Thomas Merton’s introduction to Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s 1968 Bhagavad-Gita As It Is.

The quest for the beauty of the world no doubt must be balanced with the harsh truth—the knowledge—of its ephemeral nature. But there must be more to truth than this if it is to save us.

Knowledge does not mean to store so many false incidents and sell them to the world for some name and fame. That is to be given up. But, service—unconditional self-giving—is noble and will take you to the higher, super-conscious region.

“‘The Cloud of the Impossible’ is the experience that you simply can’t not enter, if you’re not going to settle for clichés and incoherencies, or repressed questions, in your spirituality.