In his book "The Inner Experience" Thomas Merton draws from "eastern" examples of the "inner experience" that finds us once again "at home". The finding of our "homely self" , that which we have always been. Alas, once again for Merton this is not enough! "Theological faith" must step in and in some sense we must leave home once more and get beyond the inner self to an "awareness of God", apparently a "darkness". Really, I am lost once more!
Just as in the dialogue with D T Suzuki "Wisdom in Emptiness" contained in "Zen and the Birds of Appetite" Thomas Merton eventually reaches beyond "suchness" and the eschatology of the present moment (Suzuki) to speak of something more (I assume of "Theological Faith") where our present moment is to be handed over to God to create something totally new. "It is to be the great, mysterious, theandric work of the Mystical Christ, the New Adam".
So homeliness and being in the present moment - coming back to where we started from "and knowing it for the first time" - is not enough. Something called "theological faith" must step in. Which seems, at least to me, to be superfluous, virtually bringing us back to the old and outer self of anticipations and epitaphs!
Much like some versions of a deep incarnational Christianity where after the dying to self and becoming "as Christ" some still insist upon the unique uniqueness of Jesus which sets Christianity apart from all the other (acknowledged) unique Religions/Faiths of our world. It all seems totally unnecessary. Each moment, each human being, forever unique. Particular. Why stick a uniquely unique person on top as some "item of faith"? Why look to them?
I love Thomas Merton. I am very familiar with his Letters and Journals where I think we find him at his best. Almost totally undidactic. I'm not sure about this particular book, which appears at times to be pasted together from various sources - I got a bit lost in the introduction where its genesis and evolution were charted. But fair enough.
For me Faith (simple, homely, such as it is) is salvation itself. Of infinite potential.
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