Advice to the Serious Seeker: Meditations on the Teaching of Frithjof Schuon

239 Pages·1997·103.121 MB·English

by  James Cutsinger

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ISBN 0-7914-3250-5

ADVICE TO THE SERIOUS SEEKER

ADVICE TO THE SERIOUS SEEKER
Meditations on the Teaching of Frithjof Schuon
James S. Cutsinger
SUNY Series in
Western Esoteric Traditions
David Appelbaum, Editor
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS
Frontispiece: photo of Frithjof Schuon courtesy Whitall N. Perry
Production by Ruth Fisher
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State University of New York Press, Albany
© 1997 State University of New York
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cutsinger, James S., 1953-
Advice to the serious seeker: meditations on the teaching of
Frithjof Schuon I James S. Cutsinger.
p. em.-(SUNY series in Western esoteric traditions)
ISBN 0-7914-3249-1 (hardcover: alk. paper).-ISBN 0-7914-3250-5
(pbk.: alk. paper)
1. Spiritual life-Meditations. 2. Schuon, Frithjof, 1907-
3. Religions. 4. Religion. I. Title. II. Series.
BL624.2.C87 1997
200' .92-dc20 96-12876
CIP
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To
the Friends
Blessed is the man who has found Wisdom. Her ways are good
ways, and all Her paths are peaceful. She is a tree of life to all
that lay hold upon Her.
-Proverbs 3

CONTENTS
Preface IX
Introduction: Landmarks on the Road Ahead 1
Truth
1 The Way of Knowledge 11
2 Thinking the Unthinkable 17
3 Proofs of God 21
4 The Intellect 27
5 Degrees of Reality 33
6 The Doctrine of Illusion 41
7 The Open Door 47
Virtue
8 Conforming to God 55
9 Perfection and Anonymity 61
10 Humility 67
11 Charity 73
12 Veracity 81
13 Predestination and Freedom 89
Vll
viii -4 Contents
Beauty
14 A Space before God 99
15 The World as Symbol 105
16 The Message of the Human Body 113
17 Sacred Art 123
18 The Practice of Beauty 131
Prayer
19 Movement toward God 141
20 Faith 147
21 Method and Grace 153
22 Concentration through Intention 161
23 Invocation of the Name 169
24 Spiritual Direction 177
25 Our Final Goal 185
Epilogue: Perennial Philosophy and Transcendent Unity 193
Sources of Quotations 203
Bibliography of Works by Frithjof Schuon 217
Suggested Reading 219
Index 221