Great Esoterics. Best Esoteric Books Best Esoteric Literature

A person shows interest in the magical laws of the world, questions of the divine, higher and the desire for development from ancient times.

Esotericism consists of a huge array of knowledge about the world, so many famous esotericists were part-time scientists, inventors and doctors.

Moreover, some of these influential personalities are almost unknown to a wide circle as magicians, occultists, mystics and esotericists.

Esotericism or esotericism is not a science, but a set of scientific and not only information related to the structure of the world, the perception of reality, the psychological and spiritual aspects of the development and behavior of a person. Since ancient times, esoteric knowledge has been considered secret and inaccessible to the unenlightened, although it is considered, discussed and interpreted in our time very widely.

The classification of esotericism is rather arbitrary, because it requires the inclusion of a variety of scientific, secular and cultural areas of activity.

Briefly, it may include the following teachings:

• magic (alchemy, astrology, parapsychology);
• gnosticism;
• theosophy;
• Sufism;
• Kabbalah;
• psychology (yoga, meditation);
• parapsychology;
• freemasonry;
• vajrayana;
• anthroposophy;
• mondialism.

Often this list includes parascientific teachings (numerology, necromancy, demonology, palmistry, spiritualism, physiognomy, etc.). Next, the key personalities who influenced the development and distribution of these esoteric trends are considered, in accordance with the direction of activity.

The most famous figures of esotericism in history

Bolos Democritos

Bolos Demokritos or Bolos from Mendes is an ancient scientist who is considered, according to many historians, the first alchemist. It is believed that he developed the teachings of the Egyptian traditions of mysticism, practiced spells.

Egyptian spells are found in his writings with an emphasis on breath control and sounds. In general, it was the writings of Bolos that became the basis for the teachings of alchemy, which captured the minds of Western and Eastern researchers for many centuries.

In the book "Physics and Mystical Questions" Bolos argues that the basis of the material is a harmonic unity, and matter itself is impermanent, it can pass from one substance to another. He formulated and attempted to classify the natural elements and forces underlying inanimate and living material forms.

It was Bolos who first voiced the idea of ​​metal transmutation and conducted experiments on the transformation of base materials (lead, zinc, etc.) into gold.

Jabir ibn Hayyan

Abu Abdallah Jabir ibn Hayyan al-Azdi al-Sufi is the author of many alchemical works (although it is believed that most of them were not created by him), who developed Aristotle's ideas about the four primary properties: humidity, dryness, cold and heat.

Jabir added "metallicity" and combustibility to this list, believing that two of the six characteristics are enough to describe any metal. The alchemist claimed that dry vapors condensed in the earth turn into sulfur, and wet vapors turn into mercury. Differently proportional connection of these two components leads to the emergence of seven metals: gold, silver, lead, tin, mercury, copper and iron. This became the basis of the mercury-sulfur alchemical theory, which explained the characteristic properties of metals and the prospects for transmutation work.

It is believed that Jabir ibn Hayyan introduced into alchemy the concept of the philosopher's stone - a special substance that allows you to bring the ratio of sulfur and mercury in any metal to such a ratio at which they form gold. The works of ibn Hayyan also laid the foundations of numerological teachings.

Paracelsus

Philipp Avreol Theophrastus Bombast von Hohenheim, better known as Paracelsus, was a European physician, naturalist, alchemist and philosopher who lived during the Renaissance.

He is at the same time one of the founders of modern scientific views, and a prominent representative of the alchemical and natural-philosophical direction of esotericism. The greatest occultist of the Middle Ages.

Paracelsus contrasted his own views on the existence of living beings with the representations of Avicenna, Galen and Aristotle. According to him, living organisms are composed of salts, sulfur and mercury, as well as a number of other substances, and the path to a healthy and happy life is the harmony of these components.

Paracelsus is close to the principles of the multilevel structure of the physical and spiritual body of a person. He argued that the essence is composed of seven elements or bodies: physical, electromagnetic, astral, animal soul, rational soul, spiritual soul, a particle of the divine Self.

Giordano Bruno

An odious figure of the Renaissance and throughout world history.

Poet, outstanding thinker, esotericist and philosopher.

In many ways, he surpassed the ideas of his time about the structure of the Universe, which strongly contradicted social and religious principles, for which he was executed.

In the writings of Giordano Bruno there are many references and appeals to Hermes Trismegistus, which makes him related to most other famous figures of esotericism, philosophy and science. Bruno was an amazing combination of natural science and mystical thirst for knowledge.

Biographers of the Italian claim that he became an adherent of heliocentrism, because he saw in it a divine, magical meaning, a desire for universal order and harmony.

Robert Fludd

Robert Fludd was an English mystic, philosopher, astrologer and physician.

The medical works of Paracelsus developed and supplemented the scientific heritage of Paracelsus, and in philosophy he adhered to Neoplatonism and Gnosticism.

Fludd was convinced of the close connection of science with astrology and alchemy. True, often his beliefs had a religious context. For example, he found unity in Christ and the philosopher's stone.

Fludd is a Christian esotericist who claimed that God's teaching was transmitted to mankind through Moses and Christ. According to Fludd's teaching, God is the end and beginning of everything, and the world arises from the interaction of darkness and light, as embodiments of divine power and non-existence. They are also sources of heat and cold.

