A mass movement readily exploits the discontent and frustration
of large segments of the population which for some reason or
other cannot face the responsibility of standing on their own
feet. But give them a movement to join, a cause to defend, and
they will go to any extreme, stop at no crime, intoxicated as they
are by the slogans that give them a pseudo-religious sense of
transcending their own limitations. The member of a mass
movement, afraid of his own isolation, and his own weakness as
an individual, cannot face the task of discovering within himself
the spiritual power and integrity which can be called forth only
by love. Instead of this, he seeks a movement that will protect
his weakness with a wall of anonymity and justify his acts by
the sanction of collective glory and power. All the better if this
is done out of hatred, for hatred is always easier and less subtle
than love. It does not have to respect reality as love does. It
does not have to take account of individual cases. Its solutions
are simple and easy. It makes its decisions by a simple glance
at a face, a colored skin, a uniform. It identifies an enemy by
an accent, an unfamiliar turn of speech, an appeal to concepts
that are difficult to understand... This is not "ours", he says.
This must be brought into line - or destroyed.
of large segments of the population which for some reason or
other cannot face the responsibility of standing on their own
feet. But give them a movement to join, a cause to defend, and
they will go to any extreme, stop at no crime, intoxicated as they
are by the slogans that give them a pseudo-religious sense of
transcending their own limitations. The member of a mass
movement, afraid of his own isolation, and his own weakness as
an individual, cannot face the task of discovering within himself
the spiritual power and integrity which can be called forth only
by love. Instead of this, he seeks a movement that will protect
his weakness with a wall of anonymity and justify his acts by
the sanction of collective glory and power. All the better if this
is done out of hatred, for hatred is always easier and less subtle
than love. It does not have to respect reality as love does. It
does not have to take account of individual cases. Its solutions
are simple and easy. It makes its decisions by a simple glance
at a face, a colored skin, a uniform. It identifies an enemy by
an accent, an unfamiliar turn of speech, an appeal to concepts
that are difficult to understand... This is not "ours", he says.
This must be brought into line - or destroyed.
[Because of] this universal infection of fanaticism, the plague of
intolerance, prejudice and hate, which flows from the crippled
nature of mankind... [we] must labor with inexhaustible
patience and love, in silence, perhaps in repeated failure,
seeking tirelessly, wherever we can, to restore the capacity of
love...
Thomas Merton
from - Disputed Questions
(written in the 1960's)
from - Disputed Questions
(written in the 1960's)
Thomas Merton was a Christian Trappist Monk
and social activist in the 1960's. He was a strong
supporter of non-violence and civil rights. In his
later years he became interested in Zen Buddhism
and promoted an East-West dialogue.
and social activist in the 1960's. He was a strong
supporter of non-violence and civil rights. In his
later years he became interested in Zen Buddhism
and promoted an East-West dialogue.
He died in Bangkok in 1968.
~
Thanks to The Beauty We Love
Love this - Merton has always been one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteThank you Cate... I appreciate your presence here!
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