<em>New Seeds of Contemplation</em> is one of Thomas Merton's most widelyread and best-loved books. Christians and non-Christians alike havejoined in praising it as a notable successor in the meditative traditionof St. John of the Cross, <em>The Cloud of Unknowing</em>, and themedieval mystics, while others have compared Merton's reflections withthose of Thoreau. <em>New Seeds of Contemplation</em> seeks to awaken thedormant inner depths of the spirit so long neglected by Western man, tonurture a deeply contemplative and mystical dimension in our lives. ForMerton, "Every moment and every event of every man's life on earthplants something in his soul. For just as the wind carries thousands ofwinged seeds, so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitalitythat come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most ofthese unnumbered seeds perish and are lost, because men are not preparedto receive them: for such seeds as these cannot spring up anywhereexcept in the soil of freedom, spontaneity and love."