Merton is here pictured while at Gethsemane. This was also done by Jim Cantrell. Merton is buried at Gethsemane. He died tragically while in Bangkok, Thailand. This statue is on top of a hill south of the monastery.
Outdoor chairs surround the statue, making it easy to pray and meditate.
During those years he gradually changed from an agnostic to a devout Roman Catholic. Within the monastery he served for years as master of students and novices. Outside it, his writing, which included poetry, meditations, and works of social criticism, brought him prominence in American letters. Merton's social criticisms burned deeply into public awareness of racism, economic injustice, and militarism. Seeing parallels between Oriental mysticism and Western tradition, Merton gained permission to attend an ecumenical conference of Buddhist and Christian monks held in Bangkok, Thailand.