Chapter 4
Pantheism is a doctrine that suggests that the universe is God and thus all things are God. We do not believe that. Panentheism is a very different belief which suggests that God is much bigger than the universe and that God interpenetrates all things. God is in all creation. Everything that is has something of the divine DNA in it. Merton’s teaching in this chapter puts one in the mind of panentheism. He also introduces the concept of the False self in this chapter.
There is no contradiction between God and things.
“We don’t detach ourselves from things in order to attach ourselves to God, but rather we become detached from ourselves in order to see and use all things in and for God.”
“The obstacle to Union is in our “self,” that is in the tenacious need to maintain our separate, egotistic, external will.”
Absorption in God gives one eyes to see and appreciate created things in their fullness
Overly extravagant focus on morality may well be a love of guilt!
The saint is not offendable or judgmental b/c all he/she knows is mercy and bringing God’s mercy to others.
True joy is escape from the prison of our own false self, and enter by love into union with the Life Who dwells and sings within the essence of every creature and in the core of our own souls.
To worship our False self is to worship nothing and the worship of nothing is hell.
God’s perfect reality is enshrined in the mystery of our own being.
Soul and body are one.
