Robert H. King – författare

The author began the practice of Zen meditation a decade ago under the tutelage of a Jesuit priest. This book is the fruit of his spiritual journey. Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh were and are two of the foremost spiritual writers of their times. They met only once. "Individually," says Robert King, "they are important, but considered together they may be even more significant. For although their lives developed independently of one another and took quite different forms, they shed light on each other in wonderful and unexpected ways. What binds the two is the theme of contemplation and action - a form of religious practice that could serve as a unifying paradigm for the world's religions in an age of globalization".

This is a beginner's guide to contemplation for anyone in the second half of life and also a love story. Autumn Years describes the practice of contemplation as part of a strategy of successful aging. Recognizing that there is no single contemplative path, it includes: sitting meditation, centering prayer, walking meditation, and loving-kindness meditation. It also looks at other practices as well: yoga, lectio divina, koan study, music meditation, dream work, and even travel as pilgrimage. 'Shows that marriage is as much a spiritual journey as monasticism...youth only the beginning of the human exploration of wonder, divine passion, and holiness.' Laurence Freeman, O.S.B., director of the World Community of Christian Meditation