The Essential Rene Guenon: Metaphysics, Tradition, and the Crisis of Modernity

Description

A prolific writer and author of over 24 books, Rene Guenon was the founder of the Perennialist/Traditionalist school of comparative religious thought. Known for his discourses on the intellectual and spiritual bankruptcy of the modern world, symbolism, tradition, and the inner or spiritual dimension of religion, this book is a compilation of his most important writings. A key component of his thought was the assertion that universal truths manifest themselves in various forms in the world's religions and his writings on Hinduism, Taoism, and Sufism are particularly illuminating in this regard. Cover About the Author Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Content Preface Introduction PART 1. THE MODERN WORLD 1. The Dark Age 2. Sacred and Profane Science 3. A Material Civilization 4. Introduction to The Reign of Quantity and the Signs of the Times 5. Quality and Quantity 6. The Postulates of Rationalism 7.The End of a World 8. Civilization and Progress PART TWO - THE METAPHYSICAL WORLD 9. Eastern Metaphysics 10. What is Meant by Tradition? 11. Essential Characteristics of Metaphysics 12. Metaphysical Realization 13. Sanātana Dharma 14. Some Remarks on the Doctrine of Cosmic Cycles 15. Foundation of the Theory of the Multiple States 16. The Realization of the Being through Knowledge PART THREE - THE HINDU WORLD 17. On the Exact Meaning of the Word “Hindu” 18. Perpetuity of the Veda 19. The Law of Manu 20. Principles Governing the Institution of Caste 21. Yoga 22. General Remarks on the Vedānta 23. The Vital Center of the Human Being 24. The Degrees of Individual Manifestation 25. Buddhi or the Higher Intellect 26. Final Deliverance PART FOUR - THE TRADITIONAL WORLD 27. Kabbalah 28. The Symbolism of the Grail 29. Islamic Esoterism 30. Taoism and Confucianism 31. Rite and Symbol 32. The Symbolism of Weaving 33. The Sword of Islam 34. The Heart and the Cave 35. Initiatic Affiliation 36. True and False Spiritual Teachers Conclusion to Introduction to the Study of the Hindu Doctrines APPENDIX 1: BIOGRAPHY OF RENÉ GUÉNON APPENDIX 2: THE WORKS OF RENÉ GUÉNON LIST OF SOURCES BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES INDEX