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Meister Eckhart, from Whom God Hid Nothing: Sermons, Writings, and Sayings
This introduction to the writing and preaching of the greatest medieval European mystic contains selections from his sermons, treatises, and sayings, as well as Table Talk , the records of his informal advice to his spiritual children.
160 pages, Paperback
First published December 13, 1963
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About the author
Meister Eckhart
271 books505 followersEckhart von Hochheim, commonly known as Meister Eckhart, was a German theologian, philosopher and mystic, born near Gotha, in Thuringia.
Meister is German for "Master", referring to the academic title Magister in theologia he obtained in Paris. Coming into prominence during the decadent Avignon Papacy and a time of increased tensions between the Franciscans and Eckhart's Dominican Order of Preacher Friars, he was brought up on charges later in life before the local Franciscan-led Inquisition. Tried as a heretic by Pope John XXII, his "Defence" is famous for his reasoned arguments to all challenged articles of his writing and his refutation of heretical intent. He purportedly died before his verdict was received, although no record of his death or burial site has ever been discovered.
Meister Eckhart is sometimes (erroneously) referred to as "Johannes Eckhart", although Eckhart was his given name and von Hochheim was his surname.
"Perhaps no mystic in the history of Christianity has been more influential and more controversial than the Dominican Meister Eckart. Few, if any, mystics have been as challenging to modern day readers and as resistant to agreed-upon interpretation."
—Bernard McGinn, The Mystical Thought of Meister Eckhart
Meister is German for "Master", referring to the academic title Magister in theologia he obtained in Paris. Coming into prominence during the decadent Avignon Papacy and a time of increased tensions between the Franciscans and Eckhart's Dominican Order of Preacher Friars, he was brought up on charges later in life before the local Franciscan-led Inquisition. Tried as a heretic by Pope John XXII, his "Defence" is famous for his reasoned arguments to all challenged articles of his writing and his refutation of heretical intent. He purportedly died before his verdict was received, although no record of his death or burial site has ever been discovered.
Meister Eckhart is sometimes (erroneously) referred to as "Johannes Eckhart", although Eckhart was his given name and von Hochheim was his surname.
"Perhaps no mystic in the history of Christianity has been more influential and more controversial than the Dominican Meister Eckart. Few, if any, mystics have been as challenging to modern day readers and as resistant to agreed-upon interpretation."
—Bernard McGinn, The Mystical Thought of Meister Eckhart
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 14, 2016
Like any book on spirituality, this volume of Meister Eckhart's sermons and other works will appeal to some people, confuse some people, and probably bother others. Certain people might even have all of these reactions, depending on which selection they are reading and how much time they spend puzzling through Eckhart's way of writing. He is not always easy to understand, but he was quite popular both in his day and later.
Eckhart was a German mystic, born "not long" before 1260. He studied in Paris for a master's degree in theology after becoming a Dominican friar. He had a long career in the Church, but his popularity was his downfall. In 1325 he was on trial, but the introduction which mentions this does not say why the Church was persecuting the man. "Though the date of his death is unknown, his excommunication on 27 March 1329 was posthumous".
I first read this book years ago when struggling through a health crisis. I remember being quite surprised at some of the thoughts Eckhart expressed, or at least tried to express. There are some ideas and beliefs that simply cannot be conveyed with words. He gets tangled up more than once while trying to express what was most likely in his own mind a very clear truth.
In those years I was in a phase of marking passages that spoke to me personally, and when I reached the underlined parts in this re-read, I could still identify with them. I have had pretty much the same reactions to the book that I had years ago. I have never believed in any organized religion, but I do believe in an intense personal spirituality. Each person must make their own choices about this issue. I may not agree with all of what Eckhart wrote, but he had some fascinating ideas for a man of his day, and I admire the courage it took to share them publicly.
Eckhart was a German mystic, born "not long" before 1260. He studied in Paris for a master's degree in theology after becoming a Dominican friar. He had a long career in the Church, but his popularity was his downfall. In 1325 he was on trial, but the introduction which mentions this does not say why the Church was persecuting the man. "Though the date of his death is unknown, his excommunication on 27 March 1329 was posthumous".
