The Hidden Tradition

"Christianity has always defined itself through fierce opposition to powerful 'heresies'; yet it is only recently that we have begun to retrieve these remarkable, underground traditions, buried beneath the contempt of the Church." "Of these 'heresies' the greatest challenge to the medieval Church was posed by the 'Great Heresy' of the Cathars, who saw themselves as inheritors of a true and long-concealed Christian tradition, but who were also heirs to the age-long teachings of Dualism - the doctrine that cosmos and man are constant battlegrounds between the two principal and irreconcilably opposed forces of good and evil. The Cathars, who were savagely suppressed in the thirteenth century, are the best-known medieval adherents and martyrs of Dualism, but yet behind them we can still glimpse 'one of the most elusive and tenacious heretical sects of the Middle Ages' - the Balkan Bogomils." "In this superb piece of scholarly detective work Yuri Stoyanov charts the descent and evolution of Dualism, from the revelations of Zoroaster and the Orphics, via the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Mithraic Mysteries and the great Gnostic teachers, to reconstruct its medieval revival in Europe. His book casts fresh light on some of the most obscure aspects of the history and the teachings of the Bogomils and the Cathars and illuminates unsuspected religious and political undercurrents that lie beneath the surface of official history."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Traces of a Hidden Tradition in Masonry and Medieval Mysticism by Isabel Cooper-Oakley is a significant work that explores the connections between Freemasonry and medieval mysticism. Originally published in the early 20th century, the book delves into the historical roots and esoteric influences that have shaped the Masonic tradition.

This is volume one of one of the most interesting and profound historical works about Freemasonry. It is a very rare book and published as ebook exclusively. As a bonus this edition includes a very detailed essay about Freemasonry and its origins, written by Hermann Gruber. Contents: Prolegomena Preface Introduction Book I – Fundamental Relations Of The Craft And The High Grades I - The Horizon Of The Craft Grades And The Tradition Therein Ii - The Mystery Of Building In Israel Iii - The Experiment Of The High Grades And The Claims Implied Therein Iv - The Chief Rites And Their Systems Book Ii - Development Of The High Grade In Respect Of The Ancient Alliance I - Of Grades Antecedent To The Symbolic Time Of The Third Degree Ii - Of Grades Subsequent To The Symbolic Time Of The Craft Degrees Iii - The Second House Of Doctrine And The Grades Belonging Thereto Book Iii – Of The New Alliance In Freemasonry I - Of Christian Symbolism In Connection With Temple Building Ii - The Grades Of St. Andrew Iii - The Grade Of Rose-Croix And Its Variations Book Iv – The Masonic Orders Of Chivalry I - The Putative Rite Of Ramsay Ii - The Theory Of The Strict Observance Iii - Grades Of Chivalry Incorporated By The Chapter Of Clermont Iv - The Council Of Emperors Of The East And West, And Of The Grades Of Chivalry In This System V - The Masonic Order Of The Temple Vi - The Charter Of Larmenius Vii - The Knights Beneficent Of The Holy City Of Jerusalem Viii - Additional Grades Of Chivalry In The Ancient And Accepted Scottish Rite Ix - Lesser And Independent Grades X - The Royal Order Of Scotland Xi - Conclusion On Masonic Chivalry

Who am I? What's my life's purpose? Where am I going when I die? These questions lie at the heart of all our lives, yet clear answers seem hard to come by. A Complete Guide to the Soul explains that answers can in fact be found in a secret history that runs like quicksilver through Western culture, from philosophy and alchemy, to poetry and modern psychology. This hidden tradition places our soul at the centre of the universe and shows us how to recover a sense of meaning that so many of us have lost today. In this important book, Patrick Harpur explores the nature of our soul, as well as its destiny. He unpacks the myths that surround it and shows how it may actually be the very fabric of reality. And he explains that, not until we have a clear understanding of this invisible part of ourselves, can we discover the answers to many of our questions about existence and human nature. Ultimately, this knowledge could help us find our true place within the world in which we live.