Family and Childhood- (Thomas Merton and Hazrat Inayat Khan)

Blog Post #1- Family and Childhood

             Thomas Merton was born in Prades, France, in 1915; he was the first son of Owen Merton and Ruth Jenkins. His parents had met at a painting school in Paris, got married in London, and then returned to France, where he was born (Pearson, 2001, para. 2). Having been born in the midst of World War 1, the family decided to move to the United States. The family first resided with Ruth's parents in New York and later settled in an old house near them, where Merton's brother, John Paul, was born. When the war had ended, they were considering returning to France, but at this time, Ruth was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Five years later, she tragically succumbed to cancer, leaving him and his brother, John Paul, in the care of their father, Owen Merton, who was often absent during their childhood. (Sheldrake, 2013, p.184) The tragedies did not end there for Merton; his father died of a brain tumor when Merton was 16 years old, and then he experienced tragedy again when he lost his brother to WWII in 1943. Early on, Merton showed no inclination toward religion. However, the loss of his family contributed to his sense of how unpredictable and uncertain life could be; choosing a monastic life was a way for him to respond to life's uncertainties. Additionally,  the values instilled by the minds of his artistic, creative parents inspired his path as a writer, poet, and advocate for nonviolence later on (Padovano, 2005, para. 1).

            Hazrat Inayat Khan was born in Baroda, Gujarat, on July 5th, 1882, into a princely Muslim Indian family. He was the great-grandson of Tipu Sultan, the famous eighteenth-century ruler of Mysore, and the son of Rahmat Khan and Khadija Bibi. The family comes from a long line of musicians and poets with a tradition of mysticism spanning generations . Inayat Khans' mystical experiences began when he was a young child; one night, while asleep, Khan dreamt that his father was bringing him home sweets; when he woke up, he accurately directed his mother to where they were, despite being unconscious when his father put them there. (Shelquist, 2007, para. 2). Growing up, he found joy in sharing everything he had with his brothers or friends, regardless of how little he had. He was very imaginative as a child; he enjoyed playing doctor and putting on plays, irrespective of whether it became a one-person performance orchestrated by himself. He preferred using his imagination rather than attending his Hindu school; he excelled in subjects he found interesting, such as poetry and composition, but performed poorly in the ones that didn't capture his attention, such as math and grammar. Khan's parents found him to be a mystery while growing up; they were perplexed by his behavior as he didn't act in childlike ways (Shelquist, 2007, para. 15). In the midst of excitement, Khan appeared detached and instead deeply pondered the certain individuals or ideas that intrigued him. He gained a sense of self-respect at a young age and shared the many teachings of his father. He learned to avoid rudeness in thoughts, speech, and actions, maintain confidentiality, respect privacy, etc. (Shelquist, 2007, para. 18). As he got older, his passion for poetry, religion, mysticism, and music persisted, with the encouragement of his grandfather and uncle, Murtaza Khan, a renowned singer and professor. He delved into religion, exploring Hinduism and Islam, and began attending the Gayanshala, an academy of music in the evening. A blend of family influence, personal exploration, and a profound connection to spirituality and music shaped Khan's journey.

Thomas Merton and Hazrat Inayat Khan had distinct childhood experiences shaping their lives. Artistic and creative parents influenced both; Merton's parents were involved in painting, while Khan came from a family of musicians and poets. While both eventually pursued spiritual paths, Merton initially showed no inclination toward religion. At the same time, Khan explored Hinduism and Islam from a young age, showcasing a difference in their early spiritual pursuits. Their paths also diverged when facing personal tragedy; while Merton endured such hardships, Khan was devoid of adversities. Overall, their varied upbringing highlights the uniqueness of their spiritual journeys, illustrating how personal experiences influence one's quest for meaning and enlightenment.