Gelassenheit: Your definitions? Your praxis?

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The word Gelassenheit appears to have originated in the writings and sermons of Meister Eckhart almost 800 years ago: see the following dissertation:

The Union of Self-Surrender and Radical Obedience
Deborah Funk
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Theological Studies
- at Canadian Mennonite University
April 14, 2012

When researching Gelassenheit, I came to the same conclusion as Deborah did. When the Serenity prayer was written in German, the word Gelassenheit was used, where the English version uses serenity.

Yes, I think this is true. I couldn't find the thesis online - is it available?

I think Eckhardt's Erfurter Reden is particularly clear about what he meant.

I have explained the difference between Gelassenheit and serenity this way:
You are sitting quietly beside a body of water, under a shade tree; the sun is shining brightly, the only sound breaking the stillness is an occasional fish jumping out of the water to catch a fly. This is serenity. Gelassenheit is the all the same ingredients but with the added fact that your wife has just been buried; Gelassenheit is serenity with a spiritual element added.

I think Eckhardt explains it well in section 7. I wonder if some of the German speakers can help me translate this better? I want to be sure I got the various shades of meaning right, this is subtle.

My translation:

Peter said, "See, Lord, we have left everything" (Matthew 19:27) - and he had left nothing more than a mere net and his little ship. A saint spoke about these words, saying: whoever leaves something small of his own will, he leaves not only that, but he leaves everything that worldly people gain, even that which they can only desire. For whoever leaves his own desires and himself, he has fully let go of all things as fully as though they were his own free property and he owned them and had the right to do whatever he wanted with them. For whatever you do not desire, you have given it away and left to God's will. This is why our Lord said, "blessed are the poor in Spirit" (Matthew 5:3), in other words, poor in desires. (Or perhaps "poor in will"?) And nobody should doubt this: if there was any better way, our Lord would have told us, as he also told us: "whoever wants to follow me, let him first deny himself" (Matthew 16:24) - it is all right there. Take a good look at yourself, and where you find yourself, let go of yourself. That is the best of all.

Middle High German:

Ez sprichet ein heilige ûf daz wort, daz sant Pêter sprach: 'sich, herre,' wir hân alliu dinc gelâzen' - und er enhâte doch niht mêr gelâzen dan ein blôz netze und sîn schiffelîn - der heilige sprichet: swer daz kleine williclîche læzet, der enlæzet ez niht aleine, mêr: er læzet allez, daz werltlîche liute mügen gewinnen, jâ, ouch, daz sie mügen begern; wan, der sînen willen und sich selber læzet, der hât alliu dinc gelâzen als wærlîche, als sie sîn vrî eigen wæren und sie besezzen hæte in ganzem gewalte. Wan, daz dû niht enwilt begern, daz hâst dû allez übergeben und gelâzen durch got. Dar umbe sprach unser herre: 'sælic sint die armen des geistes', daz ist des willen. Und hier ane ensol nieman zwîvelen: wære dehein bezzer wîse, unser herre hæte sie gesprochen, als er ouch sprach: 'swer mir welle nâchvolgen, der verzîhe sich sîn selbes ze dem êrsten'; dâ liget ez allez ane. Nim dîn selbes war, und swâ dû dich vindest, dâ lâz dich; daz ist daz aller beste.

Modern High German Translation:

Zu dem Worte, das Sankt Peter sprach: "Sieh, Herr, wir haben alle Dinge gelassen" (Matth. 19,27) - und er hatte doch nichts weiter gelassen als ein bloßes Netz und sein Schifflein -, dazu sagt ein Heiliger: Wer das Kleine willig läßt, der läßt nicht nur dies, sondern er läßt alles, was weltliche Leute gewinnen, ja selbst, was sie nur begehren können. Denn wer seinen Willen und sich selbst läßt, der hat alle Dinge so wirklich gelassen, als wenn sie sein freies Eigentum gewesen wären und er sie besessen hätte mit voller Verfügungsgewalt. Denn was du nicht begehren willst, das hast du alles hingegeben und gelassen um Gottes willen. Darum sprach unser Herr: "Selig sind die Armen im Geist" (Matth. 5,3), das heißt: an Willen. Und hieran soll niemand zweifeln: Gäb's irgendeine bessere Weise, unser Herr hätte sie genannt, wie er ja auch sagte: "Wer mir nachfolgen will, der verleugne zuerst sich selbst" (Matth. 16,24); daran ist alles gelegen. Richte dein Augenmerk auf dich selbst, und wo du dich findest, da laß von dir ab; das ist das Allerbeste.

