The Eye of the Heart: Metaphysics, Cosmology, Spiritual Life (Library of Traditional Wisdom) Paperback – September 6, 2003

_Without a doubt Schuon Knows what he is talking about. He obviously has the intellectual grasp of the eternal truths of the perennial philosophy. It is rather inaccessible to the outsider however. I am almost inclined to believe that you already have to have grasped inner Knowing yourself, before his explanations become clear. It is like he is writing to make himself understandable to the conventional rationalist philosopher or theologian. Why bother- they have failed._The core essay of this book expresses the perennial truth that the Eye of the Heart both sees all things and is how we truly know all things. To this end the brain is merely a secondary and not essential organ. It, and rational thought, may support our Knowing and Connection, but it will never be the cause of it. It is a lesser tool for a lesser world. The Eye of the Heart is that two-way lens by which we Know the Creator, and by which the Creator Knows us. It is our center by which we are joined by the vertical spiritual axis with our Source._Schuon mentions that we will probably never know whether there is a historical connection between the "Eye of the Heart" teachings of Plotinian Doctrine, Augustinian Doctrine, and Sufic Doctrine. He also points out that it is unimportant. This is part of the perennial philosophy, the golden chain that has always existed. Who received it first is irrelevant. It predated all three schools._In his perceptive introduction Huston Smith admits that at first he found Schuon to be somewhat difficult to penetrate- but he persisted. He also reminds us of that apt statement from _The Cloud of Unknowing_: "The point that I am making is correct, but if you cannot grasp it, then let it be, until God himself helps you to understand."_If this book appeals to you, then you might like to attempt the more complete exposition in the author's _Survey of Metaphysics and Esoterism_.

A bit difficult to hold on to. Worth reading and rereading and going further into Gurdjieff and Walter Wink. Worth every read, meditation and re-read.

Schuon is often a wonderfully complex author, and much is translated from French or German. If you have the patience, his work will never fail to amaze you with the new light refracted from a jewel you had convinced yourself you'd seen from all conceivable angles. He deals in foundations, and any modernist or self-proclaimed secular skeptic or atheist must grapple with his presentations of the Primordial Tradition. This book is a diverse and gripping introduction to his work and incredible mind.