Categoria: Guénon, René

In place of the terms “Self ” and “ego,” we may also use those of ” Personality” and “INDIVIDUALITY,” with one reservation, however, for the “Self,” as we shall explain later on, may denote something over and above the Personality. The Theosophists, who seem to have taken a delight in confusing their terminology, interpret the…

“Poverty”, “simplicity” and “childhood”, are no more than one same thing, and the process of being stripped which all these words express (footnote: It is the “being stripped of metals” in the Masonic symbolism.) culminates in an extinction” which is, in reality , the fullness of the being, just as “inaction” (wu-wei) is the fullness…

Among visual symbols themselves there is also an example of “instantaneity” which is fairly comparable to that of sound symbols. This is the case of symbols that are not traced permanently but only employed as signs in initiatory rites (notably the “signs of recognition”) (NA: Utterances that serve a similar purpose, passwords for example, fall…

On the other hand, there is nearly always a close connection made between Enoch (Idris) and Elijah (Ilyas), both of whom were taken up to heaven without passing through bodily death, (NA: It is said that they are to appear on earth again at the end of the cycle; they are the two “witnesses” mentioned…

The ” Self,” considered in this manner, in relation to a being, is properly speaking the Personality; one might, it is true, restrict the use of this latter word to the “Self ” as principle of the manifested states, just as the “Divine Personality,” Ishwara, is the Principle of universal Manifestation; but one can also…

The Vaishyas are the ones that naturally identify themselves with the commercial and industrial function. They are the “MATERIAL providers “, we can say. The ones that work in the fields planting or creating animals. The ones that build houses and and other private or public constructions. Any craft and manufactures. And those that trade…

Still more remarkable, perhaps, is the fact that this same name is to be found exactly in the Votan of the ancient traditions of Central America who has moreover the attributes of Hermes, for he is Quetzalcohuatl, the “BIRD-SERPENT,” and the union of these two symbolic animals (corresponding respectively to the two elements air and…

This reduction of the “DISTINCT EGO”, which finally disappears by being reabsorbed into a single point, is the same thing as al-Fanaa, and also as the “emptiness” mentioned above; moreover, it is clear, according to the symbolism of the wheel, that the “movement” of a being becomes more reduced the nearer this being is to…

“Poverty”, “simplicity” and “childhood”, are no more than one same thing, and the process of being stripped which all these words express (footnote: It is the “BEING STRIPPED OF METALS” in the Masonic symbolism.) culminates in an extinction” which is, in reality , the fullness of the being, just as “inaction” (wu-wei) is the fullness…

First, it is not a single isolated case in traditional doctrine, for it has something like a counterpart in Hebrew angelology. Generally speaking, Michael is the angel of the Sun and Raphael is the angel of Mercury, but sometimes the relationship is reversed. On the other hand, if Michael, as the representative of the solar…

The allege of “DEMOCRATIC” equality is something not only inexistent but also entirely impossible among the men. It attacks violently the Hindú Doctrine of Castes, doctrine that keeps perfect analogy with all the genuinely oriental knowledege. Essays: The Hindu Doctrine of Castes We would have a variety of examples of the nonsense of the “DEMOCRATIC”…

In this unconditioned state all other states of being find their place, but they are transformed and released from the special conditions that determined them as particular states. What remains is that which has a positive reality, since herein it is that all things have their own principle; the “DELIVERED” being is truly in possession…

The ” Self,” considered in this manner, in relation to a being, is properly speaking the Personality; one might, it is true, restrict the use of this latter word to the “Self ” as principle of the manifested states, just as the “Divine Personality,” Ishwara, is the Principle of universal Manifestation; but one can also…

This “poverty” (in Arabic al-faqr) leads, according to Islamic esotericism, to al-fanaa, that is, to the extinction of the “ego”; (footnote: This “extinction” is not without analogy, even as to the literal meaning of the term which is used for it, with the Nirvana of the Hindu doctrine; beyond al-fanaa there is fanaa’ al-fanaa’ the…

We have frequently said that the “profane” conception of the sciences and the arts, such as is now current in the West, is a very modern one and implies a degeneration with respect to a previous state in which both of them had an altogether different character. The same can be said about the crafts;…

We must furthermore warn philosophers more especially that the Universal and the individual are by no means for us what they call “categories” ; and we will recall to mind – for the more modern among them seem to have forgotten it somewhat – that “categories” in the Aristotelian sense of the word are nothing…

“Simplicity” meaning the unification of all the being’s powers, is a feature of the return to the “primordial state”; and here is seen the whole difference that separates the transcendent knowledge of the sage from ordinary and “profane” knowledge. This “simplicity” is also what is called elsewhere the state of “CHILDHOOD” (in Sanskrit baalya), to…

ALLTHE constituent elements of a rite have necessarily a symbolic sense, while on the other hand a symbol itself in its commonest acceptation, as a support for meditation, is destined essentially to give results that are exactly comparable to the results of rites. Let us add that when it is a matter of truly traditional…

Through his not setting himself against anything, nothing can set itself against him, for opposition is necessarily a reciprocal relation, which calls for the presence of two terms, and which is there fore incompatible with principal unity; and hostility which is only a result or an outward manifestation of opposition, cannot exist in connection with…

The Personality, let us insist once more, belongs essentially to the order of principles in the strictest sense of the word, that is, to the universal order; it cannot therefore be considered from any point of view except that of pure metaphysic, which has precisely the Universal for its domain. The pseudo-metaphysicians of the West…