conflict. This way of thinking allows them to overcome the most powerful of evils; Satan. One episode in Merton’s book explains how one man did just this:Once Abbot Marcarius was on his way home to his cell from the marshes, carrying reeds, and he met the devil with a reaper’s sickle in his path. The devil tried to get him with the sickle, and couldn’t. And he said: I suffer great violence from you, Marcarius, because I cannot overcome you. For see, I do all the things that you do. You fast, and I eat nothing at all. You watch, and I never sleep. But there is one thing alone in which you overcome me. Abbot Marcarius said to him: What is that? Your humility the devil replied, for because of it I cannot overcome you. (Merton 1960, 52-53)5By becoming a completely humble man, this abbot was able to conquer his most powerful enemy of all. The abbots tried to remain calm and peaceful in their lifestyle and resolve conflicts with silence or perhaps a kind word. Their philosophy was to fight against evil with all their might, but at the same time enter into conflict peacefully. While Sun Tzu felt conflict was necessary on all levels, large or small he also felt peace was important. It is interesting to note that James Clavell’s forward in The Art of War states, “’the true object of war is peace.’” (Clavell 1983, 7)One point that seems to be true in both books is knowing yourself and knowing the enemy. Sun Tzu wrote:If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. (Clavell 1983, 18)The saying is simple, but true for if you know how the enemy will react, then you can beat the enemy at his own game. The monks also felt self-awareness was important. Merton relates o...
