Within the Western Christian tradition we find an important strand of thought, whose origins stretch back to neo-Platonic theologians: apophaticism. This ‘negative theology’ invites us always to ‘unsay’ and ‘speak away’: to move through and eventually beyond all language, holding eloquence of little value when it comes to expressing anything of reality itself. This is most true of attempts to talk or think about the divine and eternal. One of the greatest apophatic spiritual teachers is medieval German mystic Meister Eckhart.
Eckhart’s teachings remain as vital and rich today as when first delivered and contain much to challenge the meditator. Encountering his writings we may be struck by a strong resemblance to Zen Buddhism and indeed the Meister has been claimed as a ‘spiritual ancestor’ by the great Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. Eckhart’s writings impress on his audience the vital importance of aligning ourselves spiritually so as to find ‘Abgeschiedenheit’ and ‘Gelassenheit’, non-attachment and releasement. He encourages us to move away from all the things and concepts of the world and to live ‘without a Why’ – comparable to Zen’s ‘mushotoku’ (goal-lessness) – entering into that silent and eternal presence in God that Zen calls ‘hishiryo’ (beyond-thought).
This day will explore the parallels between Meister Eckhart’s thought and the writings of a number of Zen Masters, including Thich Nhat Hanh, Shunryu Suzuki, Eihei Dogen and Taisen Deshimaru.
Time will be given to group discussion and zazen meditation practice.
Photo by Masaaki Komori on Unsplash
