Susannah Paranich, Vancouver

  ICN editor, Patrick Jamieson received notice of a Nov. 10, 2012 one-day Retreat on these two legendary poets, writers, mystics and artists, exploring the various meanings of “Going Home”.
   Later, a news release of this  Retreat appeared in the Vancouver Sun on Nov. 2nd posted by Douglas Todd. Unable to attend the Retreat himself, Patrick asked me if I would be interested in going on his behalf for the ICN and reporting back on that experience in an article for the paper.

  ICN editor, Patrick Jamieson received notice of a Nov. 10, 2012 one-day Retreat on these two legendary poets, writers, mystics and artists, exploring the various meanings of “Going Home”.
   Later, a news release of this  Retreat appeared in the Vancouver Sun on Nov. 2nd posted by Douglas Todd. Unable to attend the Retreat himself, Patrick asked me if I would be interested in going on his behalf for the ICN and reporting back on that experience in an article for the paper.
   Being a great long-time admirer and follower of both Thomas Merton and Leonard Cohen, I was quite delighted at the opportunity and tried to prepare for it in the weeks ahead by looking up my Merton books I had from way back, re-reading The Intimate Merton: His Life from His Journals, edited by Patrick Hart and Jonathan Montaldo and the Selected Poems of Thomas Merton, with Introduction by Mark Van Doren; though I could not find my old copy of  The Seven Storey Mountain.
   As well as immersing myself in Cohen’s music, watching a TV recording of  Leonard Cohen –  Live in London and re-reading a recent valued gift, Leonard Cohen: Book of Longing, his book of poetry and illustrations, a serendipitous happening was attending Granville Fine Art Gallery for their annual Leonard Cohen Artworks show opening on Nov. 8th, where everyone half expected his presence as he was in Vancouver for his concert; and we wondered if he would show up at the Merton-Cohen Retreat, but that was not to be.
                                                            Journey
   My Nov. 10th journey began quite early to get downtown and catch the Waterfront Station Seabus to North Vancouver, and then on to St. Andrew’s United Church, 1044 St. Georges Ave. in time for the 10 am start. An early morning spiritual moment was at the very front of Waterfront Station, where I just had to stop and take some photos of the evocative and moving “Angel of Victory” statue with dedication plaque to the fallen men and women of the World Wars. With the pinkish gold sunrise behind it, I appreciated the meaningful beauty of moment, then raced to catch the Seabus to the north shore. Ironically, this “Victory Angel” was briefly mentioned by facilitator Don Grayston.
   At the Retreat, co-sponsored by St. Andrew’s United Church and the Thomas Merton Society of Canada, present were 27 participants including the facilitators, Donald Grayston, PhD, theologian, retired Simon Fraser University teacher and Anglican priest; Rev. Judith Hardcastle, minister of St Andrew’s United Church, North Vancouver and co-founder and program co-ordinator of the TMSC; as well Susan Cowan, co-organizer at TMSC.
   Seating was in a circle below the altar in the main area, with a beautiful large white candle on a coffee table, as well as photos and prayer cards of Thomas Merton and other handouts. After names and introductions all around, we began with Judith Hardcastle and Don Grayston inviting us to consider what “Going Home” means, that it’s all about ourselves, that it has many meanings, and Grayston referred to the Vancouver Waterfront Station “Victory Angel” monument.
   With each participant commenting on what “Going Home” meant personally to them, the thoughts and sentiments ranged from “… dying and going to heaven, being in some relationship with God, childhood experiences of home, being in nature, being greeted by parents, loving the church, belonging, peace, having arrived, hospitality, to longing and belonging”.
   Donald Grayston mentioned a quote from Robert Frost that “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.”  We listened to Going Home the first track on Leonard Cohen’s latest album Old Ideas, a handout of the song was passed around and we all discussed and shared the deeper meanings of those words.
   Then the facilitators gave us a very brief overview of Merton’s life and encouraged us to read the book Silent Lamp: The Thomas Merton Story by William H. Shannon. Thomas Merton, an Anglo-American, who was born to artistic parents in 1915 in Prades, France, had a younger brother and lost both his parents at an early age, and died tragically in 1968 in Bangkok, Thailand; spent years in boarding schools, moving around and vacationing a lot, including France, England, America, Cuba, attended Cambridge and Columbia Universities.
   He discovered the Catholic Church and in 1938 was baptized at Corpus Christi Church, NY. (I read later that in 1937 Merton read a book that opened his mind to Catholicism – The Spirit of Medieval Philosophy. Another influence was Mahanambrata Brahmachari, a visiting Hindu monk, who suggested Merton read The Confessions of Augustine and The Imitation of Christ. His prayer and spiritual life increased from then on). He taught at St. Bonaventure College, NY; then was drawn in numerous visits to Gethsemani Abbey, Kentucky to become a Trappist Monk, where he eventually lived there as a Cistercian for exactly 27 years, was an eloquent spiritual writer and contemplative, poet, peace activist and Zen calligrapher. He communicated extensively with D.T. Suzuki and appreciated Zen Buddhism, which led to more books.
