The Paradox of True Obedience

In the serene halls of medieval Germany, Meister Eckhart spoke of an obedience that transcends conventional understanding. “The more a man obeys, the freer he is,” he proclaimed, revealing a truth that seems to defy logic. This obedience bears no resemblance to blind submission or mere rule-following. Instead, it points to a profound state of inner freedom where individual will dissolves into divine reality.

For Eckhart, true obedience emerges naturally from what he terms “detachment” (abegescheidenheit). When one empties themselves completely, they discover that God wills not for them but through them — or more precisely, for Himself alone. This radical teaching suggests that authentic spiritual life isn’t about aligning our will with God’s, but about recognizing that, at the deepest level, there is only one will operating.

The seeming contradiction resolves itself in what Eckhart calls the “ground of the soul” (grunt der sêle), where the distinction between human and divine will vanishes. As he states in one of his sermons, “God’s ground and the soul’s ground are one ground.” This unity reveals that our usual notion of obedience still maintains the very duality it seeks to overcome.

Empty Fullness

“The more empty you are of yourself, the more room there is for God,” teaches Eckhart, presenting another…