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Abhishiktananda and Thomas Merton

Abhishiktananda’s as a path of introversion and Merton’s path of extroversion

Both Abhishiktananda and Merton pioneered attempts to introduce spiritual dialogue between Hinduism and Christianity.  Both lived monastic lives and both were compelled to go physically and mentally to the East to study eastern religion.  Both asked themselves in deeply serious ways:  are religions of the east and west divergent or convergent ways to God?

Abhishiktananda

Abhishiktananda’s path was one of introversion or reserve.  He holds his fire verbally and works with everything internally.  His hermitages were the “not-doings” of silent renunciation.  He is relatively unknown by the World.  You can see the inward focus clearly in his physiognomy; his eyes.

Thomas Merton

Merton’s path was one of extroversion or expression.  While initially he spent much time in solitude and isolation.  He later emerged to write 70 books and is considered by many to be an influential American spiritual writer.  He took up socially controversial issues of race relations, violence, nuclear war and economic injustice as a part of his spiritual concern and gave lectures at gatherings of world leaders.  He felt compelled to act.

Seeing these two personalities as being on paths of introversion and extroversion helps me to understand a real distinction in personalities.