“Stillness” and “Silence”<br/><br/>

Thomas Merton was a well-known contemporary theological writer. He was also a cloistered monk with the Trappist (Cistercian) Abbey, near Louisville, Kentucky, USA. No one would believe that he was a playboy before he entered the monastic community of the Abbey of Gethsemani at Trappist. His parents were artists, and Merton himself was a gifted artist as well. Unfortunately, he led a dissolute life by hanging out in pubs habitually, with alcohol and smoke as his best company.<br/><br/>

Having said that, the thoroughly secular Merton did seek to learn about the ethics and morality. He worked for a time at Madonna House in New York under the mentorship of Catherine Doherty, but was expelled by Catherine since he was more destructive than constructive to the organization.<br/><br/>

Later on, Merton undertook a lifelong spiritual journey into monasticism by joining the Abbey. He tried to stick with the rules in the beginning but soon resumed his old ways. Luckily, the requirement for “stillness” and “silence” strictly imposed on the monks by the abbot helped mold Merton, who eventually achieved solitude in the hermitage.<br/><br/>

Therefore, by having regularity, and by incorporating some time for “stillness” and “silence” in our everyday life is beneficial for our spirituality, since it is then when we can best prepare ourselves for the Holy Spirit to work within us.