Experience

Publications

• “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton” (The Merton Seasonal, Fall 2006): 17-26

• “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton” (The Merton Seasonal, Fall 2006): 17-26

• “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton”

  Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

  “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton,” was edited by Fernando Beltrán Llavador and Paul M. Pearson, and published by Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

• “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton” (The Merton Seasonal, Fall 2006): 17-26

• “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton”

  Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

  “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton,” was edited by Fernando Beltrán Llavador and Paul M. Pearson, and published by Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

• Divine Mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross: Encountering the Dark Nights in the Human Soul

  The Merton Annual, Vol. 30

  This article examines the contemplative message of divine mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. For Merton, the Sanjuanist mystical teaching of the dark night does not imply a pure negation but rather the highest expression of light, love and truth. Merton and St. John of the Cross describe their experimental knowledge of God as a mystical vision which is granted to the soul by divine grace and by the great mercy of God. This dark night of the soul is the night of faith when God deposits His infinite mercy in the blessed soul. Merton, following the lines of St. John of the Cross, defined infused contemplation or dark night as the secret knowledge of God by a union of love. This loving gift of grace is redemptive and transformative. It changes the whole person and it leads the human soul to love each sentient and non-sentient being. Both the Trappist and the Carmelite saw all created beings as divine reflections bathed in an Ocean of Love, as St. Francis also witnessed in his mystical encounters with the Divine. The Lord of the universe permeates all living beings. Their summoning of a higher cosmic truth is a powerful message for our contemporaries because the incarnational mysticism of Merton and St. John of the Cross is rooted in an unconditional faith, hope, and love in humanity as children of God. I divide this paper in three parts. First, I introduce Merton’s own writings on the Carmelite origins. Second, I elaborate on key aspects of the Sanjuanist teaching of the dark night using Merton as a modern interpreter. And third, I share my personal ruminations on the spiritual legacy of Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross in their quests to understand how God’s infinite mercy is always an expression to be found within the Christian mystical experience.

• “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton” (The Merton Seasonal, Fall 2006): 17-26

• “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton”

  Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

  “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton,” was edited by Fernando Beltrán Llavador and Paul M. Pearson, and published by Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

• Divine Mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross: Encountering the Dark Nights in the Human Soul

  The Merton Annual, Vol. 30

  This article examines the contemplative message of divine mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. For Merton, the Sanjuanist mystical teaching of the dark night does not imply a pure negation but rather the highest expression of light, love and truth. Merton and St. John of the Cross describe their experimental knowledge of God as a mystical vision which is granted to the soul by divine grace and by the great mercy of God. This dark night of the soul is the night of faith when God deposits His infinite mercy in the blessed soul. Merton, following the lines of St. John of the Cross, defined infused contemplation or dark night as the secret knowledge of God by a union of love. This loving gift of grace is redemptive and transformative. It changes the whole person and it leads the human soul to love each sentient and non-sentient being. Both the Trappist and the Carmelite saw all created beings as divine reflections bathed in an Ocean of Love, as St. Francis also witnessed in his mystical encounters with the Divine. The Lord of the universe permeates all living beings. Their summoning of a higher cosmic truth is a powerful message for our contemporaries because the incarnational mysticism of Merton and St. John of the Cross is rooted in an unconditional faith, hope, and love in humanity as children of God. I divide this paper in three parts. First, I introduce Merton’s own writings on the Carmelite origins. Second, I elaborate on key aspects of the Sanjuanist teaching of the dark night using Merton as a modern interpreter. And third, I share my personal ruminations on the spiritual legacy of Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross in their quests to understand how God’s infinite mercy is always an expression to be found within the Christian mystical experience.

• “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible”

  ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character

  “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible” (ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character, Spring 2006)

• “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton” (The Merton Seasonal, Fall 2006): 17-26

• “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton”

  Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

  “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton,” was edited by Fernando Beltrán Llavador and Paul M. Pearson, and published by Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

• Divine Mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross: Encountering the Dark Nights in the Human Soul

  The Merton Annual, Vol. 30

  This article examines the contemplative message of divine mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. For Merton, the Sanjuanist mystical teaching of the dark night does not imply a pure negation but rather the highest expression of light, love and truth. Merton and St. John of the Cross describe their experimental knowledge of God as a mystical vision which is granted to the soul by divine grace and by the great mercy of God. This dark night of the soul is the night of faith when God deposits His infinite mercy in the blessed soul. Merton, following the lines of St. John of the Cross, defined infused contemplation or dark night as the secret knowledge of God by a union of love. This loving gift of grace is redemptive and transformative. It changes the whole person and it leads the human soul to love each sentient and non-sentient being. Both the Trappist and the Carmelite saw all created beings as divine reflections bathed in an Ocean of Love, as St. Francis also witnessed in his mystical encounters with the Divine. The Lord of the universe permeates all living beings. Their summoning of a higher cosmic truth is a powerful message for our contemporaries because the incarnational mysticism of Merton and St. John of the Cross is rooted in an unconditional faith, hope, and love in humanity as children of God. I divide this paper in three parts. First, I introduce Merton’s own writings on the Carmelite origins. Second, I elaborate on key aspects of the Sanjuanist teaching of the dark night using Merton as a modern interpreter. And third, I share my personal ruminations on the spiritual legacy of Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross in their quests to understand how God’s infinite mercy is always an expression to be found within the Christian mystical experience.

• “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible”

  ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character

  “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible” (ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character, Spring 2006)

• Saint John of the Cross: His Prophetic Mysticism in the Historical Context of Sixteenth-Century Spain

  Pacem in Terris Press

  THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK is to show that many SanJuanist commentators err in portraying St. John of the Cross as a world-negating contemplative by calling him the doctor of the dark night of the soul. This misinterpretation is informed by their failure to understand John’s historical context, especially the problem of conversos (Jewish and Muslim converts to Catholicism) in sixteenth-century Spain. It is time to study St. John of the Cross as a whole person and in his historical context of sixteenth-century Spain, and thus bring together his multifaceted dimensions. Attention needs to be given to his active role in the Carmelite tradition as a religious reformer, an administrator, and a prophet; to his intellectual capacity as a mystical theologian and teacher; and to his religious devotion as a poet, friar, hermit, spiritual director, confessor, and priest. The book begins with a brief history of contemplation and action in the Christian mystical tradition and it then reviews the biography and writings of this Carmelite saint. It also examines John’s writings through the eyes of Raimundo Panikkar’s tripartite model of action, wisdom, and devotion. Finally, it concludes with an assessment of the SanJuanist legacy for today’s world. CRISTÓBAL SERRÁN-PAGÁN y FUENTES is a native of Spain, like San Juan de la Cruz, and he has spent the last three decades in the United States doing research on Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. He received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Boston University. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State University in the State of Georgia.

• “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton” (The Merton Seasonal, Fall 2006): 17-26

• “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton”

  Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

  “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton,” was edited by Fernando Beltrán Llavador and Paul M. Pearson, and published by Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

• Divine Mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross: Encountering the Dark Nights in the Human Soul

  The Merton Annual, Vol. 30

  This article examines the contemplative message of divine mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. For Merton, the Sanjuanist mystical teaching of the dark night does not imply a pure negation but rather the highest expression of light, love and truth. Merton and St. John of the Cross describe their experimental knowledge of God as a mystical vision which is granted to the soul by divine grace and by the great mercy of God. This dark night of the soul is the night of faith when God deposits His infinite mercy in the blessed soul. Merton, following the lines of St. John of the Cross, defined infused contemplation or dark night as the secret knowledge of God by a union of love. This loving gift of grace is redemptive and transformative. It changes the whole person and it leads the human soul to love each sentient and non-sentient being. Both the Trappist and the Carmelite saw all created beings as divine reflections bathed in an Ocean of Love, as St. Francis also witnessed in his mystical encounters with the Divine. The Lord of the universe permeates all living beings. Their summoning of a higher cosmic truth is a powerful message for our contemporaries because the incarnational mysticism of Merton and St. John of the Cross is rooted in an unconditional faith, hope, and love in humanity as children of God. I divide this paper in three parts. First, I introduce Merton’s own writings on the Carmelite origins. Second, I elaborate on key aspects of the Sanjuanist teaching of the dark night using Merton as a modern interpreter. And third, I share my personal ruminations on the spiritual legacy of Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross in their quests to understand how God’s infinite mercy is always an expression to be found within the Christian mystical experience.

• “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible”

  ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character

  “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible” (ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character, Spring 2006)

• Saint John of the Cross: His Prophetic Mysticism in the Historical Context of Sixteenth-Century Spain

  Pacem in Terris Press

  THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK is to show that many SanJuanist commentators err in portraying St. John of the Cross as a world-negating contemplative by calling him the doctor of the dark night of the soul. This misinterpretation is informed by their failure to understand John’s historical context, especially the problem of conversos (Jewish and Muslim converts to Catholicism) in sixteenth-century Spain. It is time to study St. John of the Cross as a whole person and in his historical context of sixteenth-century Spain, and thus bring together his multifaceted dimensions. Attention needs to be given to his active role in the Carmelite tradition as a religious reformer, an administrator, and a prophet; to his intellectual capacity as a mystical theologian and teacher; and to his religious devotion as a poet, friar, hermit, spiritual director, confessor, and priest. The book begins with a brief history of contemplation and action in the Christian mystical tradition and it then reviews the biography and writings of this Carmelite saint. It also examines John’s writings through the eyes of Raimundo Panikkar’s tripartite model of action, wisdom, and devotion. Finally, it concludes with an assessment of the SanJuanist legacy for today’s world. CRISTÓBAL SERRÁN-PAGÁN y FUENTES is a native of Spain, like San Juan de la Cruz, and he has spent the last three decades in the United States doing research on Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. He received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Boston University. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State University in the State of Georgia.

• “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love” (The Merton Seasonal, Winter 2007): 3-11

• “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton” (The Merton Seasonal, Fall 2006): 17-26

• “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton”

  Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

  “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton,” was edited by Fernando Beltrán Llavador and Paul M. Pearson, and published by Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

• Divine Mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross: Encountering the Dark Nights in the Human Soul

  The Merton Annual, Vol. 30

  This article examines the contemplative message of divine mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. For Merton, the Sanjuanist mystical teaching of the dark night does not imply a pure negation but rather the highest expression of light, love and truth. Merton and St. John of the Cross describe their experimental knowledge of God as a mystical vision which is granted to the soul by divine grace and by the great mercy of God. This dark night of the soul is the night of faith when God deposits His infinite mercy in the blessed soul. Merton, following the lines of St. John of the Cross, defined infused contemplation or dark night as the secret knowledge of God by a union of love. This loving gift of grace is redemptive and transformative. It changes the whole person and it leads the human soul to love each sentient and non-sentient being. Both the Trappist and the Carmelite saw all created beings as divine reflections bathed in an Ocean of Love, as St. Francis also witnessed in his mystical encounters with the Divine. The Lord of the universe permeates all living beings. Their summoning of a higher cosmic truth is a powerful message for our contemporaries because the incarnational mysticism of Merton and St. John of the Cross is rooted in an unconditional faith, hope, and love in humanity as children of God. I divide this paper in three parts. First, I introduce Merton’s own writings on the Carmelite origins. Second, I elaborate on key aspects of the Sanjuanist teaching of the dark night using Merton as a modern interpreter. And third, I share my personal ruminations on the spiritual legacy of Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross in their quests to understand how God’s infinite mercy is always an expression to be found within the Christian mystical experience.

