tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822894759353679437.post2643042683234147915..comments2024-03-01T23:41:02.240-05:00Comments on louie, louie: "making your way freely in the jungle" (success)beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822894759353679437.post-75195156318562033122007-07-27T10:11:00.000-05:002007-07-27T10:11:00.000-05:00Merton was in the monastery and mostly cut off fro...Merton was in the monastery and mostly cut off from the daily (and constant) hum - but he was deeply interested and concerned with what was going on in the world. I'm often astonished with how carefully and closely he guarded his reputation as a writer. But it's clear that he had enough distance to be able to see and judge the rat race for what it was/is.<BR/><BR/>Yes, I think that "integrity" was central to Merton. And being faithful to the truth of one's own life. That concept, in itself, is loaded. The importance of solitude in coming to know that truth.<BR/><BR/>Merton, in my opinion, had a way for transcending his ego without trampling all over it.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for comments, Larry - they have a way of getting me going :-)beth cioffolettihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822894759353679437.post-34365124088918372692007-07-27T09:50:00.000-05:002007-07-27T09:50:00.000-05:00Thanks for posting this, Beth. Merton, being an ou...Thanks for posting this, Beth. Merton, being an outsider to much of worldly society, understood the attraction of success and its influence on our psyche. Qualities of character and integrity always were of prime importance to him. Whenever I get the urge to jump into the rat race, to chase the almighty dollar, I reflect back on Merton's sage advice and stay on my course.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com