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In His Own Words

Conversations with Meister Eckhart

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In His Own Words

By: Meister Eckhart, Simon Parke
Narrated by: Andy Harrison, Simon Parke
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About this listen

In many ways, Meister Eckhart has had to wait seven centuries to be heard. Born in 13th century Germany, much of his life was spent in a monastery; though not all. The 'Meister' in his name means 'Master', and is an academic title from the University of Paris. An admired member of the Dominican Order, he was often sent to reform ailing priories. He was known also as a spiritual counsellor; a safe haven for many who sought God in their life, but found themselves troubled by the dire state of the institutional church. And in a century of flowering female spirituality, he was a supportive figure for many Dominican nuns and women in the burgeoning lay communities which arose.

He was best known, however, as a preacher - an original preacher who used his native German language to startling effect. Eckhart preached a spiritual vision which distrusted the artifice of both ritual and church dogma. Instead, he aimed at nothing less than the spiritual and psychological transformation of those given to his care. To this end, Eckhart made the disposition of the human heart the key to all things.

Conversations with Meister Eckhart is an imagined conversation with this 13th-century mystic, around such themes as detachment, which he famously placed above love; spirituality; God; the soul; and suffering. But while the conversation is imagined, Eckhart's words are not; they are authentically his own. One of his controversial claims was that God cannot be described. Indeed, in one sermon, he went so far as to say 'We must take leave of God.'

'The church became very hostile towards him,' says Simon Parke, 'accusing him of heresy; and he spent his last days on trial before the pope. They also tried to ensure he'd be forgotten when he died, and nearly succeeded. But he's more popular now than ever.'

Eckhart's teaching is an adventure, not a system; a call, not a creed. The depth and universality of his work means it can be ...

©2009 White Crow Productions Ltd (P)2009 White Crow Productions Ltd
Christianity Spirituality
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A wonderful journey

This is the first time that I have shared Meister Eckharts words, and my first time with an audio book, both were a pleasure that blended perfectly in this conversational format. The setting that Simon Parke describes, the questions, the prompts, the probes, allowed the wisdom, held within the text, to become more accessible. While the portrayal of Meister Eckhart by Andy Harrison made the experience more personal, it felt like I was directly sharing the thoughts of this courageous, learned man.

I would like to thank all involved for what they have created...truly memorable.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

An accessible and engaging introduction to Eckhart

Parke's dialogue format works well and gives an immediacy to the medieval mystic’s 800 year old writings which remains true to his style. This may be of interest to anyone interested in religion and not only Christians. Those who are interested in exploring Christianity beyond the level of dogma may find Eckhert’s approach a liberating and challenging breath of fresh air – one which nevertheless remains true to the tenets of the faith.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Saying the unsayable

This short audio book, which I am now listening to for the fouth time, imagines an inteview with Eckhart using Eckhart's own words. This allows some explanation of his meaning and although it sometimes feels a rather self conscious format it is effective in its purpose. Eckhart's words are delivered well and it would be hard to read them as effectively to oneself as they are offered here. Eckhart is not deliberately obscure but simply seeking to say what cannot be said in words, to express truths that cannot be expressed. These are words to ponder, words to contemplate, words to help anyone who is seeking.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent but challenging

This is a terrific presentation. I really like the contemporary way in which the interviewer approaches the questions. The listener feels that he is present at this conversation which is happening some 600+ years ago. Highly recommend but very profound!

An excellent introduction to Christian mysticism.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

A Word Salad

I really tried to appreciate what this influential man was saying, but after two difficult hours I realised that I was listening to the usual zealotry. Sorry to say this, but my search for sense in organised religion is going to have to continue. I bought this book because the synopsis hinted that Eckhart was a progressive and free-thinking spiritual influence. I think 700 years ago he may have been, and his beliefs led him to doing good in his life and annoying the Pope, both of which are commendable. But listening to this discussional format, and the regular 'posed' sighing and evident confusion from the interviewer who has to clarify each point that Eckharts writings make, I wonder if his position in history is best left just there - history. Some of the sentences are so long and circular in their trajectory that they lose any sense.

despite my hopes, and sweeping aside all the verbiage, Eckhart's teachings reduce to the same basic tenet, viz., Relinquish any responsibility to do good based upon natural altruism and an inherent understanding of right from wrong and replace it with good founded on fear of religious consequence and an egotistical wish to survive death. This does not adhere to my spiritual beliefs at all, but others will doubtless disagree.

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1 person found this helpful