• “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible”

  ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character

  “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible” (ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character, Spring 2006)

• Saint John of the Cross: His Prophetic Mysticism in the Historical Context of Sixteenth-Century Spain

  Pacem in Terris Press

  THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK is to show that many SanJuanist commentators err in portraying St. John of the Cross as a world-negating contemplative by calling him the doctor of the dark night of the soul. This misinterpretation is informed by their failure to understand John’s historical context, especially the problem of conversos (Jewish and Muslim converts to Catholicism) in sixteenth-century Spain. It is time to study St. John of the Cross as a whole person and in his historical context of sixteenth-century Spain, and thus bring together his multifaceted dimensions. Attention needs to be given to his active role in the Carmelite tradition as a religious reformer, an administrator, and a prophet; to his intellectual capacity as a mystical theologian and teacher; and to his religious devotion as a poet, friar, hermit, spiritual director, confessor, and priest. The book begins with a brief history of contemplation and action in the Christian mystical tradition and it then reviews the biography and writings of this Carmelite saint. It also examines John’s writings through the eyes of Raimundo Panikkar’s tripartite model of action, wisdom, and devotion. Finally, it concludes with an assessment of the SanJuanist legacy for today’s world. CRISTÓBAL SERRÁN-PAGÁN y FUENTES is a native of Spain, like San Juan de la Cruz, and he has spent the last three decades in the United States doing research on Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. He received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Boston University. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State University in the State of Georgia.

• “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love” (The Merton Seasonal, Winter 2007): 3-11

• Engaged Spirituality in Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh: An Inter-Monastic Dialogue on Contemplation in a World of Action

  The Merton Seasonal Winter 2017

  Thomas Merton’s interfaith dialogue with the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh sets a resonating example on how two monks from different religious traditions can learn from each other and respect their differences while they find common ground. The Christian-Buddhist engaged model of spirituality Merton and Nhat Hanh employ encompasses both the life of contemplation (archetypical Mary) and the life of action (archetypical Martha). The purpose of this study is to show how both Merton and Nhat Hanh found the right balance between the contemplative life of Mary and the active life of Martha. The methodology I use in this article is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion; that is to say, it is very interdisciplinary using history, comparative religions, spirituality, theology and interfaith dialogues. Through their differing contemplative paths, Merton and Nhat Hanh have become exemplar models of creative interreligious dialogue and witnesses for global peace. Both monks exemplify the necessity to establish strong spiritual bonds of affection and a sense of community through fostering inter-monastic dialogue and international cooperation. The contemplative messages of Merton and Nhat Hanh can help identify the root causes of our contemporary problems by asking the right questions.

• “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton” (The Merton Seasonal, Fall 2006): 17-26

• “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton”

  Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

  “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton,” was edited by Fernando Beltrán Llavador and Paul M. Pearson, and published by Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

• Divine Mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross: Encountering the Dark Nights in the Human Soul

  The Merton Annual, Vol. 30

  This article examines the contemplative message of divine mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. For Merton, the Sanjuanist mystical teaching of the dark night does not imply a pure negation but rather the highest expression of light, love and truth. Merton and St. John of the Cross describe their experimental knowledge of God as a mystical vision which is granted to the soul by divine grace and by the great mercy of God. This dark night of the soul is the night of faith when God deposits His infinite mercy in the blessed soul. Merton, following the lines of St. John of the Cross, defined infused contemplation or dark night as the secret knowledge of God by a union of love. This loving gift of grace is redemptive and transformative. It changes the whole person and it leads the human soul to love each sentient and non-sentient being. Both the Trappist and the Carmelite saw all created beings as divine reflections bathed in an Ocean of Love, as St. Francis also witnessed in his mystical encounters with the Divine. The Lord of the universe permeates all living beings. Their summoning of a higher cosmic truth is a powerful message for our contemporaries because the incarnational mysticism of Merton and St. John of the Cross is rooted in an unconditional faith, hope, and love in humanity as children of God. I divide this paper in three parts. First, I introduce Merton’s own writings on the Carmelite origins. Second, I elaborate on key aspects of the Sanjuanist teaching of the dark night using Merton as a modern interpreter. And third, I share my personal ruminations on the spiritual legacy of Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross in their quests to understand how God’s infinite mercy is always an expression to be found within the Christian mystical experience.

• “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible”

  ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character

  “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible” (ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character, Spring 2006)

• Saint John of the Cross: His Prophetic Mysticism in the Historical Context of Sixteenth-Century Spain

  Pacem in Terris Press

  THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK is to show that many SanJuanist commentators err in portraying St. John of the Cross as a world-negating contemplative by calling him the doctor of the dark night of the soul. This misinterpretation is informed by their failure to understand John’s historical context, especially the problem of conversos (Jewish and Muslim converts to Catholicism) in sixteenth-century Spain. It is time to study St. John of the Cross as a whole person and in his historical context of sixteenth-century Spain, and thus bring together his multifaceted dimensions. Attention needs to be given to his active role in the Carmelite tradition as a religious reformer, an administrator, and a prophet; to his intellectual capacity as a mystical theologian and teacher; and to his religious devotion as a poet, friar, hermit, spiritual director, confessor, and priest. The book begins with a brief history of contemplation and action in the Christian mystical tradition and it then reviews the biography and writings of this Carmelite saint. It also examines John’s writings through the eyes of Raimundo Panikkar’s tripartite model of action, wisdom, and devotion. Finally, it concludes with an assessment of the SanJuanist legacy for today’s world. CRISTÓBAL SERRÁN-PAGÁN y FUENTES is a native of Spain, like San Juan de la Cruz, and he has spent the last three decades in the United States doing research on Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. He received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Boston University. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State University in the State of Georgia.

• “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love” (The Merton Seasonal, Winter 2007): 3-11

• Engaged Spirituality in Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh: An Inter-Monastic Dialogue on Contemplation in a World of Action

  The Merton Seasonal Winter 2017

  Thomas Merton’s interfaith dialogue with the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh sets a resonating example on how two monks from different religious traditions can learn from each other and respect their differences while they find common ground. The Christian-Buddhist engaged model of spirituality Merton and Nhat Hanh employ encompasses both the life of contemplation (archetypical Mary) and the life of action (archetypical Martha). The purpose of this study is to show how both Merton and Nhat Hanh found the right balance between the contemplative life of Mary and the active life of Martha. The methodology I use in this article is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion; that is to say, it is very interdisciplinary using history, comparative religions, spirituality, theology and interfaith dialogues. Through their differing contemplative paths, Merton and Nhat Hanh have become exemplar models of creative interreligious dialogue and witnesses for global peace. Both monks exemplify the necessity to establish strong spiritual bonds of affection and a sense of community through fostering inter-monastic dialogue and international cooperation. The contemplative messages of Merton and Nhat Hanh can help identify the root causes of our contemporary problems by asking the right questions.

• The Coincidence of Opposites in Thomas Merton and Zhuangzi: A Case Study On How Professors Can Effectively Use the Language of Paradoxes in the Classroom at the University Level

  Paidagogos Journal of Education in Contexts

  This paper examines the importance of paradoxes using the mystical language of Merton and Zhuangzi. The purpose of this study is to illustrate how the language of paradoxes used by Merton and Zhuangzi can serve as a case study on how professors and students may discuss apparent verbal or written contradictions at the university level. The methodology I follow is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion which combines areas in the humanities and the social sciences; that is to say, my approach in this article it is very interdisciplinary. The real benefit of using paradoxical statements in a classroom is to allow students to deal with complex ideas or concepts and to understand how the apparent contradictions can he held in creative synthesis providing a new level of cognitive and spiritual awareness of reality. In this article I show how the mystical language of paradoxes can help professors and students possibly to go beyond the Aristotelian principle of non- contradiction and look at paradoxes as an alternative way to discuss concepts or ideas that cannot be understood simply as either/or; rather, in a sense, they transcend the traditional canons of Western logic.

• “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton” (The Merton Seasonal, Fall 2006): 17-26

• “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton”

  Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

  “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton,” was edited by Fernando Beltrán Llavador and Paul M. Pearson, and published by Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

• Divine Mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross: Encountering the Dark Nights in the Human Soul

  The Merton Annual, Vol. 30

  This article examines the contemplative message of divine mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. For Merton, the Sanjuanist mystical teaching of the dark night does not imply a pure negation but rather the highest expression of light, love and truth. Merton and St. John of the Cross describe their experimental knowledge of God as a mystical vision which is granted to the soul by divine grace and by the great mercy of God. This dark night of the soul is the night of faith when God deposits His infinite mercy in the blessed soul. Merton, following the lines of St. John of the Cross, defined infused contemplation or dark night as the secret knowledge of God by a union of love. This loving gift of grace is redemptive and transformative. It changes the whole person and it leads the human soul to love each sentient and non-sentient being. Both the Trappist and the Carmelite saw all created beings as divine reflections bathed in an Ocean of Love, as St. Francis also witnessed in his mystical encounters with the Divine. The Lord of the universe permeates all living beings. Their summoning of a higher cosmic truth is a powerful message for our contemporaries because the incarnational mysticism of Merton and St. John of the Cross is rooted in an unconditional faith, hope, and love in humanity as children of God. I divide this paper in three parts. First, I introduce Merton’s own writings on the Carmelite origins. Second, I elaborate on key aspects of the Sanjuanist teaching of the dark night using Merton as a modern interpreter. And third, I share my personal ruminations on the spiritual legacy of Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross in their quests to understand how God’s infinite mercy is always an expression to be found within the Christian mystical experience.

• “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible”

  ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character

  “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible” (ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character, Spring 2006)

• Saint John of the Cross: His Prophetic Mysticism in the Historical Context of Sixteenth-Century Spain

  Pacem in Terris Press

  THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK is to show that many SanJuanist commentators err in portraying St. John of the Cross as a world-negating contemplative by calling him the doctor of the dark night of the soul. This misinterpretation is informed by their failure to understand John’s historical context, especially the problem of conversos (Jewish and Muslim converts to Catholicism) in sixteenth-century Spain. It is time to study St. John of the Cross as a whole person and in his historical context of sixteenth-century Spain, and thus bring together his multifaceted dimensions. Attention needs to be given to his active role in the Carmelite tradition as a religious reformer, an administrator, and a prophet; to his intellectual capacity as a mystical theologian and teacher; and to his religious devotion as a poet, friar, hermit, spiritual director, confessor, and priest. The book begins with a brief history of contemplation and action in the Christian mystical tradition and it then reviews the biography and writings of this Carmelite saint. It also examines John’s writings through the eyes of Raimundo Panikkar’s tripartite model of action, wisdom, and devotion. Finally, it concludes with an assessment of the SanJuanist legacy for today’s world. CRISTÓBAL SERRÁN-PAGÁN y FUENTES is a native of Spain, like San Juan de la Cruz, and he has spent the last three decades in the United States doing research on Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. He received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Boston University. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State University in the State of Georgia.

