Abstract

This is an historical study dealing with Meister Eckhart, and in particular with his mysticism. The theme demands an attempt to determine what is understood by mysticism and what Eckhart's specific view of mysticism entails. In order to do this at all thoroughly, it is necessary to consider the field more widely than merely Eckhart's work, also investigating relevant streams of thought and circumstances preceding Eckhart and still prevalent in his time. ;Germany was the main source for mysticism in the Middle Ages. Meister Eckhart from Thuringen in Northern Germany, was a Christian mystic. His maxim, "esse est deus", has provoked considerable criticism and misunderstanding. Eckhart's thought centres on God and the soul. In his doctrine of God, he distinguishes three concepts: God , Godhead and Trinity . Godhead and Trinity form a unity of substance. The differentiation between Godhead and Trinity is based on function: work vs. non-work. Eckhart's doctrine of the soul is a mirror-image of his doctrine of God. As the Godhead constitutes the foundation for the Persons in his doctrine of God, so the ground of the soul constitutes the foundation for the powers of the soul in his doctrine of the soul. The point in dispute is, however, whether the spark of the soul is created or not. At the heart of Eckhart's philosophic-theological structure of thought, is the birth of the Son through the Divine Father in the spark of the soul. Divine birth in the individual soul is a prerequisite for participation in that Justice which, as general perfection, is identical with God. Under the inclusive term of "separateness" Eckhart captures the various components of his doctrine of life: "Gelassenheit", "inner poverty" and the fundamental attitude of "humility". Someone who experiences this "separateness" is called "just" by Eckhart. As a son of Justice, the just assumes all the characteristics of Justice. ;The ascent by steps as "mystical method" is highly unusual in the spirituality of Eckhart. Certain matters on which Eckhart gives clear instruction such as ecstasy, grace, spirit, could inevitably only be treated briefly