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The Western Path

The rich symbolism of reality -- Q&A with Bernardo Kastrup 9th Sep 2025

The Western Path
The hermaphrodite engraving pictured in the book Amphitheatrum sapientiae aeternae written by Heinrich Khunrath

Om. Guru. Chakra. Nirvana. Do you recognise these Sanskrit words?

Most Westerners do. Some even inscribe them on their skin. So isn't it curious that many remain unaware of the Western equivalents?

In popular culture, esoteric truth is acquired on Himalayan mountains. But Europe has high places too. Sages who hinted that behind appearances, there is a deeper order that the soul can encounter. An ultimate reality that can be touched here and now through contemplation, imagination, or inner transformation.

This "Golden Chain" of initiates stretches from Plato through to the desert fathers, medieval mystics to the Hermetic revival. Romantic Idealists like Schelling to depth psychologists such as Jung.

Michael Maier, 1617, Emblem 42: Of the secrets of Nature; In Chemistry when facing Nature, Reason, Experience, & learning, these are the Guide, the staff, spectacles and lamp. (coloured by AI)

All over the world, mystics have recognised that duality is an illusion, but with starkly different intuitions on how to align with this idea. In the East, the goal was often to transcend the illusory world. In the West, material forms were symbols for deeper truths. Appearances were to be revered for what they reveal.

Additionally, by harnessing the "secret fire" of alchemical teachings, base matter could be transmuted into higher form, deep truths could be embodied, given shape and form.

Alchemist’s laboratory. From Heinrich Khunrath, Amphitheatrum sapientiae aeternae (Hamburg? 1595). Duveen Collection, Department of Special Collections, Memorial Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

We touched on this last week with Patrick Harpur, author of The Philosophers' Secret Fire, and the week before in Bernardo's autobiographical The Daimon and the Soul of the West.

"The Western path," says Bernardo, "though excruciatingly difficult sometimes, offers the potential for breakthroughs that will fill you with meaning and contentment to the point of bursting."

In this approach, because your natural dispositions are part of nature, there is no need to subdue them. You are encouraged to engage and leverage the world of the senses, "pursuing a life of purpose, honoring your personal dignity and self-worth, embracing past and future, regarding matter as symbolically rich, learning from life, and basking in the profound freedom of sacrifice..."

We meet this today to discuss these ideas, learn from their contrasts, and if you are part of the now global Western culture, consider Bernardo's bold claim -

"There is a Western path, and it is your nature-given birthright and heritage."

You can read, vote and add to proposed questions down below.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Amir

The cosmic rose Engraving pictured in the book Amphitheatrum sapientiae aeternae written by Heinrich Khunrath

6-8pm UK time / 7-9pm CET / 1-3pm EST

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