• “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love” (The Merton Seasonal, Winter 2007): 3-11

• Engaged Spirituality in Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh: An Inter-Monastic Dialogue on Contemplation in a World of Action

  The Merton Seasonal Winter 2017

  Thomas Merton’s interfaith dialogue with the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh sets a resonating example on how two monks from different religious traditions can learn from each other and respect their differences while they find common ground. The Christian-Buddhist engaged model of spirituality Merton and Nhat Hanh employ encompasses both the life of contemplation (archetypical Mary) and the life of action (archetypical Martha). The purpose of this study is to show how both Merton and Nhat Hanh found the right balance between the contemplative life of Mary and the active life of Martha. The methodology I use in this article is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion; that is to say, it is very interdisciplinary using history, comparative religions, spirituality, theology and interfaith dialogues. Through their differing contemplative paths, Merton and Nhat Hanh have become exemplar models of creative interreligious dialogue and witnesses for global peace. Both monks exemplify the necessity to establish strong spiritual bonds of affection and a sense of community through fostering inter-monastic dialogue and international cooperation. The contemplative messages of Merton and Nhat Hanh can help identify the root causes of our contemporary problems by asking the right questions.

• The Coincidence of Opposites in Thomas Merton and Zhuangzi: A Case Study On How Professors Can Effectively Use the Language of Paradoxes in the Classroom at the University Level

  Paidagogos Journal of Education in Contexts

  This paper examines the importance of paradoxes using the mystical language of Merton and Zhuangzi. The purpose of this study is to illustrate how the language of paradoxes used by Merton and Zhuangzi can serve as a case study on how professors and students may discuss apparent verbal or written contradictions at the university level. The methodology I follow is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion which combines areas in the humanities and the social sciences; that is to say, my approach in this article it is very interdisciplinary. The real benefit of using paradoxical statements in a classroom is to allow students to deal with complex ideas or concepts and to understand how the apparent contradictions can he held in creative synthesis providing a new level of cognitive and spiritual awareness of reality. In this article I show how the mystical language of paradoxes can help professors and students possibly to go beyond the Aristotelian principle of non- contradiction and look at paradoxes as an alternative way to discuss concepts or ideas that cannot be understood simply as either/or; rather, in a sense, they transcend the traditional canons of Western logic.

• “The Mystical Teachings of Wu-Wei in the Daode jing: A Comparative Study of East and West on Spiritual Detachment”

  Fons Vitae

  This is an article I wrote for the Fons Vitae volume on the Merton and World Religions series. I use Thomas Merton as a major commentator on the Daoist mystical teaching of wu-wei and I show how instrumental his insights will be in interpreting his famous work, "The Way of Chuang Tzu."

• “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton” (The Merton Seasonal, Fall 2006): 17-26

• “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton”

  Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

  “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton,” was edited by Fernando Beltrán Llavador and Paul M. Pearson, and published by Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

• Divine Mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross: Encountering the Dark Nights in the Human Soul

  The Merton Annual, Vol. 30

  This article examines the contemplative message of divine mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. For Merton, the Sanjuanist mystical teaching of the dark night does not imply a pure negation but rather the highest expression of light, love and truth. Merton and St. John of the Cross describe their experimental knowledge of God as a mystical vision which is granted to the soul by divine grace and by the great mercy of God. This dark night of the soul is the night of faith when God deposits His infinite mercy in the blessed soul. Merton, following the lines of St. John of the Cross, defined infused contemplation or dark night as the secret knowledge of God by a union of love. This loving gift of grace is redemptive and transformative. It changes the whole person and it leads the human soul to love each sentient and non-sentient being. Both the Trappist and the Carmelite saw all created beings as divine reflections bathed in an Ocean of Love, as St. Francis also witnessed in his mystical encounters with the Divine. The Lord of the universe permeates all living beings. Their summoning of a higher cosmic truth is a powerful message for our contemporaries because the incarnational mysticism of Merton and St. John of the Cross is rooted in an unconditional faith, hope, and love in humanity as children of God. I divide this paper in three parts. First, I introduce Merton’s own writings on the Carmelite origins. Second, I elaborate on key aspects of the Sanjuanist teaching of the dark night using Merton as a modern interpreter. And third, I share my personal ruminations on the spiritual legacy of Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross in their quests to understand how God’s infinite mercy is always an expression to be found within the Christian mystical experience.

• “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible”

  ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character

  “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible” (ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character, Spring 2006)

• Saint John of the Cross: His Prophetic Mysticism in the Historical Context of Sixteenth-Century Spain

  Pacem in Terris Press

  THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK is to show that many SanJuanist commentators err in portraying St. John of the Cross as a world-negating contemplative by calling him the doctor of the dark night of the soul. This misinterpretation is informed by their failure to understand John’s historical context, especially the problem of conversos (Jewish and Muslim converts to Catholicism) in sixteenth-century Spain. It is time to study St. John of the Cross as a whole person and in his historical context of sixteenth-century Spain, and thus bring together his multifaceted dimensions. Attention needs to be given to his active role in the Carmelite tradition as a religious reformer, an administrator, and a prophet; to his intellectual capacity as a mystical theologian and teacher; and to his religious devotion as a poet, friar, hermit, spiritual director, confessor, and priest. The book begins with a brief history of contemplation and action in the Christian mystical tradition and it then reviews the biography and writings of this Carmelite saint. It also examines John’s writings through the eyes of Raimundo Panikkar’s tripartite model of action, wisdom, and devotion. Finally, it concludes with an assessment of the SanJuanist legacy for today’s world. CRISTÓBAL SERRÁN-PAGÁN y FUENTES is a native of Spain, like San Juan de la Cruz, and he has spent the last three decades in the United States doing research on Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. He received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Boston University. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State University in the State of Georgia.

• “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love” (The Merton Seasonal, Winter 2007): 3-11

• Engaged Spirituality in Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh: An Inter-Monastic Dialogue on Contemplation in a World of Action

  The Merton Seasonal Winter 2017

  Thomas Merton’s interfaith dialogue with the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh sets a resonating example on how two monks from different religious traditions can learn from each other and respect their differences while they find common ground. The Christian-Buddhist engaged model of spirituality Merton and Nhat Hanh employ encompasses both the life of contemplation (archetypical Mary) and the life of action (archetypical Martha). The purpose of this study is to show how both Merton and Nhat Hanh found the right balance between the contemplative life of Mary and the active life of Martha. The methodology I use in this article is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion; that is to say, it is very interdisciplinary using history, comparative religions, spirituality, theology and interfaith dialogues. Through their differing contemplative paths, Merton and Nhat Hanh have become exemplar models of creative interreligious dialogue and witnesses for global peace. Both monks exemplify the necessity to establish strong spiritual bonds of affection and a sense of community through fostering inter-monastic dialogue and international cooperation. The contemplative messages of Merton and Nhat Hanh can help identify the root causes of our contemporary problems by asking the right questions.

• The Coincidence of Opposites in Thomas Merton and Zhuangzi: A Case Study On How Professors Can Effectively Use the Language of Paradoxes in the Classroom at the University Level

  Paidagogos Journal of Education in Contexts

  This paper examines the importance of paradoxes using the mystical language of Merton and Zhuangzi. The purpose of this study is to illustrate how the language of paradoxes used by Merton and Zhuangzi can serve as a case study on how professors and students may discuss apparent verbal or written contradictions at the university level. The methodology I follow is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion which combines areas in the humanities and the social sciences; that is to say, my approach in this article it is very interdisciplinary. The real benefit of using paradoxical statements in a classroom is to allow students to deal with complex ideas or concepts and to understand how the apparent contradictions can he held in creative synthesis providing a new level of cognitive and spiritual awareness of reality. In this article I show how the mystical language of paradoxes can help professors and students possibly to go beyond the Aristotelian principle of non- contradiction and look at paradoxes as an alternative way to discuss concepts or ideas that cannot be understood simply as either/or; rather, in a sense, they transcend the traditional canons of Western logic.

• “The Mystical Teachings of Wu-Wei in the Daode jing: A Comparative Study of East and West on Spiritual Detachment”

  Fons Vitae

  This is an article I wrote for the Fons Vitae volume on the Merton and World Religions series. I use Thomas Merton as a major commentator on the Daoist mystical teaching of wu-wei and I show how instrumental his insights will be in interpreting his famous work, "The Way of Chuang Tzu."

• ’The Future of the Earth is in our Hands’: Teilhard de Chardin on Religion and Science”

  Paper was published online at the Unity Institute Theological Journal

  “The Future of the Earth is in our Hands’: Teilhard de Chardin on Religion and Science” is a paper I presented at the Unity Institute´s Lyceum 2009 (Unity Village, Missouri) conference. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of the ecological spirituality of Teilhard de Chardin.

• “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton” (The Merton Seasonal, Fall 2006): 17-26

• “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton”

  Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

  “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton,” was edited by Fernando Beltrán Llavador and Paul M. Pearson, and published by Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

• Divine Mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross: Encountering the Dark Nights in the Human Soul

  The Merton Annual, Vol. 30

  This article examines the contemplative message of divine mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. For Merton, the Sanjuanist mystical teaching of the dark night does not imply a pure negation but rather the highest expression of light, love and truth. Merton and St. John of the Cross describe their experimental knowledge of God as a mystical vision which is granted to the soul by divine grace and by the great mercy of God. This dark night of the soul is the night of faith when God deposits His infinite mercy in the blessed soul. Merton, following the lines of St. John of the Cross, defined infused contemplation or dark night as the secret knowledge of God by a union of love. This loving gift of grace is redemptive and transformative. It changes the whole person and it leads the human soul to love each sentient and non-sentient being. Both the Trappist and the Carmelite saw all created beings as divine reflections bathed in an Ocean of Love, as St. Francis also witnessed in his mystical encounters with the Divine. The Lord of the universe permeates all living beings. Their summoning of a higher cosmic truth is a powerful message for our contemporaries because the incarnational mysticism of Merton and St. John of the Cross is rooted in an unconditional faith, hope, and love in humanity as children of God. I divide this paper in three parts. First, I introduce Merton’s own writings on the Carmelite origins. Second, I elaborate on key aspects of the Sanjuanist teaching of the dark night using Merton as a modern interpreter. And third, I share my personal ruminations on the spiritual legacy of Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross in their quests to understand how God’s infinite mercy is always an expression to be found within the Christian mystical experience.