I first read this book years ago when struggling through a health crisis. I remember being quite surprised at some of the thoughts Eckhart expressed, or at least tried to express. There are some ideas and beliefs that simply cannot be conveyed with words. He gets tangled up more than once while trying to express what was most likely in his own mind a very clear truth.
In those years I was in a phase of marking passages that spoke to me personally, and when I reached the underlined parts in this re-read, I could still identify with them. I have had pretty much the same reactions to the book that I had years ago. I have never believed in any organized religion, but I do believe in an intense personal spirituality. Each person must make their own choices about this issue. I may not agree with all of what Eckhart wrote, but he had some fascinating ideas for a man of his day, and I admire the courage it took to share them publicly.
December 3, 2012
Whenever I hear a person carry on about how religion- all religion, but especially western religion- has always been nothing more than a destructive, thought-suppressing and morality-twisting force of pure evil, or at best some sort of contagious mental disorder or metaphorical crutch or peoples' opiate, I find that I can only quietly shake my head. Had I not read Eckhart and other sky-blue souled mystics like him, I suppose my opinion would be different... but the wisdom of the man From Whom God Hid Nothing quickly became a part of me, and it is close to my heart.
Grand statements aside, I think that this one is great to take on a trip to the beach or a ride on the bus, because you can pick it up, put it down, and jump around easily in its pages. Can't recommend it strongly enough!
Grand statements aside, I think that this one is great to take on a trip to the beach or a ride on the bus, because you can pick it up, put it down, and jump around easily in its pages. Can't recommend it strongly enough!
June 20, 2015
Meister Eckhart is another name I picked up reading Huxley's Perennial Philosophy, in which he is quoted extensively. Born in the Holy Roman Empire in the 13th century, little is known of this cleric's life aside from his sermons and sayings. He was apparently revered by the common people for his wisdom and willingness to search for it anywhere, so naturally he was accused of heresy by the church. They at least had the decency to wait until after his death to make it official.
This is a short book, but its tone is immediately recognizable as part of the mystical tradition that spans many cultures and religions. It's not hard to see why he attracted the negative attention of the Papacy--Eckhart often speaks of his research into the "heathen masters," or of his respect for men like Avicenna or Origen. While it was not unusual for Catholic clergy to have extensive knowledge of such authors, you can sense Eckhart's praise is not grudging, or restrained. This is the admiration of a man who genuinely recognizes the divine in non-Christian faiths.
In the end however, I doubt it was Eckhart's interest in pagan or heretical writings that truly alarmed his peers. The jewel in this collection is one titled "Detachment," in which he elaborates on why it is the highest possible virtue--even above those most commonly cited in the Christian faith, like love or humility: "And when I search the Scriptures thoroughly, as far as my reason can fathom and know, I just find that pure detachment stands above all things, for all virtues pay some regard to the creatures, yet detachment is free from all creatures. Hence it was that our Lord said to Martha: 'One thing is needful,' that is to say, he who wishes to be untroubled and pure must have one thing, namely detachment."
Later, he argues: "I also praise detachment more than all mercy, for mercy simply means that man, going out of himself, turns to the failings of his fellow men and for this reason his heart is troubled. Detachment is free from this; it remains in itself and does not allow itself to be troubled by anything, because, as long as anything can trouble a man, it is not well with him. In short, if I consider all virtues, I find that none is so completely without defects and so applicable to God as is detachment."
Eckhart's focus on detachment is startling, even revolutionary within the context of Medieval Christianity. He states that the immovability of God essentially means that nothing about the universe would change if no one had ever done a single good deed or prayed a single prayer. This sounds fatalistic at first, but Eckhart is speaking more of the unity of all Time and Being--God has already answered and granted/refused all prayers across all times; seen all good and bad deeds and their consequences. These things only appear to have linear, chronological effect to us because we are temporal. In that sense, they DO have linear and chronological effect. Just not to God. So if we want to be more like God, we must become "detached" from this concept of cause/effect, just like Him.
This is almost exactly the message of Buddhist scriptures like the Heart Sutra; a recognition that true reality is unification. Matter and Void, Cause and Effect, Finite and Infinite--these are all names for dual sides of the same coin. The longer you stare at them, the more they blur together like lines in a 3D puzzle.