   A Cistercian Monk, (ordained as a priest in 1949 known as Fr. Louis), mystic, poet and writer, a deeply centred spiritual man with a great love for God, Merton most valued solitude, silence and nature; he also played piano, drums, painted and photographed. He often taught at the Abbey, but with his overwhelming need to write, he was always writing and filled a great many journals, as well as published many books by the end of his lifetime.
   His first major book was his autobiography The Seven Storey Mountain. Merton had existential angst, was on the verge of depression often, but realized he was part of the world, then began to write passionately for justice issues. In 1962 Tony Walsh (well known personally to Patrick Jamieson and others, and whom I met briefly through Patrick in the late 1980s as the venerable Tony Walsh) met Thomas Merton at the Abbey and collaborated with Merton, Dorothy Day and others in protest, social activism and social justice of the times in the mid-60s. 
                                                             Hermit
   In 1965 Merton received permission from the Abbey to live in a Hermitage on the property, where he had lots of visitors and communications, though his solitude was always most important. One year later while in hospital for a while he met a nurse and fell in love during his hospital stay, continuing a relationship on his return to the Abbey. When the Abbey found out and he was given a choice, Merton ended his relationship with the nurse (kept a secret until 25 years after his death according to his Will). It was a short-lived but profound relationship (and is well documented in his book mentioned above The Intimate Merton: His Life from His Journals).
   As an internationally renown theologian, in 1968 Merton was invited to give a paper in Bangkok, Thailand. While in that part of the world, he met with the Dali Lama in Dharamsala, India first and while in India he was on a retreat where beyond his picture window was a mountain. He had a dream about that mountain and realized he was seeing the mountain from the “other side”.
   Short weeks later he died, electrocuted accidentally, after having given a morning talk he had been invited to, and at the lunch break returned to his room for a shower in the heat of the day; somehow he had contacted a floor fan.
   A year before his death Merton made arrangements for all that he would someday leave behind; (thus Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky is the repository for all of Merton’s literary works, personal effects, artworks, audiotapes, journals, correspondence and memorabilia, totalling some 50,000 items).
   Then an excerpt of a brief voice recording from “The Bear” of Merton’s deep, strong, gruff voice was played for us and we listened closely to that. This was all most fascinating information to us Retreatants to absorb and ponder. Some members had been to other TMSC Retreats over the years including Cuba, but this was my first Merton Retreat.
   Then the facilitators commented on Leonard Cohen and certain similarities he shared with Merton. Cohen was born in Montreal in 1934, and like Merton lost a parent at an early age, grew up in Montreal as a minority in an Anglophone community. His grandfather was a Rabbi, and an Irish nanny exposed him to Catholicism. He first manifested himself as Leonard Cohen influenced by the Spanish poet Garcia Lorca, bought a guitar, founded a group “Buckskin Boys”, went to McGill and Columbia.
   In 1959 with his second book of poetry he received a Canada Council Grant of $1500 and bought his famous blue raincoat; went to Hydra, Greece, met Marianne, and travelled back and forth to Cuba to support the Castro revolution. In 1963 he published a book which he denied was his autobiography; moved into the music business, met Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Jennifer Warnes and others in the music world; met Suzanne, the mother of his children and at the same time met Roshi, the head of the Buddhist Monastery in CA.
   In 1984 he wrote Book of Mercy to mark his 50th birthday, and his album Various Positions with the celebrated Hallelujah on it. Jeff Buckley recorded it and its fame continued; over 200 covers of Hallelujah have been recorded. (In July when I discovered on YouTube the Rufus Wainwright, Jeff Buckley, Ricky Sarkozi, Bon Jovi, and of course, Leonard Cohen video renditions of Hallelujah I posted them all to my Facebook page so I could enjoy them anytime.) 
   In 1992 The Globe & Mail stated that it was voted “Best Song ever written in Canada”.  Besides being a legendary Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist, Cohen  is a visual artist whose artworks appear in his books as well as galleries. Merton and Cohen share many things besides their interest in Jewish, Christian and Buddhist metaphysics, namely their spirituality and gifts for writing, poetry and art. Merton and Cohen both spent time at Mt. Baldy; Cohen’s Zen name was Jikan.
   Don Grayston had with him and highly recommended the new Cohen biography I’m Your Man by Sylvie Symmons. Cohen went into a monastery for five years and after he left in 1999 he went to India, connected with a teacher, had read teachings on Mt. Baldy; went back more than once. Something happened to Cohen in India – by imperceptible degrees, his angst and depression began to dissolve and he became more transparent and spiritual and he also became more interested in other religions. Cohen and Roshi visited Gethsemani Abbey following Merton’s passing, but Thomas Merton and Leonard Cohen never did meet.
