Meister Eckhart - Conversations with Meister Eckhart: In His Own Words

Conversations with...
Meister Eckhart

Simon Parke

Conversations with Meister Eckhart

White Crow Books is an imprint of
White Crow Productions Ltd
PO Box 1013
Guildford GU1 9EJ

www.whitecrowbooks.com

This edition copyright 2009 White Crow Books

All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner, is prohibited.

Text design and eBook production by Essential Works
www.essentialworks.co.uk

ISBN 978-1-907355-18-9
eBook ISBN 978-1-907355-61-5
Audiobook ISBN 978-1-907355-42-4

Religion & Spirituality

Distributed in the UK by
Lightning Source Ltd.
Chapter House
Pitfield
Kiln Farm
Milton Keynes MK11 3LW

Distributed in the USA by
Lightning Source Inc.
246 Heil Quaker Boulevard
LaVergne
Tennessee 37086

Preface

The conversation presented here is imagined; but Eckharts words are not. All of Eckharts words included here are his own, taken from his writings and teachings. The questions recorded are sometimes mine; used for dramatic effect or to clarify what is being said. But equally often they are Eckharts own, as he would often ask himself questions and then answer them! If sometimes there is an air of comedy, then it is in keeping with Eckharts own undoubted comic touch and startling use of language and ideas. No wonder he caused offence.

The only alteration to his original words has been the occasional addition of a link word to help the flow; or once or twice, the removal of a sub-clause in a sentence, to aid clarity. But such amendments never alter Eckharts meaning. After all, to discover his meaning is the reason for this adventure; and so these are his words. Yes, even the bit about the angel called Conrad

Introduction

The hooded figure before me is about to make the last journey of his life. The year is 1327, and at the age of 68, Meister Eckhart is about to walk the 500 miles from Strasburg to Avignon, to defend himself before the Pope against charges of heresy. Powerful people, including the Archbishop of Cologne, have been upset by his fresh and original talk of God and the soul, and want him denounced. They wish for him to be declared a heretic, a despiser of truth; perhaps even burned at the stake. Eckhart himself is well aware that only seventeen years ago, Margaret Porete had been imprisoned and the burned at the stake in Paris for her mystical writings concerning the fusion of God and the human soul. And Eckhart was saying much that was the same.

He has a powerful body, and robust for a man his age. It has certainly been a working body. As a Dominican leader, he has travelled miles on foot across Europe, attending meetings as far apart as Strasburg, Toulouse and Piacenza. Now, however, he is still, and his head bowed. He wears a white tunic and scapular cap, with black cloak and hood. It is the familiar dress of the Dominican order, of which Eckhart has been a member since the age of 15. It is this order, founded in 1215 by St Dominic, which has educated him and given him the platform for his public ministry a ministry in which he has shone as academic, philosopher, pastor, preacher and mystic.

I look around from my position in these Rhineland cloisters. On the eastern side of the cloister, novice monks are being taught. On the south side, there is book work taking place; monks skilled in calligraphy creating new theological tomes for the monastery library. I arrived late yesterday evening, and have been well looked after. I enjoyed some fish and beer in the kitchen, before retiring to bed. The monks all sleep clothed, in dormitories; but I am staying in the guest house for travellers and pilgrims, where we are allowed to undress.

Of course, the monastery day is shaped around the eight offices or services: Matins at 2.00am; Lauds at 5.00am; Prime at 7.00am; Terce at 9.00am; Sext at midday; None at 3.00pm; Vespers at 5.00pm and Compline at 8.00pm. These services include prayers, chanting of psalms, bible reading and singing. In the course of the week, all 150 psalms will be sung. No wonder these services are called The Work of God; they are a labour. Yet the monks seem happy enough. As one said to me this morning: Self-will has no scope here. Food is scanty, and our garments rough. Oh yes and then when sleep is sweetest, we must rise at the bells bidding! But this is also true everywhere there is peace, serenity and a marvellous freedom from the tumult of the world.

Much of Eckharts life has been spent in a monastery, though not all. The Meister in his name means Master, and is an academic title from the University of Paris, where he was twice regent master. He is also an admired and trusted member of the Dominican Order, who on several occasions has been sent to reform ailing priories. Such postings have taken him to Saxony, Strasburg and now most recently, to Cologne. A further string to his bow has been as spiritual counsellor. Over the years, he has proved a safe haven for many who have sought God in their life, but found themselves troubled by the state of the institutional church. In a century of flowering female spirituality, he has been a supportive figure for many Dominican nuns and women in the burgeoning lay communities that have arisen.

So a full life indeed; and one of which any man might be proud. Yet in these twilight years, when he should be resting on his laurels, he is a man whose career and reputation are under threat; and from the very church he has served. How can this be? What has he said to anger the spiritual powers, that he must now plead his case before the Pope himself? This is what I hope to discover as we talk.

Certain things I am aware of, however, even now. The old man before me is no shrinking violet; and best known not for being a professor, but for being a preacher an original preacher who uses his native German language to startling effect. Eckhart preaches a spiritual vision which distrusts the artifice of both ritual and church dogma. Instead, he aims at nothing less the spiritual and psychological transformation of those given to his care. To this end, Eckhart makes the disposition of the human heart the key to all things; speaks very little of church ceremonies, and believes that outward penances have only limited value. He doesnt say Flee from the world! as many churchmen have down the years. But intriguingly he does say Flee from your self!

Controversially, he also says that God cannot be described; and that any attempt to do so is bound not only to fail, but also to harm. Indeed, he goes as far as to say in one sermon that We must take leave of God.

No wonder he has faced the Church inquisition. But as a glance round Europe at this time reveals, the orthodox cause scarcely burns bright. The clergy and monasteries are in disarray; the Pope has fled from Rome to Avignon in his power battle with the Holy Roman Emperor Louis 4th; and the Inquisition are a hunting and torturing terror against all perceived error. It is not surprising, therefore, that across the continent, there has been a sharp rise in the number of lay groups, particularly female, seeking fresh ways of believing. And no wonder also that many of these have found a champion in Eckhart and teachers like him.

But perhaps more than discovering the origins of offence caused by Eckhart, Ive come here to learn from the man myself. If he has helped others, then perhaps he can help me. Having read transcripts of his sermons, faithfully recorded by his followers, Im aware that he can be challenging; but perhaps this will be good for me. He can certainly be hard to understand on occasion. Indeed, when first introduced to him, the advice I was given was this: Dont try and understand Eckhart. Dont try and work it all out; his is a vision not a system. Just read him. Just listen to him. And the truth will quietly do its own work.