[Bootstrap]

Johannes Tauler taught Gelassenheit as a form of contemplative prayer, beyond words. Someone saved me a lot of time with an English translation of this sermon.

True [Contemplative] Prayer and Intercession

BUT I will make one comment to you. [When you pray] truly turn away from yourself and from all created things: lift your innermost self (gemute) up above to God, transcending all creatures; do this in your innermost depths (tieffe abgrunde). Sink your spirit into God’s Spirit in true abandonment (gelossenheit ) of all your higher and lower powers, beyond all sense and understanding, in a true interior union with God in the inner depths [grunde].

Aber ich sage dir ein ding: kere dich in der worheit von dir selber und von allen geschaffenen dingen und rihte din gemuͤte alzuͦmole uf in Got úber alle creaturen in daz tieffe abgrunde, darin versenke dinen geist in Gottes geist, in wore gelossenheit aller diner obersten und nidersten kreften, úber alle sinne und verstentnisse, in einer woren vereinungen mit Gotte innerlichen in dem grunde;

The idea here is that our words and our religious practices are all in part, but reaching out to God in abandonment (Gelassenheit), we can get beyond the limitations of our sense and understanding, and this is true prayer.

By this kind of prayer you shall succeed beyond all knowledge, all [pious] words and exercises.

mit diseme úberkummest du alle wise und alle wort und uͤbunge,

He then takes this to intercessory prayer:

Intercessory Prayer

AND from this [inner place] ask God for everything you would pray for, both you and those who have asked your prayers.
und da do bitte Got fúr alles das do er wil fúr gebetten han und des du und alle menschen von dir begerent;

And know this: that as a single penny is to a hundred thousand golden marks, so are all external prayers compared to this prayer. For it both is and is called true union with God; it is the absorption and melting away of the created spirit of man into the uncreated Spirit of God.

und wisse: also klein also ein klein jung haller ist fúr hundert tusent marck goldes, also ist alle ussewendige gebette vor diseme gebette, das do ist und heisset wore einunge mit Gotte, dis geschaffene geist versincken und versmeltzen in dem ungeschaffenen geiste Gottes.

Some teachers at the time thought that intercessory prayer or verbal prayer was inferior to the prayer of Gelassenheit, Tauler taught that it was fine to combine both kinds of prayer, but also that we should pray in whatever way is fruitful.

Freedom in Joining Contemplation with Intercession

Children, if this kind of prayer may be made in company with prayer of the lips and tongue, then join them together without hesitation ; and, besides, you may have promised to offer vocal prayers, or your vows may require you to do so. But as you pray with your lips, be sure to do with your thoughts what Moses did with his flocks—lead them all into the wilderness.
Vil lieben kinder, welle dise einunge dis gebett des mundes lident und ungehindert darabe blibent, so tuͦt es kuͤnlichen; zwei sint besser denne eins, und daz darumb du gebetten bist, ouch ist es guͦt das du das also bettest mit der wisen ussewendig also du geheissen bist und du gelobet hast, und mit dem und in dem so tribe din gemuͤte uf in die hoͤhe und in die inre wuͤstenunge, dar trip alle dine vihe mit hern Moyses;

But if any of your particular methods of prayer hinder, or any outward occupations interfere with this interior prayer of the spirit, set them all on one side, and I will take the responsibility; unless, indeed, these happen to be appointed thee by lawful authority. Vocal prayer of all kinds is good, just as the straw is good to ripen the wheat. Thus Christ taught : “The true worshippers shall pray in spirit and in truth.” (John 4,23.)

und hindert dich danne ein einige wise oder gebet oder ussewendig werck, das loss kuͤnlich uf mich varen, ussgenomenlich die die zuͦ irme gezite verbunden sint, anders so ist alles gebet des mundes rehte alse spruwern und stroͮ wider edelme weissen, also Cristus sprach: ‘die woren anbettere die bettent in dem geiste und in der worheit’.

[Valerie]

From this thread: (as I didn't think Gellasenheit was in the Bible, had heard it was a concept):
http://forum.mennonet.com/viewtopic.php ... 7&start=60

Jan 05, 2020 3:05 pm

Valerie wrote:
Ernie wrote:
Valerie wrote:
Gelessenheit

This word is used in the Froschauer [German] Bible.