When these two foundations are combined, dry and damp arise, and the further interaction of the resulting four principles creates earth, fire, water and air. Thus, Fludd's teachings have much in common with alchemy, which he was fond of.

John Dee

John Dee was a medieval astrologer, hermeticist and alchemist who was born in Wales and lived in England.

Despite the fact that Dee was an outspoken Christian, his worldview was influenced by Platonic, Pythagorean and Hermetic ideas, which were very popular at that time. True, Dee believed that the beginning and measure for everything is a number, and even called the creation of the world an act of divine calculation.

From hermetic knowledge, Dee "inherited" the belief in the possibility of acquiring divine power by man, but in his own way he believed that this could be achieved through a perfect knowledge of mathematics.

Dee, along with another legendary esotericist, Edward Kelly, practiced calling angels, spirits, and kabbalistic exercises based on numerology. At the same time, the researcher did not see any contradiction in finding a connection between mathematics and mysticism.

In addition, John Dee sought to unite the Catholic and Protestant churches. He hoped to settle the schism by appealing to the basic principles of Christianity.

Mary I Tudor appointed the scientist, then famous all over Europe, as a personal royal astrologer. I must say that his predictions really came true: Dee predicted Mary's imminent death, and her half-sister Elizabeth - an early ascension to the throne. Many stories say that Britain owes the all-round development of the empire in Elizabethan times to John Dee.

Edward Kelly

Famous English alchemist, medium and mystic, who practiced for some time with John Dee.

He proclaimed himself a medium on his own, claimed that he had the ability to turn base metals into gold, call angels and spirits through a crystal ball.

After his death, an opinion spread among English-speaking historians about the far-fetched abilities of Kelly, which was supported by many legends. For a while, he became a household name for a charlatan magician.

Dee and Kelly's friendship was born when the latter shocked the scientist with spiritualistic experiments. In collaboration, Kelly played the role of a scryer - a diviner through a crystal ball. According to various witnesses, about a year after the acquaintance and close collaboration, Kelly presented Dee with the "Book of Dunstan" with white and red powder. He argued that these substances make it possible to create a special substance, similar to the philosopher's stone, with the help of which the transformation of base metals into gold is easily carried out.

Kelly and Dee, along with their families, tried to enlist the patronage of the Eastern European monarchs, but attempts were not successful, and the alchemists had to wander around Europe.

At this time they held séances, although Edward Kelly was more interested in alchemical experiments. Communication with the angels was conducted in the Enochian language, which, according to the spiritualists themselves, was given to them by the angels.

Agrippa of Nettesheim

Agrippa of Nettesheim is a famous physician and naturalist who was much interested in occult, alchemical, astrological and natural philosophical ideas.

The main work of his life is considered to be "The Mystery of Philosophy". It is known that many other classics of esotericism honored her, for example, Eliphas Levi, who introduced the concept of occultism. Agrippa's book describes celestial, natural and ceremonial magic. Because of his magical practice, he was perceived by his contemporaries as a warlock, magician and sorcerer.

He traveled a lot, changed professions, quickly gained and lost comrades-in-arms and enemies. Because of the "black book" acts, he gained a negative reputation, which was supplemented by ill-wishers with many fabrications. It was believed, for example, that some of the books of Agrippa could drive mad or torture to death the person to whom they fell after the death of the author.

Johann Georg Faust

Faust is a famous German warlock of the 16th century. He gained widespread fame only after his death, thanks to the mention in many literary works, in particular, the tragedy of the same name by Johann Goethe.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine which of the descriptions of Faust's life are based on true facts and which are fictional. It is known that he was born and raised in Knitlingen, but was forced to flee, as the inhabitants disliked the astrologer and warlock. In these roles, he traveled around Europe, presenting himself as the greatest scientist, saying that he could recreate the miracles of Christ.

The biography of Faust is in many ways similar to the plot of the story about Eladiah. This early Christian work tells about a man who sold his soul to the devil.

The image of Faust is used in many literary, artistic and even musical works. The characters for whom he is to some extent a prototype are also found in the Russian classics of literature, Tolstoy and Pushkin.

Eliphas Levi

Alphonse-Louis Constant is a French tarot reader and occultist who worked under the pseudonym Eliphas Levi.

He showed an interest in the magical and occult sciences from early childhood, but initially planned to devote his life to the church. Was excommunicated from her because of love. Soon after that, he became interested in Ganno's theories, which, one might say, determined his further scientific and magical hobbies.

The former monk was familiar with many famous esotericists and occultists in Europe at that time, for example, with Yu. Gene-Vronsky and Bulwer-Lytton. Engaged in summoning the spirits of other magicians. Around the same time, Alphonse-Louis took on the pseudonym Eliphas Levi, which was a direct translation of his name into Hebrew. In the future, he lived at the expense of occult research and publication of works, received financial assistance from followers.

The most famous esotericists influenced by Levi: Papus, Aleister Crowley, Stanislas de Guaita. The last work of the famous magician "The Key to the Great Arcana or Unveiled Occultism" was published posthumously by his student Baron Spedalieri.

Papus

Gerard Anaclet Vincent Encausse is a famous French occultist at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Member of Masonic, Kabbalistic and Rosicrucian societies, magician, occultist, medical practitioner.

