Meister Eckhart: A Modern Translation

by Meister Eckhart, Raymond Bernard Blakney (Translator)

The author translates about one-half of Eckhart's works in this volume and presents a background into Eckhart's life and work. Contents: Meister Eckhart's talks of instruction; Book of Divine Comfort; Aristocrat; About Disinterest; 28 sermons; fragments; legends; the defense; a short bibliography.

Genres: Religion, Philosophy, Spirituality, Christianity, Theology, Classics, Mysticism

364 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1941

About the author

Eckhart 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

Reviews

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MARVELOUS MODERN TRANSLATION OF THE CONTROVERSIAL THEOLOGIAN

Meister Eckhart (1260-1327; "Meister" is German for "Master," and Eckhart was his name) was a German theologian, philosopher and member of the Dominican Order, who was accused of heresy by the local Franciscan-led Inquisition, and tried by Pope John XXII, though he defended himself from these charges. He died before a verdict was rendered. The Zen scholar D.T. Suzuki, surprisingly, praised Eckhart's work in 'Mysticism: Christian and Buddhist.'

He wrote, "I say that when a man looks at God [in soul and spirit], he knows it and knows that he is the knower. That is to say, he knows it is God he is looking at and knows that he knows him." (Pg. 79) Later, he adds that "nothing is as near to me as God is. God is nearer to me than I am to myself." (Pg. 129) He states that "God's is-ness is my is-ness, and neither more nor less. The just live eternally with God, on a par with God, neither deeper nor higher." (Pg. 180)

He argues that when a person has a true spiritual experience, "he may boldly drop external disciplines, even those to which he is bound by vows, from which even a bishop may not release him... However much a person may have vowed himself to many things, when he enters upon a true spiritual experience he is released from them all." (Pg. 116)

He asks, "Why did God become man? So that I might be born to be God---yes---identically God." (Pg. 194) He elaborates, "My eye and God's eye are one and the same---one in seeing, one in knowing, and one in loving." (Pg. 106) He concludes, "Nothing in all creation is so like God as stillness." (Pg. 243)

Eckhart's writings are definitely thought-provoking; whether you agree with Suzuki's interpretation of them, or consider some of them heretical, they are definitely well worth reading and studying.

[Clifford Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some people might think it is cumbersome to read Meister Eckhart in the original, but it is definitely rewarding. Though he goes back some 700 years, this enlightened Master is so modern, so relevant for today's world, and he definitely knew the workings of the human mind and the problems posed by our so-called egos. Moreover, he is saying the same things as Zen Masters and enlightened people from other spiritual directions have been saying for centuries. His sayings like "God is home, it is we who have gone out for a walk" truly ring a bell. A book to continually turn to and absorb.

[Rodrigo J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Christian, a Catholic monk, a master in theology taking you fight through heresy.
Not that he was a heretic, he lived the Church, more than any man, he lived for God. But he knew God, not only the god that our mind grasp, not the dead concept, but God as he is in himself, alive, and more, he takes us to where this God undress from his ego to become pure and total spirituality.

A most read for anyone serious on mysticism.

And yes, The Inquisition did judge him, found him heretic and burn all his work. He died before the verdict. His work was saved by the anabaptist and reappeared some 6 centuries after having been burned.

We should all be thankful to those who saved his work, since you will never feel God so beautiful as through him

[Brandon Peele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eckhart democritized mysticism - bringing the kingdom within to the masses. He was not liked by his peers or church for doing so, which by default makes his contribution invaluable. The question remains, is translating spiritual truths for the masses warranted? Without the benefit of years of study (Latin, Greek, etc.) the masses may not be possessed of the metaphorical intelligence required to hear this message and make spirituality a personal pursuit. Or will the masses take the easy way out and use his words to create a new religion, e.g. Friends of God?

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meister Eckhart is the 14th Century theologian who defendend himself against the Inquisition-- and won (read that defense in this book). His brief, plainly spoken, profoundly relavant sermons, well translated here, are alone worth the price of admission.

Hey, Hegel was impressed-- you will be too.

[Stephen Borthwick · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is positively the worst translation of Eckhart still available - it is completely divorced from his context, utterly disloyal to his spirit, and informed by only the most ignorant of understandings of his education and goals as both a Christian and a mystic. There are so many good translations available, to read this is the very definition of a waste of one's time.

[Michael Romeo Talks Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've tried this one several times and just can't get through it.