difficult. The whole
world is secretly on fire. The stones
burn, even the stones they burn me.
How can a man be still or
listen to all things burning?
How can he dare to sit with them
when all their silence is on fire?”
— from The Strange Islands: Poems by Thomas Merton, by Thomas Merton
/ Image by bpkuk1978 /
I thought I’d continue with the theme of silence from Monday’s poem…
I love the questions that impregnate this poem.
Be silent, they try
to speak your
name.
Does your name have any inherent meaning?
Are you your name?
When people call your name, are they calling you, or some idea of you?
If you are not your name, what is the purpose of a name?
If you are not your name, what then do you call yourself?
Listen
to the living walls.
Who are you?
Who
are you? Whose
silence are you?
This is more than a question, really, almost an insistent demand: Who are you? Who are you?
But the question isn’t tossed to the busy, thinking mind, which has a thousand quick answers. Merton insists on silence. Remove the background of environment, society, relationship, even thoughts about yourself. THEN ask the question, Who are you? WHO are you?
Who (be quiet)
are you (as these stones
are quiet).
In that open silence, the question shifts and morphs. WHAT are you?
Perhaps you are someone else’s dream…?
Or someone else’s silence…?
Are you separate from the silence?
Do you even exist in that emptiness?
Have you simply imagined yourself?
Can you re-imagine yourself?
HOW would you re-imagine yourself?
Rather
be what you are (but who?)
be the unthinkable one
you do not know.
Who (be quiet) are you?
O be still, while
you are still alive,
and all things live around you
speaking (I do not hear)
to your own being,
speaking by the unknown
that is in you and in themselves.
Merton suggests that there is a grand, universal dialog occurring all around us — in that overlooked silence. Everything is alive, and flowing through that life is a silence, and that silence is speaking to us.
You say you do not hear. But be silent, be quiet, be still. And you will realize that you are already part of the conversation.
“I will try, like them
to be my own silence:
Yes! We want to BE our own silence!
To be filled with noise is to be distracted from one’s own self. To recognize our own silence, to be comfortable with it, to BE it — that requires nothing less than to be at ease with one’s heart and to rest like royalty there.
…and this is difficult. The whole
world is secretly on fire.
The whole world burns with this stillness. There is a light and a dancing life hidden in the silence.
How can a man be still or
listen to all things burning?
How can he dare to sit with them
when all their silence is on fire?
And that silent fire can be overwhelming, frightening, for it consumes everything, including one’s ego and one’s name. So how can one be still in the midst of such a conflagration?
The bold dare the heat… and come to rest in the silence.
Recommended Books: Thomas Merton
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| Selected Poems of Thomas Merton | The Collected Poems of Thomas Merton | A Thomas Merton Reader | The Strange Islands: Poems by Thomas Merton | Thomas Merton Monk & Poet: A Critical Study |
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Thomas Merton |
Thomas Merton was a Catholic monk and mystic who, perhaps more than anyone else in the 20th century, is associated with opening up a dialog between the spiritual traditions of East and West. He himself studied many Eastern spiritual practices deeply, from Zen meditation to Hindu yogic philosophy.
He is best known today for his essays on the spiritual life, especially his first book, The Seven Storey Mountain. He was also a gifted poet.
Very nice poem and commentary, Ivan. Thank you.
Thank You, Ivan. Probably Merton is my favorite writer and i do love this poem
and I do love silence. What could be better. . .Peace and Love, Carol
Good morning Ivan,
I got caught up in my love of this poem and silence and failed to mention your
beautiful commentary – very wise and insightful. I always learn from your
commentaries. Thank You, Carol
The long silences need to be loved, perhaps
more than the words
which arrive
to describe them
in time
from God’s Silence by Franz Wright
This poem is incredibly beautiful…with its deep deep message ..which is leading us to our
True nature ..The repetitive thread leading us into deeper self inquiry and awareness of who we truly are ..is simply beautiful….Thank You…..for this