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Prophet for a Dark Age
A Companion to the Works of René Guénon

Graham Rooth
Graham Rooth MD, MRC Psych, is a retired consultant psychiatrist with a longstanding interest in languages, and the relationship between spirituality and humanistic therapies. His recently made a new translation of Hubert Benoit’s The Supreme Doctrine, published with other Benoit publications in The Light of Zen in the West (Sussex Academic Press, 2005).

	Provides comprehensive coverage of the key concepts employed by Guénon and interprets the less familiar terms from Sanskrit, Hebrew and Arabic. The text makes extensive use of extracts from Guénon’s original work.
	Graham Rooth is the translator of the bestselling The Light of Zen in the West, incorporating The Supreme Doctrine and The Realization of the Self, by Hubert Benoit.

René Guénon is a major figure for anyone who recognizes a need to rediscover the spiritual roots from which Western society has become so comprehensively alienated. Immersing himself in the search for spiritual truth, he chose Islam as the vehicle for his spiritual life. Settling in Egypt, he clarified and deepened our understanding of the teachings of traditional metaphysics, his central message being that there is at the source of all humanity’s traditions a ‘Primordial Tradition’ – a Universal Metaphysics which sets out the principles that underlie this Tradition. The truths it embodies are universal and unchanging, and form part of a unified body of higher knowledge which transcends the multiplicity of religious dogmas and philosophical systems that abound in Western society. He wrote about the need to transcend the formal and emotional aspect of religion in order to prepare ourselves for an understanding of ‘pure metaphysics’. He explained how traditional societies achieved this, exploring the symbols used, in order to help individuals forward to levels of understanding which are otherwise inaccessible to minds blinkered by the limitations of the currently prevailing Western approach to existence and its meaning.

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This book provides an overview of Guénon’s work. It is arranged in four parts each of which provides extracts that express his views directly and commentaries that summarize or paraphrase his written work. The objective is to allow Guénon to speak for himself rather than produce a critique of his ideas.


Part One, Religion and the Primordial Tradition, explores Guénon’s ideas about the nature of the primordial Tradition or ‘Perennial Philosophy’ and the part it would play in a traditional society. It sets out his views on the major religions and how they are related to the primordial Tradition. There are sections on the monotheistic religions and the oriental religions. The largest section deals with Vedantic Hinduism, reflecting the dominant and enduring role that this played in the development of Guénon’s ideas.

Part Two, The Spiritual Journey and the Integral Being, focuses on the quest for enlightenment and the means of achieving it, with an emphasis on the role of initiation and transmission. It examines the difference between ‘realization’ and salvation. It explores the spiritual quest in the light of Guénon’s theory of the integral being and its multiple states, which postulates that the human state is one aspect only of innumerable different states comprising the totality of a single being.

Part Three, Western Society and the Growth of Modernity, presents Guénon’s critique of contemporary Western society in terms of its historical development and current worldview. It highlights the spiritual dangers that confront the West and examines the processes and attitudes symptomatic of its spiritual decline. It provides an overview of Guénon’s ideas about subjects ranging across the sciences, the humanities, philosophy and psychology. The section on philosophy draws together many of Guénon’s ideas about the nature of manifestation and ultimate reality.

Part Four, Symbolism, explores the significance Guénon attached to the history and meaning of the symbols shared by all the great traditions. It summarizes his thoughts on the nature of symbolism, how it achieves its effects and its particular significance to the spiritual life. Many examples are provided from the natural world, the animal kingdom and human activities, demonstrating the important part played by symbols in all cultures, and the common features they share, suggesting the possibility that many of the more important ones point to an ancient, common origin.

