What do you think?
Rate this book
Survey of Metaphysics and Esoterism
"Survey of Metaphysics and Esoterism serves as a near complete expression of Schuon’s thought. This book is distinctive in presenting, in one volume, what might be called the three hallmarks of Schuon’s writings. In clear and distinct order, he writes on cosmology and metaphysical principles, on the esoteric and exoteric expression of these principles in the various religious traditions, and on the trials and ultimate transformation of human nature" (from the Foreward by Bruce K. Hanson). Those familiar with Schuon’s writings will know that this transformation involves not only certitude of thought and serenity of mind, but also certitude and serenity of heart. Whether the subject is intellectual, religious, moral or aesthetic, the aim is ultimately a quasi-existential assimilation of certitude that is reflected in man’s centrality, his total and integral nature.
232 pages, Paperback
First published August 10, 2012
2 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Frithjof Schuon
177 books221 followersFrithjof Schuon was a native of Switzerland born to German parents in Basel, Switzerland. He is known as a philosopher, metaphysician and author of numerous books on religion and spirituality.
Schuon is recognized as an authority on philosophy, spirituality and religion, an exponent of the Religio Perennis, and one of the chief representatives of the Perennialist School. Though he was not officially affiliated with the academic world, his writings have been noticed in scholarly and philosophical journals, and by scholars of comparative religion and spirituality. Criticism of the relativism of the modern academic world is one of the main aspects of Schuon's teachings. In his teachings, Schuon expresses his faith in an absolute principle, God, who governs the universe and to whom our souls would return after death. For Schuon the great revelations are the link between this absolute principle—God—and mankind. He wrote the main bulk of his metaphysical teachings in French. In the later years of his life Schuon composed some volumes of poetry in his mother tongue, German. His articles in French were collected in about twenty titles in French which were later translated into English as well as many other languages.
http://www.sophia-perennis.com/philos...
Schuon is recognized as an authority on philosophy, spirituality and religion, an exponent of the Religio Perennis, and one of the chief representatives of the Perennialist School. Though he was not officially affiliated with the academic world, his writings have been noticed in scholarly and philosophical journals, and by scholars of comparative religion and spirituality. Criticism of the relativism of the modern academic world is one of the main aspects of Schuon's teachings. In his teachings, Schuon expresses his faith in an absolute principle, God, who governs the universe and to whom our souls would return after death. For Schuon the great revelations are the link between this absolute principle—God—and mankind. He wrote the main bulk of his metaphysical teachings in French. In the later years of his life Schuon composed some volumes of poetry in his mother tongue, German. His articles in French were collected in about twenty titles in French which were later translated into English as well as many other languages.
http://www.sophia-perennis.com/philos...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 18, 2009
Principia Metaphysica
_This is not an easy book to read, but on the other hand, it was not really written for the general reader. As the author points out, the majority of people are not metaphysicians or pneumatics. In fact, if you do not accept the basic epistemological premise that there are archetypical truths that are intuitively accessible to the Gnostic, then most of the book will make no sense to you. You must accept the existence of pure Intellect and the faculty of the immanent Spirit.
This volume is perhaps the best summation of Schuon's thought- and of the Sophia Perennis. It deals with the underlying nature of creation- from the Absolute to the Infinite, from Transcendence to Immanence. The inner esoteric core of religion is examined from the perspective of both the traditions of "God become man" (Christianity, Ramaism, Krishnaism, and Amidism) and "God as such" (Abrahamism, Mosaism, Islam, Platonism, and Vedantism.) Yet, it is made very clear that this isn't mere "comparative religion."
Schuon states that the artist brings the Divine into the world, the mystic reintegrates the world- his soul- into the Divine. In this volume the author shows that he is both artist and mystic, as well as, Philosopher in the highest sense of those terms.
This book reminded me of Guenon's _Symbolism of the Cross_ and _The Multiple States of Being_. Indeed, it was also originally published as two separate works. The current volume is divided into three parts: The World of Principles, The World of Tradition, and The World of the Soul.
There is one danger to reading such a book- it awakens you to just how trivial almost everything else you've ever read really is....
_This is not an easy book to read, but on the other hand, it was not really written for the general reader. As the author points out, the majority of people are not metaphysicians or pneumatics. In fact, if you do not accept the basic epistemological premise that there are archetypical truths that are intuitively accessible to the Gnostic, then most of the book will make no sense to you. You must accept the existence of pure Intellect and the faculty of the immanent Spirit.
This volume is perhaps the best summation of Schuon's thought- and of the Sophia Perennis. It deals with the underlying nature of creation- from the Absolute to the Infinite, from Transcendence to Immanence. The inner esoteric core of religion is examined from the perspective of both the traditions of "God become man" (Christianity, Ramaism, Krishnaism, and Amidism) and "God as such" (Abrahamism, Mosaism, Islam, Platonism, and Vedantism.) Yet, it is made very clear that this isn't mere "comparative religion."
Schuon states that the artist brings the Divine into the world, the mystic reintegrates the world- his soul- into the Divine. In this volume the author shows that he is both artist and mystic, as well as, Philosopher in the highest sense of those terms.
This book reminded me of Guenon's _Symbolism of the Cross_ and _The Multiple States of Being_. Indeed, it was also originally published as two separate works. The current volume is divided into three parts: The World of Principles, The World of Tradition, and The World of the Soul.
There is one danger to reading such a book- it awakens you to just how trivial almost everything else you've ever read really is....
March 21, 2024
Always interesting to see what Schuon has to say in the realm of metaphysics or esoterism.
(Obviously not for the analytically minded metaphysician).
(Obviously not for the analytically minded metaphysician).
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews