Jung Eun Sophia Park 
An Asian Woman’s Religious Journey with Thomas Merton [PDF ebook] 
A Journey To The East / A Journey To The West

Join Jung Eun Sophia Park on her personal quest for God and her true self through the writings of Thomas Merton. Approaching Merton as an Asian immigrant feminist in the postcolonial era, Park’s perspective is a unique one, and in this dance sometimes it is her and sometimes Merton who leads. Throughout, Eastern and Western spirituality are organically woven together in reflection on Merton’s narratives and in the examination of late capitalism, poverty, beauty, and violence. These reflections are insightful, provocative, and illuminating, particularly with regard to his androcentric spirituality, especially as it relates to his relationships with women.

Table of Content

1. Prologue.- 2. A Portrait of Thomas Merton: Being a Sojourner.- 3. Contemplation: Being Poised at the Virgin Point.- 4. Social Justice: Acting in Peace.- 5. Intimacy: Learning to Love.- 6. Spiritual Direction / Dancing with the Other.- 7.Creativity: Gazing at Beauty.- 8. The Journey to the East: Coming to Asia and Beyond.- 9. Epilogue.

About the author

Jung Eun Sophia Park is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Holy Names University, USA. She is the author of 
Conversations at the Well: Emerging Religious Life in the 21st Century in the 
Global World (2018) and editor of 
Interreligous 
Pedagogy: Reflections and Application in Honor of Judith Berling (2018). Jung Eun Sophia Park is a member of of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.