Meister Eckhart’s Book of Secrets: Meditations on Letting Go and Finding True Freedom

Poet Burrows and scholar Sweeney (Meister Eckhart’s Book of the Heart) collect meditations derived from the writings of 14th-century mystical Dominican friar Meister Eckhart in this moving selection of poetic interpretations based on his quotations. The authors have translated Eckhart’s original sermons and academic texts, both from Latin and German into English and from prose into poetry. They consider their work a “carrying over” of his insights for readers “for whom the style of his writings might not be easily accessible.” The book contains five loose sections with titles that suggest the paradoxical nature of Eckhart’s work, including “Knowing Nothing” and “Embracing Everything.” The meditation-poems create a satisfying thematic arc if read from start to finish, or they can be selected at random as part of a meditation practice. While most of the poems feature God (and some specifically reference the Bible), the insights often speak to a broader spirituality, such as: “So you want to learn to love God?/ Well there is no particular way,/ since God is not to be found in any/ way...” These short poems, filled with the Dominican mystic’s insight and levity, will make for a fine introduction to Eckhart’s thinking. (Oct.)