“METAPHYSICS”

Esoterism (Esotericism)

Esotericism forms the basis of all religions, all religious concepts...

Esotericism is a tradition, but without a clear historical (temporal, local, ideological) determination, which is lost over the centuries. Esotericism is an archaic concept that "captures" the opposition Consciousness-Objective, and is the background for any further religious concept. In other words, it is a category of perception and not a specific, clearly defined system. Remaining at the level of intuitive perception it is characterized as Esotericism. When concretized, it is transformed into a religious system. The founders of religions or philosophical systems have always advanced specific understandings in clearly defined terms... In other words, Esotericism is, to a point, identified with Religion, in its general, abstract form.

Esotericism as an attitude of life appears from the beginning of human history and becomes the reservoir of all religious systems... Specific historical development cannot be recorded. Esotericism, as a perception, evolves along with human consciousness...

In the course of time (from the beginning of human history to the present day) the Human Consciousness adopts more and more comprehensive perceptions. In the state of the Preconscious a chaotic perception prevails. As Consciousness escapes from the chaotic preconscious and emerges into Consciousness it maintains the perception of Chaos as the background from which the world, the order, is created. In this period various conceptions are successively adopted. What Consciousness distinguishes, it tries to know, to assimilate. What it cannot understand is because of the unknown possessor of another power - it is taboo -, holy or cursed. Thus, Consciousness "begins" with the world unknown. As Consciousness becomes aware of the environment the Unknown (and therefore the Sacred) is transposed to "higher" realms. Thus, Consciousness successively adopts, within history, the following five worldviews:

1. Consciousness perceives Cosmic Vastness as a whole (which includes all), in chaotic form.

2. Consciousness distinguishes the Cosmic from the Heavenly (which also includes the Infinite, the Transcendent and the Real).

3. Consciousness distinguishes the Cosmic, Heaven, from the Divinity of Heaven (which also includes the Transcendent and the Real).

4. Consciousness distinguishes the Cosmic, the Heaven, the Higher Heaven, from the Transcendent (which still includes the Real).

5. Consciousness distinguishes the Cosmic, the Heaven, the Higher Heaven, the Transcendent from the Real.

The Sacred, the Divine, evolves through history and takes on a different meaning in the various worldviews:

1. Existential

2. "Local" (earth, Heaven)

3. Operational

4. Transcendental

5. Real.

As Consciousness evolves, it overcomes the old perception of the world and replaces it with a more complete perception. The old perception goes to the second level but does not disappear, it coexists with the new perception. Little by little the perceptions accumulate. This evolution of perceptions is interpreted as "evolution" of the Divine (Theogony), in some religions.

Esotericism always remains as a substratum of all religious concepts. Over the centuries this attitude of life is adopted by many people and the general principles of Esotericism reflect again and again, either spontaneously or with the help of accumulated knowledge, in the life of man. These principles never ceased to inspire and give birth to new perceptions (on top of the old). Today, speaking of Esotericism, we simply refer to the general principles of this way of perception.

What characterizes Esotericism is the perception of Inside (Consciousness) – Outside (objectivity) in an interdependent, changing relationship, in which the terms Inside-Out can be clarified only when we consider what relationship exists between them. More specifically: The Inner, the Consciousness, is set as the Principle from which the Objective (with all its variety) originates. There are Five Fields of Existence of Consciousness, in which the Objective manifests itself differently: therefore Five Fields, in which the Consciousness-Objective Relation is different. More specifically:

1. Consciousness.

2. Consciousness and Three Varieties of World Spirit.

3. Consciousness, Universal and Three Varieties of Mental Life.

4. Consciousness, Universal, Intellect and Three Varieties of the mighty invisible.

5. Consciousness, Universal, Intelligence, Dynamism and Three varieties of the visible world (organ of consciousness, life, matter).

The entity manifests itself at a given moment, in some specific field of existence, with a carrier composed of "elements" of the specific field. In the physical world the entity manifests as Consciousness (which includes all the higher spiritual, mental and dynamic functions) associated with an organ of consciousness (brain, nervous system), which is the control center of a living organism, which is organized matter.

Consciousness perceives its Self, its Essence, as Inside, directly, without process, as Timeless Essence, which is identical (or is of the same Essence) with the Absolute, the Divine, etc., as Something Not Determined... when it transcends all extroverted functions that direct it outward, the objective...

In this sense (which we have described), Esotericism, as a Pure View, should not be "confused" with "religious Esotericism": In all religions (which are inspired by the General Principles of Esotericism), there is an "inner perception ” of Reality (the Absolute, God, is discovered Within), there is an inner teaching, in opposition to the outer, intellectual approach to religion, religion as a social institution, “ethics” and worship practices. In this sense there is a "Buddhist esotericism", a "Christian esotericism", an "Islamic esotericism", etc. These kinds of "religious esotericisms" can simply be considered as special cases of General Esotericism.