The Seven Storey Mountain

Is conversion ineffable?

I read The Seven Storey Mountain with pleasure, but am no closer to understanding Thomas Merton’s conversion. Is understanding a category error here? Faith is not to be understood. If it could be understood, it would not be faith.

What is then the purpose of writing books such as The Seven Storey Mountain? And why did it have the impact it did?

It lays out a path to happiness. That must too be taken on faith, even if a different faith than Faith. But so must all paths.

Could the contemplative life bring me the happiness it brought Thomas Merton? I do not know, nor do I know how I’d know without knowing.

I do not share his distaste or distrust of the natural, material, secular life.

The book ends, but the search continues.