What do you think of this quote...?

Question

"Man's last and highest parting is when, for God's sake, he takes leave of God."

--Meister Eckhart

Answer 1

From what i know, Eckhart said that man’s last and highest parting occurs when for God’s sake he takes leave of God, from the scriptures where St. Paul takes leave of God for God’s sake and gave up all that he might get from God, as well as all he might give; together with every idea of God. In parting with these, he parted with God for God’s sake and God remained to him as God is in his own nature; not as he is conceived by anyone to be; nor yet as something to be achieved, but more as an is-ness, as God really is. Then he neither gave to God nor received anything from him, for he and God were a unit, that is pure unity. Thus one becomes that real person for whom there can be no suffering, any more than the divine essence can suffer.

Answer 2

I think that it could be interpreted many ways. For one, you could say it's hinting towards the question of God's existence. He could be saying that man isn't free until he rids himself of the constant idea that there is someone watching and planning his every move, thus the thought that, "he takes leave of God". However, I think it could also be interpreted as man cannot be free until he makes a sacrifice, "For God's Sake" which ends in his death, thus making it his "last and highest parting." I'm not certain which I would agree with more.

Answer 3

I think it cannot be so because I believe that we all have a God-part in us that only He can fill. The Bible says that God loves us all and we should not deny Him but I think if you do that and don't ask forgiveness that you chose to leave Him.ronniea but it cannot be for God's sake but for the sake of self will.ronniea

Answer 4

It seems along the lines of St. Augustine's question "what do I love when I love my God." I would want to see it in context, but to me it seems it is a statement about transcending the need for the god of dogma and being and making the leap of faith - admitting that one cannot not ever "know" god yet still believe.

Answer 5

Wow, and for this type of thinking he was accused of heresy, no wonder he was called the greatest thinker before Luther. Intellectually, the man was no small potatoes. I just can't get my brain around this in just one way!!
When was this said? What was the circumstance? More information.

Thanks Lexus Nut !

Answer 6

Its good, it shows how deep your loss can be. It reminds me of a saying I heard that's kinda like it, it said "when you feel far away from God, who moved?"


"The tragedy of disbelieving in God is not that a person ends up believing in nothing, alas it is much worse, that person may end up believing anything"---g k Chesterton

Answer 7

the creators are our biological parents and the shaping done
by our society and world. sex created all of us. what or
who created sex is a good question. love or sex. the bible
said god is love. if love is god, the creator, since most people
need to be semi in love to be sexual, it would seem that leaving god, or love, would be a bad mistake maybe. many are left
by god. left loveless and alone. with a big hole in their heart.
an emptiness. they seek so much to fill it. love has many
definitions. we don't leave god anyway, he leaves us.
cause maybe we really make him disgusted.

Answer 8

i think it means either a)humans achieve the "next level" when they realize they don't need a god anymore and live their own destiny
or b)humans NEED god and (if 'parting' here is supposed to have negative connotations) when seperated from him, ur screwed

Answer 9

And I retort, with a quote made on a deathbed:

"The church demands that you denounce satan."

"Now, my dear boy, is no time to be making enemies."
-Voltaire

Answer 10

Live your own life.