Meister Eckhart: biography, books, spiritual preaching and reasoning

Meister Eckhart (1260 - 1327) - German mystic, theologian and philosopher, who taught a radical religious philosophy: to see God in everything. Esoteric experience and practical spiritual philosophy brought him popularity, but also caused accusations of heresy by the local Inquisition. Despite the fact that his writings were condemned as heretical, they remain an important source of mystical experience within the Christian tradition, represented by Silesius, Nikolai Kuzansky, Beme Jakob, Eckhart Meister, Kierkegaard, Francis of Assisi and others.

short biography

Eckhart von Hochheim was born in Tambach near Gotha in Thuringia in modern Central Germany. It was an influential province in the religious movements of medieval Europe. Other well-known religious figures born there are Mehtild of Magdeburg, Thomas Münzer and Martin Luther.

There are not many reliable data on Eckhart's early life, but, apparently, at the age of 15 he left his home to join the Dominican Order in nearby Erfurt. The Order was founded in the south of France in 1215. Dominic as a preacher, whose members were trained to become teachers and orators. In 1280, Eckhart was sent to Cologne to receive a basic higher education, which included 5 years of studying philosophy and 3 years of theology. Between classes, he read the monastic services for 3 hours a day, the prayer of Orationes Secretae and remained silent for a long time. In Cologne, Urquhart met with the scholastic mystic Albert the Great, the doctor of all sciences and the teacher of Thomas Aquinas, the most famous theologian of the church. By 1293 Eckhart was finally ordained a monk.

Study in Paris

In 1294, he was sent to Paris to study the "Sentences" of Peter Lombard. The University of Paris was the center of medieval education, where he was able to access all the important works and, apparently, read most of them. In Paris he became a teacher in the Dominican monastery of Saint-Jacques, and later he was appointed rector of the monastery in Erfurt near his birthplace. His reputation as a theologian and priory must have been good, since he was entrusted with the leadership of the Saxony region, in which there were 48 monasteries. Eckhart was considered a good and effective administrator, but his main passion was instruction and public sermons.

In May 1311, Eckhart was invited to teach in Paris. This was another confirmation of his reputation. Foreigners were rarely given the privilege of being twice invited to teach in Paris. This post gave him the title of Meister (from the Latin Magister - "master", "teacher"). In Paris Eckhart often took part in a heated religious debate with the Franciscans.

The main part of his duties was to teach members of the Dominican Order, as well as to the uneducated general public. He acquired the reputation of a strong teacher who stimulated the work of thought from his students. Meister Eckhart preached and composed a mystical element that was underestimated or not mentioned in traditional biblical and ecclesiastical teachings. He also had the ability to simplify complex concepts and explain them in an accessible language, which was popular with ordinary people. This increased his personal popularity, and his sermons enjoyed great success.

In 1322, Eckhart, the most famous preacher of the time, was transferred to Cologne, where he delivered his most famous speeches.

The divinity of man

The philosophy of Eckhart emphasized the divinity of man. He often referred to the spiritual connection between the soul and God. One of his most famous sayings is: "The eye that I see God is the same eye that God sees me. My eye and the eye of God are one eye, and one look, and one knowledge, and one love. "

This is reminiscent of the words of Jesus Christ that he and his Father are one. Eckhart's statement also illustrates how his philosophy was in harmony with eastern mysticism, emphasizing the closeness of God.

Susceptible mind

Meister Eckhart was a convinced mystic because he taught the importance of calming the mind so that he became receptive to the presence of God. "Everything is possible for a pacified mind. What is a calm mind? The calm mind does not worry about anything, does not worry, and, free from bonds and self-interest, completely merges with the will of God and becomes dead for its own. "

Detachment

Eckhart also taught the importance of detachment. Like other esoteric teachings, Meister's philosophy presupposed that the seeker should separate the mind from earthly distractions, such as desire, for example.

Indestructible detachment leads man into the likeness of God. "To be filled with things, you need to be empty for God; To be empty for things, it is necessary to be filled with God. "

The Omnipresence of God

Meister Eckhart believed that God is present in all living organisms, although he distinguished the Absolute God, which was beyond all form and manifestation of God in the world. "We must find God alike in everything and always find God the same in everything."

Although Eckhart was a mystic, he also advocated disinterested service in the world to help overcome the selfish nature of man.

Accusations of heresy

With the growth of his popularity, some high-ranking church figures began to see in his teachings elements of heresy. In particular, the archbishop of Cologne was concerned that Eckhart's popular preaching of simple and uneducated people is misleading, "which could easily lead his listeners to a mistake."

