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Merton saw Dick Sisto performing in Louisville jazz clubs in the 1960's. In 1968, Sisto came for a couple of visits to Gethsemani Abbey in which he met with Merton. In their correspondence, they discuss Zen Buddhism and Christian mysticism.
Dick Sisto is a jazz vibraphonist and is currently the music director of the Seelbach Bar at the Seelbach Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. He shared an interest with Merton in Zen Buddhism and currently conducts meditation workshops. His wife, Penny Sisto, is a fabric artist who has created Merton-themed quilts.
Please click here for general restrictions concerning Merton's correspondence.
If the person in correspondence with Merton has full text records in the Merton Center Digital Collections, there will be a numeric link to them below.
This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.
Click icons for links: ✓="Published | Library Record", ✉="Scanned" | 🗷="Scanned, Viewable Only at Merton Center"
| # | Date | From/To | First Lines | Pub ✓ | Notes |
| | y/m/d | Merton | | Scan ✉ | |
| 1. |
1968/03/28 |
TAL[c] from Merton |
Some time ago I did a study on the question of "the Humanity of Christ" in Christian mysticism. |
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«detailed view» |
| 2. |
1968/no/no |
HCS to Merton |
My stay at Gethsemani and meeting with you instilled a much needed final conviction in the necessity |
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[verso of card contains a black and white picture of a fountain and the text: "St. James Court, Louisville, Kentucky"]
«detailed view» |
| 3. |
2014/04/12 |
email to Snyder, Gary |
Thank you for your reply. I can almost hear your voice. Sorry to hear of Peter Mathiessen's death. |
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[see "Snyder, Gary" file for copy - references to Merton: quote of Merton's "faith means doubt" (from Appendix III of The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton, "Thomas Merton's View of Monoasticism [Informal talk delivered at Calcutta, October 1968]" ) / Wendell Berry / R. H. Blyth]
«detailed view» |
| 4. |
2014/04/13 |
email from Snyder, Gary |
Speaking of Merton. I was in Kyoto, Alan Watts and David Padwa and some other good friends were |
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[see "Snyder, Gary" file for copy - references to Merton: Snyder remembers making arrangements for Merton after Bangkok to come to Kyoto - his contact with Alan Watts - David Padwa- Daitoku-ji Monastery and Oda Sesso Roshi]
«detailed view» |
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