Parisian Questions

by Meister Eckhart, Armand A. Maurer (Translator)

Eckhart has long been an enigma to historians of western thought. In his own day he was accused of heresy and shortly after his death twenty-eight of his theses were condemned as unorthodox. Some contemporaries regarded him as a sympathizer with the Brethren of the Freed Spirit, who were harshly persecuted for their pantheistic and antinomian doctrines. He has been considered the father of German mysticism, the enemy of Christian orthodoxy, the persecuted champion of truths higher than Christianity, a spokesman for the enlightenment, and even a forerunner of Luther and German idealism. At the same time it has been recognized that he inspired, and was held in reverence by, such thoroughly orthodox spiritual writers as Tauler, Ruysbroeck, Suso, and Nicholas of Cusa. Today, M D Knowles can write that of his radical traditionalism and orthodoxy there is no longer any doubt. (from the Introduction)

123 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Eckhart von Hochheim, commonly known as Meister Eckhart, was a German theologian, philosopher and mystic, born near Gotha, in Thuringia.

Meister is German for "Master", referring to the academic title Magister in theologia he obtained in Paris. Coming into prominence during the decadent Avignon Papacy and a time of increased tensions between the Franciscans and Eckhart's Dominican Order of Preacher Friars, he was brought up on charges later in life before the local Franciscan-led Inquisition. Tried as a heretic by Pope John XXII, his "Defence" is famous for his reasoned arguments to all challenged articles of his writing and his refutation of heretical intent. He purportedly died before his verdict was received, although no record of his death or burial site has ever been discovered.

Meister Eckhart is sometimes (erroneously) referred to as "Johannes Eckhart", although Eckhart was his given name and von Hochheim was his surname.

"Perhaps no mystic in the history of Christianity has been more influential and more controversial than the Dominican Meister Eckart. Few, if any, mystics have been as challenging to modern day readers and as resistant to agreed-upon interpretation."
—Bernard McGinn, The Mystical Thought of Meister Eckhart