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The book Buch Der göttlichen Tröstung (English: Book of Devine consolation; written around 1305-1326) is a work by the German scholar and mysticist Eckhart von Hochheim (commonly known as Meister Eckhart). It was likely partially intended as a gift for Agnes of Austria, though historians are unsure about the exact publication context. In the book the author aims to console the reader and gives around 30 reasons why a person should not be saddened by any unfortune. It was later referenced in the inquisitorial trial against Eckhart.
Context
[edit]The book is assumed to have been a gift for the queen of Hungary Agnes of Austria.[1][2] What the exact occasion was is not clear. It might have been when her sister in law died, which would date the book at around 1305.[1]Other events in Agnes life that could have given reason for the gift are the murder of her father Albert I of Germany (1308),or the death of her mother Elisabeth of Carinthia (1313). [3] Another estimated publication date is around 1314.[4]Among the latest estimated publication dates is 1318, following the transportation of Agnes mothers remains to Königsfelden, which was also the begin of a deeper interest in spirituality for Agnes.[5] Another theory is that Eckhart only finished the book around 1326, but that earlier versions were published and gifted to Agnes rearlier. This theory is based on the fact that in the church-process against Eckhart that had been going on in the last years of his life, no excerpts from the last ten pages were referenced. Another supporting hint for this theory is that in the end of the book, the author criticises the opinion of "some coarse person", who would say that some things in the book are false and that these teachings should not be for uneducated people. This could also be a response to the criticism of the church to earlier parts of the book.[6] While Agnes appears to be one target audience of the book, it is also written for a more general audience of people seeking consolation. The book does not address Agnes directly and is not a commissioned work.[7][8] The book was given title "Buch der göttlichen Tröstung" in a later written record, while the book itself never speaks of a "devine consolation".[7] The range of likely publication years makes it clear that Eckhart was already in an advanced stage of his career within the Dominican order when he wrote the book, potentially during his time in Strasbourg as Vicar General.[9]
Contents
[edit]The book of divine consolation intends to console the reader and convince them that their sadness, wherever it may stem from, is superfluous. It is structured in three parts, proceeded by a short introduction. The introduction starts with defining the three circumstances that make humans sad and announces the three main parts of the book. The author categorises reasons for sadness as 1: damage or loss of things someone owns, 2: damage or loss of people close to a person, and 3: harm coming directly to the person themselves, for example an illness.
In the first main part the author reasons how a good lifestyle frees a person of all sorrow and sadness. The main argument is that god is goodness, justice, virtue and all other positive characteristics. By becoming one with god and following Jesuses way, the believer internalises god and in that way becomes goodies, justice, etc. as well. All these virtues are above anything material that a person could possibly become sad about. Hence, all reasons for sadness no longer make the person sad, as nothing can make goodness itself sad. The only reason people get sad in the first place is because they love worldly material things (including other people) too much and more than god. This is like wanting to own something that only god can own, which will inevitably lead to disappointment and sadness. The best bay to live is to want what god wants and since whatever god wills happens, whatever happens is good. The only decent reason for sadness is to be sad not to have this ones with god and not being free from material things. Since reaching this state is only possible by the grace of god, a person should however also not be sad not to have reached that state, since it is the will of god.
The second part consists of around 30 smaller reasons for being at peace and great full instead of sad. These are often changes of perspective, for example remembering that every bad thing that happens is a test, and the people god loves the most get the most difficult lives, or being grateful to still have 60 pieces when you lost 40 out of 100 instead of remembering the ones you lost. These are just two examples from the book.
The last part of the book, some examples of people who reached the described state of fully accepting everything that happens are given. Instances of sick people who did not pray for better health because they know it is gods will and that it is ultimately good for them, for example to learn something. In the last paragraphs, the author says that some will not believe what is written in the book, and that some people want to hide their own blindness by making others blind. He also criticises Seneca, who says such high and important topics should only be discussed with a great soul and much sense, and others after him who think that these topics are not for uneducated people. The author says, if that was true, nobody would ever learn anything.
