Tradition is nothing other than »remembrance«, and the bearing of the connection with the origin. Modernity is the denial of this »remembrance« and aims at the destruction of every kind of representation of remembrance.

Metaphysically speaking, tradition is nothing other than »remembrance«, and the bearing of the connection with the origin. Modernity, however, is not only the lack of this »remembrance«, but at the same time the denial of this metaphysical »remembrance« and aims at the destruction of every kind of representation of remembrance.

 

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TRADITON AND ANTITRADITION

 

291. Tradition means a handing over (latin trans-dare): the handing over of a supertemporal circle of principles here in time.

 

292. Tradition is the atemporal thrown into temporality.

 

293. Knowledge of the origin, knowledge of the path, knowledge of the all-transcending, ultimate goal: this is metaphysical realisation.

 

294. Tradition springs forth from the eternal, points at the eternal, and in the human modality of being represents the aspiration towards the eternal.

 

295. Metaphysical tradition is at the same time solar and polar: polar for though it appears in the earthly-human sphere, yet it is of heavenly origin and for this reason its origin is not subject to the whirlpool of existence (samsara), it is solar for the powers characteristic of my self-awareness which provide the rule of the auton are present in it.

 

296. There is only one primordial tradition for there is only one metaphysics, and there is only one metaphysics for there is only one being.

 

297. Tradition can never be identified simply with metaphysical doctrines or with symbology bearing a doctrinal value, and even less with the archaic documents that present these. Tradition is the total acceptance of a world and the total denial of another.

 

298. Metaphysically speaking, tradition is nothing other than »remembrance«, and the bearing of the connection with the origin. Modernity, however, is not only the lack of this »remembrance«, but at the same time the denial of this metaphysical »remembrance« and aims at the destruction of every kind of representation of remembrance.

 

299. The most sinister thing is forever if something subsists, but not truly; this is really much worse than if it disappeared. Since if something does not truly subsist, it will sooner or later come to function as a caricature and antithesis of the original.

 

[It especially refers to those legitimate traditional, spiritual and initiatory organisations which have maintained their continuity, but whose original features have gradually faded away or turned directly to their opposites.]

 

300. Each and every language is a tradition.

 

301. In the earthly-human sphere there cannot be a bipolar opposition bigger and tenser than of that between tradition and antitradition, and traditionality and antitraditionality, respectively.

 

302. Antitradition can be understood only from tradition; it cannot stand by itself.

 

303. Since the offensive form of antitraditionality appeared, the slightest compromise between traditionality and antitraditionality has been an enormous antitraditional triumph.

 

[An example: »Catholic-Marxist dialogues always implied the defensiveness of the Church and the success of Marxism - regardless of the fact that in the course of these dialogues it was invariably the Marxists whose performance was weaker than that of the Catholics. Since the very fact that in religious circles the question was not whether to send Marxists to the stake but to find the common ground among the opposing views, demonstrated the defensiveness of the Church. For Marxists it was not the outcome of the dialogues which was important but that the Church started to »court« them.« (András László)]

 

304. A traditional man should become a scholar in antitradition.

 

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Metaphysical aphorisms by András László

 

 

Done