Meister Eckhart, from Whom God Hid Nothing: Sermons, Writings, and Sayings

This booklet contains a nice sample of Meister Eckhart's works. Dominican by training, he became highly regarded in the Catholic Church. However, he followed the path of mysticism. He began saying things, based on his experience and faith, that were not approved by the Church. He got in trouble for his free speech and, ultimately, he was excommunicated posthumously. This contains a few sayings, snipets of essays, and sermons. I can not attest to the accuracy of translation. I am here to tell you that his writings are very profound, simple to understand, and highly motivating. This contains writings approved and not controversial. This is a fine introduction to his thoughts. It contains a colorful piece on the cover. While this is a fabulous introductory (large) pocket book, I recommend, for scholarship or desire to understand his mind and practices, that you might splurge and pay 40 cents more for a more comprehensive (3 times more material) edition. If your priest does not want you to read some works, then don't. I recommend this booklet for purchase by Christian mystics, church historian perhaps, and many university / public libraries. I give everything a grade and I believe that this merits an "A-".

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.

Editor David O'neal writes in his introduction that Eckhart was excommunicated posthumously in 1329. This error appears to one of those repeated and copied ad nauseum over the Internet.Echart, ever the loyal Catholic Dominican, publicly recanted his errors before his death and was never excommunicated.Pope John XXII issued a bull (In agro dominico), 27 March 1329, in which a series of statements from Eckhart is characterized as heretical; another as suspected of heresy.[19] At the close, it is stated that Eckhart recanted before his death everything which he had falsely taught, by subjecting himself and his writing to the decision of the Apostolic See. It is possible that the Pope's unusual decision to issue the bull, despite the death of Eckhart (and the fact that Eckhart was not being personally condemned as a heretic), was due to the pope's growing fear of mystical heresy, and pressure from his ally Henry II to bring the case to a definite conclusion. (Wikipedia)While Pope John condemned certain of his statements, he did not excommunicate the man. As a note, ex communication is a corrective measure for the living and would not be applied to the dead under any circumstances.With a little effort, readers can find the text of the bull and verify for themselves, as did I, that the scurrilous accusation is baseless.Steve Graves, OP

Ah what a wonderful teaching. It is so surprising that something this enlighteningly profound came from a Catholic Monk in the dark ages. It just proves that great teachers can come from anywhere, any time, and any religious background. This is a highly spiritual book, that crosses the boundries of religious beliefs, and goes straight to the important spiritual teachings. This book will help you identify who you are, and why you are right here, right now. I had never heard of Meister Eckhart until I attended a teaching on his writings. What great revelation for me. If you are looking for spritually uplifting teachings, this is your book. If you are looking for something to condemn you congregation to hell with, you won't find it here.

This was purchased for my mother to take a look at. I became familiar with Meister Eckhart as an atheist, as he has some very forward-thinking ideals and he was a feminist in a time when women were still property. He is a lively orater, and also well-equipped thinker, and I find a lot of what he says to be very realistic and yet spiritual. I'd recommend his works to just about anyone, as he is definitely a thought-provoking man.

This author completely fails to present the comfort and joy of the message Eckhart conveyed:"....creatures, like fish in an ocean, swim in an ocean of divine grace""For Eckhart, creation is a revelation of God, a home for God and a temple for God. It is a grace, an overflow of the goodness and beauty that God is. For Eckhart, "being is God"..."For Eckhart being is more than being. It is the presence of the divine... ""God is not out there, above here, below here or far from here. Very simply, where we are, God is, where God is, we are... "Eckhart's teachings soared beyond traditional religous thought into concepts expresses across the ages by mystics of all religions. He was a man of many words that you need to search through to find the depths of his insights. I recommend "Breakthrough"' Meister Eckhart's Creation Spirituality in New Translation, Matthew Fox, editor. Image books, Doubleday, 1991", the source of the quotes above.

I use this product for personal inspiration and spiritual growth. Meister Eckhart is a difficult read but this translation while not perfect is clearer than most.

Meister Elkhart expresses the heart and soul of Christian contemplation and prayer. This book is great for a book club and discussion group.

I can't give this five stars as I haven't finished reading it yet, but it has a good introduction and the selected texts, so far, have been incredibly in tune with modern 'living in the moment' ideas.

Meister Eckhart is easily the Western, medieval counterpart to India's most famous mystic Ramana Maharshi. And yet Eckhart is largely anonymous; a man who was a 13th century German Dominican monk, who broke ranks with the orthodoxy to teach a more esoteric and penetrating way to understand Christian symbols and art. Eckhart knew, from first-hand spiritual awareness, that God is WITHIN you, waiting to be discovered, and nowhere else, not in some after-life and not sat on some seat of judgement. And, through the symbolic reading of religion and a deep contemplation of the depths of your own being, the presence of the divine can be experienced directly. This book is so clear, easy to read and inspiring that, along with BE AS YOU ARE by Maharshi, I would recommend it as easily among the best ever in the spiritual genre. Not too long either, a perfect read. Simply brilliant.

Inspiring, something in needed,thank you Amazon

Wether you are a buddhist, a christian, hindu, muslim, or you have any other belief system, this book will talk about ( or point to) life and unity and the fountain that expresses the universal manifestation in such a way that you will melt in the state of not-knowing. Amazing book!

The title of the book comes from the title of one of Eckhart's sermons. Of all the small and inexpensive anthologies of the works of Meister Eckhart this is probably the current 'best'. Its content may be slightly less than other anthologies by a few pages, but its printing and layout are bright to the eye and hence to the mind. The layout and presentation of the book, with a bright cover and small 'page break' drawings, allow one to read without feeling that one is dealing with a 'text book'. All these subtle production methods mean that one will be likely to read or browse more often. Recommended.