• “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible”

  ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character

  “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible” (ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character, Spring 2006)

• Saint John of the Cross: His Prophetic Mysticism in the Historical Context of Sixteenth-Century Spain

  Pacem in Terris Press

  THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK is to show that many SanJuanist commentators err in portraying St. John of the Cross as a world-negating contemplative by calling him the doctor of the dark night of the soul. This misinterpretation is informed by their failure to understand John’s historical context, especially the problem of conversos (Jewish and Muslim converts to Catholicism) in sixteenth-century Spain. It is time to study St. John of the Cross as a whole person and in his historical context of sixteenth-century Spain, and thus bring together his multifaceted dimensions. Attention needs to be given to his active role in the Carmelite tradition as a religious reformer, an administrator, and a prophet; to his intellectual capacity as a mystical theologian and teacher; and to his religious devotion as a poet, friar, hermit, spiritual director, confessor, and priest. The book begins with a brief history of contemplation and action in the Christian mystical tradition and it then reviews the biography and writings of this Carmelite saint. It also examines John’s writings through the eyes of Raimundo Panikkar’s tripartite model of action, wisdom, and devotion. Finally, it concludes with an assessment of the SanJuanist legacy for today’s world. CRISTÓBAL SERRÁN-PAGÁN y FUENTES is a native of Spain, like San Juan de la Cruz, and he has spent the last three decades in the United States doing research on Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. He received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Boston University. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State University in the State of Georgia.

• “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love” (The Merton Seasonal, Winter 2007): 3-11

• Engaged Spirituality in Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh: An Inter-Monastic Dialogue on Contemplation in a World of Action

  The Merton Seasonal Winter 2017

  Thomas Merton’s interfaith dialogue with the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh sets a resonating example on how two monks from different religious traditions can learn from each other and respect their differences while they find common ground. The Christian-Buddhist engaged model of spirituality Merton and Nhat Hanh employ encompasses both the life of contemplation (archetypical Mary) and the life of action (archetypical Martha). The purpose of this study is to show how both Merton and Nhat Hanh found the right balance between the contemplative life of Mary and the active life of Martha. The methodology I use in this article is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion; that is to say, it is very interdisciplinary using history, comparative religions, spirituality, theology and interfaith dialogues. Through their differing contemplative paths, Merton and Nhat Hanh have become exemplar models of creative interreligious dialogue and witnesses for global peace. Both monks exemplify the necessity to establish strong spiritual bonds of affection and a sense of community through fostering inter-monastic dialogue and international cooperation. The contemplative messages of Merton and Nhat Hanh can help identify the root causes of our contemporary problems by asking the right questions.

• The Coincidence of Opposites in Thomas Merton and Zhuangzi: A Case Study On How Professors Can Effectively Use the Language of Paradoxes in the Classroom at the University Level

  Paidagogos Journal of Education in Contexts

  This paper examines the importance of paradoxes using the mystical language of Merton and Zhuangzi. The purpose of this study is to illustrate how the language of paradoxes used by Merton and Zhuangzi can serve as a case study on how professors and students may discuss apparent verbal or written contradictions at the university level. The methodology I follow is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion which combines areas in the humanities and the social sciences; that is to say, my approach in this article it is very interdisciplinary. The real benefit of using paradoxical statements in a classroom is to allow students to deal with complex ideas or concepts and to understand how the apparent contradictions can he held in creative synthesis providing a new level of cognitive and spiritual awareness of reality. In this article I show how the mystical language of paradoxes can help professors and students possibly to go beyond the Aristotelian principle of non- contradiction and look at paradoxes as an alternative way to discuss concepts or ideas that cannot be understood simply as either/or; rather, in a sense, they transcend the traditional canons of Western logic.

• “The Mystical Teachings of Wu-Wei in the Daode jing: A Comparative Study of East and West on Spiritual Detachment”

  Fons Vitae

  This is an article I wrote for the Fons Vitae volume on the Merton and World Religions series. I use Thomas Merton as a major commentator on the Daoist mystical teaching of wu-wei and I show how instrumental his insights will be in interpreting his famous work, "The Way of Chuang Tzu."

• ’The Future of the Earth is in our Hands’: Teilhard de Chardin on Religion and Science”

  Paper was published online at the Unity Institute Theological Journal

  “The Future of the Earth is in our Hands’: Teilhard de Chardin on Religion and Science” is a paper I presented at the Unity Institute´s Lyceum 2009 (Unity Village, Missouri) conference. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of the ecological spirituality of Teilhard de Chardin.

• “Merton’s Understanding of the Mystical Doctrine of St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul”

  the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland in Thomas Merton: A Mind Awake in the Dark (Abergavenny, Monmouthshire: Papers from the 2000 Oakham Conference

  “Merton’s Understanding of the Mystical Doctrine of St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul,” published by the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland in Thomas Merton: A Mind Awake in the Dark (Abergavenny, Monmouthshire: Papers from the 2000 Oakham Conference, 2002): 165-173

• “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton” (The Merton Seasonal, Fall 2006): 17-26

• “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton”

  Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

  “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton,” was edited by Fernando Beltrán Llavador and Paul M. Pearson, and published by Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

• Divine Mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross: Encountering the Dark Nights in the Human Soul

  The Merton Annual, Vol. 30

  This article examines the contemplative message of divine mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. For Merton, the Sanjuanist mystical teaching of the dark night does not imply a pure negation but rather the highest expression of light, love and truth. Merton and St. John of the Cross describe their experimental knowledge of God as a mystical vision which is granted to the soul by divine grace and by the great mercy of God. This dark night of the soul is the night of faith when God deposits His infinite mercy in the blessed soul. Merton, following the lines of St. John of the Cross, defined infused contemplation or dark night as the secret knowledge of God by a union of love. This loving gift of grace is redemptive and transformative. It changes the whole person and it leads the human soul to love each sentient and non-sentient being. Both the Trappist and the Carmelite saw all created beings as divine reflections bathed in an Ocean of Love, as St. Francis also witnessed in his mystical encounters with the Divine. The Lord of the universe permeates all living beings. Their summoning of a higher cosmic truth is a powerful message for our contemporaries because the incarnational mysticism of Merton and St. John of the Cross is rooted in an unconditional faith, hope, and love in humanity as children of God. I divide this paper in three parts. First, I introduce Merton’s own writings on the Carmelite origins. Second, I elaborate on key aspects of the Sanjuanist teaching of the dark night using Merton as a modern interpreter. And third, I share my personal ruminations on the spiritual legacy of Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross in their quests to understand how God’s infinite mercy is always an expression to be found within the Christian mystical experience.

• “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible”

  ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character

  “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible” (ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character, Spring 2006)

• Saint John of the Cross: His Prophetic Mysticism in the Historical Context of Sixteenth-Century Spain

  Pacem in Terris Press

  THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK is to show that many SanJuanist commentators err in portraying St. John of the Cross as a world-negating contemplative by calling him the doctor of the dark night of the soul. This misinterpretation is informed by their failure to understand John’s historical context, especially the problem of conversos (Jewish and Muslim converts to Catholicism) in sixteenth-century Spain. It is time to study St. John of the Cross as a whole person and in his historical context of sixteenth-century Spain, and thus bring together his multifaceted dimensions. Attention needs to be given to his active role in the Carmelite tradition as a religious reformer, an administrator, and a prophet; to his intellectual capacity as a mystical theologian and teacher; and to his religious devotion as a poet, friar, hermit, spiritual director, confessor, and priest. The book begins with a brief history of contemplation and action in the Christian mystical tradition and it then reviews the biography and writings of this Carmelite saint. It also examines John’s writings through the eyes of Raimundo Panikkar’s tripartite model of action, wisdom, and devotion. Finally, it concludes with an assessment of the SanJuanist legacy for today’s world. CRISTÓBAL SERRÁN-PAGÁN y FUENTES is a native of Spain, like San Juan de la Cruz, and he has spent the last three decades in the United States doing research on Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. He received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Boston University. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State University in the State of Georgia.

• “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love” (The Merton Seasonal, Winter 2007): 3-11

• Engaged Spirituality in Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh: An Inter-Monastic Dialogue on Contemplation in a World of Action

  The Merton Seasonal Winter 2017

  Thomas Merton’s interfaith dialogue with the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh sets a resonating example on how two monks from different religious traditions can learn from each other and respect their differences while they find common ground. The Christian-Buddhist engaged model of spirituality Merton and Nhat Hanh employ encompasses both the life of contemplation (archetypical Mary) and the life of action (archetypical Martha). The purpose of this study is to show how both Merton and Nhat Hanh found the right balance between the contemplative life of Mary and the active life of Martha. The methodology I use in this article is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion; that is to say, it is very interdisciplinary using history, comparative religions, spirituality, theology and interfaith dialogues. Through their differing contemplative paths, Merton and Nhat Hanh have become exemplar models of creative interreligious dialogue and witnesses for global peace. Both monks exemplify the necessity to establish strong spiritual bonds of affection and a sense of community through fostering inter-monastic dialogue and international cooperation. The contemplative messages of Merton and Nhat Hanh can help identify the root causes of our contemporary problems by asking the right questions.

• The Coincidence of Opposites in Thomas Merton and Zhuangzi: A Case Study On How Professors Can Effectively Use the Language of Paradoxes in the Classroom at the University Level

  Paidagogos Journal of Education in Contexts

  This paper examines the importance of paradoxes using the mystical language of Merton and Zhuangzi. The purpose of this study is to illustrate how the language of paradoxes used by Merton and Zhuangzi can serve as a case study on how professors and students may discuss apparent verbal or written contradictions at the university level. The methodology I follow is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion which combines areas in the humanities and the social sciences; that is to say, my approach in this article it is very interdisciplinary. The real benefit of using paradoxical statements in a classroom is to allow students to deal with complex ideas or concepts and to understand how the apparent contradictions can he held in creative synthesis providing a new level of cognitive and spiritual awareness of reality. In this article I show how the mystical language of paradoxes can help professors and students possibly to go beyond the Aristotelian principle of non- contradiction and look at paradoxes as an alternative way to discuss concepts or ideas that cannot be understood simply as either/or; rather, in a sense, they transcend the traditional canons of Western logic.

• “The Mystical Teachings of Wu-Wei in the Daode jing: A Comparative Study of East and West on Spiritual Detachment”

  Fons Vitae

  This is an article I wrote for the Fons Vitae volume on the Merton and World Religions series. I use Thomas Merton as a major commentator on the Daoist mystical teaching of wu-wei and I show how instrumental his insights will be in interpreting his famous work, "The Way of Chuang Tzu."

• ’The Future of the Earth is in our Hands’: Teilhard de Chardin on Religion and Science”

  Paper was published online at the Unity Institute Theological Journal

  “The Future of the Earth is in our Hands’: Teilhard de Chardin on Religion and Science” is a paper I presented at the Unity Institute´s Lyceum 2009 (Unity Village, Missouri) conference. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of the ecological spirituality of Teilhard de Chardin.