Encausse spent a significant part of his youth in the Paris National Library, studying the works of different centuries on alchemy, Kabbalah, magic, and tarot. He was greatly influenced by the works of Eliphas Levi, from which Gerard took the pseudonym Papus (“doctor”). Authoritative authors on the occult and alchemy for Encausse were also Louis Claude de Saint-Martin, Antoine Fabre d'Olivet, Louis Luc and Alexandre Saint-Yves d'Alvedeira.

Papus supported and developed the ideas of secret societies and orders. For a short time he was in the Theosophical Society of Helena Blavatsky, although he quickly became disillusioned with it. He published the magazine "Initiation", which, in fact, was the main printed organ of the Martinist Order. Participated in the creation and promotion of Masonic and Martinist societies in Russia, the Middle East, throughout Europe. Papus was one of the organizers of the 1908 International Masonic Convention.

For modern esotericism, Papus is valuable as a talented compiler. In his writings, a huge array of occult knowledge is systematized, analyzed and presented, most of which remain relevant today.

Padma Sambhava

In Sanskrit, Padma Sambhava means lotus-born. This name refers to an Indian teacher of Buddhist tantra who lived in the 8th century, one of the main cultural leaders of Tibetan Buddhism.

In some schools of Buddhism, he is considered one of the highest teachers and even the second Buddha.

The appearance of Padmasambhava has been predicted by many tantras and sutras. The Mahaparinirvana Sutra even states that Shakyamuni Buddha's successor will be more enlightened than himself. Various sources claim that he is an emanation and reincarnation of the Vision of various Buddhas.

Over the past centuries, the description of the life of Padmasambhava has become overgrown with many legends and additions, so it looks more like a fictional biography than a real one. Nevertheless, there was such a person, he really preached Buddhism in Tibet and demonstrated magical abilities in order to expel the demons that had overcome the region. He personally built the Samye Monastery, translated some Buddhist texts into Tibetan, and dedicated several monks from the local population.

Nicolas Flamel

Nicolas Flamel is one of the key figures of medieval alchemy. For a long time it was believed that he managed to get the elixir of life and the philosopher's stone.

In Paris, he initially worked as a public clerk. Having acquired the papyrus "The Book of the Jew of Abraham", Flamel became interested in its translation, since part of the book was written in Aramaic. Flamel had to visit the Spanish communities of Jews under the guise of a pilgrim (they were not allowed to live in France).

Around this time, the myth arose that Flamel learned the secret of the philosopher's stone, which was further reinforced by the long life of an alchemist.

By the middle of his life, Nicolas Flamel became the owner of large property, engaged in patronage, charity, sponsoring art, and architectural restoration. Wealth was also explained by contemporaries as the result of the discovery of the greatest alchemical mystery.

After the death of his wife and Nicolas himself, there are rumors that both incidents were staged. Allegedly, in reality, the couple continued to live. There were even witnesses who saw the Flamel couple in 1761 and 1818 in Paris (presumably Nicolas Flamel died in 1418). It is interesting that in the grave of the naturalist, which was opened two centuries later, there was no body.

Helena Blavatsky

Helena Blavatsky is an occultist, theosophist, spiritualist, publicist of Russian origin.

She claimed that she was the chosen one of a great spiritual principle and began to preach her own doctrine of theosophy. At the end of the 19th century, the Theosophical Society, founded by her, the lawyer Judge and Colonel Olcott, was actively engaged in the search for religious and philosophical truth.

Blavatsky's goal was to reveal the hidden powers of man, to comprehend natural mysteries and secrets. Branches of the society operated in France, England, the USA and India.

Opinions about Blavatsky in the world esoteric society were polar. Many considered her a genius of her time, a person of special talent, but there were also ill-wishers. However, both those and others, as a rule, admitted that the Russian writer had a very large store of knowledge. Western and Eastern Buddhist scholars, philosophers, and scholars have assumed that Blavatsky was initiated into the deepest tenets of the Buddhist and Tibetan teachings.

In describing her travels and wanderings around the world, Elena Petrovna demonstrated great literary talent. Some contemporaries noted that she could even write long letters to her friends or acquaintances in verse on the go.

In addition, she had business acumen, achieved success in almost all her endeavors. The basis of Blavatsky's theosophical ideas was the desire to unite the world's religious, mystical, esoteric and scientific knowledge to create a single World Brotherhood, regardless of gender, race, caste, religion and any other affiliation.

As you can see, many famous esotericists were successful scientists and scientists who laid the foundation for future research and achievements. Therefore, we can say that esotericism is extremely closely connected with the medical, philosophical, literary and religious development of mankind. In the corresponding article, we also present a list of the most famous esotericists of the 20th century.

Introduction.

I am starting a hit parade - Top 10 most schizoid esoteric teachings, the topic of the hit parade is the most famous, stupid, absurd, controversial, funny esoteric teachings that arose in the 20th and 21st centuries. I do not set myself the task of a detailed analysis of these teachings, since this is not the format of this article, in this work I have only briefly outlined these esoteric teachings, placing them from 1 to 10 in reverse order. I send the interested reader to the primary sources, critical articles, books, films written and filmed about these teachings.
Also, I do not pretend to be unambiguous, those readers who know other absurd esoteric teachings, I suggest that they create their own top 10, I think it will be interesting for me and they to compare their top 10 with mine and vice versa.
Perhaps in the future, if this article receives approval from readers, I will continue this topic with a more detailed analysis, and maybe with other esoteric teachings.
And now...
I'm starting the Top 10 Most Schizoid Esoteric Teachings!

