While the gods play : Shaiva oracles and predictions on the cycles of history and the destiny of mankind
"According to the early writings of the Shaiva tradition--still alive in India and dating back at least 6,000 years--the arbitrary ideologies and moralistic religions of modern society signal the last days of humanity heading toward destruction. This prediction is only a fragment of the vast kn...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Language: | English |
| Edition: | First U.S. edition. |
| Subjects: | |
| Summary: | "According to the early writings of the Shaiva tradition--still alive in India and dating back at least 6,000 years--the arbitrary ideologies and moralistic religions of modern society signal the last days of humanity heading toward destruction. This prediction is only a fragment of the vast knowledge of Shaivism, the religion of the ancient Dravidians. An initiate of the Shaiva wisdom, author Alain Daniélou has assimilated and reviewed essential concepts of the Shaiva philosophy and its predictions. Clearly expressed in the ancient teachings, these concepts are in accord with, yet surpass, the boldest scientific speculations about consciousness, time, the nature of life and matter, and the history and destiny of the human race. Inherent in this body of knowledge is an understanding of the cycles of creation and destruction which, in conjunction with astronomical phases, determine the life span of the species. Since 1939, humankind has been in the twilight of the Kali Yuga age, or at the end of a cycle. The impending cataclysm, Daniélou explains, is brought on by our own errors, and its date will be determined by our present and future actions. While the Gods Play examines how the visionaries of ancient times defined our role in creation. It explains why and how we have abandoned this role, and reflects on what action can be taken to consciously and creatively influence our own destiny." -- Publisher's description |
| Item Description: | "While the Gods Play was first published in French under the title La Fantaisie des Dieux et L'Aventure Humaine by Editions du Rocher, Monaco, 1985." -- Title page verso |
| Physical Description: | xv, 284 pages ; 22 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 267-272) and index. |
| Published: |
Rochester, Vermont :
Inner Traditions International,
1987.
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| ISBN: | 0892811153 9780892811151 |
Table of Contents:
- Origins
- The religions of the Kali Yüga
- Rediscovered tradition
- The ways of knowledge
- Vaïshes̲h̲̲ikä and Nyâyä
- The Sâmkhyä and the study of the macrocosm
- The explorations of man's inner universe
- The being of knowledge
- Yogä
- The two Mîmânsâ
- The doctrine of the Pâshupatä
- Communities of monastic orders
- Preliminary practices
- The individual and the species
- The transmission of knowledge
- The duration of the universe
- The three cities
- Predictions
- Forestalling the final day.