At this point a modern Christian might balk at this "Zen-ification" of God, fearing a descent into apathy or withdrawal from life. Of what use are things like love, hope, or mercy if detachment outweighs them all? Eckhart anticipates this conflict like a true Eastern Sage: there is no conflict. Detachment's elevation does not denigrate these other qualities. It is merely the capstone, the highest rung on a ladder of virtues, all of which must be grasped by the faithful. Detachment here is like the detachment of the Buddha--a seeing past the surface of reality with all its suffering and vain pleasures, into a deeper peace that subsumes both.
Doing so does not make you an emotionless robot, a straw man charge leveled by many Westerners at Eastern thinkers. One who is truly detached is virtuous and compassionate because that is what a detached person does. She needs no other reason to be so. As an example Eckhart cites Mary, mother of Jesus. Praising her as a perfectly detached saint, he highlights that her detachment did not exclude emotional responses. She wept at her child's crucifixion, worried when she lost track of him, etc. His explanation for this is that detachment is rooted in a person's inner self, an unseen place of quiet that is different from the outer, visible self. You can laugh and cry and be seen laughing and crying, while your inner self, hidden from view, stands in the perfect stillness of the Divine. He likens this to a door: the door itself swings to and fro, and one can see this plainly. But the hinges on which it swings stay in place, something often overlooked.
Eckhart may have been a Christian living in Western Europe, but his mind is that of Lao Tzu. He knew that those who speak do not know, and that those who know do not speak. "When the detachment reaches its highest perfection, it becomes unknowing through knowledge, loveless through love, dark through light."
This is a short book, but its tone is immediately recognizable as part of the mystical tradition that spans many cultures and religions. It's not hard to see why he attracted the negative attention of the Papacy--Eckhart often speaks of his research into the "heathen masters," or of his respect for men like Avicenna or Origen. While it was not unusual for Catholic clergy to have extensive knowledge of such authors, you can sense Eckhart's praise is not grudging, or restrained. This is the admiration of a man who genuinely recognizes the divine in non-Christian faiths.
In the end however, I doubt it was Eckhart's interest in pagan or heretical writings that truly alarmed his peers. The jewel in this collection is one titled "Detachment," in which he elaborates on why it is the highest possible virtue--even above those most commonly cited in the Christian faith, like love or humility: "And when I search the Scriptures thoroughly, as far as my reason can fathom and know, I just find that pure detachment stands above all things, for all virtues pay some regard to the creatures, yet detachment is free from all creatures. Hence it was that our Lord said to Martha: 'One thing is needful,' that is to say, he who wishes to be untroubled and pure must have one thing, namely detachment."
Later, he argues: "I also praise detachment more than all mercy, for mercy simply means that man, going out of himself, turns to the failings of his fellow men and for this reason his heart is troubled. Detachment is free from this; it remains in itself and does not allow itself to be troubled by anything, because, as long as anything can trouble a man, it is not well with him. In short, if I consider all virtues, I find that none is so completely without defects and so applicable to God as is detachment."
Eckhart's focus on detachment is startling, even revolutionary within the context of Medieval Christianity. He states that the immovability of God essentially means that nothing about the universe would change if no one had ever done a single good deed or prayed a single prayer. This sounds fatalistic at first, but Eckhart is speaking more of the unity of all Time and Being--God has already answered and granted/refused all prayers across all times; seen all good and bad deeds and their consequences. These things only appear to have linear, chronological effect to us because we are temporal. In that sense, they DO have linear and chronological effect. Just not to God. So if we want to be more like God, we must become "detached" from this concept of cause/effect, just like Him.
This is almost exactly the message of Buddhist scriptures like the Heart Sutra; a recognition that true reality is unification. Matter and Void, Cause and Effect, Finite and Infinite--these are all names for dual sides of the same coin. The longer you stare at them, the more they blur together like lines in a 3D puzzle.
At this point a modern Christian might balk at this "Zen-ification" of God, fearing a descent into apathy or withdrawal from life. Of what use are things like love, hope, or mercy if detachment outweighs them all? Eckhart anticipates this conflict like a true Eastern Sage: there is no conflict. Detachment's elevation does not denigrate these other qualities. It is merely the capstone, the highest rung on a ladder of virtues, all of which must be grasped by the faithful. Detachment here is like the detachment of the Buddha--a seeing past the surface of reality with all its suffering and vain pleasures, into a deeper peace that subsumes both.