10th place. Ufology.

Aliens, UFOs, aliens, little green men, ufologists have been puzzling over this for more than a decade. And the questions remain open, there are about 35 hypotheses of the origin of UFOs, hundreds of photographs, videos, eyewitnesses around the world. At present, the problem of what a UFO is has not yet been resolved. For its longevity and the number of hypotheses, ufology takes the 10th place in my hit parade of the most schizoid esoteric teachings.

9th place. Siberia will save humanity or in search of a new "Ark" M. Rechkin.

There are many teachings in esotericism about the upcoming end of the world, one of the most schizoid was presented by the writer Mikhail Rechkin in a series of books Siberia will save mankind, he writes: “People will die either from ignorance of the true world, or from the inability to use the forces of nature,” writes Rechkin, he continues: "there is a high probability that this is where the new" land ark "of mankind is located."
Rechkin proposes to go the way to the ark through spiritual insight and return to the true origins of the Great Universal Knowledge - the legacy of our ancestors! Rechkin's theory of the end of the world took 9th place in my hit parade of the most schizoid esoteric teachings.

8th place. Teachings of V. A. Shemshuk.

Vladimir Alekseevich Shemshuk - writer, biologist, researcher, former director of the Ural Roerich Foundation and the Perm Commission on Anomalous Phenomena. In his numerous books, he propagates that creatures from folklore works actually existed, including the same Baba Yaga. “The dawn and rebirth of Mankind,” writes Shemshuk, “will begin from the very moment when, among people, first of all, every inhabitant of Russia realizes himself as a messenger of Paradise and protects himself from objects, food and bad habits that carry the destructive frequencies of hell. It is when people, without waiting for instructions from above, restore creative rhythms in their lives, Russia will turn into the Savior of Humanity, returning Paradise to Earth.” The theory of folklore beings and the rebirth of mankind through Paradise, took 8th place in my hit parade of the most schizoid esoteric teachings.

7th place. The teaching of the ascension of the masters.

The teachings of the ascended masters have their roots in theosophy, and "ascended masters" are those whom theosophists call "Masters of Wisdom", believing in their existence. The teaching originated in 1930, when Guy Ballard, according to him, unexpectedly met on Mount Shasta with a man who introduced himself to him as Count Saint Germain, one of the Masters who were introduced to the world by Theosophy after the departure of Helena Blavatsky. According to Ballard, Saint Germain told him that he belonged to the Brotherhood of the Ascended Masters, which also includes Jesus, Buddha, Maitreya, and El Morya, among others. The teachings given by Saint Germain to Ballard became the foundation of the I AM religious movement. They were published by Ballard under the pseudonym Godfrey Ray King in such works as The Secrets Revealed and The Magical Presence.
El Morya is also believed to have played an important role in other organizations associated with the Ascended Master Teachings (in which El Morya is also known as "The Chohan of the First Ray") based on Ballard's work. Geraldine Inosant, founder of Bridge to Freedom, claimed to have received messages from El Morya (they were originally published under the name of Thomas Prince; Mark and Elizabeth Prophet stated that El Morya encouraged them to found the Summit Lighthouse, etc. etc. .p. This myth-making - the Teaching of the ascension of the lords took the 7th place in my hit parade.

6th place. Teaching Diagnostics of karma S. Lazarev.

Sergey Lazarev is the author of a series of pseudoscientific books "Diagnosis of Karma" and "Man of the Future".
Since the beginning of the 1990s, 12 books by S. N. Lazarev of the Karma Diagnostics series, 7 books of the Man of the Future series, and 6 books Karma Diagnostics (second series) have been published. Survival experience. 6 books from the series "Diagnosis of Karma", "The First Step into the Future" and "Parental Education, Part 1" from the "Man of the Future" series have been translated into German. Some of the books have been translated into Polish, Czech, Spanish, English and Bulgarian. In parallel, videos of lectures and seminars are sold. in his books, S. N. Lazarev tries to trace a causal relationship between a person’s worldview and his mental and physical health, as well as the events that happen to him.
S. N. Lazarev claims that by accumulating love for God in oneself, one can be cured of any disease, including AIDS and cancer. The author claims that he cured himself of melanoma.
Based on the developed author's method of "seeing the field structures" of a person, which, according to S. N. Lazarev, make up 97-98% of the information and energy layers of the subconscious, using the concept of Indian philosophy and religion "karma" and the Christian dogma "God is love" , the author substantiates his system by introducing such a concept as a "hook" - a subconscious dependence on material and moral values, as well as feelings and emotions.
Based on these three provisions, S. N. Lazarev deduces the idea that all illnesses and misfortunes of a person are a consequence of negative karma, which is the “deep character of a person”, his “hooking” for certain benefits (both material and spiritual). Such benefits, according to the author, can be: heightened justice, ambition (“hook” for management - pride), worries because of the desire to have a family, children (hooks for desires - jealousy) and others. That is, when "love for God" fades into the background, calling it the wrong prioritization in life.
Lazarev's concepts are criticized by representatives of science. So, responding to a request from the Moscow Committee of Education, Vice-Rector of MIPKRO, Ph.D. n. V. A. Noskin notes the absolutely pseudoscientific nature of Lazarev’s theories.
As part of the consideration of the scientific status of S. Lazarev's theory, the staff of the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences noted that the concepts of healing based on the use of energy from the other world are incompatible with the scientific picture of the world underlying modern medicine.
Lazarev's activity often becomes the object of criticism of the anti-cult movement, religious figures. The Russian Association of Centers for the Study of Religion and Sects (RATSIRS) lists the movement of S. N. Lazarev (“Diagnostics of Karma”) among the most famous destructive totalitarian sects and groups with a significant number of signs of such, as well as occult centers and movements.
In the encyclopedic reference book "New Russian religious organizations of a destructive, occult and neo-pagan nature" (2002), S. N. Lazarev is included in group 2 - Destructive religious organizations and religious groups of the class "Ecology of the spirit, occultism and occult healing", to subgroups O-5 "Pseudo-medical groups and occult healers" and subgroup O-4 "Occult centers" (as part of the "Association of Applied Parapsychology"). The teachings of Sergei Lazarev, for their occult medical nature, took the 6th place in my hit parade of the most schizoid esoteric teachings.