What is the English translation in KJV (scripture reference?) Please?


Lamentations 3:26 - quietly wait

[Bootstrap]

From this thread: (as I didn't think Gellasenheit was in the Bible, had heard it was a concept):
http://forum.mennonet.com/viewtopic.php ... 7&start=60

Perhaps "Be still, and know that I am God"?

For me, that is a definition of Gelassenheit that works both as a form of prayer and a way of relating to everything we encounter in the world around us.

What is the English translation in KJV (scripture reference?) Please?

Lamentations 3:26 - quietly wait

That Hebrew word is used twice in the Old Testament.

ISA 47:5 - “Sit in silence, go into darkness, Daughter of the Babylonians; no more will you be called queen of kingdoms.

LAM 3:26 - it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

In Lamentations 3:26, the sense of the verse as a whole seems similar, though the word by itself does not carry the meaning of Gelassenheit. Are you asking if there is a Greek or Hebrew word in the Bible that is equivalent to Gelassenheit?

[Valerie]

From this thread: (as I didn't think Gellasenheit was in the Bible, had heard it was a concept):
http://forum.mennonet.com/viewtopic.php ... 7&start=60

Perhaps "Be still, and know that I am God"?

For me, that is a definition of Gelassenheit that works both as a form of prayer and a way of relating to everything we encounter in the world around us.

What is the English translation in KJV (scripture reference?) Please?

Lamentations 3:26 - quietly wait

That Hebrew word is used twice in the Old Testament.

ISA 47:5 - “Sit in silence, go into darkness, Daughter of the Babylonians; no more will you be called queen of kingdoms.

LAM 3:26 - it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

In Lamentations 3:26, the sense of the verse as a whole seems similar, though the word by itself does not carry the meaning of Gelassenheit. Are you asking if there is a Greek or Hebrew word in the Bible that is equivalent to Gelassenheit?

I had put it on the thread of words Christians use that aren't in the Bible. I didn't think Gellasenheit was, in any language- that it was a concept supported by Scripture- so Ernie posted it is, in German Bible. The Scripture& meaning is not really like what all I've heard it to mean, example the message Denny Kenaston taught on it. That seems to encompass so much more

[Bootstrap]

In Lamentations 3:26, the sense of the verse as a whole seems similar, though the word by itself does not carry the meaning of Gelassenheit. Are you asking if there is a Greek or Hebrew word in the Bible that is equivalent to Gelassenheit?

I had put it on the thread of words Christians use that aren't in the Bible. I didn't think Gellasenheit was, in any language- that it was a concept supported by Scripture- so Ernie posted it is, in German Bible. The Scripture& meaning is not really like what all I've heard it to mean, example the message Denny Kenaston taught on it. That seems to encompass so much more[/quote]

I haven't listened to that sermon - it is 80 minutes long, and I would really prefer something in written form if it is that length - but the basic elements of Gelassenheit as I understand it are all in the Bible. And there is more than one definition for Gelassenheit. My understanding is more similar to the earlier definition that my previous posts highlighted, I'll get to the later definition. My objection is primarily to the more extreme forms of the later definition. I think Gelassenheit defines our relationship with God, not with the brethren, though our Gelassenheit with God also affects the way we relate to the brethren.

I think the Bible does teach:

• Absolute surrender to God, all-or-nothing, holding nothing back.
• Trusting in God who is beyond our comprehension and whose ways are greater than ours.
• Not putting our faith in our own abilities.
• Renouncing worldly desires, greed, and the love of money.
• Believing that "my grace is sufficient for thee" even when we are suffering.
• A willingness to suffer and face poverty and persecution for the sake of Jesus.
• Laying down my life, picking up the cross, and following Jesus day after day.
• An incomprehensible peace - the peace that surpasses understanding - as a result.

We see the example of martyrs held up in the New Testament, people who truly laid down everything for the sake of the cross. And of course, there is no greater love than to lay down our lives for the brethren.

To me, that all points to a Gelassenheit centered on God, laying down our own righteousness to know him, laying down our own status to share in his sufferings, as in this passage:

If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

I get nervous about definitions of Gelassenheit that require us to have the same level of trust and sacrifice for the brethren that is normally reserved for God. Yes, we should be generous, sacrificially generous, and anyone who really loves God will also love the brethren, but this can be taken too far. The relationship of total surrender is with God, not with the brethren. We should love, care for, and give to the brethren, but we cannot trust human beings the same way we can trust God.