• “Merton’s Understanding of the Mystical Doctrine of St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul”

  the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland in Thomas Merton: A Mind Awake in the Dark (Abergavenny, Monmouthshire: Papers from the 2000 Oakham Conference

  “Merton’s Understanding of the Mystical Doctrine of St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul,” published by the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland in Thomas Merton: A Mind Awake in the Dark (Abergavenny, Monmouthshire: Papers from the 2000 Oakham Conference, 2002): 165-173

• “Final Integration in Thomas Merton: The Art of Finding the Middle Way”

  The Merton Seasonal

  This article was a personal reflection on one of the key spiritual themes in the later writings of the Trappist monk, Thomas Merton. This year we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Thomas Merton.

• “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton” (The Merton Seasonal, Fall 2006): 17-26

• “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton”

  Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

  “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton,” was edited by Fernando Beltrán Llavador and Paul M. Pearson, and published by Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

• Divine Mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross: Encountering the Dark Nights in the Human Soul

  The Merton Annual, Vol. 30

  This article examines the contemplative message of divine mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. For Merton, the Sanjuanist mystical teaching of the dark night does not imply a pure negation but rather the highest expression of light, love and truth. Merton and St. John of the Cross describe their experimental knowledge of God as a mystical vision which is granted to the soul by divine grace and by the great mercy of God. This dark night of the soul is the night of faith when God deposits His infinite mercy in the blessed soul. Merton, following the lines of St. John of the Cross, defined infused contemplation or dark night as the secret knowledge of God by a union of love. This loving gift of grace is redemptive and transformative. It changes the whole person and it leads the human soul to love each sentient and non-sentient being. Both the Trappist and the Carmelite saw all created beings as divine reflections bathed in an Ocean of Love, as St. Francis also witnessed in his mystical encounters with the Divine. The Lord of the universe permeates all living beings. Their summoning of a higher cosmic truth is a powerful message for our contemporaries because the incarnational mysticism of Merton and St. John of the Cross is rooted in an unconditional faith, hope, and love in humanity as children of God. I divide this paper in three parts. First, I introduce Merton’s own writings on the Carmelite origins. Second, I elaborate on key aspects of the Sanjuanist teaching of the dark night using Merton as a modern interpreter. And third, I share my personal ruminations on the spiritual legacy of Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross in their quests to understand how God’s infinite mercy is always an expression to be found within the Christian mystical experience.

• “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible”

  ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character

  “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible” (ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character, Spring 2006)

• Saint John of the Cross: His Prophetic Mysticism in the Historical Context of Sixteenth-Century Spain

  Pacem in Terris Press

  THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK is to show that many SanJuanist commentators err in portraying St. John of the Cross as a world-negating contemplative by calling him the doctor of the dark night of the soul. This misinterpretation is informed by their failure to understand John’s historical context, especially the problem of conversos (Jewish and Muslim converts to Catholicism) in sixteenth-century Spain. It is time to study St. John of the Cross as a whole person and in his historical context of sixteenth-century Spain, and thus bring together his multifaceted dimensions. Attention needs to be given to his active role in the Carmelite tradition as a religious reformer, an administrator, and a prophet; to his intellectual capacity as a mystical theologian and teacher; and to his religious devotion as a poet, friar, hermit, spiritual director, confessor, and priest. The book begins with a brief history of contemplation and action in the Christian mystical tradition and it then reviews the biography and writings of this Carmelite saint. It also examines John’s writings through the eyes of Raimundo Panikkar’s tripartite model of action, wisdom, and devotion. Finally, it concludes with an assessment of the SanJuanist legacy for today’s world. CRISTÓBAL SERRÁN-PAGÁN y FUENTES is a native of Spain, like San Juan de la Cruz, and he has spent the last three decades in the United States doing research on Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. He received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Boston University. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State University in the State of Georgia.

• “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love” (The Merton Seasonal, Winter 2007): 3-11

• Engaged Spirituality in Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh: An Inter-Monastic Dialogue on Contemplation in a World of Action

  The Merton Seasonal Winter 2017

  Thomas Merton’s interfaith dialogue with the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh sets a resonating example on how two monks from different religious traditions can learn from each other and respect their differences while they find common ground. The Christian-Buddhist engaged model of spirituality Merton and Nhat Hanh employ encompasses both the life of contemplation (archetypical Mary) and the life of action (archetypical Martha). The purpose of this study is to show how both Merton and Nhat Hanh found the right balance between the contemplative life of Mary and the active life of Martha. The methodology I use in this article is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion; that is to say, it is very interdisciplinary using history, comparative religions, spirituality, theology and interfaith dialogues. Through their differing contemplative paths, Merton and Nhat Hanh have become exemplar models of creative interreligious dialogue and witnesses for global peace. Both monks exemplify the necessity to establish strong spiritual bonds of affection and a sense of community through fostering inter-monastic dialogue and international cooperation. The contemplative messages of Merton and Nhat Hanh can help identify the root causes of our contemporary problems by asking the right questions.

• The Coincidence of Opposites in Thomas Merton and Zhuangzi: A Case Study On How Professors Can Effectively Use the Language of Paradoxes in the Classroom at the University Level

  Paidagogos Journal of Education in Contexts

  This paper examines the importance of paradoxes using the mystical language of Merton and Zhuangzi. The purpose of this study is to illustrate how the language of paradoxes used by Merton and Zhuangzi can serve as a case study on how professors and students may discuss apparent verbal or written contradictions at the university level. The methodology I follow is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion which combines areas in the humanities and the social sciences; that is to say, my approach in this article it is very interdisciplinary. The real benefit of using paradoxical statements in a classroom is to allow students to deal with complex ideas or concepts and to understand how the apparent contradictions can he held in creative synthesis providing a new level of cognitive and spiritual awareness of reality. In this article I show how the mystical language of paradoxes can help professors and students possibly to go beyond the Aristotelian principle of non- contradiction and look at paradoxes as an alternative way to discuss concepts or ideas that cannot be understood simply as either/or; rather, in a sense, they transcend the traditional canons of Western logic.

• “The Mystical Teachings of Wu-Wei in the Daode jing: A Comparative Study of East and West on Spiritual Detachment”

  Fons Vitae

  This is an article I wrote for the Fons Vitae volume on the Merton and World Religions series. I use Thomas Merton as a major commentator on the Daoist mystical teaching of wu-wei and I show how instrumental his insights will be in interpreting his famous work, "The Way of Chuang Tzu."

• ’The Future of the Earth is in our Hands’: Teilhard de Chardin on Religion and Science”

  Paper was published online at the Unity Institute Theological Journal

  “The Future of the Earth is in our Hands’: Teilhard de Chardin on Religion and Science” is a paper I presented at the Unity Institute´s Lyceum 2009 (Unity Village, Missouri) conference. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of the ecological spirituality of Teilhard de Chardin.

• “Merton’s Understanding of the Mystical Doctrine of St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul”

  the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland in Thomas Merton: A Mind Awake in the Dark (Abergavenny, Monmouthshire: Papers from the 2000 Oakham Conference

  “Merton’s Understanding of the Mystical Doctrine of St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul,” published by the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland in Thomas Merton: A Mind Awake in the Dark (Abergavenny, Monmouthshire: Papers from the 2000 Oakham Conference, 2002): 165-173

• “Final Integration in Thomas Merton: The Art of Finding the Middle Way”

  The Merton Seasonal

  This article was a personal reflection on one of the key spiritual themes in the later writings of the Trappist monk, Thomas Merton. This year we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Thomas Merton.

• Diccionario de Thomas Merton

  Ediciones Mensajero

  I translated seven entries from the Encyclopedia of Thomas Merton to the Spanish version Diccionario de Thomas Merton. My letter started with “Cables to the Ace, or Familiar Liturgies of Misunderstanding.” It was edited by Francisco Rafael de Pascual and published by Sal Terrae in Spain with Ediciones Mensajero in 2015.) Here are the seven entries I helped to translate from English into Spanish: 50-51, 56-57, 74-76, 83-84, 180-182, 428-431, 573.

• “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton” (The Merton Seasonal, Fall 2006): 17-26

• “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton”

  Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

  “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton,” was edited by Fernando Beltrán Llavador and Paul M. Pearson, and published by Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

• Divine Mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross: Encountering the Dark Nights in the Human Soul

  The Merton Annual, Vol. 30

  This article examines the contemplative message of divine mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. For Merton, the Sanjuanist mystical teaching of the dark night does not imply a pure negation but rather the highest expression of light, love and truth. Merton and St. John of the Cross describe their experimental knowledge of God as a mystical vision which is granted to the soul by divine grace and by the great mercy of God. This dark night of the soul is the night of faith when God deposits His infinite mercy in the blessed soul. Merton, following the lines of St. John of the Cross, defined infused contemplation or dark night as the secret knowledge of God by a union of love. This loving gift of grace is redemptive and transformative. It changes the whole person and it leads the human soul to love each sentient and non-sentient being. Both the Trappist and the Carmelite saw all created beings as divine reflections bathed in an Ocean of Love, as St. Francis also witnessed in his mystical encounters with the Divine. The Lord of the universe permeates all living beings. Their summoning of a higher cosmic truth is a powerful message for our contemporaries because the incarnational mysticism of Merton and St. John of the Cross is rooted in an unconditional faith, hope, and love in humanity as children of God. I divide this paper in three parts. First, I introduce Merton’s own writings on the Carmelite origins. Second, I elaborate on key aspects of the Sanjuanist teaching of the dark night using Merton as a modern interpreter. And third, I share my personal ruminations on the spiritual legacy of Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross in their quests to understand how God’s infinite mercy is always an expression to be found within the Christian mystical experience.

• “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible”

  ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character

  “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible” (ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character, Spring 2006)

• Saint John of the Cross: His Prophetic Mysticism in the Historical Context of Sixteenth-Century Spain

  Pacem in Terris Press

  THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK is to show that many SanJuanist commentators err in portraying St. John of the Cross as a world-negating contemplative by calling him the doctor of the dark night of the soul. This misinterpretation is informed by their failure to understand John’s historical context, especially the problem of conversos (Jewish and Muslim converts to Catholicism) in sixteenth-century Spain. It is time to study St. John of the Cross as a whole person and in his historical context of sixteenth-century Spain, and thus bring together his multifaceted dimensions. Attention needs to be given to his active role in the Carmelite tradition as a religious reformer, an administrator, and a prophet; to his intellectual capacity as a mystical theologian and teacher; and to his religious devotion as a poet, friar, hermit, spiritual director, confessor, and priest. The book begins with a brief history of contemplation and action in the Christian mystical tradition and it then reviews the biography and writings of this Carmelite saint. It also examines John’s writings through the eyes of Raimundo Panikkar’s tripartite model of action, wisdom, and devotion. Finally, it concludes with an assessment of the SanJuanist legacy for today’s world. CRISTÓBAL SERRÁN-PAGÁN y FUENTES is a native of Spain, like San Juan de la Cruz, and he has spent the last three decades in the United States doing research on Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. He received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Boston University. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State University in the State of Georgia.