5th place. The Teaching of the Fourth Way by G. Gudjiev.

Man is a machine, Georgy Gudzhiev wrote, he also created the theory of the Fourth Way. Gurzhdiev also said that a person has an essence (everything that is real with which he is born) and personality (everything artificial that he acquires by imitation and imitation). In essence, all people are divided into seven main psychological types, each of which has strictly defined appearance features. Explaining this idea in one of his groups, Gurdjieff said: “Each of you has probably met people of the same type in your life. Such people often even outwardly resemble each other, and their internal reactions are exactly the same. What pleases one will please another; What one doesn't like, another won't like. You must be mindful of such cases, because it is only by meeting types that one can learn the science of types. There is no other method. Everything else is imagination. You must understand that in the conditions in which you live, it is impossible to meet more than six or seven types, although there are twelve basic types in life. The rest is their combinations. Gurdjieff did not give a complete description of human types. The adventurous teachings of Gudjiev took the 5th place in my hit parade.

4th place. Reality transfer by Vadim Zeland.

Reality Transurfing is an esoteric teaching published by Vadim Zeland since 2004 in the book series of the same name. Supporting the idea of ​​a multivariant world, in which events take place in an infinite number of spaces simultaneously, the author describes the teaching as a technique for moving from one “branches” of reality to another due to the concentration of the energy of a person’s thoughts, consciously directed towards the implementation of one or another variant of the development of events. The stated practical meaning of the teaching, as the author claims, is that a person, having established conscious control over his intentions and his attitude to the world, can freely choose the option of developing reality as he wishes. More precisely, each person in any case chooses his own reality, based on his worldview, and it is thus to a decisive extent his (mediated) reflection; however, with most people, this happens involuntarily. Almost nothing is known about the author V. Zeland himself, who he is and how he came to all this. Reality transfer took 4th place in my hit parade of the most schizoid esoteric teachings.

3rd place. Teachings of Urantia.

The Urantia Doctrine (Urantia Book) is an esoteric teaching, where in the form of a religious revelation it tells about the nature of God, cosmology, the origin and destiny of mankind, a detailed biography of Jesus Christ and his teachings is presented. The Urantia Book was first published in Chicago (USA) in October 1955 in English. Its authorship is the subject of speculation. The appearance of the book is associated with the activities of the American psychiatrist William Sadler.
The book served as the basis for the Urantia Fellowship, an esoteric religious movement influenced by Helena Blavatsky's theosophy and James Churchward's theory of lost civilizations.
By 2010 it was translated into 9 other languages, including Russian. According to the Urantia Association International, there are readers and followers of The Urantia Book in 56 countries.
The definition of The Urantia Book as genuine revelation has been criticized for several reasons. Skeptics such as Martin Gardner argue that the Book was written by humans and is not a revelation because it contradicts scientific evidence and adheres to many outdated and rejected positions of the time.
Christian theologians, speaking from counter-cult positions, deny the authenticity of The Urantia Book, since it contradicts many dogmas of Christianity and contains a number of plots that are absent in the Bible itself or impossible from a Christian point of view.
Other critics have pointed out that The Urantia Book is over 2,000 pages long, twice the size of the King James Bible, and is long, complex, and confusing. The Urantia Book took 3rd place on my hit parade.

2nd place. Teachings of Anastasia V. Megre.

