What is Contemplation?- Thomas Merton

"The only way to find out anything about the joys of contemplation is by experience," writes Thomas Merton. "We must taste and see that the Lord is sweet." In this early writing, unavailable for years, Thomas Merton sets forth the basics of Christian contemplation in the lucid, helpful way which has made him a favorite of millions. He provides a brief guide for the beginner and lets us know what to expect when we begin to move into this essential Christian experience. When you begin the life of contemplation, Merton writes, "you have left the beaten path and are traveling by paths that cannot be charted and measured."