Religion: The Death of Two Extraordinary Christians

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The Seven Storey Mountain also hinted of the Merton to come. Prophetically, he digressed in it to deliver a stinging rebuke to the civilization that could pro duce a Harlem. In a wide range of books and articles, Merton returned again and again to themes of social justice and a quiet, but very absolute pacifism. He lent his name to many antiwar organizations, resolutely opposed the Viet Nam war. Just two months ago, he characterized some student activists he met as "real modern monks."

Fascinated by Zen. Merton's wide-ranging, eclectic mind could touch upon the Beatles or the Bomb, but for a quarter of a century he never left the Abbey of Gethsemani, except for trips to the doctor or drives with visiting friends around neighboring Kentucky hills. In fact, for almost a decade, with his ab bot's permission, he had withdrawn from much of the community life, living Thoreau-like in a small hermitage on abbey property more than a mile from the main buildings. This year he was finally granted a leave of absence from Gethsemani to study Oriental monasticism and its possible application to the Western contemplative tradition.

Merton had long been fascinated by Zen, and he argued that Buddhism was a philosophic discipline that could well be employed by Christians. "Buddhism is not word," a he told religion in friends our at sense of the California's Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions on his way to Asia in October. "It's a totally different approach to reality, a psychological thing. I be lieve it's quite possible for a Catholic to enter into the esoteric traditions of Tibetan Buddhism." He departed for Asia, said W. H. Ferry of the Center, "absolutely bouncing with expectation."

From New Delhi, he wrote of long meetings with the Dalai Lama in the Himalayan foothills and of an eight-day retreat among the exiled Tibetan monks. One lama courteously composed a poem celebrating their meeting, and Poet Merton returned the compliment. There was an added serenity in his final letter to the Center. "In my contacts with these new friends, I also feel a consolation in my own faith in Christ and his in dwelling presence," wrote Merton. "I hope and believe he may be present in the hearts of all of us."