In 1325, the representative of Pope Nikolai of Strasbourg at the request of Pope John XXII checked the work of the preacher and declared them faithful. But in 1326 Meister Eckhart was formally accused of heresy, and in 1327 the Archbishop of Cologne ordered an inquisition process. In February 1327, the preacher delivered a passionate defense of his convictions. He denied that he was doing something wrong, and publicly proved his innocence. As Meister Eckhart claimed, spiritual preaching and reasoning had the purpose of encouraging ordinary people and monks to strive to do good and develop an unselfish love for God. Perhaps he used an unorthodox language, but his intentions were noble and aimed to instill in people the most important spiritual concepts of the teachings of Christ.

"If ignoramuses are not taught, they will never learn, and none of them will ever learn the art of living and dying. The ignorant are taught in the hope of turning them from ignorant to enlightened people. "

"Thanks to the highest love, the whole life of man must be raised from temporal selfishness to the source of all love, to God: man will again be master over nature, staying in God and raising her to God."

Death in the papal residence

After he was found guilty by the archbishop of Cologne, Meister Eckhart went to Avignon, where Pope John XXII created a tribunal to investigate the appeal of the preacher. Here Eckhart died in 1327 before the pope came to a final decision. After his death, the head of the Catholic Church called some of the teachings of Meister heresy, finding 17 points that contradicted the Catholic faith, and 11 more who were suspected of it. It is supposed that this was an attempt to restrain the mystical teachings. Nevertheless, it was said that Eckhart had renounced his views even before his death, so he personally remained without blemish. This compromise was to reassure both his critics and supporters.

Eckhart's influence

After the death of a popular preacher, his reputation was shaken by the condemnation of the pope of some of his writings. But he still remained influential in the Dominican order. Eckhart Meister, whose books were not partially condemned, continued to influence the minds of his followers through his writings. Many of his admirers participated in the movement of the friends of God that existed in communities throughout the region. The new leaders were less radical than Eckhart, but they retained his teaching.

Meister's mystical views were probably used to create the anonymous work of the 14th century "Germanic Theology". This work had a great influence on the Protestant Reformation. The "Theology of Germanicus" was of great importance, because it criticized the role of the church hierarchy and emphasized the importance of a direct connection between man and God. These ideas were used by Martin Luther when he challenged the secular authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

Revival of the doctrine

In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, a wide range of spiritual traditions once again popularized the teachings and legacy that Meister Eckhart left. Quotes from his works were used even by Pope John Paul II: "It was not Eckhart who taught his disciples: all that God asks of you most of all is to lose his temper and let God be God in you. One might think that by separating oneself from creatures, the mystic leaves humanity aside. The same Eckhart argues that, on the contrary, the mystic is miraculously present on a single level, where he can really attain it, that is, in God. "

Many Catholics believe that the teaching of the German preacher corresponds to long traditions and resembles the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas - the doctor of the church and his fellow Dominican. The work of Eckhart is an important canon in the tradition of Christian spirituality and mysticism.

Meister Eckhart was brought back to prominence by a number of German philosophers who praised his work. Among them is Franz Pfeiffer, who republished his works in 1857, and Schopenhauer, who translated the Upanishads and compared the teachings of Meister to the texts of Indian and Islamic esotericists. According to him, Buddha, Eckhart and he - they all teach the same thing.

Boehme Jakob, Eckhart Meister and other Christian mystics are also considered great teachers of the theosophical movement.

In the twentieth century, the Dominicans labored to clear the name of the German preacher and presented in a new light the brilliance and relevance of his works. In 1992, the General Master of the Order made an official request to Cardinal Ratzinger to annul the papal bull that branded Meister. Although this did not happen, his rehabilitation can be considered held. He rightfully can be called one of the greatest masters of Western spirituality.

The Legacy of Eckhart

The surviving works of Eckhart in Latin were written before 1310. This:

• "Paris issues";
• "General introduction to work in three parts";
• "Introduction to the work on propositions";
• "Introduction to the work on the commentary";
• "Comments on the Book of Genesis";
• "The Book of Proverbs of Genesis";
• "Commentary on the Book of Exodus";
• "Commentary on the Book of Wisdom";
• "Sermons and lectures on the twenty-fourth chapter of Ecclesiastes";
• "Commentary on the Song of Songs";
• "Commentary on John";
• "Paradise of the Reasonable Soul";
• "Protection", etc.

Works in German:

• "86 spiritual preaching and reasoning";
• "Conversations about instruction";
• "The Book of Divine Consolation", etc.