Merton & Confucianism Rites, Righteousness and Integral Humanity

This eighth volume of the acclaimed Fons Vitae Thomas Merton Series is a compendium of all relevant material for a thorough consideration of Merton’s knowledge and appreciation of the Confucian tradition. The first of its two sections provides extensively annotated versions of the three distinct resources for investigating Merton’s engagement with Confucianism in the context of his wider studies of East Asian spiritual traditions: his correspondence with Chinese-American scholar Paul Sih; his extensive notes on Confucian and related material; and transcriptions of the five conferences given to young prospective monks on the pertinence of Confucian wisdom to their own spiritual development. Part two gathers together five previously published studies exploring Merton’s interest in Confucian and (in one case) related Chinese traditions that provide various perspectives on Merton’s engagement with what he calls “Classic Chinese Thought." It is hoped that making these materials on Confucianism much more readily accessible will stimulate and encourage further research and publication on this fascinating but hitherto somewhat neglected aspect of his interreligious thought.

Patrick F O'Connell received doctoral degrees in English literature from Yale University (1978), and in theology from Fordham University, (New York, 1985). A founding member and past president of the International Thomas Merton Society, O’Connell has spoken to audiences throughout North America, Great Britain and Ireland on Merton and his work. In addition to over fifty published articles on the topic, he has served as an editor of numerous Merton volumes, including his monastic conferences.