On Commerce, false gods and the soul -- Poetry from Meister Eckhart

Middle Ages

Translated by Daniel Ladinsky for "Love Poems from God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West

An Insidious Idol (and a few more Eckhart lines)

COMMERCE is supported by keeping the individual at odds
with himself and others, by making us want more than we need, and
offering credit to buy what refined senses do not want.

The masses become shackled; I see how their eyes weep
and are desperate--of course they feel desperate--for something,
for some remedy
that a poor soul then feels needs
to be bought.

I find nothing more offensive than a god who could condemn human instincts in us
that time in all its wonder have made perfect.

I find nothing more destructive to the well-being of life
than to support a god that makes you feel unworthy and in debt to it.

I imagine erecting churches to such a strange god will assure
endless wars that commerce loves.

A god that could frighten is not a god but an insidious idol
and weapon in the hands of the insane.

A god who talks (continually) of sin is worshipped
by the infirm;

I was once spiritually ill--we ALL pass through that--
Then one day the intelligence in my soul
cured me...

How long will grown men and women in this world
keep drawing in their coloring books
an image of God that makes them sad?

It is a lie--any talk of God that does not comfort you...

It is your destiny to see as God sees,
to know as God knows,
to feel as God feels.

How is this possible? How?
Because divine love cannot defy its very self.

Divine love will be eternally true to its own being,
and its being is giving all it can,
at the perfect moment.

...the greatest GIFT
God can give is His own experience.

Every object, every creature, every man, woman and child
has a soul--

and it is the destiny of all --
as one humanity --
to see as God sees, to know as God knows,
to feel as God feels,
to be (in quality and substance)
as God Is.

=======

"Only those who have dared to let go can dare to re-enter."

"God rests in Himself..and all things (finally) find their rest in Him."

The last are also quotes from Meister Eckhart - one whom the clerics were going to put to death right before he died apparently because they feared his teachings. For more on his thoughts concerning God's Oneness and the indivisibility of God - especially for philosophers and theologians - GO here


photo by: Katherine McKittrick of the Brevard College stream where I have gone many times for reflection and prayer. Found on MyBC Home - Brevard College official website.