Do young girls live in the taiga? Vladimir Megre, the author of the Ringing Cedars of Russia series of books, or the Teachings of Anastasia, is sure of this. The teaching of Anastasia is a near-religious teaching, similar in format to a sect or "new age", which arose on the territory of Russia and a number of post-Soviet countries at the end of the 20th century, after the collapse of the USSR.
The cornerstone of the teaching is the book series by Vladimir Megre - "The Ringing Cedars of Russia". According to rough estimates, the teaching has in its composition from 100 to 500 thousand people.
The “Teaching” exploits the ideas of greening life that were relevant at the end of the 20th century; simultaneous removal from technocratic excesses - with the hope of the existence of "simple and cheap sources of unlimited energy" (for example, "home nuclear reactors"), the dream of own land allotment with predominantly subsistence farming, hopes for the creation of a society aimed at organizing a conflict-free coexistence of man and nature.
There are several levels of learning. At the first stage, the idea of ​​building so-called "family estates" is being promoted. The next one is the philosophical component, based on an eclectic mixture of disparate elements of Blavatsky's Theosophy, Christianity, Buddhism and, to a lesser extent, Islam. One of the key concepts of the teaching, for example, is a cryptohistory similar to Fomenko's "New Chronology".
It should be noted that, among other things, this literary source is written in a completely illogical, deliberately absurd style. Its success is largely dictated by effects similar to those found in the work of the mentally ill. That is, the plot is so absurd, the presentation is so pathologically illogical that it causes painful attraction. In addition - "according to the precepts" of Goebbels, "the more lies, the more they believe in it." Thus, the reader's ability to a healthy, critical perception of the text is extinguished. Such moments as the origin of UFOs from "kombucha", or Anastasia's life under the care of a she-bear, which acts in particular as Anastasia's personal hygiene products, licking up all her secretions (we apologize for the physiological details) - simply paralyze the reader's common sense. Nevertheless, even having fallen into a state of increased suggestibility and rapport in relation to Megre, a person cannot get rid of the accumulated experience and baggage of his knowledge. There is an effect of a permanent stress state of cognitive dissonance. In the medium term, almost guaranteed to lead to the most devastating consequences for the psyche. Most often, participation in this movement ends for a person with various forms of schizophrenia. Here are a few quotes from Maigret's books: “A person in a state of love emits radiation. In a fraction of a second, reflected from the planets above it, it again reaches the Earth and gives life to all living things ... The Sun is one of the planets that reflects an incomplete spectrum of this radiation ... "" Darkness comes from a person in a state of evil feelings. radiation. Dark radiation cannot rise up and falls deep into the Earth. Reflected from the bowels, it returns to the surface in the form of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, wars ... "
The teachings of Anastasia V. Megre took the 2nd place of the most schizoid esoteric teachings.

1 place. Rose of the World D. Andreeva.

Daniil Leonidovich Andreev is the author of the religious and philosophical book "Rose of the World". Some consider his work unique. However, what exactly is unique about it? To what extent did the author adequately perceive the information he received from somewhere out there? When writing the Rose of the World, Daniil Andreev was in the Vladimir prison, the conditions there were by no means humane. After his release, Andreev died a year later, having managed to finish his book.
The Rose of the World itself is written in a very difficult language with a huge number of unknown terms invented by the author, strange ideas about the universe. At the same time, there is reason to doubt Andreev's mental health. Life in prison could not but affect the psyche of Daniil Andreev, including his supposedly mystical experience, receiving information from somewhere outside.
What happened to Andreev can be explained by the peculiarity of his creative personality, and secondly, it has long been proven that the human brain can easily produce various images, including hallucinatory ones, Richard Dawkins in his book God as an Illusion writes:
“The human brain is amazingly adept at building models. If this happens during sleep, we call them dreams; during wakefulness - by imagination or, if it is played out too strongly, by hallucinations.
At the same time, Andreev himself treated his information received as completely reliable without a share of criticism: “But I am not writing on my own and cannot make changes until this is indicated by the only Voice that I trust completely.” This gives me one more reason to doubt the objectivity of the information he receives. That is, it can be argued that there was no analysis of the information that Daniil Andreev received is not clear from where with the help of this very “voice”. Because of this, it is impossible not to avoid serious delusions if Andreev is fully trusted, and I think the author himself was mistaken propagating his mystical views. There is reason to believe that Andreev, who already had a predisposition to mysticism at the same time as a schizophrenic disorder, interpreted it as a “transphysical experience” at every opportunity: “In February 1932, during my short-term service at one of the Moscow factories, I fell ill and at night, in the heat, I gained some experience, in which, of course, the majority will see nothing but delirium, but for me - terrifying in its content and unconditional in its persuasiveness. The being concerned by this experience, I have designated in my books and designate here by the expression "the third Witzraor!".
Daniil Andreev describes many ideas that can be classified as a manifestation of overvalued and which can be attributed to a manifestation of schizophrenia:
“In this reunion of Christian denominations and in the further union of all religions of the Light for the sake of the general concentration of all forces on the improvement of mankind and on spiritualization, the nature of the Rose of the world sees its supra-religiousness and interreligiousness.”
"The Rose of the World brings about a new attitude to nature, to history, to the destinies of human cultures, to their tasks, to creativity, to love, to the paths of cosmic ascent, to the consistent enlightenment of Shandanakar."
“... The rose of the world is not the religious teaching of the past. It is the religious and socio-ethical teaching of the future.”
“And from Gotimna of India I was transferred to Gotima of Russia: there my preparation for the fulfillment of the mission that was accepted by my Self was to be completed.”
“The total number of inhabitants of Heavenly Russia is unknown to me, but I know that about half a million enlightened ones are now in the Heavenly Kremlin.”
"The Church is the higher worlds of Shandanakar"
You can continue for a long time, Andreev has a huge amount of similar crazy phrases and sophisticated frankly invented words in his “frank” book, he himself admits:
“Let anyone who wants to laugh at this message. And I don’t have to get used to the reputation of a madman. ”
"Rose of the World" by Daniil Andreev took 1st place in my hit parade of the 10 most schizoid esoteric teachings.

