Sign In . Don't have a World Wisdom ID? Sign Up
World Wisdom's Spiritual Classics series
How can we understand Native American traditions?
Where to look to "see God Everywhere"?
Spiritual Poetry
William C. Chittick explores "The Sufi Doctrine of Rumi"
What is "Christian Spirit"?
The Universal Spirit of Islam: Keys for Interfaith Understanding
Every Branch In Me: Who are we as "human" beings?
Spiritual Masters - East & West Series
Interview with Frithjof Schuon - on Spirituality
Slideshows
  Light on the Ancient Worlds: A Brief Survey of the Book by Frithjof Schuon Back to the List of Slideshows
An excerpt from
the second chapter of
Light on the Ancient Worlds,
"Fall and Forfeiture,"
written by Frithjof Schuon
    
slide 5 of 10

Chapter 5:   Tracing Mâyâ

This chapter deals with metaphysics in a more direct manner than the other chapters. The degree of understanding that a civilization has of metaphysics has critical implications:
The mission of man is to introduce the Absolute into the relative, if one may use so elliptical an expression; since man has all too often failed in his mission, this is also therefore the role of Revelation and the Avatâras as well as of miracles. In a miracle as in other theophanies, the veil of Mâyâ is symbolically torn; the miracle, the Prophet, wisdom are metaphysically necessary, for it is inconceivable that they should not appear within the world of man; and man himself comprises all these aspects in relationship to the terrestrial world, of which he is the center and opening toward Heaven, or pontifex. The meaning of human life — to paraphrase a Christian formula expressing reciprocity between man and God — is to realize that Âtmâ became Mâyâ that Mâyâ might become Âtmâ. (Excerpted from page 82.)

Back to the List of Slideshows



Home | Books | DVDs | Authors | eProducts | Members | Slideshows | Library | Image-Gallery | Links | About Us




Privacy Statement
Copyright © 2008