Bøger af Eric Cunningham

"It is a significant, momentous fact that in the third millennium before Christ, an incarnation of Lucifer in the flesh actually took place in the east of Asia. And from this incarnation of Lucifer in the flesh--for this being became a teacher--there went forth what is described as the pre-Christian, pagan culture that still survived in the gnosis of the earliest Christian centuries." --Rudolf Steiner (The Influences of Lucifer and Ahriman)In the West today, Laozi--who lived sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries BC--is perhaps the best-known (along with Confucius) ancient Chinese philosopher, owing to numerous modern renderings of his Daodejing (or Tao Te Ching). Eric Cunningham relates the substance of Laozi's classic work to modern philosophers and thinkers--especially Rudolf Steiner and his esoteric cosmology and philosophy, drawing significant and surprising parallels and contrasts with regard to Steiner's modern path of inner development and to aspects of popular culture. In doing so, he also sheds light on the evolution of consciousness and the universality of Laozi's wisdom of more than two millennia ago.Cunningham combines a new translation of the Chinese classic Daodejing with a unique interpretation of the Dao for today, innovatively employing perspectives of Rudolf Steiner's Anthroposophy interwoven with esoteric world history. Inspirations for this singular reading of the Daodejing includes the suggestion by contemporary esoteric scholars that the mythical Yellow Emperor of Chinese history was a human incarnation of the spirit called Lucifer in the West. This argument has been used to explain the ways in which "demigods" have inserted themselves into the earthly sphere to affect human evolution and history. This theory resonates with certain readings of Genesis 6 and the idea that fallen angels have penetrated the human world and promoted the establishment of ruling classes and elite bloodlines throughout history.The Luciferic Verses considers such claims from the perspective of esoteric history. The author evaluates them on the basis of their convergence with kindred concepts--including Zen enlightenment, mysticism, and the "simulation" hypothesis depicted in the Matrix films--revealing the activities and historical implications of Gnosticism. He makes a bold case for this common thread in various "consciousness-only" concepts of mind--from Plato and the ancient Skeptics to Daoism, Zen, and even the idealism of the 1960s--leading directly to postmodern hypotheses of digital consciousness.Today, philosophers are exploring such topics as virtual reality and digital simulation as new ways of discussing the contours of reality suggested in the Daodejing. Rather than leading us to a more humanistic vision of reality, as the Daoist scholars traditionally maintain, this theory of mind might be the root of a systematic anti-humanist impulse that has operated throughout world history.The Luciferic Verses offers fresh perspectives on Laozi's classic guide to life and inner development, describing its relevance and meaning for today's cultural milieu and modern esoteric thought.

This monograph explores and describes the historical continuities and relationships between 20th c Zen Buddhism, the postwar psychedelic movement and postmodern eschatology. In general terms (and this is a rich, complex study) the work is a critique of modernization theory as a way of viewing history and suggests the modern epoch (like the Greco-Roman world before it) will only end when the modern world ends. Accordingly, many postmodern movements seek to end modernity through violent action (Germany and Japan in WW11, etc) while others seek to bring to an end modern consciousness, e.g., the psychedelic movement which posed a major historical challenge to bourgeois morality, values, and modes of experiencing space and time. The core of the study is a critique of the historical philosophy of Japan's greatest modern philosopher Nishida Kitaro and, in particular, his historical eschatology. Cunningham examines the Zen-based metaphysics of Nishida's thought and links this to historical resonances between the philosopher, 20th c Zen Buddhism-The West's leading theorist, DT Suzuki, was a friend of Nishida-and the psychedelic/New Age movement which as sought to achieve authentic experience outside of history. History and Ideas Series, No. 2"This work is a valuable addition to research library collections that focus on Japan, 20th alternative movements, Zen and/or the philosophy of history" Dr.Elizabeth Koda