Meister Eckhart, teacher and preacher
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Meister Eckhart, teacher and preacher
The strength of this collection lies in its direct presentation of Eckhart’s own words, allowing readers to grapple with his challenging, aphoristic style without excessive mediation. McGinn and Tobin’s scholarly apparatus provides essential grounding for navigating Eckhart’s dense theological landscape. However, the very density that makes Eckhart compelling also presents a formidable barrier. A reader unfamiliar with 13th-century scholasticism or mystical terminology might find the initial engagement arduous. The section on the 'birth of God in the soul' exemplifies Eckhart’s radical approach, pushing the boundaries of orthodox expression. It is an indispensable resource for those dedicated to understanding the deepest currents of Christian mysticism.
📝 Description
84
This 1980 volume contains key sermons and treatises by the 13th-century German mystic Meister Eckhart.
Bernard McGinn and Frank Tobin translated and introduced this collection of Meister Eckhart's writings. The book focuses on his sermons and treatises, revealing a spiritual path that emphasizes the birth of God within the soul and detachment from the created world. Eckhart's theological discourse is often paradoxical, and this volume gives access to his unique contribution to Christian mysticism. The work continues to provoke contemplation and debate.
This text is for serious students of Western mysticism, Christian philosophy, and medieval spirituality. It suits those who engage with theological texts and seek direct engagement with primary source material. Scholars of comparative religion, philosophy of religion, and those interested in the historical development of contemplative traditions will find value here. It is not an introduction for casual readers but requires thoughtful study.
Meister Eckhart (c. 1260 – c. 1328) was a German theologian and mystic active during a period of intense intellectual and spiritual development in the Holy Roman Empire. His ideas emerged from Dominican scholastic traditions and explored the inner life of the soul and its relationship with the divine. Eckhart's thought was part of the broader Rhineland mystical movement, which included contemporaries like Johannes Tauler and Henry Suso. However, Eckhart's philosophical depth and radical interpretations of Christian doctrine led to posthumous scrutiny by ecclesiastical authorities.
💡 Why Read This Book?
• Gain direct access to Meister Eckhart's radical mystical theology, learning about the concept of 'Gelassenheit' (detachment) as presented in his sermons and treatises. • Understand the historical and theological milieu of the 13th-century Rhineland, contextualizing Eckhart’s work alongside Dominican scholasticism and mystical movements. • Explore the esoteric concept of the 'birth of God in the soul,' a central theme that reorients spiritual experience beyond conventional devotional practices.
⭐ Reader Reviews
Honest opinions from readers who have explored this book.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did Meister Eckhart live and teach?
Meister Eckhart lived approximately from 1260 to 1328. He was a prominent theologian and mystic of the late medieval period, active within the Dominican order in the Holy Roman Empire.
What is 'Gelassenheit' in Eckhart's philosophy?
'Gelassenheit' translates to 'detachment' or 'letting go.' For Eckhart, it signifies a state of radical relinquishment of the self, desires, and even conceptual understanding, to allow for the unhindered union with God.
Were Meister Eckhart's teachings controversial?
Yes, Eckhart's teachings were controversial. Some of his propositions were examined by the papal court at Avignon in 1329, shortly after his death, and a few were condemned as heretical.
Who translated and edited this specific edition of Eckhart's works?
This edition, first published in 1986, features translations and introductions by Bernard McGinn and Frank Tobin, renowned scholars of Christian mysticism.
What is the 'birth of God in the soul' according to Eckhart?
It is Eckhart's concept of a direct, experiential realization of God's presence within the deepest core of the human spirit, an eternal event that occurs when the soul achieves perfect detachment.
What tradition does Meister Eckhart's work belong to?
Eckhart is a central figure in Christian mysticism, specifically within the Rhineland mystical tradition of the late Middle Ages, deeply rooted in Dominican scholastic theology.
🔮 Key Themes & Symbolism
The Birth of God in the Soul
This central theme posits that God's essential nature is eternally being born within the deepest, uncreated ground of the human spirit. Eckhart's discourse on this moves beyond mere metaphor, suggesting a direct, unmediated experiential realization. It implies that the soul, through radical detachment, becomes the very place where God manifests eternally. This concept challenges conventional devotional frameworks, pointing towards an immanent divine presence that transcends intellectual grasp and requires profound inner stillness.
Gelassenheit (Detachment)
The principle of 'Gelassenheit' is fundamental to Eckhart's path. It describes a state of utter relinquishment—letting go of self-will, desires, conceptualizations, and even the 'self' that seeks God. This is not apathy but an active, disciplined emptying of the soul to create a void receptive to the divine. Eckhart argues that true union with God is only possible when the soul ceases its own striving and becomes purely passive, allowing God to be God within it. This concept is crucial for understanding the rigorous asceticism he advocated.
The Godhead and the Abyss
Eckhart distinguishes between God (Deus) as the personal creator and the Godhead (Gottheit) as the absolute, ineffable ground beyond all being and non-being. This 'Abyss' is the ultimate reality from which all existence emanates and to which the detached soul returns. His exploration of the Godhead pushes the boundaries of traditional theology, suggesting a divine reality so transcendent that it surpasses even the concept of 'being.' This philosophical exploration is key to understanding the radical non-duality present in his mysticism.
The Noble Soul
Eckhart frequently refers to the 'noble soul' as the part of the human spirit that remains untouched by the created world and directly connected to the divine ground. This nobility is not inherent in virtue but in the soul's capacity for absolute detachment and receptivity. The noble soul is the locus of the birth of God, the battlefield where the ego is surrendered and divine life is realized. It represents the highest potential of human existence, a return to pure being prior to any distinction or separation.
