In several places, Evola explains what he
means by “seeing”, or direct intuitive knowledge of reality. He
opposes this type of knowing to its alternatives: the laws of empirical
science, the opinions of philosophy, or the dogmas of blind faith.
In Ch 3 of the Doctrine of Awakening, he
writes:
”the term veda – from the root vid, which is equivalent to the
Greek id (idea) and which means ‘I see’ – refers to a
doctrine based not on faith or ‘revelation’, but on a higher knowledge
attained through a process of seeing. The Vedas were ‘seen’: they
were seen by the rishi, by the ‘seers’ of the earliest times.”
For example, this is how Ananda Coomaraswamy,
in his retelling of the myths of the Hindus and Buddhists, describes Valmiki’s
composition of the Ramayana:
“Then Valmiki, dwelling in the
hermitage amongst his disciples, set himself to make the great Ramayan, that bestows
on all who hear it righteousness and wealth and fulfillment of desire, as well
as the severing of ties. He sought deeper insight into the story he had heard
from Narada, and thereto took his seat according to yoga ritual, and addressed
himself to ponder on that subject and no other. Then by his yoga-powers he
beheld Rama and Sita, Lakshaman, and Dasharatha with his wives in his kingdom,
laughing and talking, bearing and forbearing, doing and undoing as in real
life, as clearly as on might see a fruit held in the palm of the hand. He
perceived not only what had been, but what was to come. Then only, after
concentrated meditation, when the whole story lay like a picture in his mind, he
began to shape it into shlokas …”
In the Yoga of Power, Evola devotes the
entirety of Ch 3 (Knowledge and Power) to this topic.
There are a few essential points that are
worth pointing out. First, the use of the word “seeing” is only
used in an analogous sense to the physical sense of sight. Thus this cannot be
confused with anything like New Age fortune telling, or religious “visions”,
or even visual hallucinations.
Then, unlike profane scientific knowledge,
there is the requirement for a change in the knower, acquired through various
means (for example, Valmiki undertook a yogic rite prior to his “vision”).
Yet, like scientific knowledge, this intuitive knowledge, not simply a private
vision, is objective and available to anyone willing to make the same efforts.
It would seem, then, quite unjustified to
reject such a claim out of hand, either based on a misunderstanding of what the
claim really means, or from a failure to undertake the necessary efforts. The
alternatives are hardly more attractive.
I thank the owner to quote the Evola's reference to pizza and gondolas: now I feel more at home here, but my intention was only to point out the uselessness of...
In several places, Evola explains what he means by "seeing", or direct intuitive knowledge of reality. He opposes this type of knowing to its alternatives: the...
In Hinduism the term for this type of 'sight' (applicable only in a metaphorical sense and not a direct epistemological one) is Darsana. This is the type of...
In this chapter entitled "Nordic-Western Migrations", Evola introduces a fundamental theme of his doctrine of race, viz., that the primordial origin of the...
Evola clarifies "the Problem of "Latinity" in this chapter. He takes pains to dispel the idea of "Latinity" as applied to Italy at that time. The Latin myth is...
Chapter 15 is entitled "Race, Romanity and Italian History". Here, Evola enunciates the principle that "in order to progress form racial theory to practice,...
This is the full passage: "In the Middle Ages, as is well known, the Church tried hard to resuscitate the supranational symbol by combining with it the ideas...
I see: it depends on the quibbles in translating. Since the verb "to produce" is not present in the original, I read better the sentence this way: "combining...
First, Evola is not used to being 'allusive', especially in his political or racial works. Second, the Italian 'ingegnarsi' is the precise equivalent to the...
In chapter 16, "The Type of our Super-Race", Evola goes into some detail regarding the characteristics of the Roman-Aryan man, which is the 'super-race' from...
This may seem overly pedantic, but why does Evola feel it necessary to ascribe a set of given physical attributes to the 'man of race'? Does this mean that a...
Before going back over your question, just a hint at your remark on "muscular stature" with respect to race : the ancient Chinese called the original race,...
Does that relate to the Indian theory of matter being made manifest by the gradual manifestation of matter via the principle of Tamas? If it refers to beings...
This booklet contains the barest outline of Evola's ideas on race. Since I had never been particularly interested in that topic until I read this, I am not...
Agreed. "Evola's point is that the race of the spirit and soul is expressed through the body", and that's precisely what was to be pointed out in this respect,...
This is the Italian dictionary definition of slanciato: part. pass. di slanciare ¶ agg. alto e snello (detto sia di persona sia di struttura architettonica): ...
The Italian for "It is not a matter of indifference that a body has this shape rather than that one: it is not by chance and without consequence" would be "Non...
... In the preface "Julius Evola's Political Endeavours" to the English Edition of 'Men Among the Ruins', H.T. Hansen writes: In light of all of Evola's...
Unfortunately, you are not the only one who cannot verify if that quotation is accurate : 'Scienza, razza et scientismo' is found in an anthology of writings...
Firstly, I will admit that I have absolutely no knowledge of Evola's teachings of race, so please hold that in mind when reading my reply. ... This is what I...
You didn't need to admit that you have absolutely no knowledge of Evola's teachings of race. A review of 'The Elements of Racial Education', which, 65 years or...
in evola_as_he_is@yahoogroups.com ... This means simply that the races are too mixed up today. Anyway, the observations of Evola have always a qualitative...
Hello, In this chapter of 'The Elements of Racial Education', Evola refers implicitly to the demographic battle launched by Mussolini at the beginning of the...
Hello, Evola speaks of "racial elites", while Guénon speaks of "spiritual elites", or, more precisely, for reasons which he had the occasion to explain and...
vandermok says: "If you do not recognize this as "racism", well, it is a problem of yours: use another word, but inwardly" fuck you, vandermok. I shall use...
In evola_as_he_is Thompkins&Cariou wrote: (...) According to him, this failure was due to Italian Catholic circles on one hand and to Italian official...
Hello, This only proves our point: "National-Socialism was far from being a a monolithic entity". There are strong grounds for thinking, for example, that Dr...
I came upon this article by Evola on Joseph de Maistre: http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/1404/maistre.html In it, Evola mentions that Masonry at the time...