Frithjof Schuon

Schuon's articles on the relationship between Christianity and Islam have profound implications for inter-faith dialogue. Several thought-provoking chapters shed light, from an inward dimension, upon the apparent outward contradictions between these two religions, notably in the field of moral divergences. This new edition is a fully revised translation of the original French edition and contains an extensive new Appendix with previously unpublished selections from his letters and other private writings.

This new edition of Philospher Frithjof Schoun's classic SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVES & HUMAN FACTS is a fully revised translation of the French edition. SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVES & HUMAN FACTS contains a new extensive appendix of previously unpublished selections from Schuon's letters and other private writings related to the topics covered in the chapters. Schuon, the foremost representative of the Perennialist school of comparative religious thought, writes on an extraordinary range of subjects, including the limitations of modern civilisation and its modes of thought, the role of aesthetics and symbolism in art and nature, the "way of love" and the "way of knowledge" in religion and the Hindu Vedanta. Of particular interest are the groundbreaking sections on the interplay between love, knowledge and universal virtue in spiritual life.

Das grosse Interesse am Zen-Buddhismus und am Buddhismus überhaupt lässt sich als Reaktion auf die Künstlichkeit verstehen, die in der heutigen Welt so vorherrschend ist, und ebenso auf verschiedene Weltanschauungen, die heute zu Recht oder zu Unrecht als unwirksam gelten. Wer ein Gegengift gegen den Materialismus und die leeren Versprechungen einer Pseudo-Geistigkeit sucht, findet es in Frithjof Schuons klarsichtiger Untersuchung der inneren Wahrheit des Buddhismus. Ohne die "Mythologie" der Person Buddhas zu vernachlässigen, führt der Autor ihre historischen - und manchmal widersprüchlichen - Erscheinungen auf ihren Ursprung in den Göttlichen Eigenschaften und auf die menschlichen Tugenden zurück, die den notwendigen Rahmen eines geistigen Lebens bilden. Grundlegende Begriffe des Buddhismus wie das Leiden und seine Überwindung, die Leere oder nirvana-samsara werden im Licht der vedantischen Unterscheidung zwischen Atma und Maya erläutert. Darin liegt ein Schlüssel zum Verständnis der Unterschiede zwischen dem "Individualismus" der westlichen Philosophie und der Gelassenheit östlicher Metaphysik. Dieser Gesichtspunkt steht über konfessioneller Voreingenommenheit und vermittelt einzigartige Einsichten in die facettenreiche geistige Welt des Buddhismus'. "Schätze des Buddhismus" ist 1993 auf englisch mit dem Titel "Treasures of Buddhism" erschienen. Die vorliegende deutsche Übersetzung haben Wolf Allmaras und Felix Bieri besorgt.

The author's writings on the subject of art, selected and edited by his wife Catherine Schuon, contains over 270 photographs - 200 color and 70 black and white. In this book, he then deals with the spiritual significance of the artistic productions of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and the Far-Eastern world.

This new edition of perennial philosopher Frithj of Schuon's "Sufism: Veil And Quintessence" is a fully revised translation from the French original and contains an extensive appendix with previously unpublished selections from Schuon's letters and other private writings. In seven articles Schuon makes the critical distinction between an "absolute" Islam and a "contingent" Islam, thus distinguishing between the message of Islam in itself and the pious Arab expressions of that message, which by their style of rhetoric have a tendency to veil it.

During the last three years of his life Frithjof Schuon wrote approximately 3,500 poems in his mother tongue German. These poems express every conceivable subtlety of spiritual and moral counsel, and the same sharpness of intellect, profundity, comprehensiveness, and compassion which one finds in Schuon's other writings. These four volumes, available for the first time in English, represent a substantial portion of Schuon's poetical work, and will prove irresistible to anyone interested in the poetical expression of the inner spiritual life.

During the last three years of his life, Frithjof Schuon wrote approximately 3,500 poems in his mother tongue German. These poems express every conceivable subtlety of spiritual and moral counsel, and the same sharpness of intellect, profundity, comprehensiveness, and compassion which one finds in Schuon's other writings. These four volumes, available for the first time in English, represent a substantial portion of Schuon's poetical work, and will prove irresistible to anyone interested in the poetical expression of the inner spiritual life.

During the last three years of his life, Frithjof Schuon wrote approximately 3,500 poems in his mother tongue German. These poems express every conceivable subtlety of spiritual and moral counsel, and the same sharpness of intellect, profundity, comprehensiveness, and compassion which one finds in Schuon's other writings. These four volumes, available for the first time in English, represent a substantial portion of Schuon's poetical work, and will prove irresistible to anyone interested in the poetical expression of the inner spiritual life.

