The Perennial Tradition and Comparative Mysticism

Contemplative strands of the world's religious traditions are sometimes grouped together and categorized in what has been called "The Perennial Tradition."  The term perennial refers to the fact that the ideas associated with these meditative versions of faith continue to arise, and show themselves throughout history, independent of religious tradition.  On this theory, the perennial contemplative tradition is embedded within each individual religion – it is the "common denominator" among the diversity of religious thought.  

The most famous treatment of the Perennial Tradition comes from Aldous Huxley.  In his The Perennial Philosophy he defines the concept as follows:
 

"Philosophia Perennis: the phrase was coined by Leibniz; but the thing — the metaphysic that recognizes a divine Reality substantial to the world of things and lives and minds; the psychology that finds in the soul something similar to, or even identical with, divine Reality; the ethic that places man's final end in the knowledge of the immanent and transcendent Ground of all being — the thing is immemorial and universal."

One simple way of expressing the Perennial Philosophy is as the philosophy of Namaste – the Divine in me recognizes the Divine in you. We each share the same Source, can directly experience the Source, and are connected through the Source.

There are many ways to express the Perennial Philosophy, either using terms native to the individual traditions, or using language which attempts to bridge traditions.

The content on this site is an attempt to explore the contemplative/meditative traditions of the world, while both honoring their uniqueness and finding unity where it exists, especially in regards to what is often seen as the culmination of the contemplative journey: apophatic experience – the direct, unitive, and transformative experience of the Source of Consciousness, beyond thought.

A list of resources for exploring world contemplative experience and comparative religion can be found here.