Meister Eckhart's "Wanderings & Wonderings"

“… the eye with which I see God is exactly the same eye with which God sees me. My eye and God’s eye are one eye, one seeing, one knowledge, and one love …” ~ Meister Eckhart

Indeed, in this single and short quote, Meister Eckhart – the 14th century German mystic, philosopher, friar, priest, and theologian – goes to the heart of the matter about who we truly are … he is known to have also said that “… ours is the task of learning to seek God ‘without a way’ and ‘without asking why,’ …” which, according to authors Jon M. Sweeney & Mark S. Burrows means “… to open ourselves to the surprising and often unsettling adventure that constitutes this search …” …

Of course, we say that this life transforming adventure, or journey, is exhilarating though terrifying at times 🙂 … yet is also the most important undertaking in one’s life – some would claim it’s the only undertaking that truly matters … or as Ramana Maharshi reminds us: “Your own self realization is the greatest service you can give the world.”

… but before we delve into some of Meister’s “gems” …

As we’ve done since the COVID crisis began … we want to honor and highlight the “heroes” that continue to ensure our health and safety in the midst of the pandemic: Go Fund Me has organized many campaigns targeted towards the COVID-19 relief efforts. All of these campaigns are worthy of our attention … but for now we want to highlight TWO critical ones that we are supporting personally and also as Stillness Speaks (through donations):

We are all facing financial challenges but IF your situation allows you to donate and help then …

… please visit Frontline Responders Fund’s Go Fund Me page … and help deliver crucial supplies to these frontline responders …

… and/or visit America’s Food Fund Go Fund Me page and help feed the neighbors in need.

And, we again, express our deepest gratitude to a) the COVID-19 Frontline Responders (all the healthcare professionals – doctors, nurses, hospital/medical-services staff – firefighters, law enforcement, volunteers, and any/all the people involved in keeping the “system-at-large” functioning for ALL of us) … and b) Go Fund Me for organizing America’s Food Fund to feed the needy.

THANK YOU.

And now … back to Meister Eckhart (his teacher page will be forthcoming) …

In one of our earlier posts, Here & Now, Living Love & More, we started exploring him through excerpts from Meister Eckhart’s Book of the Heart: Meditations for the Restless Soul … where the authors Jon M. Sweeney & Mark S. Burrows give “… voice to the startling wonderings and wonderful wanderings of one who, already in his lifetime, came to be called the Meister, or “Master” …” … this book is highly recommended … an excellent resource on Meister – both for his history and his writings … see full attribution at the bottom of the post …

So, we begin with a rhetorical question from this “Master” …

Meister Eckhart: Can You Do This?

The soul that wants nothing but God
must forsake everything,
even God.

As long as we have and know who
God is, we don’t.
We are far away.

So can you let your notions die?
This is the smallest death a soul can undergo before
it becomes divine.

… and Meister underscores this “do-ing” by reminding us of what “… shines forth in all that is … in the dark {and} even in me …” …

Shining Forth

In times of doubt I forget
that You are not a God

of thoughts, to be found
in concepts or theories

but are the source of
my life and the radiance

that shines forth in all
that is, and then I remember:

mine is the work of learning
to see You as the radiance

that shines forth in all that is,
even in the dark. Even in me.

… and what is available “… in each moment …”

In Each Moment

Oh, teach me in each moment
of every Now to know that

You are the Here in all my
wandering and the Yes in

all my wondering and the Love
in nothing less than everything.

~ Meister Eckhart

All of the italicized text in the blockquotes and Meister’s three poems titled Can You Do This, Shining Forth, and In Each Moment are from: Meister Eckhart’s Book of the Heart: Meditations for the Restless Soul by Jon M. Sweeney & Mark S. Burrows.