Meister Eckhart, the great 14^th Century mystic and philosopher, once said, “More valuable than humility or mercy is the state of the detached heart.” In his sermon On Detachment, which he shared openly with the public, he championed this inner state of being—a quiet strength that he believed was even greater than love. “I praise detachment more than love,” he boldly declared.

Eckhart’s courage to question established beliefs and challenge revered spiritual authorities sometimes brought him into conflict with the Church. As a Dominican monk, he preached these unconventional ideas in Cologne, one of the religious centres of his time. Later, as vicar-general of Bohemia, his influence grew, but so did the controversy. A 1327 papal decree accused him of “wishing to know more than he should”—in other words, he dared to explore spiritual truths that went beyond the official teachings of his time.

God Is Within Us

At the heart of Eckhart’s vision was a deep belief in the immanence of God—the idea that the Divine is not separate from the world, but fully present within it, especially within each of us. He taught that the universe is an expression of God’s own thought, and that nowhere is God more clearly revealed than in the human soul. For Eckhart, the divine “spark” within us is not merely close to God—it is one with God. This radical idea was the cornerstone of his mystical philosophy, and it remains one of his most beautiful and empowering insights.

Making Spirituality Accessible

Although deeply learned, Eckhart wanted his teachings to reach ordinary people. That’s why many of his most powerful sermons were written and delivered in German, not Latin. He believed that spirituality should not be reserved for scholars and clergy—it should be a living, personal experience for everyone. In one Christmas sermon, he spoke of the “birth” of divine wisdom within the soul:

“If it does not happen within me, what use is it? Everything depends on this: that it should happen in me.”

This wasn’t just poetry—it was a call to realise the sacredness of our own inner life.

Living From the Inside Out

In On Detachment, Eckhart explains that we each have two aspects to our being: the outer self, which lives through the five senses and is tied to the material world, and the inner self, the core of our being that guides us from within. The outer self is often drawn to distractions—possessions, achievements, fleeting pleasures—while the inner self longs for stillness, wisdom, and a deeper connection to the Divine.

Those who live from the outer self may feel anxious and unstable, tossed about by life’s changing circumstances. But those who live from the inner self develop a quiet strength and a peace that remains even in times of crisis. God speaks most clearly to the heart that is ready to listen—and this readiness comes from within.

The Gift of Letting Go

So how do we prepare ourselves for such inner experience? According to Eckhart, it begins with detachment—not cold indifference, but the freedom that comes from letting go. When we release our grip on “this” or “that”—on outcomes, attachments, fears, or desires—we create space within ourselves. That space becomes a sanctuary for divine presence.

Eckhart compared the soul to a wax tablet. As long as something is written on it, no new message can be received. But when it’s wiped clean, it becomes ready for something new. The same is true for our hearts: when we detach from clutter and distraction, we become receptive to grace.

True prayer, he said, is not asking for specific things, but simply this: “May my heart be one with God.”

A Beacon Through the Ages

Meister Eckhart lived in a time when religion was often reduced to rigid rituals and fear of disobedience. Yet he stood like a lighthouse, guiding people inward—toward personal experience, inner transformation, and unity with the Divine.

Though history often overlooks mystics like Eckhart, his message is timeless. In a world still caught up in outward striving and endless noise, his voice reminds us that the deepest wisdom is already within us. The light is here. It shines in the heart. And when we learn to detach—not from life, but from what keeps us from living fully—we discover that the kingdom of God truly is within.