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A Commentary on Crazy Wisdom
Oscar Ichazo's book, A Commentary on Crazy Wisdom, is part of the Integral Philosophy Tradition and discloses this aspect of the tradition he originated. The Teaching delineates the Crazy Wisdom contemplative practice and gives historical examples of the nature of Mind to which he refers. Here Oscar provides the direct Teachings about the total maturity and stability of the 'Mind of Crazy Wisdom in itself,' which takes no effect from relative reality, whether internal or external in nature. The Knowledge of these Teachings, when used in a meditative practice, opens an increase in the amount and continuity of Light of the 'Divine Mind or the Light in itself.' Consequently, Crazy Wisdom can be defined as an Awakened Mind with complete understanding and a calm–abiding ground that ensures the entrance into its Ultimate State of Innate Awareness, that of the Mind of Eternal Presence. The Method Oscar proposes—the Crazy Wisdom Teachings and practice—concludes in the State of Supreme Freedom of the Mind of Enlightenment, opening a life of happiness and tranquility for all.
91 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 7, 2023
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About the author
Oscar Ichazo
85 books21 followersÓscar Ichazo was an early developer of the Enneagon or Enneagram of personality, and founded the Arica School in 1968.
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March 24, 2024
I first encountered the term “Crazy Wisdom” in the 1970s when studying Tibetan Buddhism, and at that time I thought that it referred to something that was unique to Tibetan Buddhism. This book makes it clear that teachings about Crazy Wisdom were common throughout the ancient civilizations that predated Buddhism: the five divine minds of Zoroastrianism, Thoth of ancient Egypt, Demeter of Greece in 8th century BC. These teachings later appeared in Mahayana, Zen, and Yogacharya Buddhism, which is why they appeared in Tibetan Buddhism centuries later.
This book discusses Crazy Wisdom in terms of the ancient teachings about the Divine Mind as composed of seven Divine Minds which can be contemplated as seven Lights, a process known as “Agni” in the Vedas, “Asha” in Zoroastrianism, “tapas” in Hinduism. These seven Divine Minds are completed by the Dark Light at the beginning and the Splendorous Light at the end, forming an Ennead that can be found in ancient Egypt, Plato’s Phaedrus, Neoplatonism, and the Jewish Kabbalah. Crazy Wisdom represents a method for transforming the lowest level of ego into these Divine Lights, which is why the teachings are found in all of the ancient traditions.
In another book, “A Commentary on Tantra”, Ichazo mentions that Crazy Wisdom is a term used in Oriental religions for the state of the perfected Sage (e.g., the 7 wise men in Taosim, Pu-Tai in Zen Buddhism), the outcome of tantric practices which were present in all ancient civilizations. He gives an example that these teachings were presented by the ancient Greek philosopher Antisthenes, whose student Diogenes was an well-known exemplar of Crazy Wisdom.
Part of what is new in this presentation of ancient knowledge is that Ichazo has discovered the relations between these teachings and modern biology. In this book he explains how the traditional Five Elements are related to the hormones. He also explains the teachings in relation to Western philosophy across the millennia from Socrates to Descartes, Kant, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Spinoza, Brentano, Husserl, Heidegger, Derrida, Rorty. This history also illustrates the danger that misunderstanding of these teachings can lead to the extreme of libertinism and debauchery which produces total nihilism instead of spiritual transcendence.
I find that each time I read this book I gain new understandings about what it means to be a human being, how civilizations arise, and how humanity can move forward from the seeming chaos that currently threatens our existence as a species.
This book discusses Crazy Wisdom in terms of the ancient teachings about the Divine Mind as composed of seven Divine Minds which can be contemplated as seven Lights, a process known as “Agni” in the Vedas, “Asha” in Zoroastrianism, “tapas” in Hinduism. These seven Divine Minds are completed by the Dark Light at the beginning and the Splendorous Light at the end, forming an Ennead that can be found in ancient Egypt, Plato’s Phaedrus, Neoplatonism, and the Jewish Kabbalah. Crazy Wisdom represents a method for transforming the lowest level of ego into these Divine Lights, which is why the teachings are found in all of the ancient traditions.
In another book, “A Commentary on Tantra”, Ichazo mentions that Crazy Wisdom is a term used in Oriental religions for the state of the perfected Sage (e.g., the 7 wise men in Taosim, Pu-Tai in Zen Buddhism), the outcome of tantric practices which were present in all ancient civilizations. He gives an example that these teachings were presented by the ancient Greek philosopher Antisthenes, whose student Diogenes was an well-known exemplar of Crazy Wisdom.
Part of what is new in this presentation of ancient knowledge is that Ichazo has discovered the relations between these teachings and modern biology. In this book he explains how the traditional Five Elements are related to the hormones. He also explains the teachings in relation to Western philosophy across the millennia from Socrates to Descartes, Kant, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Spinoza, Brentano, Husserl, Heidegger, Derrida, Rorty. This history also illustrates the danger that misunderstanding of these teachings can lead to the extreme of libertinism and debauchery which produces total nihilism instead of spiritual transcendence.
I find that each time I read this book I gain new understandings about what it means to be a human being, how civilizations arise, and how humanity can move forward from the seeming chaos that currently threatens our existence as a species.
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