Title: Knowledge as Liberation: The Path Beyond Samsâra
Tags: #Liberation #Tantra #Tradition #SpiritualRealization #Metaphysics #Initiation #SelfMastery #Transcendence #Evola

  1. Liberation through Knowledge: The ultimate goal of existence is liberation (moksha), which is achieved through the realization of transcendent Knowledge. This Knowledge is not intellectual but experiential, rooted in the direct realization of the Self.
  2. The Human Condition as Opportunity: The human birth is rare and precious, offering the unique opportunity to transcend the cycle of birth and death (samsâra). Failing to pursue liberation while in this state is a profound self-betrayal.
  3. Detachment as the Key: Liberation is attained through detachment from the illusions of the material world. Attachment to transient pleasures and identities perpetuates bondage, while detachment aligns one with the Real.
  4. The Role of the Body: The body is a tool for spiritual realization. It must be preserved and disciplined, not indulged or abused, as it serves as the vehicle for attaining Truth.
  5. The Illusion of Rituals: External practices, such as rituals, sacrifices, and asceticism, are insufficient for liberation. They may serve as preliminary steps but cannot replace the direct realization of Truth.
  6. The Necessity of a Teacher: Liberation is imparted through the guidance of a true Teacher (Guru), who transmits the living Knowledge beyond scriptures and theoretical teachings.
  7. Beyond Dualism and Monism: The ultimate Truth transcends both dualism and monism. It is realized through direct experience, not through philosophical speculation or adherence to dogmas.
  8. The Futility of Mere Scriptural Knowledge: Scriptures and texts are secondary; they are only useful if one already possesses the inner disposition toward Knowledge. Without this, they are as useless as a mirror to a blind man.
  9. The Danger of Ignorance: Ignorance (avidya) binds beings to the cycle of suffering. Only the awakening of true Knowledge can dispel this ignorance and lead to liberation.
  10. The Path of the Kaula: The Tantric initiatic path (Kaula) offers a direct means to liberation, emphasizing the transmission of Truth from Teacher to disciple. Outside this path, liberation remains inaccessible.

The text underscores the importance of spiritual discipline, self-awareness, and the guidance of a genuine Teacher in overcoming the cycle of samsâra and achieving liberation. It rejects superficial practices and emphasizes the need for inner transformation and alignment with the Real.

The text emphasizes the path to liberation through Knowledge and detachment, aligning with a traditionalist perspective that prioritizes spiritual realization over ritualism and materialism. Key points include: 1. Liberation through Knowledge: Liberation (moksha) is the ultimate goal, attainable only through the realization of Truth and Self-knowledge, not through rituals, asceticism, or scriptural study alone.
2. Detachment: Attachment to worldly desires and identities perpetuates bondage. True freedom comes from detachment and grounding in the Real.
3. The Role of the Teacher: Liberation is imparted through the direct transmission of Truth by a true Teacher, not through theoretical knowledge or intellectual debates.
4. Critique of Ritualism and Hypocrisy: Rituals, sacrifices, and superficial practices are deemed ineffective for liberation. Those who preach such methods without true understanding are criticized as deceivers.
5. The Human Opportunity: The human birth is rare and precious, offering the unique chance to attain liberation. Failing to strive for this goal is a grave error.
6. Transcending Dualism and Monism: The ultimate Truth lies beyond both dualism and monism, accessible only through direct realization, not philosophical speculation.

Metaphysical part:

On the Secret of Decay

Those who reject the rationalist myth of “progress” and the interpretation of history as a continuous upward trajectory of humanity will inevitably gravitate toward the worldview shared by all great traditional cultures. This perspective centers on the memory of a process of degeneration, a gradual obscuration, or the collapse of a higher, preceding world. As one delves deeper into this ancient (yet newly relevant) interpretation, various challenges arise, chief among them being the question of the secret of decay.

This question, in its literal sense, is not new. When faced with the remnants of ancient cultures—whose names are lost to history but whose physical remains exude a greatness and power that seem otherworldly—few can avoid pondering the death of civilizations. The explanations commonly offered for such collapses often feel inadequate.

The Comte de Gobineau provided one of the most insightful summaries of this problem, along with a masterful critique of the prevailing hypotheses. His solution, rooted in racial thought and purity, contains significant truth but requires expansion to account for a higher order of reality. There are numerous instances where a culture has collapsed despite maintaining racial purity, as seen in certain groups that have faced slow, inevitable extinction while remaining racially isolated. A nearby example is the Swedes and the Dutch, who remain racially unchanged from two centuries ago but have lost the heroic spirit and racial consciousness they once possessed. Other cultures, like ancient Peru, stand as mummified relics, inwardly dead long before their physical collapse, easily toppled by external forces.

From a strictly traditional perspective, the secret of decay becomes even more elusive. It involves categorizing cultures into two main types: traditional cultures, which are rooted in unchanging metaphysical principles and hierarchical order, and “modern culture,” which represents the antithesis of tradition, focusing solely on human and earthly concerns, detached from any higher world. From this standpoint, history is a narrative of degeneration, marked by the decline of traditional cultures and the rise of modern civilization.

This raises a dual question:

  1. How did this degeneration occur? The evolutionary doctrine contains a logical flaw: the higher cannot emerge from the lower, nor the greater from the lesser. Similarly, the doctrine of involution faces the challenge of explaining how the higher can fall. Analogies, such as a healthy person falling ill or a virtuous individual turning to vice, offer superficial explanations but fail to address the deeper metaphysical issue.

  2. How does the decay of one cultural cycle spread to others? It is not enough to explain the collapse of ancient Western civilization; one must also account for the global dominance of modern culture and its ability to divert other peoples from their traditional paths. Material and economic conquests alone cannot explain this phenomenon, as they are often accompanied by deeper cultural and spiritual influences. The traditional hierarchical view of culture and the state, which emphasizes the presence of the Spirit in the world, suggests that material conquests signal a spiritual weakness or retreat in the conquered cultures. The West, where this crisis reached its peak, delivered a knockout blow that brought down other civilizations whose traditions had already weakened.

The traditional hierarchy is not based on the tyranny of the upper classes but on the recognition by the lower of a higher reality embodied in certain individuals. This recognition forms the basis of all traditional order, heroism, and loyalty. When individuals degenerate, cutting themselves off from higher spiritual reference points, the metaphysical tension that holds the traditional order together collapses. This internal decay leads to external revolutions and the fall of civilizations.

The secret of decay, therefore, lies in the misuse of freedom—the decision to reject the Spirit and sever ties with higher principles. This metaphysical decision, manifesting in various forms of modern, anti-traditional thought, is the root cause of degeneration. Understanding this allows us to grasp the deeper meaning of legends about eternal rulers who await rediscovery by those who achieve spiritual completeness. These rulers symbolize the unalterable peaks of tradition, which remain intact even as the masses fall into decay. The possibility of restoration lies in reconnecting with these spiritual heights, a task that requires a profound inner transformation.