The Doctrine of Awakening: The Attainment of Self-Mastery According to the Earliest Buddhist Texts [Paperback]

Julius Evola (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1996

In a probing analysis of the oldest Buddhist texts, Julius Evola places the doctrine of liberation in its original context. The early teachings, he suggests, offer the foremost example of an active spirituality that is opposed to the more passive, modern forms of theistic religions. This sophisticated, highly readable analysis of the theory and practice of Buddhist asceticism, first published in Italian in 1943 , elucidates the central truths of the eightfold path and clears away the later accretions of Buddhist doctrine. Evola describes the techniques for conscious liberation from the world of maya and for achieving the state of transcendence beyond dualistic thinking. Most surprisingly, he argues that the widespread belief in reincarnation is not an original Buddhist tenet. Evola presents actual practices of concentration and visualization, and places them in the larger metaphysical context of the Buddhist model of mind and universe.

The Doctrine of the Awakening is a provocative study of the teachings of the Buddha by one of Europe's most stimulating thinkers. 

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Evola ... had a clarity of mind and a gift for explaining tremendously difficult concepts in nonacademic language. His account of the niddana-chain (the twelve stages of conditioned genesis) is a masterpiece. It equips the reader for a whole new understanding, not only of Buddhism, but of the human state in general."
(

Gnosis Magazine

)

"In essence, the Buddhist 'Doctrine of Awakening' is, for Evola, the cultivation of a pure, naked, transcendent consciousness, and his book shines in describing the stages leading to this consciousness."
(

Richard Smoley, Parabola

)

"Evola engages in a well-graduated exposition of Buddhist techniques as seen in this ascetic light, with discussion of the mental/spiritual states encountered. Evola's is the most original book I've ever read on Buddhism."
(

Dan Byrnes, New Dawn, March/April 2002

)

" . . . a provocative study of the teachings of the Buddha by one of Europe's most stimulating thinkers." (
Buddha Torrents, Oct 2008 )

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Italian

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Inner Traditions (February 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892815531
• ISBN-13: 978-0892815531
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #523,940 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Interpretation of Buddhism, June 11, 2002

By 

Nicq MacDonald (Sioux Falls, SD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Doctrine of Awakening: The Attainment of Self-Mastery According to the Earliest Buddhist Texts (Paperback)

Buddhism has been called by western scholars "a path of annhilation", a "route of destruction", and a "system of nihilistic life-denial". Modern translators and teachers, such as Lama Surya Das and Robert A.F. Thurman, have attempted to portray Buddhism in a modernistic light, as a progressive route of compassion and evolution. However, according to Evola, both interpretations are incorrect.

Evola digs through the earliest texts of the Pali Canon to expose a tradition of "ascesis"- not life-denying, repressive asceticism as we know in the west, but a tradition of detachment and training towards enlightenment through proper thought, reflection, and action. He puts Buddhism in historical perspective, showing it as a movement that started with the intention of renewing the Brahmanical tradition, one based not on modern equality and humanitarianism but on spiritual elitism and the favoring of a spiritual elect known as the Ariya. Lastly, he tries to show how those of us living in the modern world can attempt to follow the tradition of liberation.

Although I don't accept some of Evola's interpretations or conclusions, he brings up many valid points and exposes a spiritual tradition that still holds validity today- and will perhaps for the rest of the age as well.

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a book for those seeking "Buddhism for Dummies", August 24, 2001

By 

Kenneth Robinson (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Doctrine of Awakening: The Attainment of Self-Mastery According to the Earliest Buddhist Texts (Paperback)

Students and admirers of Evola will, of course, wish to read this significant part of the Evola canon. However, for those interested in, but unfamiliar with, Evola should start with his magnum opus, Revolt Against the Modern World, to better understand his decidedly complex and unusual world view. This book is a poor choice for someone looking for an introduction to Buddhism or meditation. The subtitle: "The Attainment of Self-Mastery According to the Earliest Buddhist Texts" suggests that this is something of a practice manual--it certainly is not. Rather, the book purports to set forth the fundamental ascesis of early Buddhism before it degenerated into a religion of the masses. Whether he has succeeded, I leave to the judgment of scholars of Buddhism. I believe that advanced students of Buddhism (or other serious spiritual disciplines)who are unintimidated by dry, scholarly, intellectually demanding writing will find this work to be fascinating and useful. But, of necessity, this is a very small audience. Evola, the unabashed elitist and aristocrat, would not be disappointed to have a limited, but discerning audience.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting treatise on Buddhism, August 22, 2004

By 

D. A. Woodson "follower of sacred science" (Saint Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Doctrine of Awakening: The Attainment of Self-Mastery According to the Earliest Buddhist Texts (Paperback)

One of the reviewers said that this is Fascist Buddhism. While some of the views of the book (particularly the Aryan race view) in my opinion are questionable, DO NOT THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER! This is an interesting book. I am certainly not of Aryan origin and I got plenty of worthwhile things out of this book. The spiritual/awakening elements of this book really got me thinking. And even if you don't agree, this book is a fascinating read. Again, be discerning, but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. I also think, personally from a non-race perspective, that Evola is somewhat right that with the state of the world as it is, few people of ANY racial stripe can walk this path. Is that elitist? Maybe so on the surface. But just take a cursory glance at the people and world around you....