Doing so does not make you an emotionless robot, a straw man charge leveled by many Westerners at Eastern thinkers. One who is truly detached is virtuous and compassionate because that is what a detached person does. She needs no other reason to be so. As an example Eckhart cites Mary, mother of Jesus. Praising her as a perfectly detached saint, he highlights that her detachment did not exclude emotional responses. She wept at her child's crucifixion, worried when she lost track of him, etc. His explanation for this is that detachment is rooted in a person's inner self, an unseen place of quiet that is different from the outer, visible self. You can laugh and cry and be seen laughing and crying, while your inner self, hidden from view, stands in the perfect stillness of the Divine. He likens this to a door: the door itself swings to and fro, and one can see this plainly. But the hinges on which it swings stay in place, something often overlooked.
Eckhart may have been a Christian living in Western Europe, but his mind is that of Lao Tzu. He knew that those who speak do not know, and that those who know do not speak. "When the detachment reaches its highest perfection, it becomes unknowing through knowledge, loveless through love, dark through light."
July 21, 2021
God almighty
Of all the things God hid from meșterul Eckhart, a writing talent he hid best.
• Piss-poor propensity for successful metaphors: „Nature makes the man from the child and the hen from the egg, but God makes the man before the child and the hen before the egg.”, ”Two virtues are always better than one.”
• The feeling that he writes with/due to the disturbing sentiment that someone is breathing on his neck and that, as multiply stated, he doesn`t quite belong to himself, but to a „detached” god. It could have been an honorable form of animism or even panpsychism, but as we learn, also – ”man has in himself two natures: body and spirit. Creatures are all either body or spirit.” So none of those.
• Self-flagellating, compulsive whines –”one to one, one from one, one in one and in one one eternally”. Surely ”one” has to stretch his neurons to even begin to understand why this spectacle would be something a „detached” formless form of divine Being would have an appetite for.
• His works laying dormant in blessed obscurity for more than seven centuries, this bore of a writer is praised now by the European intellectual elite. This is mostly due to the shift in focus from external to internal reflection, or inwardness, with which he is credited for and some trace of resemblance to Eastern philosophy - do not be fooled, this whole ‘detachment’ business is solely for the purpose of more religious receptivity. In all honesty, the foreword made the book justice – you really have to nitpick to find decent statements, bordering on originality. I am aware of the interest personalities like Jung of Heidegger invested in this guy, and aren’t in the slightest moved by that.
• Vapid, dry, inane explorations in futility (din ciclul ”eu întreb, eu răspund”)
”The best thing about love is that it forces me to love God.
On the other hand, detachment forces God to love me.
Now it is much nobler that I should force God to myself than I should force myself to God.” (?!?)
This would go to the "one virtue is better than the other" drawer, I guess.
• He jumps untroubled from one paragraph where he advices ”detachment from oneself and other creatures” to the next where he warns that it is rather pious of someone who - ”in illness, takes comfort in thinking about those who are worse of, such as beggars.”
And so on and so forth. To use a selection of his own wit, this type of writing is indeed more suitable for the ”more void and passive of mind”.
Of all the things God hid from meșterul Eckhart, a writing talent he hid best.
• Piss-poor propensity for successful metaphors: „Nature makes the man from the child and the hen from the egg, but God makes the man before the child and the hen before the egg.”, ”Two virtues are always better than one.”
• The feeling that he writes with/due to the disturbing sentiment that someone is breathing on his neck and that, as multiply stated, he doesn`t quite belong to himself, but to a „detached” god. It could have been an honorable form of animism or even panpsychism, but as we learn, also – ”man has in himself two natures: body and spirit. Creatures are all either body or spirit.” So none of those.
• Self-flagellating, compulsive whines –”one to one, one from one, one in one and in one one eternally”. Surely ”one” has to stretch his neurons to even begin to understand why this spectacle would be something a „detached” formless form of divine Being would have an appetite for.
• His works laying dormant in blessed obscurity for more than seven centuries, this bore of a writer is praised now by the European intellectual elite. This is mostly due to the shift in focus from external to internal reflection, or inwardness, with which he is credited for and some trace of resemblance to Eastern philosophy - do not be fooled, this whole ‘detachment’ business is solely for the purpose of more religious receptivity. In all honesty, the foreword made the book justice – you really have to nitpick to find decent statements, bordering on originality. I am aware of the interest personalities like Jung of Heidegger invested in this guy, and aren’t in the slightest moved by that.
