{"product_id":"9781931816014","title":"The Death of Thomas Merton: A Confessional Portrayal of the Last Day in the Life of the Famous Catholic Monk and Writer","description":"\u003cp\u003ePaul Hourihan's powerful new voice challenges our most basic assumptions   about religion and spirituality in this intense, unforgettable rendering--in   semi-fictional form--of the last hours of Thomas Merton's life. \u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThis winner of the Best Spiritual Book Award for 2003-2004 from the   Sacramento Publishers \u0026amp; Authors is a penetrating fact-based study of what   could have occurred on the last day of Merton's life. It is the first book to   provide a radical reinterpretation of Merton's character.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eHourihan provides a convincing answer to a question that a multitude of   Catholics, and others, have asked themselves: Why did the famous Catholic monk,   and acclaimed writer die so mysteriously and suddenly? The author probes the   enigmatic December 1968 event, which occurred at an international monastic   conference outside of Bangkok, with such insight that the significance of   Merton's death is illuminated for the first time.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eHe sees Merton as a tragically divided soul unable to resolve his conflicts   within a Christian framework, and who was driven for release--too late and   unsuccessfully--into the world of Oriental mysticism. He was a man who should   not have become a monk in the first place; falling victim as he did to his own   spiritual inadequacies, as well as to fame, and uncritical hero-worship from   both laity and clergy alike lacking knowledge of what constituted a true   mystic.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eHourihan dramatically reveals why Merton was not a \"spiritual master or   mystic\" as he has been referred to by followers. His basic conclusion is that   Merton is typical of Westerners who lack grounding in a mystical orientation   that would instruct them about the nature of spirituality.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThis dramatic portrayal, written by an American who writes from an Eastern   philosophical perspective, will appeal to ex-Catholics and others with a   Christian background searching for guidance outside of their traditional faith.   It is not recommended for warm admirers of Thomas Merton who want to maintain   their cherished image of him.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe author, PAUL HOURIHAN, was born and educated in Boston where he earned a   doctorate in English literature. For 15 years he taught dozens of courses on the   subject of great mystics and mysticism in Ontario, Canada. Committed to the   spiritual path for over 45 years and a close student of India's Vedantic   philosophy, he becomes a suitable commentator on the significance of the death   of the influential monk and writer. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vedantic Shores Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47061002780912,"sku":"9781931816014","price":13.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781931816014_p0.jpg?v=1763638594","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781931816014","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}