From Detachment to Incarnation: A Study on Spiritual Advice in Eckhart's Early Teaching

An early collection of basic spiritual ground-rules, generally known as the ‘Talks of Instruction’ (Rede der Underscheidunge – that is RdU) are the inspiration for this paper. The collection was probably put together by Brother (not yet Master) Eckhart himself between 1294 and 1298, at the time when he was vicar of Thuringia and a prior of Erfurt, his convent of origin. As has often been pointed out, many of the main themes of Eckhart’s teaching are to be found in twenty-three (or twenty-four) short chapters, but without the full range of the speculative thought characteristic of his later writings, such as the Book of Divine Consolation.