💬 Memorable Quotes
Direct passages from the work, attributed to the author.
“The soul is entirely outside time.”
— This statement points to Eckhart's view of the soul's eternal nature, suggesting it exists in a dimension beyond the linear progression of temporal experience, aligning with the concept of the soul's uncreated ground.
“God is born in the soul when the soul is born in God.”
— This aphorism expresses the reciprocal nature of divine union. It suggests that the manifestation of God within the soul is inseparable from the soul's own profound letting go and union with the divine essence.
“True poverty is when the soul has no inkling that there is a God.”
— This provocative statement defines spiritual poverty not as absence of God, but as complete detachment from the concept or idea of God, allowing for a direct, unmediated experience beyond intellectualization.
“The eye with which I see God is the eye with which God sees me.”
— This highlights the ultimate unity and reciprocity in the mystical experience, suggesting that the subject-object distinction dissolves, and the seer and the seen become one in divine consciousness.
💡 Key Ideas
Editorial paraphrase of the work's core concepts — not direct quotes.
All creatures are one creature.
An expression of radical non-duality, this quote implies that the apparent distinctions between beings dissolve at the level of the Godhead, where all existence originates from a single, unified source.
🌙 Esoteric Significance
Tradition
Eckhart's work is a core part of Christian mysticism, particularly the Rhineland tradition. While firmly rooted in Catholic dogma, his exploration of the Godhead, the abyss of being, and the direct union of the soul with the divine often employs Neoplatonic and Gnostic-inflected language. He bridges scholastic theology with an experiential, contemplative path, influencing later esoteric thinkers who sought direct experience of the Absolute beyond institutionalized religion. His emphasis on the inner life and the immanent divine speaks to Hermetic and mystical traditions seeking gnosis.
Symbolism
Key symbols in Eckhart's work include the 'birth of God in the soul,' representing the eternal divine creative act realized within the human spirit. The concept of the 'ground' or 'abyss' of the soul signifies the uncreated, divine spark untouched by worldly defilement, a point of direct contact with the Godhead. 'Detachment' (Gelassenheit) itself functions symbolically, representing the stripping away of egoic illusions and attachments, creating a pure vessel for divine influx, akin to the alchemical process of purification.
Modern Relevance
Eckhart's influence extends into contemporary contemplative Christianity, existential philosophy, and various esoteric circles. Thinkers like Carl Jung referenced Eckhart's psychological insights into the self and the unconscious. Modern spiritual seekers drawn to non-dualism, mindfulness, and direct experiential spirituality often find Eckhart's radical formulations a profound, albeit challenging, guide. His work continues to be studied by those exploring the intersection of psychology, theology, and mystical experience in the 21st century.
👥 Who Should Read This Book
• Students of Western Christian mysticism seeking primary source material on the Rhineland tradition and its most influential theologian. • Philosophers of religion and theologians interested in the historical development of concepts like non-duality, immanence, and the nature of the Absolute within a medieval context. • Contemplative practitioners and spiritual seekers aiming to deepen their understanding of detachment, inner stillness, and the direct experience of the divine.
📜 Historical Context
Meister Eckhart (c. 1260 – c. 1328) was a Dominican friar whose theological and mystical writings emerged during a fertile period of scholasticism and lay piety in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. He operated within the intellectual sphere of the Holy Roman Empire, influenced by Aristotelian philosophy as interpreted through scholastic methods, but crucially integrating it with a profound contemplative, Neoplatonic-infused mysticism. His contemporary, Johannes Tauler, was also a significant figure in the Rhineland mystical movement, though Eckhart's philosophical depth and radical formulations often distinguished him. Eckhart's emphasis on the 'birth of God in the soul' and the concept of 'Gelassenheit' (detachment) pushed the boundaries of orthodox expression, leading to posthumous scrutiny by the Church. A papal commission at Avignon examined some of his propositions in 1329, with a few ultimately being condemned, illustrating the complex reception and potential censorship faced by radical spiritual thinkers of the era.
📔 Journal Prompts
The divine spark within the soul: Where do you perceive its presence most strongly?
Reflecting on Gelassenheit: What are the most significant attachments you must relinquish?
The birth of God in the soul: Describe an experience of profound inner realization.
Eckhart's concept of the Godhead: How does it differ from conventional ideas of God?
The noble soul: What qualities define its inherent nobility beyond action or virtue?
🗂️ Glossary
Gelassenheit
A key concept in Eckhart's mysticism, translating to 'detachment,' 'relinquishment,' or 'letting go.' It signifies a state of profound surrender of the ego, will, and desires, creating a pure receptivity to God.
Godhead (Gottheit)
Eckhart's term for the absolute, ineffable, and supra-essential ground of all being, distinct from the personal God (Deus) of creation. It represents the ultimate, unknowable abyss of divinity.
Birth of God in the Soul
Eckhart's central teaching that God is eternally being born within the deepest core of the human spirit, an experience attainable through detachment and divine union.
Ground of the Soul
The innermost, uncreated essence of the soul, which Eckhart believed to be a divine spark directly connected to the Godhead, untouched by temporal existence.
Noble Soul
The aspect of the human spirit that remains pure and detached, capable of realizing the birth of God within itself. Its nobility lies in its receptivity and connection to the divine ground.
Abyss
Used by Eckhart to describe the Godhead, emphasizing its profound depth, mystery, and utter transcendence beyond all conceptualization or created being.
Detached Will
A will that has relinquished its own desires and preferences, aligning itself completely with the divine will, a crucial aspect of achieving Gelassenheit.
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