• “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love” (The Merton Seasonal, Winter 2007): 3-11

• Engaged Spirituality in Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh: An Inter-Monastic Dialogue on Contemplation in a World of Action

  The Merton Seasonal Winter 2017

  Thomas Merton’s interfaith dialogue with the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh sets a resonating example on how two monks from different religious traditions can learn from each other and respect their differences while they find common ground. The Christian-Buddhist engaged model of spirituality Merton and Nhat Hanh employ encompasses both the life of contemplation (archetypical Mary) and the life of action (archetypical Martha). The purpose of this study is to show how both Merton and Nhat Hanh found the right balance between the contemplative life of Mary and the active life of Martha. The methodology I use in this article is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion; that is to say, it is very interdisciplinary using history, comparative religions, spirituality, theology and interfaith dialogues. Through their differing contemplative paths, Merton and Nhat Hanh have become exemplar models of creative interreligious dialogue and witnesses for global peace. Both monks exemplify the necessity to establish strong spiritual bonds of affection and a sense of community through fostering inter-monastic dialogue and international cooperation. The contemplative messages of Merton and Nhat Hanh can help identify the root causes of our contemporary problems by asking the right questions.

• The Coincidence of Opposites in Thomas Merton and Zhuangzi: A Case Study On How Professors Can Effectively Use the Language of Paradoxes in the Classroom at the University Level

  Paidagogos Journal of Education in Contexts

  This paper examines the importance of paradoxes using the mystical language of Merton and Zhuangzi. The purpose of this study is to illustrate how the language of paradoxes used by Merton and Zhuangzi can serve as a case study on how professors and students may discuss apparent verbal or written contradictions at the university level. The methodology I follow is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion which combines areas in the humanities and the social sciences; that is to say, my approach in this article it is very interdisciplinary. The real benefit of using paradoxical statements in a classroom is to allow students to deal with complex ideas or concepts and to understand how the apparent contradictions can he held in creative synthesis providing a new level of cognitive and spiritual awareness of reality. In this article I show how the mystical language of paradoxes can help professors and students possibly to go beyond the Aristotelian principle of non- contradiction and look at paradoxes as an alternative way to discuss concepts or ideas that cannot be understood simply as either/or; rather, in a sense, they transcend the traditional canons of Western logic.

• “The Mystical Teachings of Wu-Wei in the Daode jing: A Comparative Study of East and West on Spiritual Detachment”

  Fons Vitae

  This is an article I wrote for the Fons Vitae volume on the Merton and World Religions series. I use Thomas Merton as a major commentator on the Daoist mystical teaching of wu-wei and I show how instrumental his insights will be in interpreting his famous work, "The Way of Chuang Tzu."

• ’The Future of the Earth is in our Hands’: Teilhard de Chardin on Religion and Science”

  Paper was published online at the Unity Institute Theological Journal

  “The Future of the Earth is in our Hands’: Teilhard de Chardin on Religion and Science” is a paper I presented at the Unity Institute´s Lyceum 2009 (Unity Village, Missouri) conference. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of the ecological spirituality of Teilhard de Chardin.

• “Merton’s Understanding of the Mystical Doctrine of St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul”

  the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland in Thomas Merton: A Mind Awake in the Dark (Abergavenny, Monmouthshire: Papers from the 2000 Oakham Conference

  “Merton’s Understanding of the Mystical Doctrine of St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul,” published by the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland in Thomas Merton: A Mind Awake in the Dark (Abergavenny, Monmouthshire: Papers from the 2000 Oakham Conference, 2002): 165-173

• “Final Integration in Thomas Merton: The Art of Finding the Middle Way”

  The Merton Seasonal

  This article was a personal reflection on one of the key spiritual themes in the later writings of the Trappist monk, Thomas Merton. This year we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Thomas Merton.

• Diccionario de Thomas Merton

  Ediciones Mensajero

  I translated seven entries from the Encyclopedia of Thomas Merton to the Spanish version Diccionario de Thomas Merton. My letter started with “Cables to the Ace, or Familiar Liturgies of Misunderstanding.” It was edited by Francisco Rafael de Pascual and published by Sal Terrae in Spain with Ediciones Mensajero in 2015.) Here are the seven entries I helped to translate from English into Spanish: 50-51, 56-57, 74-76, 83-84, 180-182, 428-431, 573.

• “Semillas de esperanza en tiempos de crisis: San Juan de la Cruz y Thomas Merton”

  Edición de Fernando Beltrán Llavador y Paul M. Pearson y publicación de Cistercium-Ciem con la ayuda de la Junta de Castilla y León en Semillas de esperanza: El mensaje contemplativo de Thomas Merton (Zamora, España: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 85-106.

  Este articulo fue una traduccion que hice del articulo original escrito en ingles. Ambos articulos quedaron publicados en el volumen bilingue.

• “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton” (The Merton Seasonal, Fall 2006): 17-26

• “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton”

  Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

  “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton,” was edited by Fernando Beltrán Llavador and Paul M. Pearson, and published by Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

• Divine Mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross: Encountering the Dark Nights in the Human Soul

  The Merton Annual, Vol. 30

  This article examines the contemplative message of divine mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. For Merton, the Sanjuanist mystical teaching of the dark night does not imply a pure negation but rather the highest expression of light, love and truth. Merton and St. John of the Cross describe their experimental knowledge of God as a mystical vision which is granted to the soul by divine grace and by the great mercy of God. This dark night of the soul is the night of faith when God deposits His infinite mercy in the blessed soul. Merton, following the lines of St. John of the Cross, defined infused contemplation or dark night as the secret knowledge of God by a union of love. This loving gift of grace is redemptive and transformative. It changes the whole person and it leads the human soul to love each sentient and non-sentient being. Both the Trappist and the Carmelite saw all created beings as divine reflections bathed in an Ocean of Love, as St. Francis also witnessed in his mystical encounters with the Divine. The Lord of the universe permeates all living beings. Their summoning of a higher cosmic truth is a powerful message for our contemporaries because the incarnational mysticism of Merton and St. John of the Cross is rooted in an unconditional faith, hope, and love in humanity as children of God. I divide this paper in three parts. First, I introduce Merton’s own writings on the Carmelite origins. Second, I elaborate on key aspects of the Sanjuanist teaching of the dark night using Merton as a modern interpreter. And third, I share my personal ruminations on the spiritual legacy of Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross in their quests to understand how God’s infinite mercy is always an expression to be found within the Christian mystical experience.

• “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible”

  ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character

  “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible” (ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character, Spring 2006)

• Saint John of the Cross: His Prophetic Mysticism in the Historical Context of Sixteenth-Century Spain

  Pacem in Terris Press

  THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK is to show that many SanJuanist commentators err in portraying St. John of the Cross as a world-negating contemplative by calling him the doctor of the dark night of the soul. This misinterpretation is informed by their failure to understand John’s historical context, especially the problem of conversos (Jewish and Muslim converts to Catholicism) in sixteenth-century Spain. It is time to study St. John of the Cross as a whole person and in his historical context of sixteenth-century Spain, and thus bring together his multifaceted dimensions. Attention needs to be given to his active role in the Carmelite tradition as a religious reformer, an administrator, and a prophet; to his intellectual capacity as a mystical theologian and teacher; and to his religious devotion as a poet, friar, hermit, spiritual director, confessor, and priest. The book begins with a brief history of contemplation and action in the Christian mystical tradition and it then reviews the biography and writings of this Carmelite saint. It also examines John’s writings through the eyes of Raimundo Panikkar’s tripartite model of action, wisdom, and devotion. Finally, it concludes with an assessment of the SanJuanist legacy for today’s world. CRISTÓBAL SERRÁN-PAGÁN y FUENTES is a native of Spain, like San Juan de la Cruz, and he has spent the last three decades in the United States doing research on Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. He received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Boston University. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State University in the State of Georgia.

• “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love” (The Merton Seasonal, Winter 2007): 3-11

• Engaged Spirituality in Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh: An Inter-Monastic Dialogue on Contemplation in a World of Action

  The Merton Seasonal Winter 2017

  Thomas Merton’s interfaith dialogue with the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh sets a resonating example on how two monks from different religious traditions can learn from each other and respect their differences while they find common ground. The Christian-Buddhist engaged model of spirituality Merton and Nhat Hanh employ encompasses both the life of contemplation (archetypical Mary) and the life of action (archetypical Martha). The purpose of this study is to show how both Merton and Nhat Hanh found the right balance between the contemplative life of Mary and the active life of Martha. The methodology I use in this article is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion; that is to say, it is very interdisciplinary using history, comparative religions, spirituality, theology and interfaith dialogues. Through their differing contemplative paths, Merton and Nhat Hanh have become exemplar models of creative interreligious dialogue and witnesses for global peace. Both monks exemplify the necessity to establish strong spiritual bonds of affection and a sense of community through fostering inter-monastic dialogue and international cooperation. The contemplative messages of Merton and Nhat Hanh can help identify the root causes of our contemporary problems by asking the right questions.

• The Coincidence of Opposites in Thomas Merton and Zhuangzi: A Case Study On How Professors Can Effectively Use the Language of Paradoxes in the Classroom at the University Level

  Paidagogos Journal of Education in Contexts

  This paper examines the importance of paradoxes using the mystical language of Merton and Zhuangzi. The purpose of this study is to illustrate how the language of paradoxes used by Merton and Zhuangzi can serve as a case study on how professors and students may discuss apparent verbal or written contradictions at the university level. The methodology I follow is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion which combines areas in the humanities and the social sciences; that is to say, my approach in this article it is very interdisciplinary. The real benefit of using paradoxical statements in a classroom is to allow students to deal with complex ideas or concepts and to understand how the apparent contradictions can he held in creative synthesis providing a new level of cognitive and spiritual awareness of reality. In this article I show how the mystical language of paradoxes can help professors and students possibly to go beyond the Aristotelian principle of non- contradiction and look at paradoxes as an alternative way to discuss concepts or ideas that cannot be understood simply as either/or; rather, in a sense, they transcend the traditional canons of Western logic.

• “The Mystical Teachings of Wu-Wei in the Daode jing: A Comparative Study of East and West on Spiritual Detachment”

  Fons Vitae

  This is an article I wrote for the Fons Vitae volume on the Merton and World Religions series. I use Thomas Merton as a major commentator on the Daoist mystical teaching of wu-wei and I show how instrumental his insights will be in interpreting his famous work, "The Way of Chuang Tzu."

• ’The Future of the Earth is in our Hands’: Teilhard de Chardin on Religion and Science”

  Paper was published online at the Unity Institute Theological Journal

  “The Future of the Earth is in our Hands’: Teilhard de Chardin on Religion and Science” is a paper I presented at the Unity Institute´s Lyceum 2009 (Unity Village, Missouri) conference. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of the ecological spirituality of Teilhard de Chardin.