Preface Brief Biography with Dates of Major Publications Translator’s Note and Acknowledgments GlossaryPART I  THE PRIMORDIAL TRADITION AND RELIGION The Primordial Tradition Origins of the Tradition Core Concepts in the Tradition    The Nature of the Primordial Doctrine    The Ever-Present Centre and Its Representations      Holy Land    Universal Man    The Word      Logos    The Traditional Society      The Traditional Society as a Reflection of the Cosmic Order      Harmony, Justice and the Law      The Nature of Spiritual and Temporal Authority in a Traditional Society      The Priesthood      Royalty Religion Esoteric Religion    Exotericism and its relationship to Esotericism Theology    Monotheism and Polytheism    Pantheism God    Anthropocentrism and Divine Attributes Miscellaneous Religious Concepts    Angels      Lucifer      Metatron    Demiurge    Gnosis    Heaven, Paradise and Hell      Paradise      Hell    Hermes and Hermetism    Idolatry    Immortality    Influences, Spiritual and Other    Morality and Religion    Mysticism    Pilgrimage    Profane    Prophets    Reincarnation    Revelation      Revelation and Inspiration    Rituals and Sacraments    Ritual Orientation    Rosary (or Chaplet)    Sacrifice    Satan      Satanism    Silence    Spiritual Poverty The Oriental Traditions The Hindu Tradition    Deliverance      Moksha      Jîvan-mukti      Krama-Mukti      Vidêha-Mukti   Â tman     Â tman and Self      Self and ‘Personality’     Â tman and the Different States of the Being    Brahman    Caste      The Hindu Concept of Caste      Brâhmana (Brahmin)      Kshatriyas      The Relationship between Kshatriyas and Brâhmanas      Caste and Class    Darshanas      The Six Classical Schools of Thought in Hinduism    Time      Kalpa      Manvantara      Kali-Yuga    Additional Concepts (Sanskrit Terms)      Adhikârî      Advaita-Vâda      Agarttha      Ahamkâra      Aishvarya     Â nanda (Beatitude)      Apûrva     Â shramas      Avatâra      Avidya (Ignorance)      Bhûtas      Bhuvah      Boddhisatva      Brahma-Randhra      Buddhi      Chakra      Dahara      Deva      Devatâ      Dharma      Dhyâna      Hârda-Vidya or Dahara-Vidya      Dvija      Gunas      Hiranyagarba     Î shvara      Jîvâtman      Jnâna      Kaivalya      Kâla. Kâla-Mukha. Kâla-makara. Kîrti-mukha      Kâma      Kârana. Kârana-sharira. Kârya. Kârya-Brahman      Karma. Karma-Mimânsâ. Karmamârga. Karma-Yoga      Kosha      Krishna      Kundalinî      Linga      Loka      Manas      Mantra      Manu      Mârga      Marû      Mâyâ      Nirûkta      Nirvâna; Parinirvâna      Om (Aum)      Prajâpati      Prâjna      Prâna      Primordial Nature      Purusha and Prakriti      Saccidânanda      Samskâra      Sadhana      Shakti      Shruti and Smriti      Sûrya, the Sun; the Seventh Ray      Sûtrâtmâ      Tanmâtras      Trimûrti      Veda      Vedânta      Yoga; Yogin Buddhism The Chinese Traditions    Daoism; Confucianism    Some Daoist Concepts      Dao      Great Triad      Gua      Invariable Middle      Primordial State      Qian; Kun      Sage      Son of Heaven and Earth      Taiji      Void      Wang      Wuwei: Non-Action, Non-Acting      Yin-Yang The Monotheistic Religions Christianity    Christianity’s Continuing Influence    The Traditional Character of Christianity    Early Christianity and Christian Esotericism    Later Christianity    Catholicism    Protestantism    Christian Concepts      Baptism      Church      Cross      Fall      Grace      Hesychasm      Kingdom of Heaven; Kingdom of God      Original Sin      Pope    Christian Symbolism      Chrismon      Church Design      Gammadion      The Feasts of St John Islam    Islam    Islamic Esotericism    Islamic Terms and Concepts      Al-Aql      Al-Arkân      Al-Haqîqah      Al-Mustafâ      Ar-Rûh      As-Sharî’a      At-Tarîqah      Dhikr      Fullness      Gog and Magog      Ilmul-Hurûf      Lâhût and Nâsût      Majdhûb      Qâf      Sufi      Walî, Nabî and Rasûl Judaism    Hebrew    Israel    Kabbala    Hebrew Terms and Concepts      Adam Kadmon      Beith-El      Burning Bush      Cain and Abel      Creation      Edom      Elijah      Elohim      Enoch      Ihei Aor      Iod      Jehovah      Jerusalem      Jonah and the Whale      Kadosh      Kether and the Sephirotic Tree      Kohanim      Luz      Malaki      Melchisedek      Noah      Ruahh Elohim      Tabernacle      Temple of Solomon      Tetragrammaton      Yetzirah PART II  THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY AND THE INTEGRAL BEING The Spiritual Journey The Goal of the Spiritual Journey    Supreme Identity    Salvation and Deliverance Initiation    The Conditions of Initiation    Other Aspects of Initiation      Initiatory Symbolism      Initiatory Hierarchies      The ‘Born-Again’ Initiate      Initiatory Rituals and Rites      Passivity and Initiation Methods Associated with the Spiritual Journey    Concentration    Contemplation    Detachment    Service Other Themes    Birth and Death      Birth      Death      The Journey after