Esoterics, as a "mystical science", has always been shrouded in a mysterious halo, although in reality this teaching has a practical, applied basis.
The search for hidden mechanisms that drive the events of life, the study of consciousness and subconsciousness has always been considered a priority in the use of esotericism as a mystical teaching.
Most of these teachings have survived from ancient times. According to some reports, they were created by the Atlanteans, who died due to the misuse of magical powers, which caused destruction on a planetary scale.

There are also currents in esotericism that appeared (or appeared) not so long ago, including in the twentieth century. Of course, such a serious science presupposes serious scientists - Teachers.
Among the greatest mystics of the last century, it is worth considering the following personalities:

George Ivanovich Gurdjieff

The mystic Gurdjieff is considered a rather mysterious person.
It is not even known where he was born - in what year, in what city.
Among the dates they name both 1866 and 1877, and 1872.
Now in the city of Alexandropol (then the former Leninakan, now Gyumri), then in Kars, etc.
Family roots have two branches - Armenian and Greek.

Under the influence of his father and spiritual mentor (rector of the cathedral), the young man became interested in the knowledge of the true purpose of life on Earth.
With a group of like-minded people, he traveled extensively in the countries of the East, Africa and Asia.
The result of these expeditions was a huge experience in studying various spiritual traditions, ancient knowledge, on the basis of which the society of "Seekers of Truth" was created.
In collaboration with the Russian scientist Pyotr Uspensky, the book "The Fourth Way" was written, which contained the main theses of the Gurdjieff system for the development of consciousness (incomplete - from the point of view of P. Uspensky).
In many countries, Georgy Ivanovich created groups of his adherents, among which, in addition to Uspensky, one can name other famous names for that time - Pamela Travers (author of a book about Mary Poppins), artist Paul Reynard, poet Rene Daumal, writer Katherine Mansfield and others.
Died G.I. Gurdjieff in France in 1949.

Aleister Crowley

12.10. 1875 - 12/01/1947

Aleister Crowley - the famous English mystic, educated at Cambridge, tarologist, adherent of Kabbalah, black magician, author of the Tarot Thoth deck of cards, was fond of poetry, chess, astrology and mountaineering.
He was a member of such organizations as the Order of the Temple of the East, the Silver Star and the Order of the Golden Dawn.
Crowley became famous as a very powerful psychic, the author of works on yoga, meditation, ceremonial magic, the teachings of Buddhism, etc.
Having received a large inheritance, Crowley traveled to many countries, devoting his life everywhere to various "mystical" experiments, creating esoteric groups and writing numerous works based on the results of his discoveries.
He believed that any human action performed consciously is magic.
Crowley was so famous that he was the prototype for the heroes of many films and books by various authors, his photo is on one of the albums of The Beatles, and many other famous musicians, one way or another, used his name and image.
It is known that he communicated with high-ranking members of the SS in the company of Hitler, then was expelled as an enemy of the German nation.
The biography of this person is so full of completely different events like no other.
Either he is in favor, then he is in disgrace, then he is friends with someone, then he becomes the worst enemy, then he makes fun of someone, then vice versa.
By the end of his life, having squandered all his fortune, becoming an undesirable person for several countries, he lived in a cheap boarding house, barely finding money for a piece of bread.
On December 1, 1947, Aleister Crowley died at the Netherwood Boarding House in Hastings.

Daniil Andreev

10/20/1906 - 03/30/1959

Daniil Andreev is the author of the book "Rose of the World", which discusses the theory of the cosmic mind, egregors and elementals, the multidimensionality of time and space, based on personal "spiritual" experience.
His father, an outstanding writer, Leonid Andreev was married to a relative of Taras Shevchenko.
Daniel was the second son in the family and was born in Grunwald (Berlin region). After the sudden death of his mother, his grandmother, through the line of the Shevchenko family, took her grandson to Moscow.
The child was sick a lot, several times he was barely out, although there were doctors among his closest relatives. At the age of 6, the child fell ill with diphtheria, his grandmother became infected from him, who later died.
After the death of his grandmother, the boy decided to jump off the bridge in order to quickly get to the next world with his mother and his beloved grandmother - he was saved by a miracle, at the last moment.
The house of his uncle Philip Alexandrovich Dobrov, an influential Moscow doctor, was often visited by such writers as M. Gorky, I. Bunin, composer A. Skryabin, singer F. Chaliapin, actors and other celebrities of that time.
Such an atmosphere influenced the development of the child's literary abilities. Having matured, D. Andreev continues his literary education.
During this period, unusual insights, experiences of a mystical nature occur with him, which later determined the receipt of valuable spiritual experience for the creation of such a monumental work as the "Rose of the World".
The development and experience of life collisions from birth, in the pre-war and post-war period, the years spent in prison, became that difficult, sometimes painful basis from which grew a beautiful, unbearably shaking “flower” of his creative understanding of cosmic awareness, transmitted through Daniil Andreev to all mankind .
The value of such a work as the "Rose of the World" cannot be overestimated.
None of the numerous works was published during the lifetime of the great thinker, poet and writer - Daniil Andreev.

