- What are your first impressions of the book?
- What does contemplation mean to you?
- What does contemplation not mean to you?
- How has your understanding of contemplation changed?
- Merton speaks of a ‘true self’ and ‘false self’, in what ways do you relate to this description and to what extent is it helpful or unhelpful?
- If you were to recommend this book, who would you recommend it to and why?
ONLINE BOOK GROUP
Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton (1915-1968)
Ten sessions over 12 weeks (between 21 April – 7 July 2026)
Tuesday evenings, 20:00 - 21:00 BST via Zoom
One of the best-loved books by one of the great spiritual authors of our time, Seeds of Contemplation (also known as New Seeds of Contemplation) is one of Thomas Merton's most widely read and best-loved books.
Christians and non-Christians alike have joined in praising it as a notable successor in the meditative tradition of St. John of the Cross, The Cloud of Unknowing , and the medieval mystics, while others have compared Merton's reflections with those of Thoreau. Seeds of Contemplation seeks to awaken the dormant inner depths of the spirit so long neglected by Western humanity, to nurture a deeply contemplative and mystical dimension in our lives.
For Merton, "Every moment and every event of everyone's life on earth plants something in their soul. For just as the wind carries thousands of winged seeds, so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitality that come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of people. Most of these unnumbered seeds perish and are lost, because we are not prepared to receive them: for such seeds as these cannot spring up anywhere except in the soil of freedom, spontaneity and love."
Photograph of Thomas Merton by John Howard Griffin. Used with permission of the Merton Legacy Trust and the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University.
Join Canon Emma online via Zoom to reflect and discuss this seminal Christian spiritual text which provides advice and guidance on how to live out the mystical dimension of our Christian faith in the everyday.
Together, over ten sessions, we shall read and discuss the complete text - focussing on specific chapters each week.
First published in 1949 it was updated to New Seeds of Contemplation in 1962. The original version is now out of print with the updated version being called either New Seeds of Contemplation or simply Seeds of Contemplation depending on the editor. We will be reading Seeds of Contemplation, published by Anthony Clarke but any publication will have the same text. It is widely available to purchase in bookstores, or online. Please ensure that you have read the chapters ahead of the group meeting.
Each week the session will be recorded so if you miss a week you can catch up along with the ‘Questions to Ponder’.
Whether you can join us for just a few or for all of the gatherings, you are most welcome to read together this classic of the contemplative and mystical Christian tradition, which holds an abundance of profound and shrewd wisdom.
The group is free, but any donation you may wish to make to the mission and ministry of the Cathedral will be warmly received.
Booking essential - Book your space to be sent a Zoom link. It will be the same zoom link for each week.
Each week Canon Emma will begin with a brief introduction followed by discussion and then concluding with prayer.
Week One – 21 April: What is Contemplation?, Chapters 1-4 - Questions to ponder | Session recording
Week Two – 28 April: Union and Division, Chapters 5-8 - Questions to ponder | Session recording
Week Three – 5 May: Learn to be alone, Chapters 9-12 - Questions to ponder
No Session – 12 May
Week Four – 19 May: Integrity, Chapters 13-16
Week Five – 26 May: From Faith to Wisdom, Chapters 17-20
No Session – 2 June
Week Six – 9 June: The Mystery of Christ, Chapters 21-24
Week Seven – 16 June: Humility against Despair, Chapters 25-28
Week Eight – 23 June: The Night of the Senses, Chapters 29-32
Week Nine – 30 June: Journey Through the Wilderness, Chapters 33-36
Week Ten – 7 July: Sharing the Fruits of Contemplation, Chapters 37-end
ONLINE BOOK GROUP: Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton (1915-1968)
Session Recordings
Questions to ponder
Week One: What is Contemplation?, Chapters 1-4
Week Two: Union and Division, Chapters 5-8
- Bring a sentence, phrase, word or idea from one of the chapters to share with the group.
- Which of the chapters really spoke to you and why?
- What is your idea of holiness?
- How does Merton understand the phrase ‘members one to another’?
- Who are you?
Week Three: Learn to be alone, Chapters 9-12
- Bring a sentence, phrase, word or idea from one of the chapters to share with the group.
- How do you understand and experience the idea of the ‘false’ self?
- Why do we find it so hard to love one another?
- Where do you see ‘the hate gods’ in the world today and what will overcome them?
For future suggestions of spiritual books for the group to read please email Canon Emma at [email protected]