Esoteric and Perennial Philosophy

David Lorimer

This covers a vast field, with origins in India, Egypt, Ancient Greece, Gnostic movements, Neo-Platonism and Rosicrucianism to name but a few. More recently, widespread interest was generated by the rise of comparative religion and psychology (particularly William James) at the end of the 19th century and by various movements including theosophy, Anthroposophy and the Alice Bailey teachings. In addition, and arguably more significantly, the perennial philosophy movement includes such figures as Rene Guenon, Ananda Coomaraswamy, Martin Lings, Fritjof Schuon, Titus Burckhardt, Marco Pallis, Seyyed Hossein Nasr and Jacob Needleman.

The cultural impulse seems to me to embody a search for an inner, esoteric understanding that has not been provided by conventional philosophy and religion. Much 20th century British and American philosophy shied away from large metaphysical issues (less so on the continent) while theology showed little interest in mysticism and esoteric movements. However, many people need a richer diet than is provided within universities and have had to search elsewhere.

A landmark book (see below) was Aldous Huxley's The Perennial Philosophy published just after the Second World War in 1946. It had tremendous appeal and ignited the debate, which has been going on ever since, about whether there is an experiential and common mystical core in the world's spiritual traditions.

A common thread running through esoteric and perennial philosophy is the assumption that knowledge can be acquired through intellectual intuition, not simply by means of reason and the senses. This corresponds to what Ken Wilber has called a 'deep empiricism' or post-metaphysical spirituality that eschews a priori dogmatic or schematic pronouncements in favour of experience. This puts him at odds with some the earlier perennial philosophers, who do indeed make such categorical statements.

This inner knowing is connected with new forms of spirituality and practice. Head and heart must be integrated into a living experience - one does not take this on trust from a teacher but finds out for oneself. The list of references is necessarily a personal one and includes books by the Bulgarian spiritual teacher Peter Deunov, whose work I have translated and edited. Deunov's principles are Love, Wisdom and Truth and accord with the underlying principles of the world's great spiritual traditions. He integrates the Neo-Platonic and Gnostic Streams with a form of Mystical Christianity. This also translates into a beautiful series of movements called paneurhythmy, for which he composed the music.

The Scientific and Medical Network Esoteric Group has produced a longer bibliography of Science and Esoteric Traditions, which is available elsewhere on the site. The following references provide good starting points for further study.

Key texts

Huxley, A., (1946), The Perennial Philosophy, Oxford University Press.
The classic starting point for an investigation into the various world traditions. Brilliantly written and with extensive quotations from original sources, the chapters take themes such as That Art Thou, Truth, Non-Attachment, Time and Eternity, Good and Evil, Silence, Prayer, Suffering, Contemplation. For an early critique of Huxley's approach see Zaehner, R.C.. Mysticism Sacred and Profane (OUP).

Perry, Whitall N. (1971), A Treasury of Traditional Wisdom, Allen and Unwin.
Still available in paperback, this extraordinary compilation is the kind of book one could take to a desert island. It is divided into three main headings, Justice-Fear-Action, Mercy-Love-Contemplation and Truth-Knowledge-Union with numerous sub-sections and sub-categories. Each section contains an introduction by the editor and is followed by a selection of quotations, many of which are cross-referred to citations in other sections. The result exactly reflects the title. There is a good index of sources at the end.

Lovejoy, A.O. (1936), The Great Chain of Being, Harvard University Press.
Another early classic based on the William James Lectures. The book traces the idea of the Great Chain of Being from the Greeks through medieval thought, 18th century philosophy of nature, Romanticism and the temporalising of the idea through evolutionary theory.

Smith, H. (1977), Forgotten Truth, Harper, ISBN 0 06 090576 X.
A short gem of a book from the author of The Religions of Man. An excellent and highly readable introduction to the main themes of the perennial philosophy: space, levels of reality and selfhood, plus a good chapter on the place of science in the scheme of things.

Needleman, J. (ed) (1974/86), The Sword of Gnosis, Arkana, ISBN 1 85063 048 8.
An anthology of essays arguing that humanity has lost its way with its wholehearted embrace of technology and rejection of the universal spiritual truths of the primordial tradition. The book is divided into two sections: primordial and symbolic truth. Contributors include Schuon, Pallis, Lings, Burckhardt, Guenon and Nasr. A good introduction to these thinkers, whose books can then be followed up.

Nasr, S.H. (ed) (1986), The Essential Writings of Frithjof Schuon, Amity House, ISBN 0 916349 05 5.
A priceless volume summarising the voluminous and seminal writings of Schuon, arguably the greatest of the 20th century perennial philosophers. The introduction by Nasr is masterly and there are nine parts: religion and revelation, the study of religions, the nature of reality, art and the spiritual significance of beauty, man, the spiritual life, eschatology and the afterlife, criticism of the modern world, spiritual impressions.

Guenon, R. (1984), The Multiple States of Being, Larson, ISBN 0 943914 08 06.
Elucidates the central idea that the soul's freedom lies in discovering its own nature as essential self-cognition and realising that all other states of knowledge and being are available to it as within itself. See also The Crisis of the Modern World for a penetrating analysis of the spiritual malaise of the West and The Reign of Quantity for his diagnosis of the imbalance between quantitative and qualitative ways of knowing.

Nasr, S. H. (1989). Knowledge and the Sacred. New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN 0 7914 0177 4.
A seminal work that formed Seyyed Hossein Nasr's Gifford Lectures. It begins with the desacralisation of knowledge and is written from a traditional viewpoint whereby the definition of science as scientia is nearer its original meaning. Discusses the images of man and nature from a traditional standpoint as well as the role of art and the nature of higher knowledge. Provides a robust antidote to the diminished modern understanding of the human being.

Wilber, K. (1997) The Eye of Spirit, Shambahla, ISBN - 1 57062 276 0.
Subtitled 'An integral vision for a world gone slightly mad', this volume provides a restatement of many of Wilber's earlier writings within psychology and philosophy. Wilber is the major current theorist in this area and readers may wish to consult other works such as A Brief History of Everything, Integral Pscychology and A Theory of Everything.

Lorimer, D. (ed) (1991) Prophet for Our Times, Element Books, ISBN 1 85230 211 9.
An introduction to the life and teachings of Peter Deunov with extracts from his writings and covering his principles, his understanding of the human being, relations with nature and recommendations for life.

Blavatsky, H.P. (1968), The Key to Theosophy, Theosophical Publishing House.
The most accessible introduction to this movement of thought. The fifteen sections cover the whole range of topics in a dialogue format. For more information contact the TS at 50 Gloucester Place, London W1.

Steiner, R. (1963), Occult Science - An Outline, Rudolf Steiner Press.
Arguably the best starting point for Steiner's extensive work in 'spiritual science' along with Knowledge of Higher Worlds. The book covers the nature and history of humanity, evolution, initiation and the subtle nature of the human being. For more details, contact the Anthroposophical Society at 25 Park Road, London NW1.

Bailey, A. (1971), Ponder on This, Lucis Trust, ISBN 0 85330 131 X.
A compilation that introduces the work of Alice Bailey published in many volumes. The 186 sections give a comprehensive overview. Contact: Suite 3, 54 Whitehall Court, London SW1.