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

I also get nervous about definitions of Gelassenheit that require all goods or virtually all goods to be communally owned. This is unusual in Anabaptist circles, but this teaching does exist in some circles and I think it has been part of some Hutterite teachings for a long time. To me, the New Testament teaches radical generosity, but even in the community in Jerusalem, an individual was free to dispose of his own property. The sin of Ananias was not that he kept back money, but that he lied to the brethren about it:

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

Does that make sense?

[MaxPC]

The Scripture& meaning is not really like what all I've heard it to mean, example the message Denny Kenaston taught on it. That seems to encompass so much more

Hence the reason for my original posting on this thread. I’m not interested in the static academic meaning(s). Vocabulary, it’s meaning and usage, changes and evolves over time. Here’s my original query:

How would you, as an Anabaptist, define Gelassenheit?

Is this an emphasized characteristic within your own fellowship?

[Bootstrap]

Here’s my original query:

How would you, as an Anabaptist, define Gelassenheit?

Is this an emphasized characteristic within your own fellowship?

In the non-plain end of Anabaptism, we generally understand Gelassenheit more along the lines I have been describing: absolute surrender to God, absolute trust, and the peace and serenity that results from this. That is how people understand it in the Mennonite church I am currently attending.

In some plain Anabaptist churches, the meaning is significantly different.

Unlike you, I'm very interested in the very spiritual meaning this had under Tauler and Suesse and the way the concept evolved over time. I am also interested in the fact that this word has taken on such different meanings in the plain versus non-plain branches of Anabaptism. Do you want me to move this part of the discussion to another thread, or should I continue it here? I can ask a moderator to split the thread if need be.

[Bootstrap]

I have highlighted the point on which plain and non-plain Mennonites differ with respect to Gelassenheit. Of course, plain Mennos also seem to differ in how they interpret this point.

We had some long discussions on Gelassenheit on the old Menno Discuss. It is a hard word to define even for German speakers. Yieldedness or submission or "letting go" are the simplest definitions. Ultimately it is yieldedness to God but it is expressed by yielding to the church, to the ordnung and to those who are in authority over you. Different Anabaptist groups also emphasize different nuances of the term, and different circumstances effect our understanding of the use of the word. The Anabaptists Martyrs experienced Gelassenheit as they were imprisoned, tortured and consigned to the flames. A Hutterite man experiences Gelassenheit by surrendering himself to complete posessionlesness. An Amish woman expresses Gelassenheit by submitting to her husband and not pursuing personal liberation.

I think that highlighted point reflects the later Hutterite teaching which is also fundamental to the Bruderhof. I was once part of a community that taught the same thing and slowly became a cult. After leaving that community, I did visit the Bruderhof, and this teaching was one of the reasons I steered clear. I realize that my experiences in the community I left may be quite different from what happens in other fellowships, but I feel that I have learned from that.

Like Tauler and Suesse, I see Gelassenheit primarily as yielding to God. We should yield absolutely to God, who is always to be trusted and whose wisdom is of a different kind than any human wisdom. That means that our yieldedness to any group of human beings is relative. Like Tauler and Suesse, I also see Gelassenheit as a main component of prayer, surrendering everything to God. Churches, as important as they are, are only human, we do not worship them, we do not put them in the position of God or turn them into our intermediary to God. And of course, a written Ordnung is not something we find in the New Testament, I do not see it as not a necessary part of Christian Gelassenheit.

So to me, there is some danger in orienting Gelassenheit toward a group of human beings rather than God. To me, Gelassenheit is best expressed by yielding absolutely to God.

[MaxPC]

The Scripture& meaning is not really like what all I've heard it to mean, example the message Denny Kenaston taught on it. That seems to encompass so much more

Hence the reason for my original posting on this thread. I’m not interested in the static academic meaning(s). Vocabulary, it’s meaning and usage, changes and evolves over time. Here’s my original query:

How would you, as an Anabaptist, define Gelassenheit?

Is this an emphasized characteristic within your own fellowship?

One change in meaning that I've discovered from a "plain" friend extends to politics and disputes among friends. He does not engage political discussion; political voting; and if there is a dispute between friends he does not interfere. Instead he lets the dispute be settled directly by the participating parties. He will only participate if he is asked to mediate. In this way he feels he is waiting quietly on the Lord without getting involved with personal or political dramas. He focuses on his faith relationship with Jesus and how to live it well.