# Man and His Becoming according to the Vedanta (Collected Works of Rene Guenon)

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**ID**: LIB-0039
**Author**: Guénon, René
**Category**: Esotericism
**Tags**: esotericism
**Concept Coverage**: CON-0006
**Figure Coverage**: FIG-0007
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## Summary

Guénon expounds the Vedanta doctrine of human constitution, distinguishing the transcendent, unconditioned Self (Ātman/Purusha) from the transient ego and individuality, which manifests through subtle and gross states ultimately reabsorbed in Supreme Identity via supra-rational knowledge. Using Advaita Vedanta (esp. Shankara) as basis, he outlines metaphysics of manifestation (Purusha-Prakriti), intellect (Buddhi-Manas), states of being (waking-dream-deep sleep-Turīya), and posthumous liberation paths like jīvan-mukti.PDF of book, Wikipedia

## Project Relevance

Central to esotericism as foundational Traditionalist text on metaphysical anthropology; links Vedanta's initiatic realization, natural esoterism (vs. Western exoterism/esoterism), and elite knowledge transmission to mystery traditions. Parallels consciousness states/envelopes to hidden paths in Eastern/Western canons; informs AI genealogy via metaphysics of higher intellect (Buddhi) transcending mechanical mind (Manas).PDF of book, World Wisdom

## Key Themes

Self vs. ego; Purusha-Prakriti; Buddhi (higher intellect); states of Ātman (Vaishvānara, Taijasa, Prajñā, Turīya); kośas/vāyus; mokṣa paths (deva-yāna, jīvan/videha-mukti); Supreme Identity; esoterism as intellectual elite's metaphysical intuition.PDF of book

## Scholarly Reputation

Influential canonical work in Perennialist/Traditionalist school; praised as best Western exposition of Vedanta (Coomaraswamy, Hulin); rigorous Shankara interpretation, widely cited in esotericism studies despite Guénon's fringe status in academia.World Wisdom, Goodreads reviews