• “Merton’s Understanding of the Mystical Doctrine of St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul”

  the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland in Thomas Merton: A Mind Awake in the Dark (Abergavenny, Monmouthshire: Papers from the 2000 Oakham Conference

  “Merton’s Understanding of the Mystical Doctrine of St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul,” published by the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland in Thomas Merton: A Mind Awake in the Dark (Abergavenny, Monmouthshire: Papers from the 2000 Oakham Conference, 2002): 165-173

• “Final Integration in Thomas Merton: The Art of Finding the Middle Way”

  The Merton Seasonal

  This article was a personal reflection on one of the key spiritual themes in the later writings of the Trappist monk, Thomas Merton. This year we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Thomas Merton.

• Diccionario de Thomas Merton

  Ediciones Mensajero

  I translated seven entries from the Encyclopedia of Thomas Merton to the Spanish version Diccionario de Thomas Merton. My letter started with “Cables to the Ace, or Familiar Liturgies of Misunderstanding.” It was edited by Francisco Rafael de Pascual and published by Sal Terrae in Spain with Ediciones Mensajero in 2015.) Here are the seven entries I helped to translate from English into Spanish: 50-51, 56-57, 74-76, 83-84, 180-182, 428-431, 573.

• “Semillas de esperanza en tiempos de crisis: San Juan de la Cruz y Thomas Merton”

  Edición de Fernando Beltrán Llavador y Paul M. Pearson y publicación de Cistercium-Ciem con la ayuda de la Junta de Castilla y León en Semillas de esperanza: El mensaje contemplativo de Thomas Merton (Zamora, España: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 85-106.

  Este articulo fue una traduccion que hice del articulo original escrito en ingles. Ambos articulos quedaron publicados en el volumen bilingue.

• Merton & The Tao: Dialogues with John Wu and The Ancient Sages

  Fons Vitae

  I spent four years editing this book in the series of Merton and World Religions. This fifth volume in the highly regarded Fons Vitae Thomas Merton series reveals the depth of the monk’s interests in Taoism and in particular the sage Chuang-Tzu from whose writings Merton selected, translated and presented a work that he called his personal favorite, The Way of Chuang Tzu. Beautifully illustrated, this volume’s insightful essays by Taoist experts and sinologists Livia Kohn, Lucien Miller, Bede Bidlack, and John Wu, Jr. accompany the complete annotated correspondence between Merton and John Wu, Sr., the Chinese scholar, author, law professor and convert to Catholicism who guided Merton’s encounter with Taoism and acted as midwife to Merton’s interpretation into English of Chuang Tzu’s poetry.

• “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton” (The Merton Seasonal, Fall 2006): 17-26

• “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton”

  Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

  “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton,” was edited by Fernando Beltrán Llavador and Paul M. Pearson, and published by Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

• Divine Mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross: Encountering the Dark Nights in the Human Soul

  The Merton Annual, Vol. 30

  This article examines the contemplative message of divine mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. For Merton, the Sanjuanist mystical teaching of the dark night does not imply a pure negation but rather the highest expression of light, love and truth. Merton and St. John of the Cross describe their experimental knowledge of God as a mystical vision which is granted to the soul by divine grace and by the great mercy of God. This dark night of the soul is the night of faith when God deposits His infinite mercy in the blessed soul. Merton, following the lines of St. John of the Cross, defined infused contemplation or dark night as the secret knowledge of God by a union of love. This loving gift of grace is redemptive and transformative. It changes the whole person and it leads the human soul to love each sentient and non-sentient being. Both the Trappist and the Carmelite saw all created beings as divine reflections bathed in an Ocean of Love, as St. Francis also witnessed in his mystical encounters with the Divine. The Lord of the universe permeates all living beings. Their summoning of a higher cosmic truth is a powerful message for our contemporaries because the incarnational mysticism of Merton and St. John of the Cross is rooted in an unconditional faith, hope, and love in humanity as children of God. I divide this paper in three parts. First, I introduce Merton’s own writings on the Carmelite origins. Second, I elaborate on key aspects of the Sanjuanist teaching of the dark night using Merton as a modern interpreter. And third, I share my personal ruminations on the spiritual legacy of Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross in their quests to understand how God’s infinite mercy is always an expression to be found within the Christian mystical experience.

• “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible”

  ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character

  “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible” (ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character, Spring 2006)

• Saint John of the Cross: His Prophetic Mysticism in the Historical Context of Sixteenth-Century Spain

  Pacem in Terris Press

  THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK is to show that many SanJuanist commentators err in portraying St. John of the Cross as a world-negating contemplative by calling him the doctor of the dark night of the soul. This misinterpretation is informed by their failure to understand John’s historical context, especially the problem of conversos (Jewish and Muslim converts to Catholicism) in sixteenth-century Spain. It is time to study St. John of the Cross as a whole person and in his historical context of sixteenth-century Spain, and thus bring together his multifaceted dimensions. Attention needs to be given to his active role in the Carmelite tradition as a religious reformer, an administrator, and a prophet; to his intellectual capacity as a mystical theologian and teacher; and to his religious devotion as a poet, friar, hermit, spiritual director, confessor, and priest. The book begins with a brief history of contemplation and action in the Christian mystical tradition and it then reviews the biography and writings of this Carmelite saint. It also examines John’s writings through the eyes of Raimundo Panikkar’s tripartite model of action, wisdom, and devotion. Finally, it concludes with an assessment of the SanJuanist legacy for today’s world. CRISTÓBAL SERRÁN-PAGÁN y FUENTES is a native of Spain, like San Juan de la Cruz, and he has spent the last three decades in the United States doing research on Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. He received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Boston University. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State University in the State of Georgia.

• “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love” (The Merton Seasonal, Winter 2007): 3-11

• Engaged Spirituality in Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh: An Inter-Monastic Dialogue on Contemplation in a World of Action

  The Merton Seasonal Winter 2017

  Thomas Merton’s interfaith dialogue with the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh sets a resonating example on how two monks from different religious traditions can learn from each other and respect their differences while they find common ground. The Christian-Buddhist engaged model of spirituality Merton and Nhat Hanh employ encompasses both the life of contemplation (archetypical Mary) and the life of action (archetypical Martha). The purpose of this study is to show how both Merton and Nhat Hanh found the right balance between the contemplative life of Mary and the active life of Martha. The methodology I use in this article is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion; that is to say, it is very interdisciplinary using history, comparative religions, spirituality, theology and interfaith dialogues. Through their differing contemplative paths, Merton and Nhat Hanh have become exemplar models of creative interreligious dialogue and witnesses for global peace. Both monks exemplify the necessity to establish strong spiritual bonds of affection and a sense of community through fostering inter-monastic dialogue and international cooperation. The contemplative messages of Merton and Nhat Hanh can help identify the root causes of our contemporary problems by asking the right questions.

• The Coincidence of Opposites in Thomas Merton and Zhuangzi: A Case Study On How Professors Can Effectively Use the Language of Paradoxes in the Classroom at the University Level

  Paidagogos Journal of Education in Contexts

  This paper examines the importance of paradoxes using the mystical language of Merton and Zhuangzi. The purpose of this study is to illustrate how the language of paradoxes used by Merton and Zhuangzi can serve as a case study on how professors and students may discuss apparent verbal or written contradictions at the university level. The methodology I follow is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion which combines areas in the humanities and the social sciences; that is to say, my approach in this article it is very interdisciplinary. The real benefit of using paradoxical statements in a classroom is to allow students to deal with complex ideas or concepts and to understand how the apparent contradictions can he held in creative synthesis providing a new level of cognitive and spiritual awareness of reality. In this article I show how the mystical language of paradoxes can help professors and students possibly to go beyond the Aristotelian principle of non- contradiction and look at paradoxes as an alternative way to discuss concepts or ideas that cannot be understood simply as either/or; rather, in a sense, they transcend the traditional canons of Western logic.

• “The Mystical Teachings of Wu-Wei in the Daode jing: A Comparative Study of East and West on Spiritual Detachment”

  Fons Vitae

  This is an article I wrote for the Fons Vitae volume on the Merton and World Religions series. I use Thomas Merton as a major commentator on the Daoist mystical teaching of wu-wei and I show how instrumental his insights will be in interpreting his famous work, "The Way of Chuang Tzu."

• ’The Future of the Earth is in our Hands’: Teilhard de Chardin on Religion and Science”

  Paper was published online at the Unity Institute Theological Journal

  “The Future of the Earth is in our Hands’: Teilhard de Chardin on Religion and Science” is a paper I presented at the Unity Institute´s Lyceum 2009 (Unity Village, Missouri) conference. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of the ecological spirituality of Teilhard de Chardin.

• “Merton’s Understanding of the Mystical Doctrine of St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul”

  the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland in Thomas Merton: A Mind Awake in the Dark (Abergavenny, Monmouthshire: Papers from the 2000 Oakham Conference

  “Merton’s Understanding of the Mystical Doctrine of St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul,” published by the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland in Thomas Merton: A Mind Awake in the Dark (Abergavenny, Monmouthshire: Papers from the 2000 Oakham Conference, 2002): 165-173

• “Final Integration in Thomas Merton: The Art of Finding the Middle Way”

  The Merton Seasonal

  This article was a personal reflection on one of the key spiritual themes in the later writings of the Trappist monk, Thomas Merton. This year we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Thomas Merton.

• Diccionario de Thomas Merton

  Ediciones Mensajero

  I translated seven entries from the Encyclopedia of Thomas Merton to the Spanish version Diccionario de Thomas Merton. My letter started with “Cables to the Ace, or Familiar Liturgies of Misunderstanding.” It was edited by Francisco Rafael de Pascual and published by Sal Terrae in Spain with Ediciones Mensajero in 2015.) Here are the seven entries I helped to translate from English into Spanish: 50-51, 56-57, 74-76, 83-84, 180-182, 428-431, 573.

• “Semillas de esperanza en tiempos de crisis: San Juan de la Cruz y Thomas Merton”

  Edición de Fernando Beltrán Llavador y Paul M. Pearson y publicación de Cistercium-Ciem con la ayuda de la Junta de Castilla y León en Semillas de esperanza: El mensaje contemplativo de Thomas Merton (Zamora, España: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 85-106.

  Este articulo fue una traduccion que hice del articulo original escrito en ingles. Ambos articulos quedaron publicados en el volumen bilingue.

• Merton & The Tao: Dialogues with John Wu and The Ancient Sages

  Fons Vitae

  I spent four years editing this book in the series of Merton and World Religions. This fifth volume in the highly regarded Fons Vitae Thomas Merton series reveals the depth of the monk’s interests in Taoism and in particular the sage Chuang-Tzu from whose writings Merton selected, translated and presented a work that he called his personal favorite, The Way of Chuang Tzu. Beautifully illustrated, this volume’s insightful essays by Taoist experts and sinologists Livia Kohn, Lucien Miller, Bede Bidlack, and John Wu, Jr. accompany the complete annotated correspondence between Merton and John Wu, Sr., the Chinese scholar, author, law professor and convert to Catholicism who guided Merton’s encounter with Taoism and acted as midwife to Merton’s interpretation into English of Chuang Tzu’s poetry.