Reception
[edit]Excerpts from the book (among other works of Eckhart) were later used in the inquisition trial against Eckhart. They were used by prosecutors to support their claim that Eckhart's teachings contained heresy. The excerpt are primarily passages in which Eckhart talks about the oneness with god and how to achieve it.[10][6] These critical passages from this book and other works of eckhart can be found on a list dating back to the trial against Eckhart, which also contains responses of Eckhart. This also proofs that this book is one of Eckhart's own works. The book is also subject of research into Eckhart's works and german mysticism in general. "Bibliographie zu Meister Eckhart" (English: bibliography of Master Eckhart; by Niklaus Largier (1989)) examines (as mentioned above) the occasion and writing-date of (among others) the book of divine consolation.[4] "Meister Eckharts Strassburger Jahrzehnt" (English: Master Eckhart's Strasbourg decade; by Gottschall et al. (2008)) and "Meister Eckhart: Theologe, Prediger, Mystiker" (English: Master Eckhart: Theologist, preacher and mystic; by Kurt Ruh (1989)) are books exploring the life and career of Eckhart and also investigate the book of divine consolation and the circumstances of its publication (findings mentioned above).[5][9] A more general work regarding German mysticism is "Geschichte der abendländischen Mystic. 3: Die Mystik des deutschen Predigerordens und ihre Grundlegung durch die Hochscholastik" (English: History of Western Mysticism. 3: The mysticism of the German order of preachers and its foundation through high scholasticism; by Kurt Ruh (1995)). It also has an includes a section regarding the book of devine consolation and theorises about the role Agnes of Hungary played as the potential recipient of the book as a gift (see above).[8] The book has also been referenced by works investigating the trial against Eckhart as passages from the book of devine consolation were used by the prosecutors. "Eckardus theutonicus, homo doctus et sanctus: Nachweise und Berichte zum Prozess gegen Meister Eckhart" (English: Eckardus theutonicus, homo doctus et sanctus: evidence and reports on the trial against Meister Eckhart; by Stirnimann and Imbach (1992).[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Spamer, Adolf (1909-01-01). "ZUR ÜBERLIEFERUNG DER PFEIFFER'SCHEN ECKEHARTTEXTE" (in German). 34 (Jahresband): 307–420. doi:10.1515/bgsl.1909.1909.34.307. ISSN 1865-9373.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Stirnimann, Heinrich; Imbach, Ruedi (1992). Eckardus theutonicus, homo doctus et sanctus: Nachweise und Berichte zum Prozess gegen Meister Eckhart. Dokimion. Freiburg (Schweiz): Universitätsverl. ISBN 978-3-7278-0773-2.
- ^ Strauch, Philipp (01.04.1922). Meister Eckarts Buch der göttlichen Tröstung und von dem edlen Menschen (Liber Bendictus) (Kleine Texte für Vorlesungen und Übungen, 35, Band 35). De Gruyter. p. 2. ISBN 978-3111291260.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ a b Largier, Niklaus (1989). Bibliographie zu Meister Eckhart. Dokimion. Freiburg, Schweiz: Universitätsverlag Freiburg. ISBN 978-3-7278-0632-2.
- ^ a b Ruh, Kurt (1989). Meister Eckhart: Theologe, Prediger, Mystiker (2., überarb. Aufl ed.). München: Beck. ISBN 978-3-406-33885-4.
- ^ a b "Meister Eckhart und seine Zeit". www.eckhart.de. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
- ^ a b Ruh, Kurt (1995). "Kritisches zu Meister Eckharts 'Liber Benedictus: Ist die Trostschrift der Königin Agnes von Ungarn gewidmet?". Zeitschrift für deutsches Altertum und deutsche Literatur. 124 (3): 272–274. ISSN 0044-2518.
- ^ a b Ruh, Kurt (1996). Geschichte der abendländischen Mystik. 3: Die Mystik des deutschen Predigerordens und ihre Grundlegung durch die Hochscholastik. München: Beck. ISBN 978-3-406-34500-5.
- ^ a b Gottschall, Dagmar; Quero-Sánchez, Andrés; Steer, Georg, eds. (2008). Meister Eckharts Straßburger Jahrzehnt. Meister-Eckhart-Jahrbuch. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer. ISBN 978-3-17-020175-0.
- ^ a b Stirnimann, Heinrich; Imbach, Ruedi (1992). Eckardus theutonicus, homo doctus et sanctus: Nachweise und Berichte zum Prozess gegen Meister Eckhart. Dokimion. Freiburg (Schweiz): Universitätsverl. ISBN 978-3-7278-0773-2.