Meister Eckhart's Book of the Heart

Meister Eckhart (1260-1328) was a priest, a mystic, and nearly a heretic (he died before the Church court's verdict). In recent centuries the Roman Catholic establishment has rehabilitated him and the late John Paul II spoke of his work with fondness. However, what makes him of particular interest is the fact that he has influenced a wide range of spiritual teachers and mystics both inside and outside the Christian tradition. Erich Fromm, Arthur Schopenhauer, Dag Hammarskjold, Eckhart Tolle, Richard Rohr, D. T. Suzuki, Rudolf Steiner, and Matthew Fox have all credited Eckhart as being an important influence on their thought.

In addition, his work has influenced the development of 20th century American Buddhism and the Theosophical tradition. Eckhart wrote at a time-much like our own-when society appeared to be coming apart at the seams. Monastic orders were in turmoil, the papacy had fled to Avignon, apocalyptic fears and prophecies abounded, and the Inquisition was in full swing. In the midst of all that chaos and uncertainty, he captured the many forms and stages of the love of God, the mystic path, and the journey of transformation-in language so startling that he, too, was often accused of heresy.

Now, seven centuries later, this fresh, stunning rendering of his work translates the essence of one of Christianity's greatest poetic and spiritual voices. Here is a book that conveys the heart of Eckhart's teaching on what it means to love God and embark on an authentic spiritual journey-a journey that is characterized by mystery, paradox, and an embrace of the unknown. It is a message that will resonate with spiritual seekers of many traditions.

About the Author

Jon Sweeney is an independent scholar, critic and writer. He served as an editor at Jewish Lights and Ave Maria Press. He lives in Vermont.

Mark Burrows is a poet, translator and professor of religion and literature at the Protestant University of Applied Sciences in Bochum, Germany. His poetry has appeared in Poetry, The Cortland Review, Southern Quarterly and other periodicals.