Journal biannual of hermeneutics
EditorialAbraham's Rule wants a publication essentially dedicated to the study of doctrines ésotériques stemming three monotheist Revelations. Without excluding any reference to the other spiritual traditions, the Editorial staff will dedicate all its efforts to the stake in light of the deep links which unite Judaism, Christianity and Islam. That is why, far from being a simple nostalgic allusion to the biblical roots of the " three rings " about which spoke Boccace in Decameron, Abraham's figure was necessary to us at the same moment as being the perfect show of this Rule ( Millat) that Islam assimilates in " the pure and liberal religion of previous history " and on the other hand, as being par excellence that of the inspired architect reconstructing Kaaba with its son Ismael, according to Moslem stories relative to the history of the original Temple. Abraham is of the rest presented in the masonic Old Charges, as an architect, it before Salomon (Mr. Cooke) and it is also as such that we take place under the aegis of this great Patriarch. Reference to the medieval masonic texts intervenes at a moment of our presentation here where we have to clarify that Abraham's Rule is the public expression of a Lodge of study of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite which suggests, more fundamentally, taking up with the really initiatory spirit of the masonic Order, today lost mostly in the mists of the socio - political or worse activity still, neo-spiritualism. Our objective will be consequently to restore a hermeneutics on sacred and not arbitrary bases, to show in what symbol but also the metaphysics which sub-aims him(it) are inseparable of a divine science the universe of which establishes(constitutes) the épiphanie. This project is not certainly new. It would not have been able to be born without providential appearance of René Guénon's work which, not to doubt it, was in the heart of an unique(only) company in its kind, of restoration of the Tradition. Let us call back indeed that at the beginning of century, in Egypt, the shaykh Abd el-Rahman Illaysh, with whom Guénon was in narrow relation, had engaged(opened) this revivification which aimed notably, according to M.Valsan, to show the existence of doctrinal agreements between the Islam, Christianity and the Masonry. Besides, the powerful links which united the shaykh Illaysh with Emir Abd el-Kader which, made important, had been introduced in a Lodge of Alexandria in 1864 (Grand Orient), would allow to better place this extraordinary initiative with regard to the masterful education of Ibn Arabi, the biggest of the bosses of Islamic esotericism (Al shaykh el-Akbar), on which both were based.
This "project" of
which we some more ignore aspects is so united in many respects of doctrine of Ibn Arabi, where from some striking analogies, on the
bottom, between the papers of this last one, died nevertheless in the XIII-th
century, and those of René Guénon. If so Emir Abd el-Kader was the "pivot" of the revival akbarienne in our time, its spiritual
friendship for the shaykh Illaysh, boss of a branch of
the tariqa Shadhiliyya with which R.Guénon was connected, his membership of the masonic
Order, its initiatory links with the seer Abraham, of whom it will be question
farther down, take a much heavier meaning sense(direction) than it could not
appear. But the most peculiar fact is doubtless for us, that René Guénon and the incomparable work of intellectual recovery
were concretely associated to operations led in the middle akbarien of which it has been question. Curiously, his(her)
biographers did not deepen(fathom) their search for it quoted(esteemed), while
the main thing was there. So, shall look we, as possible, to better know what
was R.Guénon's traditional life in Cairo
during the last twenty years of the earthly existence and in the same time to
discover which alive track it(he) can there stay today. From 1951, date of the
death, numerous more or less well inspired individuals tried hard to follow the
boss or more often, regrettably, to ape him(it). It would be too long, boring
and useless to approach all these attempts. The majority of them reflected
limits or the failings of such or such improvised "boss", that was
going doubtless to contribute to tarnish Guénon's image with the cultural world. As there were the small
Cartesians formerly, the small guénoniens went, in another register,
reduce the universality of an education lived by the breath of the Spirit in a
speculative and systematic device in which preciseness and rigour had to
transform, sometimes, in stiff one will for power. So, moment seems come, to collect the best, where from that
it(he) comes and without exclusive. Such should be indeed the supreme vocation
of the Masonry, centre of the union. Nevertheless, this difficult work could
not be engaged(opened) without the help(assistant) of a real East, henceforth
hidden, which certainly arranges many some keys which we need to clear up the
meaning of a good many of our mysteries. That is why the idea of a bottom ésotérique common to three monotheist
Revelations appears to us to be obliged passage grace(favour) which we shall
succeed in revealing much more than a simple coherence, a secret brotherhood, beyond inevitably different forms. In that case,
it(he) can be useful to call back that Guénon himself(itself), realizing of A.Lebey's book, had evoked
this " great secret of conciliation between the Judaism, Christianity and
Islam " the Knight Templars of which had had the ownership and that
it is today necessary to find for us. We will be objected can be that if the
existence of a Hebraic and Moslem esotericism does not put a problem, situation
is less evident as regards the Christian world. But it would be neglect some
sources or former(old) some searches and sometimes very recent on the reality
of a sense(direction) hidden in the Christian tradition.
It is not, furthermore,
impossible that several forms of initiation more specially attached(fastened)
to the Roman Catholicism can some day redo surface. Let us not forget on this subject,
that had shown itself, at the beginning of XX-th century in the circle of
acquaintances of L.Charbonneau-Lassay, a group of this nature which can
be did not totally disappear. Besides, it is as well necessary to recognize as
in West these reserved(distant) doctrines always communicated themselves in
most extreme discretion, as proves him(it) for example the modes(fashions) of
transmission of knowledge alchimique by such or such anonymous
monk, without speaking about ways of " initiation marienne " on that Abdul-Hadi had given some important preciseness in his(her) Pages
dedicated to Mercury.
To realize the spot, Abraham's Rule will also appeal to
researchers, academics or independents, who in different degrees and in
various titles will intervene because of their personal competences. Although
our magazine is neither historic nor of learning, it will hold however the
greatest account of facts. In other words that for us, the recognition of
realities transhistoriques must not imply the contempt
of the history, on the contrary. It is notably that will differentiate us of a
" new anthropological spirit " apparently are in love of tradition,
but that does not there stop sowing(scattering) confusion in spirits. On
this point, our comment will be also to bring some correctives susceptible to
engender better one understanding of things. A lot of philosophic or
psychological currents contributed for several decades to deform the education
of the Westerner initiatory organizations, it it is real because of their own
declines. It will agree so, to answer this subversion generalized of the
thought as the language to appear clearly that can not be associated at all to
the real Tradition and even less confused(merged) with this one....