• Vapid, dry, inane explorations in futility (din ciclul ”eu întreb, eu răspund”)
”The best thing about love is that it forces me to love God.
On the other hand, detachment forces God to love me.
Now it is much nobler that I should force God to myself than I should force myself to God.” (?!?)
This would go to the "one virtue is better than the other" drawer, I guess.
• He jumps untroubled from one paragraph where he advices ”detachment from oneself and other creatures” to the next where he warns that it is rather pious of someone who - ”in illness, takes comfort in thinking about those who are worse of, such as beggars.”
And so on and so forth. To use a selection of his own wit, this type of writing is indeed more suitable for the ”more void and passive of mind”.
December 7, 2012
"What is truth? Truth is something so noble that if God could turn aside from it, I could keep to the truth and let God go."/
Read
January 21, 2025Not for me
June 24, 2013
Meister Eckhart is one of my favorite mystics. He does well in elucidating the subtlest intuitions with so few words. One of my favorites: "Hearer and heard are one in the eternal Word."
Eckhart's thoughts on suffering, detachment, emptiness, and culminating unity with "Godhead" are, from what I've gathered, reminiscent of eastern Vedantic and Buddhist meditative practices and phenomenology; so, if you're into comparative theology, you may find some interesting points of comparison between the three. Also, if you have stumbled upon Eckhart in the midst of a tug-of-war match between faith and reason/empiricism (as I have), you might fix your eyes on the west and investigate Soren Kierkegaard (Fear and Trembling, Sickness Unto Death, Either/Or), Descartes' Meditations, or Spinoza's Ethics...among many others! Happy hunting.
Eckhart's thoughts on suffering, detachment, emptiness, and culminating unity with "Godhead" are, from what I've gathered, reminiscent of eastern Vedantic and Buddhist meditative practices and phenomenology; so, if you're into comparative theology, you may find some interesting points of comparison between the three. Also, if you have stumbled upon Eckhart in the midst of a tug-of-war match between faith and reason/empiricism (as I have), you might fix your eyes on the west and investigate Soren Kierkegaard (Fear and Trembling, Sickness Unto Death, Either/Or), Descartes' Meditations, or Spinoza's Ethics...among many others! Happy hunting.
February 22, 2017
Sola Gloria Dei
but i can see where Heidegger got a lot of his ideas.
but i can see where Heidegger got a lot of his ideas.
October 15, 2024
An inspirational text that is often beautiful. Meister Eckhart’s words exude a palpable warmth that allows it to be digested even as it challenges. A great introduction to his voice.
April 21, 2016
Meister Eckhart was a 11th-12th century theologian whose views got him posthumously excommunicated. I've recently seen him referenced by Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung, so I thought I'd have a look. He's pretty Buddhist-like for being a Catholic. He says that you should try to attain detachment and nothingness to allow God to work through you, at which point he kind of implies that you pretty much are God. He had some interesting ideas, but overall, I was bored.
"What is truth? Truth is something so noble that if God could turn aside from it, I could keep to the truth and let God go."
"What is truth? Truth is something so noble that if God could turn aside from it, I could keep to the truth and let God go."
October 22, 2023
A fun intro to Eckart. Starting from simple working into longer chunks taken from his sermons and writings, this collection eases you into his work. One of the more esoteric and mystical writers of the High Middle Ages, this book offers a basic peak into some of his thoughts. I would have really liked some more commentary explaining some of his core theological positions, as its hard to make any meaningful interpretations of the text if you're not already familiar with some of his concepts like the Ground of the soul. Overall a fun little collection that reads like a highlight reels of one of the most important Medieval theologians.
February 21, 2022
This was a disappointing read. I have great appreciation for Meister Eckhart, but this book does not reveal his mystical depth. Because of how the translated sayings are situated, it is confusing and misleading. The Forward by Brother David Steindl-Rast offers more insight than the chapters that follow. I love mystical writing, but this book did not draw me into my soul, rather it left me questioning the editor.
