Frithjof Schuon’s “The Transcendent Unity of Religions” as Explained by Huston Smith




The Transcendent Unity of Religion - From Exoteric Diversity to Esoteric Unity

Schuon draws a dividing line between the esoteric and the exoteric, which does not draw the distinction between religions, as in their historical sequence, such as between Hinduism and Buddhism, or between Christianity and Islam, but instead differentiates between the forms/manifestations and the essence/unity of religions. The essence or unity being God, the unity of Truth must therefore be a Transcendent Unity. ” The fact that it is transcendent, ” Smith writes, ” means that it can be univocally described by none. ” Thus, while there is one and only one Truth, there are many expressions of it.

Esoterics sees the unity using intuitive intellect, while exoterics sees it with logical reasons. For the esoterics, differences is insignificant, having “known” the underlying unity. This explains why esoterics have difficulties explaining their understanding to exoterics, because, coming from intuitive knowledge, it can not be described adequately. And thus, in history, esoterics are the minority, while the rest, can be regarded as the exoterics.

Esoterics respect the belief of the exoterics because they see it coming from a holy scripture they also belief as an incarnation of God’s message. However, they can not except it to be the only mean by which God converse with humanity. Therefore, exoterics often regard esoterics intollerantly as heretics.

“God of all humanity is an important conception of God” is a simple notion that can transcend exoteric tendencies to claim the truth (God) for their own religion’s adherents, though not enough to reach the understanding of transcendent unity. Reaching a consensus that religions share common ethics and morals humanity can based their life on is also an important fact that points to transcendent unity. However, to really understand this unity, it takes a progression in conscience, which Schuon stated positively, should be done through exoteric’s symbolic rituals. Esoterics should regard symbolic rituals as a gate, or a window, but should not stop there, and progress towards the transcendent unity which is God. That is why, esoterics are able to find the Absolute in different religious traditions, like the poet who finds the beauty of poetry in many poems.

For exoterics, symbolic rituals, after passing through a certain point, will appear abstract, not real, while for esoterics, they remain meaningful, although not ever more real. In other words, for esoterics, symbols and essence are glued to one another, not easily differentiable. Esoterics uses these symbols loosely, while for exoterics, they are unnegotiable terms.

For the exoterics, the personal God is the only understandable form, while for esoterics, the form is much higher, and becomes formless : the Absolute, the indescribable Tao, Nirguna Brahman, infinity. For Exoterics, this world is real, while for esoterics, it is only a conditional reality, where from their point of view, this reality is in the end, inseparable with God.

For exoterics, God is foremost to be loved, while for esoterics, God is foremost to be understood, though in the end, the esoterics will love what they have understood, and the exoterics will understand what they love.

Image are taken from http://www.integralscience.org/unity.html

This summary was based on Huston Smith’s introduction in Frithjof Schuon’s book : The Transcendent Unity of Religions

Keywords : religions, spirituality, mysticism, unity in diversity, transcendent unity, one world, religious conflict, dialogue, understanding, peace, cooperation, civilization
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