The Ascent to Truth (Harvest Book)

Thomas Merton, author of The Seven Storey Mountain, explores the mysticism of Saint John of the Cross in this examination of contemplative spirituality. Merton argues that spiritual revolution—characterized by a desire for unworldliness, detachment, and union with God—is necessary to prevent moral collapse. As a Trappist monk, he makes the case for the importance of contemplation in addressing contemporary crises. Drawing on thinkers including Carl Jung and Pope Pius XII, Merton defines contemplative experience and examines how the Christian mysticism of sixteenth-century Spanish Carmelite Saint John of the Cross provides answers to modern spiritual questions. The book is intended for those interested in meditation and contemplation, as well as those considering a contemplative life.