Awakening Quote by Thomas Merton
““We must learn to realize that the love of God seeks us in every situation, and seeks our good. His inscrutable love seeks our awakening. True, since this awakening implies a kind of death to our exterior self, we will dread His coming in proportion as we are identified with this exterior self and attached to it.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton, 1948
Divine love constantly calls us toward spiritual awakening, which can feel like dying to our egoic identity, causing resistance when we cling to self‑attachment.
In simple terms: God’s love urges us to awaken, which can feel like our ego.
Key Takeaway
Embrace spiritual awakening despite fear of losing self.
Themes
spirituality
awakening
ego
divine love
fear
Mood
contemplative
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- counseling
- retreats
- daily mindfulness
- life transitions
Key Concepts
theology
psychology
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your sense of self block spiritual growth?
- What practices can soften attachment to the ego?
A Different Perspective
Resistance arises when ego clings to identity, limiting openness to divine love.
