Meister Eckhart, Dogs, and Us

In his book, "Breakthrough" Fr. Matthew Fox has collected sermons of Meister Eckhart who, in 1600, wrote, “A dog can instruct humans how to love one another.”

“A dog is only an animal without intelligence. He is so faithful to his master that he hates everything that can harm his master, while to his master’s friends, a dog extends friendliness, without regard to wealth, or poverty. ”

“The truth is that, if the dog could be unfaithful to his master with one half of his being, he would hate himself with the other half.”

“Animals” Eckhart observes, “do not love half-heartedly.”

“Elsewhere,” the author of "BreakThrough", Fr. Fox writes. “ He (Eckhart) presents another example of learning from a dog and from a child, but in this case the learning is at the deep level of shared energies, and shared being. “

Eckhart writes, “If I were alone in a desert and feeling afraid, I would like to have a child with me, for then my fear would disappear and I would be strengthened – so noble, so full of pleasure and so powerful is life itself. If I could not have a child with me, and, if at least, I had a live animal with me, I would be comforted. Therefore let those who bring about great wonders, in big, black books take an animal – perhaps a dog—to help them. The life within the animal will give them strength. For equality gives strength in all things.” The sermon that tells of a dog’s faithfulness is titled “How all Creatures share an Equality of Being.”

Eckhart’s sermons, (freshly translated in 1980) are quite short. Fr. Fox adds commentary, as well. I must have bought the book when it was first published. The book, now, with yellowed pages, shows its age I, finally, am reading it. Eckhart's words and text, from a long ago time, seem as timely today.

.Jean, in 1977, brought me, from the library, Fr. Fox’s book, "Whee, We, Wee All the Way Home," I enjoyed that book, and found its words, illuminating. In it, I learned of Creation spirituality, which seems to have become the focus of my life.
Noted by Marylee Armour,
November 25, 2002 Some minor revision August 9, 2006