"'Esotericism has always been associated more with the Low than the High.'" (p. 167)
Christianity and Buddhism are preached to everyone. Regarding the latter:
"I have taught the truth without making any distinction between esoteric and exoteric doctrine; for in respect of the truth Tathagata has no such thing as the closed fist of teacher who keeps something back."
-quoted from here.
So why are there sometimes "secret doctrines"? It is certainly true that there can be deeper levels of understanding of known texts. Also, some teachers want to preserve a practice from distortion or dilution by insisting that it be taught only by those who are fully qualified. I can describe zazen but, if you want instruction in practice, then I will refer you to a monk or a lay minister.
John Blofeld advised us to disregard books purporting to describe esoteric Tibetan rituals because their authors are either betraying a confidence or lying. When a Marist brother addressed some primary school pupils, including me, about the Secrets of Fatima, he merely warned us to beware of the word, "secret," on the ground that it comes more from the Devil than from God. To my utter confusion, another pupil afterwards insisted that the brother had said that there were no secrets. This was my first introduction to a certain phenomenon:
someone hears x;
he interprets x to mean or imply y;
he insists that he has heard y.
I could recount many tales of miss-communications and cross-purposes but that is another subject.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Trivial comment: "Blofeld" is a very BONDIAN name!
I touched on the appeal of how or why esoteric or gnostic "knowledge" can appeal to many people in an earlier combox comment. The idea of secret knowledge available only to the Elect will appeal to some who want to feel superior to others. And others will seek secret "knowledge" from a desire or belief that kind of "knowledge" will usher in the Earthly Paradise.
Ad astra! Sean
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