August 6, 2016
holy f, this is the best megabus reading. currently i am at least a few sacred moments closer to giving myself up to the ultimate unknown. goals-
to be both knowing and unknowing
to be objectless in eternity and in time
get out of (GOD __)s way
do all i do without a single why
always making first rate progress
to be both knowing and unknowing
to be objectless in eternity and in time
get out of (GOD __)s way
do all i do without a single why
always making first rate progress
June 6, 2012
This is a great introduction to Eckhart's thoughts and work. He is clearly so influential to many --you can see lots of his ideas in Luther's writings and later mystics. This little volume starts with short sayings, and works up to longer pieces. I read it as a morning devotional and got a lot out of it.
May 10, 2010
They forgot to give credit to Bizarro and Yoda for translating this from Medieval German. Yikes! I didn't finish, but I could see the writing on the wall...and even there the syntax was terrible! A different edition I get will now? ;/
July 16, 2015
Simply wonderful. Surely a book to read over and over again.
November 29, 2016
I wanted to like him more than I did, but let's just face it: he's not my favorite desert father.
October 16, 2020
You can tell Meister Eckhart was a monk I tell you that. I love this approach to life though, and many of these writings found within this book are priceless. Out of the "sayings" (there is a section called sayings which is a verse by verse format of short insights of his) my favorite ones are 1 and 12.
Here is #1
Like an old friend of mine mentioned concerning another Meister Ekhart compilation, "I was expecting some medieval type logic". Rather... I found something very timeless, a remnant of that flickering flame that has never gone out. I found this to be very a hybrid Hermetic / Christian philosophy, without the usual cruft. Good book.
Here is #1
What is truth? Truth is something so noble that if God could turn aside from it, I could keep to the truth and let God go.
Like an old friend of mine mentioned concerning another Meister Ekhart compilation, "I was expecting some medieval type logic". Rather... I found something very timeless, a remnant of that flickering flame that has never gone out. I found this to be very a hybrid Hermetic / Christian philosophy, without the usual cruft. Good book.
May 22, 2022
Like a kind of wisdom so distant and lofty I have to squint to see it. It's hard for me to evaluate since I don't quite know how he gets to all his conclusions, which sometimes (not always) seem dubious to me. Still, it challenges me to consider things from different angles, and at least for that reason, I found myself enjoying it.
October 12, 2024
The depth of his saying is very profound.
Also, his writing contains nuances that every spiritual aspirant can find value in.
This was my introduction to Meister. Looking forward to learning more.
Truth is something so noble that if God could turn aside from it, I could keep the truth and let God go.
Also, his writing contains nuances that every spiritual aspirant can find value in.
This was my introduction to Meister. Looking forward to learning more.
Truth is something so noble that if God could turn aside from it, I could keep the truth and let God go.
September 12, 2020
Good
Longish with good advice. Takes love of God as our primary concern. Love of fellow man not dealt with. Read
Longish with good advice. Takes love of God as our primary concern. Love of fellow man not dealt with. Read
January 9, 2022
Wonderful, thought-provoking, rational & mystical.
October 21, 2024
In the Forward David Steindl-Rast, OSB writes that with Eckhart there are two types of books: collections of short quotations & editions of longer texts. This is a work of the longer texts.
April 10, 2025
I first read this about 25, maybe 26 or 27, years ago. Till now I hadn't gone back to read it through again, though I did from time to time pick it up and flip to one of the heavily underlined sections to find a quote for a paper or essay or just to refresh my memory.
I first came across Eckhart through Thomas Merton, who referred to him repeatedly (if I remember correctly) in his book "Zen and the Birds of Appetite."
My first read of this book back in the late 90s just blew me away. It may have been my first exposure (outside of Merton) to Christian mysticism, a style of Christianity that sits with me a whole lot better than most popular Christian theology.
Having just read a book touching on Jewish mystic traditions ("The Jew in the Lotus"), I decided to pick this up again.
I have to admit that I wasn't as blow away this time around, mostly because this (the specific book, but also the general topic) just wasn't "new" to me anymore. But this was still good, still beautiful, still important.
Eckhart's Christianity isn't Buddhism, isn't Taoism. He may have been posthumously excommunicated, but what he offers here is definitely mystic CHRISTIANITY.