                                                              Retreat
   There were periods of quiet contemplation and thought before discussing a handout, with an intermittent bell signalling our attention and focus after contemplative coffee breaks and a delicious lunch. CDs for us to play during the lunch break were an early CD, 6 Montreal Poets (A.J.M. Smith, Irving Layton, Denis Dudek; Leonard Cohen, F.R. Scott, A.M. Klein), Cohen’s Old Ideas and Beauty is from God, spoken word of Merton.
   During our contemplative short breaks to review handouts, I’d read and consider, contemplate a bit, write out my thoughts for sharing, and then explore the interesting interior of that 100 year old Church, its historic photos, plaques and tributes, also worthy of contemplation and attention.
   We were asked to contemplate and reflect on two things on the handout of Cohen’s song, “Going Home”: (i)“what ‘Going Home’ means to you personally” and (ii)“what prevents you from ‘Going Home’?”; so when the bell called us back we all shared our responses and thoughts one by one.
   My contribution to the group on that was (i) “ Finding, being close to my spiritual centre, always renewing that in spite of changing circumstances and life – to always seek and go back to developing, nurturing inner self,” and (ii)“Too much busyness at times to spend enough time in silence, meditation and contemplation; distractions of computer, events, places to go, things to do; need to often revise priorities, focus more on quiet time for myself. ”
   Everyone had their own personal insightful meditations on that point. Don Grayston stated wisely that “Going home is in fact realizing we are already home”, followed by Judith Hardcastle referring to “pilgrimage, that we’re on a journey to a sacred place”. We all enjoyed a Zen quote: “Before enlightenment, the laundry; after enlightenment, the laundry”.
   Then we were handed the Merton poem “Grace’s House”, and again given 15 minutes to read and reflect upon it to share our thoughts on it after the break, being asked mainly to “think on what this poem evokes for you personally” and “what does this poem have to do with it?”.
   I found it quite a mysterious Merton poem and when my turn came, my reading to the group of my impressions of that sort of intriguing abstract poem were “There’s a lot of symbolism in references to the hidden things mentioned and in the numbers mentioned, such as 12 flowers, two trees, the number five on the mailbox, and the symbolism of the river, water, crystal; many symbolic references in colours of smoke, snow, red implied in Valentines, green… And the fact that the poem starts out referring to the summit; and love and mystery is there throughout the poem. Other than that, I’m not sure what it means.”
   It seems to me that in so much of Merton prose or poetry, he is always weaving colours into it. After we shared our thoughts Grayston explained that Merton’s view of paradise was “Naiveté”: first, Paradise, second, Paradise Lost, third, Paradise Regained – that you never lost it, when you re-access the sense of “Home” it was there all the time. That there’s a parallel in how Merton sees it in work and play – in Paradise, all is Play, and Work is Play.
   Moving along from that, Judith Hardcastle then read a passage from the Bible, Luke 15:11-32 “The Prodigal Son”, and asked to consider and discussed the numerous meanings and aspects including forgiveness in that reading. Grayston also recommended a good book, The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri J.M. Nouwen.
   At 3:30 p.m. we were given a half hour break to ponder all we had  heard and experienced, to integrate all the pieces that we looked at in all we covered in the Retreat. My mission for the day was to not only be open to what the Retreat offered, maybe also what I could offer, but to take notes and photos for this article.
   Everyone shared random thoughts on what the Retreat meant to them, what they could take away from it. For myself, I commented that “… Life is mystery,… awareness on different levels and different degrees in our spiritual life, finding and being on our spiritual path that is meant for us, which evolves according to our nature and what we are, enlightening us.” 
   What I took away with me also is written about at the end. Then someone must have read my mind and asked the facilitators what I was about to – what exactly was meant by the reference earlier on about Cohen and Merton both being “tricksters”, both being “shape-shifting free spirits”?
   Grayston explained that the coyote is the trickster figure in certain aboriginal cultures, changes peoples’ perception. He said Shakespeare readings are a good example too – by indirection, find direction. (Jung refers to this as the “trickster archetype”.)
   With Merton and Cohen you learn to expect the unexpected. Some poems divert your attention and are associated with a strong sense of mystery, sense of humour, the unexpected. Cohen was able to use Christian metaphors and imagery so easily, as evidenced in his poetry, songs and even artwork.
   To wind up the Retreat the question was put to us to share: “What does Going Home mean to you?”  Others and I shared that it means “… peace, a waking up, epiphany, wherever you go you take your home with you.” Many of us put questions throughout the day to the facilitators leading to further enrichment of the Retreat experience and a participant paid me a surprisingly nice compliment at the end of the day with thanks and appreciation for my own comments and questions offered.