The Tao of Thomas Merton

Thomas Merton was not a photographer, he was a Trappist monk. However, his interest in Eastern philosophies, especially Taoism and Zen Buddhism, inspired him to occasionally pick up a camera and employ it as a tool for contemplation. I've long been a fan of Merton's simple, black and white images of nature and everyday things, many of which were taken at the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani in Kentucky where he spent much of his life. Click here or on the image above to view an exhibition of some of his photographs.

Going with the Flow

I chanced upon this weathered piece of driftwood in a neighbor's front yard. Whenever I walk by it, I am reminded of the ancient Taoist principle of Wu Wei or going with the flow of life rather than fighting it. The lines in the wood resemble flowing water, which to the ancient Chinese sages was a metaphor for the Tao, the mysterious force behind the universe that pervades everything but which eludes all our attempts to grasp it.

 

Click on the image above to see a larger version and to find out how you can order a print.