Brian: > You took an opposite path as Thomas Merton - have you ever read SEVEN > STOREY MOUNTAIN? Yes, indeed. In fact St. Mary's Seminary where I studied (now a women's prison -- I love that!) wasn't very far from Gethsemane, the Trappist Monastery Merton belonged to. I often thought of trying to contact him there, but, typically, I never did get around to even trying. Merton was a hero of mine, his involvement in the peace movement and furtherance of civil rights and his interest in Eastern spirituality made him so. I remember reading his Seeds Of Destruction in the mid 60's. It was not a very hopeful book. Those were my Catholic Worker days and I was looking forward eagerly to the transformation of America into a just and egalitarian society. He brought me back down to earth. Though a contemplative, he didn't look at life through polarized glasses. Mike Geary Memphis ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html