That said, at the core there's so much that connects this to other mystic traditions like Taoism and Buddhism (and other traditions about which I know much less). Deep down there's a universality to the mystic tradition.
Definitely a book worth reading.
I can't help but pull out a few quotes, things I underlined 25+ years ago that still feel so powerful to me.
Regarding that unnameable sense of longing, that "almost there-ness" of the spiritual life (what I referred to in songs of my youth as "the Unattainable"):
"No sooner does a man know the reason of a thing than immediately he tires of it and goes casting about for something new. Always clamoring to know, he is ever inconstant. The soul is constant only to this unknowing knowing which keeps her pursuing."
And:
"I am aware of something in me which sparkles in my intelligence; I clearly perceive THAT it is something, but WHAT I cannot grasp. Yet it seems if I could only seize it I should know all truth."
About the mystery, the inexplicability and uknowability of the ultimate reality (of "God") and the limitations of mere words:
"All those who want to make statements about God or wrong, for they fail to say anything about him. Those who want to say nothing about him are right, for no word can express God; but he expresses himself in himself."
And then this, the "why" of it all, the only answer to that quest for meaning that has ever made sense to me:
"For if Life were questioned a thousand years and asked: 'Why live?' and if there were an answer, it could be no more than this: 'I live only to live!' And that is because Life is its own reason for being, springs from its own Source, and goes on and on, without ever asking why-- just because it is life."
I first came across Eckhart through Thomas Merton, who referred to him repeatedly (if I remember correctly) in his book "Zen and the Birds of Appetite."
My first read of this book back in the late 90s just blew me away. It may have been my first exposure (outside of Merton) to Christian mysticism, a style of Christianity that sits with me a whole lot better than most popular Christian theology.
Having just read a book touching on Jewish mystic traditions ("The Jew in the Lotus"), I decided to pick this up again.
I have to admit that I wasn't as blow away this time around, mostly because this (the specific book, but also the general topic) just wasn't "new" to me anymore. But this was still good, still beautiful, still important.
Eckhart's Christianity isn't Buddhism, isn't Taoism. He may have been posthumously excommunicated, but what he offers here is definitely mystic CHRISTIANITY.
That said, at the core there's so much that connects this to other mystic traditions like Taoism and Buddhism (and other traditions about which I know much less). Deep down there's a universality to the mystic tradition.
Definitely a book worth reading.
I can't help but pull out a few quotes, things I underlined 25+ years ago that still feel so powerful to me.
Regarding that unnameable sense of longing, that "almost there-ness" of the spiritual life (what I referred to in songs of my youth as "the Unattainable"):
"No sooner does a man know the reason of a thing than immediately he tires of it and goes casting about for something new. Always clamoring to know, he is ever inconstant. The soul is constant only to this unknowing knowing which keeps her pursuing."
And:
"I am aware of something in me which sparkles in my intelligence; I clearly perceive THAT it is something, but WHAT I cannot grasp. Yet it seems if I could only seize it I should know all truth."
About the mystery, the inexplicability and uknowability of the ultimate reality (of "God") and the limitations of mere words:
"All those who want to make statements about God or wrong, for they fail to say anything about him. Those who want to say nothing about him are right, for no word can express God; but he expresses himself in himself."
And then this, the "why" of it all, the only answer to that quest for meaning that has ever made sense to me:
"For if Life were questioned a thousand years and asked: 'Why live?' and if there were an answer, it could be no more than this: 'I live only to live!' And that is because Life is its own reason for being, springs from its own Source, and goes on and on, without ever asking why-- just because it is life."
July 13, 2015
I really enjoyed the writings of Meister Eckhart, but found the introduction very superficial and lacking much detail. I also felt there was only a small sampling of his teachings and writings, so I'm buying a much larger comprehensive book containing much more of his writings, which I thought this book would have included. It's a very small book, just enough to wet the appetite, but not satisfy. Brett Folkman, Doctor of Ministry
April 1, 2016
I got this book after listening to an interview with John O'Donohoue on On Being. He suggested it as source material. I just couldn't get into it this time around. I'll have to stick to rereading Anam Cara for now.
July 18, 2015
Blech! Forget this guy. If you want a good medieval Christian mystic, read John of the Cross.
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November 10, 2015Five Books: http://fivebooks.com/recommended/whom...
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