Meister Eckhart: Chistlicher Mystiker

Meister Eckhart (c. 1260–1328) was a German theologian, philosopher, and mystic of the late Middle Ages, regarded as one of the most important thinkers in Christian mysticism. He was a Dominican monk and taught in various cities across Europe, including Paris and Cologne. Eckhart is known for his profound spiritual and philosophical teachings, which are often described as mystical and speculative.

A central theme of his theology is the immediacy of the experience of God. For Eckhart, God was not only external to man but also present within him. He taught that the soul could achieve direct union with God through mystical experience, where the individual ego and its separations are dissolved. This idea is often referred to as the "disappearance of the self" or "non-being," which signifies a complete openness to divine light.

Eckhart frequently used paradoxical and provocative statements to convey deeper spiritual truths, such as: “The best way to find God is to forget Him.” His teachings emphasize the transcendent nature of God and the importance of inner stillness and mindfulness.

Despite his profound influence on Christian mysticism, Meister Eckhart came into conflict with the Church and was accused before the papal inquisitors in 1326, leading to his eventual condemnation. Nevertheless, his philosophy and mysticism have had a lasting impact on Western spiritual tradition, particularly in the development of mystical theology and 16th-century mysticism.