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

Recently, I found myself with some forced leisure on my hands, so I decided to make use of it by reading through the works of Rene Guenon in English, as published by Sophia Perennis. Yes, that's the kind of guy I am. In the midst of the project, this book was announced, and I was undecided; would it be redundant? In the end I decided to get it, and I'm glad I did.First of all, the presentation is excellent -- a handsome size, sturdy binding, clear, well laid out typography, in line with the rest of World Wisdom's publications -- a pleasure to read. Some illustrations would have been nice, especially in the sections dealing with sacred symbolism, and one can always imagine a fancier format -- something along the lines of the Penguin Classics Deluxe Editions -- but these are minor points.More importantly, the selections are well chosen; they are minimally edited but arranged to flow together almost as if they had appeared that way originally; usually two or three in a row from the same book, the books appearing somewhat chronologically but also within four "Worlds" : the Modern, the Metaphysical, the Hindu, and the Traditional. I suppose the Modern comes first, not the Metaphysical, to ease the modern reader into Guenon's metaphysical world; the Hindu is given its own due to the amount of attention Guenon devoted to it, while the Traditional has not only other traditions such as Islam but also topics that apply to traditions generally, such as rites, teachers, etc.The selections, with few exceptions, are drawn from a handful of obvious major works; there's nothing here that's previously unpublished, or newly translated; no letters, diaries, etc. The Introduction, however, is drawn from a transcript of a lecture by Martin Lings that might be relatively inaccessible to the general reader.This would obviously make a fine introduction to Guenon, but even someone who already has the original sources will find this a useful and pleasant supplement, something to pick up and read from time to time. I am reminded of Elmer O'Brien's comment about his similar anthology, The Essential Plotinus [not to be confused with World Wisdom's own The Heart of Plotinus]: these selections are essential in the sense that Coleridge spoke of essential poetry: the passages one returns to with the greatest pleasure.

The best recommendation that I can give to this book is that as I read through it I was refreshed. Then again this was also the case as I read THE ESSENTIAL FRITHJOF SCHUON from World Wisdom. With both authors I had read a considerable amount of their core writings before hand, yet I did not really feel any redundancy here. These teachings are the living heart of the perennial philosophy, so how could they ever cease to strengthen the connection to the higher Spirit?Guenon states outright that only a very few readers in this dark age are going to possess the inherent capacity to understand his writings due to their education and upbringing. Nothing can be done about that. Somehow I seem to be able to understand what is being related. Indeed, I understood these principles long before I came on writers and teachers of the traditionalist school. Yet, those principles are related with a precision that goes far beyond my ability to express them- even in translation. Whether others resonate with them is something that I cannot predict. I would imagine that the odds are against it. Yet, you can still make the attempt. Intuitive intellection is a faculty that still exists in our world.Another thing that struck me was an anecdote in the introduction where a Ph.D. candidate was denied permission to write his thesis on Guenon because the said writer had never done anything "original." Of course not. Rene Guenon intentionally stayed in the background as he related the teachings of the perennial philosophy to a new generation. You could just as well entitle this book "The Essential Sophia Perennis." You cannot add anything new to these teachings, you can merely pass them on with clarity to the current generation.

A compilation of chapters from Guenon's books and introductions and summaries from the editor. I think 5 out of 36 chapters are Guenon. The "summaries" are not always representative. I would have liked to know this. Cheaper than buying all his books and faster than reading them all. I love to read and would not have chosen the short cut. I like Guenon. I find this editor/author offensive.

Content of the book is outstanding, BUT spaces in multi-sylable words in the kindle edition are nerve racking; several on each page in part 2. This matter should be fixed quickly, so that thinking readers can take advantage of the benefits in using a kindle. It beats me how such a great manuscript can be so mis-represented because of the technique used to copy. Where are the scribes when you need them?

I'm a big fan. It can carry across disciplines. This is something that more people should know so that the happy few become happier.

A very good resume of many different topics, clear, an enough for start up the knowledge from a serious source

this book give us a sober view of our world in which quantity has replaced quality, It will also help the reader understand the primordial truth behind traditional religions.

A treasury of thought, densely packed with excerpts of Rene Guenon's wisdom. A must-read for a serious student of theology.

Un sommario accurato del pensiero del grande filosofo Renè Guènon, interessante sia per i profani che per gli esperti del settore.

「近代世界」「形而上学世界」「ヒンドゥー教の世界」「伝統世界」と名づけられた４つの章に分け、ルネ・ゲノンの全作品から文章を抄録したアンソロジー。ゲノン著作集を揃えるつもりならば、あえて購入する必要はない。マーティン・リングスの「序文」が素晴らしいが、これもおそらくいずれリングス本に収録されるだろう。ある意味、ファンアイテムかも。