A review of Eric G. Müller’s book, Why Parzival?

Reviewed by Leif

Garbisch

Being an individual is a difficult job. It takes work to know the self. Trials and errors. Hundreds of mistakes. Much time to learn, even lifetimes. And it takes meeting others who come to us as doors to greater perception. The world is full of others, many who may provide keys, keys that lie in wait until we use them to unlock the mystery of ourselves. It’s as if we each consist of multitudes. But to begin with, the job of an individual is more private. And it takes a first step of trust to accept that there is actually someone (a significant I) to be in the world. And it takes another step of trust to begin to see the responsibility to go along with that inchoate I.

The epic of Parzival , written in the 13th century by Wolfram von Eschenbach, is an adventure of the emerging self. It also is a thrilling quest, a quest for wholeness, not to mention the Holy Grail. Eric G. Müller has taught this epic for many years to the fortunate students at Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School in Harlemville, New York. He has engaged his high school students with this tale of coming to terms with one’s place in the world. Who are we? Where are we taking ourselves, each other, and our planet? And now, with his masterful book, Why Parzival?, Müller welcomes others into the class.

Throughout his book, which methodically follows the narrative of Parzival , Müller weaves 21st century issues. He introduces Parzival to the contemporary lives of his students, bringing the story to modern times. And, as readers will see by the many questions, the students meet the story with keen arguments and wisdom, all of which is distilled by Müller into page after page of insights about the epic itself, and our current world problems. And to be clear, this is a book not just for students of Parzival . Müller does such a good job of re-telling the adventure that a reader need not have first studied the epic. The only prerequisite is interest in both the world and human relationships. With that, any reader can enter the classroom and join the discussions.

Parzival is a universal hero, not so different from each of us. Perhaps that answers his why. Eric G. Müller has written a book that allows a character from the past to offer his support today. He has written a book to help us better understand what it is about existence that makes us keep at it no matter the failures, the hardships, or the persistent suffering in our world. Parzival struggled with himself, he learned from his failings, he sought deeply in his soul for answers only to emerge outside the self so he might serve others. Why Parzival? is a book that wishes a similar route for its readers. It wishes to help us see that we are in this existence not for ourselves alone, but for each other. All in one class. All in one world. All in one life, learning forward. All here to help manifest the true being of love for the cosmos.