During the last three years of his life, Frithjof Schuon wrote approximately 3,500 poems in his mother tongue German. These poems express every conceivable subtlety of spiritual and moral counsel, and the same sharpness of intellect, profundity, comprehensiveness, and compassion which one finds in Schuon's other writings. These four volumes, available for the first time in English, represent a substantial portion of Schuon's poetical work, and will prove irresistible to anyone interested in the poetical expression of the inner spiritual life.

ROOTS OF THE HUMAN CONDITION deals with the fundamental principles of universal and perennial metaphysics and their application on the level of spiritual and moral life. Simply put this book reveals many answers to those seekers questing for knowledge of what lies behind the reality of our world and more particularly our own human souls. The book is divided into three sections. The first deals with metaphysics and epistemology the second concerns esoterism and its interpretation of religions and the third focuses on spiritual and moral life. The reader is provided with an intellectual method-in the truest sense-with which to view the profound questions of existence. Then is shown how authentic esoterism approaches the spiritual realisation of these truths and finally is immersed in compelling considerations of human virtue the almost alchemical result of realising those truths. Schuon writes that people often seek certitude through phenomena of the external world while instead we should be seeking it in our very being. This is where his books have been leading readers for generations to a strong certitude of the realities and purpose of the world and of our own existence. In this and indeed in all his books Schuon leads readers to insights on the roots of the human condition precisely. Schuon's writings appeal to philosophers students of comparative religion and to spiritual seekers among others. ROOTS OF THE HUMAN CONDITION offers each of these an opportunity to be guided through some of the profoundest human questions by one of the greatest intellects of the 20th century.

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 Foreword 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.

The great 20th century metaphysician Frithjof Schuon was also a spiritual master familiar with the spiritual struggles of modern seekers. He once wrote, "To be a human being means to be connected with God; life has no meaning without this". This "human vocation" means that until we find a personal connection with God we are not able to connect with the innermost being that lies locked up within the human heart. Schuon's simplest solution to all people of all religious persuasions: "You must pray, always pray". James S. Cutsinger, author and editor, has collected into this volume some of the most memorable writings on prayer and the spiritual life by this great 20th century spiritual figure. Prayer Fashions Man includes an appendix of excerpts from letters and other writings which have not been published before. Thus, previous readers of Schuon will rejoice in this wonderful collection of many of his best writings on prayer and the human vocation, as well as seeing some material they have never seen before. Readers new to Schuon will find, as countless others have, insights on spirituality that call to their innermost being in a universal language that all people of all times and all religions can, and indeed must, understand

The modern world is characterized by its fascination with relativity and individualism. Into this morass, the writings of Frithjof Schuon enter like a bolt of lightning that both clears the air and brings serenity in its wake. As the pre-eminent exponent of the Perennial Philosophy, Schuon's perspective restores a true sense of proportions in affirming the transcendent Real and then draws all the consequences spiritually and humanly, as well as aesthetically on the plane of forms. At the level of ideas, Schuon is an unsurpassable expositor of first principles and included here are seminal chapters such as Atma-Maya. In addition, one of the reasons he is so widely acclaimed is his fluency in so many "languages of the Spirit." There are gems here from the traditional worlds of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. For anyone who has doubts that the Sacred has not only the first but, also, the final word, these essays definitively lay them to rest.

The Fullness Of God is the first in a new series of titles from World Wisdom featuring the essential writings of Frithjof Schuon. Here for the first time in one volume are the most important of Schuon's chapters on the Christian tradition. The Fullness Of God has been organised in such a way as to guide the reader from matters of metaphysical principle, through various theological and hermeneutical issues, to "operative" questions of spiritual practice and method. Specific topics include the relationship between Christianity and non Christian religions; the divergence within Christianity between its main branches, Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant; the place of reason and faith in Christianity and their knowledge or gnosis; the principle and application of a mystical exegesis of Scripture; the central dogmas of the Trinity and Incarnation, as well as Eucharistic and Marian doctrine; and Christian initiation, contemplative practice, and, and "prayer of the heart." The volume concludes with a short appendix of previously unpublished material, including samples from Schuon's correspondence with various Christian seekers. Editor's notes, a glossary of foreign terms and a comprehensive index are, also, included to make this volume a very useful tool for students, as well as a rich mine for seekers after the sacred.

These two books, combined in one volume represent the heart of Schuon's German poems.