Books on Initiation
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I am about to embark on a reading of two books on the phenomenon of Initiation written by Rene Guenon called Perspectives on Initiation (www.sophiaperennis.com/guenon_perspectives.html) and Initiation and Spiritual Realizaition (www.sophiaperennis.com/guenon_spiritrealize.html). I am curious if anyone else has experience with these books or possibly others by this author and would be willing to comment on or provide opinions of them. Thanks.
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
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@philalethes said
"I am about to embark on a reading of two books on the phenomenon of Initiation written by Rene Guenon called Perspectives on Initiation (www.sophiaperennis.com/guenon_perspectives.html) and Initiation and Spiritual Realizaition (www.sophiaperennis.com/guenon_spiritrealize.html). I am curious if anyone else has experience with these books or possibly others by this author and would be willing to comment on or provide opinions of them. Thanks."
Interesting stuff. Guenon seems to pull some stuff out of his ass at points in his writing and make spurious connections but definitely has some good ideas & connections.
IAO131
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Guenon has influenced my thinking greatly, without my having actually read a full book of his, through two other 'Traditionalists' who followed him - Julius Evola and Frithjof Schuon.
Frithjof Schuon is in many ways the progenitor of our whole way of thinking about World Religions today - the idea that they are all 'different paths up the same mountain', although his view was a lot more complex than that. Huston Smith, author of the standard American textbook on world religions, is a disciple of his. Neither Schuon nor Guenon were particularly fond of modern occultism, believing that true esotericism was only found as the 'inner side' one of the world's orthodox religions; that the exoteric religion provided an essential framework for the esoteric. Guenon even wrote a large book called "Theosophy: the History of a Pseudo-Religion." As you're about to read G's books on initiation, I should mention that the Christian sacraments were one of the main points of disagreement between them; Guenon believing they had lost their initiatory and esoteric power, and Schuon disagreeing, seeing Christianity as an inherently esoteric religion, a paradoxical esotericism out in the open.
Evola was influenced by Guenon but also by Nietzsche, and was part of the right-wing occult movement before WWII. Initially an admirer of Mussolini, he saw in Fascism the possibility of the revival of the pagan Roman Empire. I can't highly enough recommend his "Revolt Against the Modern World," for the sheer mental exercise and the encounter with an extraordinary viewpoint. He also wrote excellent works on tantra, alchemy, Buddhism (interpreting it as an Aryan warrior cult!). While many of his views are difficult to accept, I always feel that he is on to something important that may be missing from the Anglophone occult tradition. In particular I enjoy the respite from all the enthusiasm for modernity & progress.
Here is Evola on Crowley: www.gornahoor.net/library/EvolaOnCrowley.pdf - although this piece is not very illuminating unless you already know where Evola is coming from.
Well hopefully this quick sketch of two of Guenon's disciples who went in very different directions has given you an idea of what you're in for. They are both very difficult and rewarding writers, whose ideas have a way of sinking into your mind and never leaving. I am sure G. is too. Please let us know your impressions when you read him.
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Evola's piece on Crowley cited here strikes me as superficial. Equating the man with "Satanism" indicates a complate failure to grasp what Crowley meant by referring to himself as the Beast. Nor does Evola seem to have tried to grasp what the Scarlet Woman is about. He just assumes the terms relate solely to the symbolism of the Revelation of St. John the Divine, completely missing the changes that the new Aeon has brought about.
Then we read:
"the third principle is “Love is the Law, Love under will”, where “love” means essentially sexual love."
I've not read much of Evola, but I hope for his other writings he bothered to do some research before putting pen to paper.
EM
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Yes, a pretty poor piece - please don't take it as an introduction to his work. He apparently had no more than the most passing acquaintance with any English-speaking occultism.
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Gawain, 93,
Okay, I'll try Revolt Against the Modern World instead, when I have the time.
93 93/93,
EM