• “’The Entire Universe is a Sea of Love’: Toward a Mystical theology of Love in St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross”

  Paper was published online at the Unity Institute Theological Journal

  “’The Entire Universe is a Sea of Love’: Toward a Mystical theology of Love in St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross” is a paper I presented at the Unity Institute´s Lyceum 2008 (Unity Village, Missouri) conference

• “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Deep Ecumenism in the Mystical Thoughts of D. T. Suzuki and Thomas Merton” (The Merton Seasonal, Fall 2006): 17-26

• “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton”

  Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

  “Seeds of Hope in Times of Crisis: Saint John of the Cross and Thomas Merton,” was edited by Fernando Beltrán Llavador and Paul M. Pearson, and published by Ediciones Cistercium-Ciem with the support of the Junta de Castilla y León in Seeds of Hope: Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Message (Zamora, Spain: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 81-100.

• Divine Mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross: Encountering the Dark Nights in the Human Soul

  The Merton Annual, Vol. 30

  This article examines the contemplative message of divine mercy in Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. For Merton, the Sanjuanist mystical teaching of the dark night does not imply a pure negation but rather the highest expression of light, love and truth. Merton and St. John of the Cross describe their experimental knowledge of God as a mystical vision which is granted to the soul by divine grace and by the great mercy of God. This dark night of the soul is the night of faith when God deposits His infinite mercy in the blessed soul. Merton, following the lines of St. John of the Cross, defined infused contemplation or dark night as the secret knowledge of God by a union of love. This loving gift of grace is redemptive and transformative. It changes the whole person and it leads the human soul to love each sentient and non-sentient being. Both the Trappist and the Carmelite saw all created beings as divine reflections bathed in an Ocean of Love, as St. Francis also witnessed in his mystical encounters with the Divine. The Lord of the universe permeates all living beings. Their summoning of a higher cosmic truth is a powerful message for our contemporaries because the incarnational mysticism of Merton and St. John of the Cross is rooted in an unconditional faith, hope, and love in humanity as children of God. I divide this paper in three parts. First, I introduce Merton’s own writings on the Carmelite origins. Second, I elaborate on key aspects of the Sanjuanist teaching of the dark night using Merton as a modern interpreter. And third, I share my personal ruminations on the spiritual legacy of Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross in their quests to understand how God’s infinite mercy is always an expression to be found within the Christian mystical experience.

• “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible”

  ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character

  “Action and Contemplation: A Comparative Study between the Gita and the Bible” (ASCD Character Education Network and Boston University’s Center for Advancement of Ethics and Character, Spring 2006)

• Saint John of the Cross: His Prophetic Mysticism in the Historical Context of Sixteenth-Century Spain

  Pacem in Terris Press

  THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK is to show that many SanJuanist commentators err in portraying St. John of the Cross as a world-negating contemplative by calling him the doctor of the dark night of the soul. This misinterpretation is informed by their failure to understand John’s historical context, especially the problem of conversos (Jewish and Muslim converts to Catholicism) in sixteenth-century Spain. It is time to study St. John of the Cross as a whole person and in his historical context of sixteenth-century Spain, and thus bring together his multifaceted dimensions. Attention needs to be given to his active role in the Carmelite tradition as a religious reformer, an administrator, and a prophet; to his intellectual capacity as a mystical theologian and teacher; and to his religious devotion as a poet, friar, hermit, spiritual director, confessor, and priest. The book begins with a brief history of contemplation and action in the Christian mystical tradition and it then reviews the biography and writings of this Carmelite saint. It also examines John’s writings through the eyes of Raimundo Panikkar’s tripartite model of action, wisdom, and devotion. Finally, it concludes with an assessment of the SanJuanist legacy for today’s world. CRISTÓBAL SERRÁN-PAGÁN y FUENTES is a native of Spain, like San Juan de la Cruz, and he has spent the last three decades in the United States doing research on Thomas Merton and St. John of the Cross. He received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Boston University. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State University in the State of Georgia.

• “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love”

  The Merton Seasonal

  “Builders of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth: The Transforming Power of Agape Love” (The Merton Seasonal, Winter 2007): 3-11

• Engaged Spirituality in Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh: An Inter-Monastic Dialogue on Contemplation in a World of Action

  The Merton Seasonal Winter 2017

  Thomas Merton’s interfaith dialogue with the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh sets a resonating example on how two monks from different religious traditions can learn from each other and respect their differences while they find common ground. The Christian-Buddhist engaged model of spirituality Merton and Nhat Hanh employ encompasses both the life of contemplation (archetypical Mary) and the life of action (archetypical Martha). The purpose of this study is to show how both Merton and Nhat Hanh found the right balance between the contemplative life of Mary and the active life of Martha. The methodology I use in this article is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion; that is to say, it is very interdisciplinary using history, comparative religions, spirituality, theology and interfaith dialogues. Through their differing contemplative paths, Merton and Nhat Hanh have become exemplar models of creative interreligious dialogue and witnesses for global peace. Both monks exemplify the necessity to establish strong spiritual bonds of affection and a sense of community through fostering inter-monastic dialogue and international cooperation. The contemplative messages of Merton and Nhat Hanh can help identify the root causes of our contemporary problems by asking the right questions.

• The Coincidence of Opposites in Thomas Merton and Zhuangzi: A Case Study On How Professors Can Effectively Use the Language of Paradoxes in the Classroom at the University Level

  Paidagogos Journal of Education in Contexts

  This paper examines the importance of paradoxes using the mystical language of Merton and Zhuangzi. The purpose of this study is to illustrate how the language of paradoxes used by Merton and Zhuangzi can serve as a case study on how professors and students may discuss apparent verbal or written contradictions at the university level. The methodology I follow is the one being used in the American Academy of Religion which combines areas in the humanities and the social sciences; that is to say, my approach in this article it is very interdisciplinary. The real benefit of using paradoxical statements in a classroom is to allow students to deal with complex ideas or concepts and to understand how the apparent contradictions can he held in creative synthesis providing a new level of cognitive and spiritual awareness of reality. In this article I show how the mystical language of paradoxes can help professors and students possibly to go beyond the Aristotelian principle of non- contradiction and look at paradoxes as an alternative way to discuss concepts or ideas that cannot be understood simply as either/or; rather, in a sense, they transcend the traditional canons of Western logic.

• “The Mystical Teachings of Wu-Wei in the Daode jing: A Comparative Study of East and West on Spiritual Detachment”

  Fons Vitae

  This is an article I wrote for the Fons Vitae volume on the Merton and World Religions series. I use Thomas Merton as a major commentator on the Daoist mystical teaching of wu-wei and I show how instrumental his insights will be in interpreting his famous work, "The Way of Chuang Tzu."

• ’The Future of the Earth is in our Hands’: Teilhard de Chardin on Religion and Science”

  Paper was published online at the Unity Institute Theological Journal

  “The Future of the Earth is in our Hands’: Teilhard de Chardin on Religion and Science” is a paper I presented at the Unity Institute´s Lyceum 2009 (Unity Village, Missouri) conference. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of the ecological spirituality of Teilhard de Chardin.

• “Merton’s Understanding of the Mystical Doctrine of St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul”

  the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland in Thomas Merton: A Mind Awake in the Dark (Abergavenny, Monmouthshire: Papers from the 2000 Oakham Conference

  “Merton’s Understanding of the Mystical Doctrine of St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul,” published by the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland in Thomas Merton: A Mind Awake in the Dark (Abergavenny, Monmouthshire: Papers from the 2000 Oakham Conference, 2002): 165-173

• “Final Integration in Thomas Merton: The Art of Finding the Middle Way”

  The Merton Seasonal

  This article was a personal reflection on one of the key spiritual themes in the later writings of the Trappist monk, Thomas Merton. This year we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Thomas Merton.

• Diccionario de Thomas Merton

  Ediciones Mensajero

  I translated seven entries from the Encyclopedia of Thomas Merton to the Spanish version Diccionario de Thomas Merton. My letter started with “Cables to the Ace, or Familiar Liturgies of Misunderstanding.” It was edited by Francisco Rafael de Pascual and published by Sal Terrae in Spain with Ediciones Mensajero in 2015.) Here are the seven entries I helped to translate from English into Spanish: 50-51, 56-57, 74-76, 83-84, 180-182, 428-431, 573.

• “Semillas de esperanza en tiempos de crisis: San Juan de la Cruz y Thomas Merton”

  Edición de Fernando Beltrán Llavador y Paul M. Pearson y publicación de Cistercium-Ciem con la ayuda de la Junta de Castilla y León en Semillas de esperanza: El mensaje contemplativo de Thomas Merton (Zamora, España: Ediciones Monte Casino, 2008): 85-106.

  Este articulo fue una traduccion que hice del articulo original escrito en ingles. Ambos articulos quedaron publicados en el volumen bilingue.

• Merton & The Tao: Dialogues with John Wu and The Ancient Sages

  Fons Vitae

  I spent four years editing this book in the series of Merton and World Religions. This fifth volume in the highly regarded Fons Vitae Thomas Merton series reveals the depth of the monk’s interests in Taoism and in particular the sage Chuang-Tzu from whose writings Merton selected, translated and presented a work that he called his personal favorite, The Way of Chuang Tzu. Beautifully illustrated, this volume’s insightful essays by Taoist experts and sinologists Livia Kohn, Lucien Miller, Bede Bidlack, and John Wu, Jr. accompany the complete annotated correspondence between Merton and John Wu, Sr., the Chinese scholar, author, law professor and convert to Catholicism who guided Merton’s encounter with Taoism and acted as midwife to Merton’s interpretation into English of Chuang Tzu’s poetry.

• “’The Entire Universe is a Sea of Love’: Toward a Mystical theology of Love in St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross”

  Paper was published online at the Unity Institute Theological Journal

  “’The Entire Universe is a Sea of Love’: Toward a Mystical theology of Love in St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross” is a paper I presented at the Unity Institute´s Lyceum 2008 (Unity Village, Missouri) conference

• “Cultivating Seeds of Hope and Love in the 21st Century: My Personal Ruminations on Thomas Merton,” edited by Jonathan Montaldo in We Are Already One: Thomas Merton’s Message of Hope. Reflections to Honor His Centenary (1915-2015)

  Fons Vitae

  These highly personal, rather than academic, reflections attest to Merton's continuing importance in the 21st century. These profound contributions are deeply thought-provoking, reminding the reader of much he or she has come to understand about life from Merton, and loved about him. This volume is a spiritual treasure, bringing so much full circle: what Merton had to say and how this came to enrich our lives in so many various ways.