xt7t4b2x6x6w https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7t4b2x6x6w/data/mets.xml  Thomas Merton 1959-11-30 This letter is from collection 75m28 Thomas Merton papers. archival material 75m28 English  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Thomas Merton correspondence Letter from Thomas Merton to Dr. Daisetz Suzuki, November 30, 1959 text Letter from Thomas Merton to Dr. Daisetz Suzuki, November 30, 1959 1959 1959-11-30 2023 true xt7t4b2x6x6w section xt7t4b2x6x6w November 30th,1959

PW Dear Dr Suzuki:

I am so glad that you have added a few moments to your article. They are
very wise and I do hope that they can lead to further exchange of views, because
really we have only berm to get into our subject. It would be a very great
pity not to carry the conversation further. What a great shame it is that our
way of life makes it practically impossible for me to get to Japan. But perhaps
you will come to Amrica again. I do hOpe you will take the occasion to arrange
a meeting. ‘

I recognise the Validity of your criticism of m treatment of "emptiness".
You are perfectly correct, and I felt quite messy about the point, especially as
Cassian is clearly not deep enough in his ideaof "purity of heart". Tris struck
me as I was writing the article and unfortunately there was notm much that
could be done about it at the time. It Bust wait for further development. mt
again I think your insight is very acute and fxmdanentany Christian in its own
way, though in the way you fommlate it, the distinction between "Cod" and the
"Wad" runs into technical theological difficulties for us, that is for the
Christ-ism writer. Do you know John Ruysbroeck? He develOps your idea quite well.

I shall try to send you a book of his, and also something; of St John of the Cross
who might interest you.

Here is the little note I am arepending to your last statement in the book.

Once again I thank you wannly for your collaboration in this work. It has been
interesting and challenging and I feel that such contacts are of great impor-
tance. Certainly I know I have profited personally from your remarks. For we have
been discussing our comm interests on ten levels: first as writers, but then as
“monks" or Zen-men or Irmatever you would like to say. That level is to me much
more important, though alas I have been cor'yelled to stay more on the first level,
in order to get out this book.

Speaking now as a monk rather than as a writer, I am much happier with
"emptiness" when I don't have to talk about it. You have the knack of saying tiungs
about it that do not completely obscure it. But I do not. As soon as I say something

then, that is "not it" right away. Obviously the conclusion is to say nothing, and
that for a great deal of the time is what I manage to do. let one must speak of it.
Obviously, one mat speak and not speak. I am glad you are far away or you would
settle the question mth thirty blows of the hossu. But at any rate I thought you
would be happy to know that I st sale with the - not problem, but koan. It is
not really for me a serious intellectual problem at all, but a problem of

m "realisationh- something that has to break through. Every once in a while it
breaks through a little. One of these days it will burst out.

that is your opinion of Chang Chen Chi who writes on Zen? Do you know him?

Again, with crew best wish and blessing-

Faithfully yours in Christ