Guenon Rene is a famous French philosopher. He is the author of numerous works on symbolism, metaphysics, initiation and traditionalism. In the scientific world is considered the founder of integral traditionalism. This is the name of the direction of thought, the basis of which is the provision on the existence of the so-called Eternal Wisdom. Interestingly, Guenon himself did not use the term "traditionalism," and considered philosophy to be just a set of individual opinions.
Philosopher's Biography
Guenon Rene was born in 1886 in the town of Blois. It is near Paris. First he studied at a Catholic school, then at Augustin-Thierry College. At the age of 18 he moved to the capital of France, where he began studying mathematics.
Important in his biography was a meeting with the occultist Gerard Ankoss in 1906. After her, Rene Guenon began to participate in the meetings of spiritualists and freemasons. It was in this society that he significantly expanded his knowledge of Eastern philosophy.
In 1910, Guenon Rene met his first Sufi mentors. They turned out to be the Arab theologian Abder Rahman el-Kebir, the Swedish painter Ivan Agueli and Leon Champreno. Two years later, he was consecrated to the Sufi tariqah under the name Abdel-Wahid Yahya. His biographers note that the future philosopher chose Islam because he did not recognize the Christian sacraments, Buddhism considered heterodox teaching, Hinduism was not available to him because of the caste system. At the same time, Genon Rene did not plan to practice Islam. Only initiation was important to him. Therefore, in the same year, he married Berta Lurie in the Catholic rite.
Since 1915, Guenon has been teaching philosophy in Algeria, receiving the title of professor. In 1917 he returned to Paris. His first work was published in 1921. This is a "General Introduction to the Study of Hindu Doctrines." In it, the philosopher voiced the fundamental principle of traditionalism, which he called Perennialism, formulated the postulate of “eternal philosophy. Important works are also“ Theosophism - the history of pseudo-religion ”and“ The error of the Spirit. ”In them, Genon introduces concepts such as“ counter-initiation ”and“ inversion ” .
In 1930, the philosopher leaves for Cairo. A few years later, after the death of his first wife, he marries the daughter of the merchant Muhammad Ibrahim.
In 1944 and 1947, he had two daughters, and in 1949 a son. The year before, Guenon received Egyptian citizenship. In 1950 he was hospitalized with suspected blood poisoning. After a short time he died. 4 months after his death, another son was born to him.
"East and West"
Guenon wrote his first significant work in 1924. This is the book "East and West." Rene Guenon in it tries to reveal to the reader the whole essence of his position as a philosopher and metaphysician.
By and large, in this work he sets the themes for all of his subsequent books. His position is that in the world there are many options for a Unified Spiritual Tradition, in which every culture and every tradition of the people finds its place.
At the same time, this work is perceived by many as oppositions of the East and the West. And even as a narrative of a decaying West, in which anti-traditionalism and civilization reign, as opposed to Eastern culture and traditionalism.
"Man and his exercise according to Vedanta"
Renon Genet, whose books are described in this article, in 1925 publishes a work entitled "Man and its implementation according to the Vedanta." In it, the author, using the example of Vedanta, one of the orthodox schools of Hinduism, talks about the basic metaphysical principles of the Primordial Tradition. This is a term that Genon himself actively uses in his work. It is dedicated to the original content of spirituality, which is based on the metaphysical doctrine of the Principle. It is embodied in symbols that are transmitted from one era to another.
Also in it, he describes the alleged paths of human evolution after death, as well as the possible achievement of a state of final liberation, as he writes about yoga.
"The crisis of the modern world"
In 1927, one of Rene Guenon's key books, The Crisis of the Modern World, was published. In it, the author described in detail the dangers posed by a modern consumer society. A lot of what the philosopher wrote about at the beginning of the 20th century is still relevant today.
For example, in this work he discusses new needs. In his opinion, modern civilization artificially creates them, which as a result leads to a continuous process of the emergence of ever new needs that a person needs to satisfy. At the same time, once stepping on this path, getting off it is very difficult. Yes, besides, there are no good reasons for this.
Guenon thinks that in the old days people could easily do without many things, the existence of which they did not even suspect, and today the very thought of their absence is painful for them. As a result, people try to acquire them by any available means, satisfying more and more new needs that they have. Ultimately, the sole purpose of a person is to make money to satisfy these needs. It turns into the only passion in life.
"Symbolism of the cross"
In 1931, Guenon published the book Symbolism of the Cross. He devotes it to the problems of traditional spatial symbolism. In particular, the geometric symbolization of the states of the universal man. He presents them as a vertical hierarchy of levels, states of Being. Moreover, each of them is not limited in time and space, spreading in two horizontal perpendicular directions. Ultimately, Genon turns out to be a three-dimensional cross in which there are six rays.
Each plane is formed by an unlimited number of parallel lines that symbolize the innumerable beings in the universe. If we take and consider only one creature, then from each point it will be possible to draw a perpendicular straight line, with the help of which it will be possible to depict how this modality develops.
Thus, the author describes the reflections of the fundamental analogy of macrocosm and microcosm in the Universe.
"Multiple events of being"
In many ways, Guenon continues these arguments in the treatise "Multiple Events of Being", which was published in 1932.
In particular, in this work, the French philosopher considers the foundations of the metaphysics of the Primordial Tradition as the Supreme Principle that exists in dual unity. It manifests itself relevant to each human level. The whole metaphysical multiplicity lies in the direct principle of Being.
At the same time, Infon understands Infinity as a direct and active aspect of the Principle.
Initiation Notes
In his 1946 Notes on Initiation, Genon examines all kinds of aspects of initiation, which he understands as an orderly and conscious process by all participants. It should proceed in the conditions of traditional initiatory organizations in order to achieve a universal state by a person.
Genon contrasts the scientific path with the mystical. In the same treatise, the author addresses the problem of the elite. A quote by Rene Genon is known that the elite is always perceived in society as a certain collection of people who have all the qualities necessary for initiation. Moreover, it is obvious that in the society of such people a minority.
Therefore, Guenon writes that, due to their central position, such people are considered elected, and in the conditions of the modern era they are becoming much smaller than ever.
"Symbols of sacred science"
Guenon left many unpublished works during his lifetime. After his death, the tracts "Initiation and Spiritual Realization", "Essays on Freemasonry and Companion", "A Look at Christian Esotericism", "Traditional Forms and Cosmic Cycles", "Symbols of the Sacred Science" were published.
Rene Guenon devotes his last work to sacred symbolism, as well as its various manifestations in modern and past religious and cultural traditions.
Separate chapters of the treatise describe the holy grail, the doctrine of the signs of the zodiac.