Death    Body    Conversion and Retournement    Corruption    Eden; The Edenic State    Ego      Extinction and the Ego    Guru    Mask    Mystery      Greater and Lesser Mysteries    Peace; as-Sakînah; Shekina    Soul    Spirit    Transcendence    Transitions The Integral Being and its Multiple States The Doctrine of the Multiple States of the Being Associated Concepts    Celestial Ray    The Human State    Milieu    Spiritual Hierarchies    Subtle World; Subtle State    Transformation PART III  WESTERN SOCIETY AND THE EMERGENCE OF MODERNITY Aspects of Western Society Historical    The Celts      Druids      Lia Fail    The Middle Ages      Christendom    Mediaeval Themes      Carnivals and Festivals      Chivalry      Emperor      Grail      Guardians of the Holy Land      Heraldry      Hermetism and Alchemy    Initiatory Organizations Originating in the Middle Ages      The Compagnonnages      Fedeli d’Amore      Fede Santa      Rosy Cross; Rosicrucianism      Templars    Freemasonry      Modern and traditional      Operative versus speculative Masonry      Anderson and Désaguliers      Freemasonry and Gnosis      Some Masonic Symbols and Concepts Modernity The Birth of Modernity    The Renaissance    Rationalism    Laïcisation    Nationalism The Nature of Modernity    The Divergence between East and West The Approach of the Dark Age The Effects of Secularism    Egalitarianism    Materialism   ‘ Progress’   ‘ Commodification’ and De-Sacralization      The Triumph of ‘Middle Class’ Values      Money      Sport      Teaching The Modern Worldview    Imagination and Illusion    The Illusion of Ordinary Life    Sentimentalisme    The Decline of Genuine Spirituality      Popularization and the ‘hatred of what is hidden’      Religious Belief in the West    Cults and Pseudo-Spiritual Activities      Divination and False Prophecies      Magic      Spiritualism and Spiritism      Mediumship and Mânes, Ob, and Pretas      Mormonism      Theosophy The Irresistible Advance of Anti-Traditionalism    The Loss of the Traditional Sciences The Next Stage: Counter-Tradition and Counter-Initiation    Counter-Tradition    Counter-Initiation The Only Way Out The Humanities Art Architecture      Dome      Keystone Language and the ‘Phonic’ Arts    Language and its limitations      Sacred and Profane Language      The Primordial language      The language of the birds      The language of the gods      The world as a divine language    Poetry And Music      Poetry      Rhythm    Myth    Theatre as a Symbol of Manifestation Psychology    Psychology and the Subtle State    Psychology and the Spiritual The Faculties    Memory    Mind      Mind and Thought      Consciousness      Subconscious and ‘Superconscious’      Dream Psychoanalysis Philosophy, Logic and Metaphysics Philosophy    Leibniz    Pragmatism Logic Metaphysics      Metaphysics and Theology      Pseudo-metaphysics      Imagery in Metaphysics      Integral Metaphysics    Fundamental Constructs      Being and Non-Being      Contingence      Dualism and Non-Dualism      Essence and Substance      Existence      Intellect      Knowledge      Manifestation      Principle      Universal    Subsidiary Concepts      Action      Becoming      Chance      Determined; Conditioned      Destiny and Finality      Dialectic      Emanation      Equilibrium      Freedom      Individualism      Macrocosm and Microcosm      Negation      Possibility      Reality      World    The Conditions of Our World      Matter and Substance      Measure      Quantity      Space      Time Mathematics and Geometry Mathematics – Indefinite and Infinite    Fractions and Infinity      Finite      Limit    Number    Numerals Geometry PART IV  SYMBOLISM and SYMBOLS    Symbolism and Analogy    Symbols and Nature Axis Symbolism      Cross      Ladder      Mountain      Pole Centre Symbolism      Cave      Island      Omphalos Symbols Derived from Natural Phenomena    General      Darkness      Dew      Fire (Sanskrit: têjas)      Light      Night      Rain      Rainbow      River      Stones      Water    The Heavens      Ianua Coeli      Moon      Planets      Stars      Sun      Zodiac    The Animal Kingdom      Bear and Boar      Dragon      Horns      Snake; Serpent      Birds      Fish    The Vegetable Kingdom      Plants, Flowers, Seeds, Fruit and Trees      Flowers      Fruit      Germ      Seed      Trees    Metal, Minerals and Precious Stones      Metal and Metallurgy      Gold and Silver      Jade      Sulphur, Mercury and Salt: An Alchemical Ternary Symbols from the Human Sphere    The Body      Androgyne      Eye      Hand      Heart      Skull    Artefacts and Activities      Book      Bread      Bridge      Carpentry and Wood      Door; Gate; Gateway      Geometry      Keys      Numbers and Numerology      Vessel      War      Weapons      Weaving and Embroidery      Wheel      Wine    Various      Ark      Black and White      Globes      Labyrinth      Seal of Solomon      Swastika      World Egg Index

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