Pavel Florensky

22.01. 1882 - 8.12.1937

The Russian priest, thinker and philosopher, considered religion and science as complementary components, and not as opposed, opposite structures.
The main idea of ​​his works is to define the "Radiant Eye" as the middle of the "Divine Triangle".
In his family, in addition to Russians, there are Armenian (Karabakh) roots, which he was very interested in.
After graduating from the Tiflis Gymnasium, Moscow University (Faculty of Physics and Mathematics), Florensky decides to enter the Moscow Theological Academy.
Having accepted the priesthood, in addition to his main activity, he becomes the editor of the Theological Bulletin magazine, on the pages of which he sets out his philosophical and religious ideas.
Taking the times before and after the October Revolution as a historical reality, Florensky works not only as a priest.
Being engaged in mathematics, physics, materials science, technology development, he participates in the GOELRO project in Glavenergo.
In addition, he was interested in museum work, the protection of monuments of antiquity and art, and art history.
Almost naturally for that time, according to numerous denunciations, Florensky was arrested, sent first into exile, and then followed by arrest and imprisonment (02/26/1933 - 11/25/1937), which became for him the next stage of work, as a scientist who committed several scientific discoveries in such sciences as chemistry, physics.
Pavel Florensky was shot by the verdict of the "special troika of the NKVD" in the same place, in the Leningrad region.
The great scientist was buried in a common grave at the place of exile.
The date of his death given to his relatives is not true.

Jiddu Krishnamurti

05/12/1895 - 02/17/1986

This Indian mystic from childhood was distinguished by a sharp mind, prone to philosophy.
Krishnamurti received his education in London, where he became a member of the Theosophical circle.
The talented young man came to the attention of the Theosophist C.W. Leadbeater and Annie Besant, who were considered the leaders of the Theosophical Society of that time.
These teachers took an active part in his upbringing and education, hoping that this young man is the "Hope" of world-class theosophy.
Krishnamurti founded his own philosophical system and the Order of the Star of the East, which he later closed due to loss of faith in Theosophy.
He traveled widely, lectured everywhere, speaking as an independent speaker, for large groups, and for small ones, or even for one listener.
He published works on philosophy, reflecting his worldview, his most famous work is the book "The First and Last Freedom".
The authority of Krishnamurti was so high that society proclaimed him as the "savior of the West", but he himself did not support this opinion.
Jiddu Krishnamurti died in America, in California at the age of 90.

Rudolf Steiner (Steiner)

02/27/1861 - 03/30/1925

Rudolf Steiner was born in the family of the huntsman Johann Steiner in the town of Kraljevic in the Austrian Empire. To provide the family with daily bread, his father often changed jobs and places of residence.
The boy's education, due to moving, took place in schools of different levels, which, in the end, served him only for the benefit.
Rudolf Steiner received his first experience of spiritual communication at the age of 9, when the spirit of his aunt asked him for help at the time of death, about which none of his family knew then.
When Steiner was already 21 years old, another historic meeting took place - a "random" conversation on a Vienna train with Felix Kogutsky, who told him about the laws of nature, from the point of view of spirituality, not science.
This conversation was the first for the young man about the essence of spiritual development, which he had with a person who understands this issue.
The famous and highly respected philosopher Steiner, after receiving his education, began his career as a specialist in the study of Goethe's worldview.
Further, Steiner created his theories of spiritual knowledge of the world, such as anthroposophy, esoteric Christian philosophy.
For his scientific knowledge, he was honored to become General Secretary of the Theosophical Society in Germany.
The philosopher was looking for a way to combine scientific methods with the knowledge of the spirit and practical exercises in this area.
The result of his searches and developments was the construction of the Goetheanum - the house of all arts (Steiner studied drama, the con movement, painting, architecture, and other types of art), in which the author introduced Waldorf pedagogy, Bothmer gymnastics, anthroposophic medicine, biodynamics of agricultural development and much more.
Such figures as Goethe, Nietzsche, Hegel, Blavatsky, Fichte had a huge influence on his work.
The teachings of Rudolf Steiner himself influenced the worldview of such personalities as Joseph Beuys, Wassily Kandinsky, Andrei Bely, Julian Shchutsky, Albert Schweitzer.

Petr Donov

1864 - 1944

Petr Donov was born in the village of Nikolaevka, near the city of Varna in Bulgaria, in the family of a priest. His father was considered a prominent figure in the Bulgarian revival.
The spiritual name that Donov received is Beinsa Duno.
Petr Donov is the founder of the White Brotherhood society.
Among his main achievements are the religious and philosophical doctrine of "Esoteric Christianity", and Paneurhythmy, as a special spiritual dance, and the teachings of the Sixth Race.
Practical classes with like-minded people and students, when everyone dances in white clothes in huge circles in nature, look very attractive and grandiose.
Comprehension of the secrets of the cosmos, personality, awareness of the inner space, as a continuation of the outside world, with such an unusual "dance" gathered associates around the world around Pyotr Donov.
The sermons of Pyotr Donov (4000 pieces) are still considered healing.
At present, there are numerous groups of followers of his teachings around the world.

Bhagwan Shri Rajneesh (Osho)

12/11/1931 - 01/19/1990

Osho, a Hindu by origin, who received enlightenment at the age of 21, becomes a conductor of a unique teaching about the free choice of methods for understanding the world, up to the use of group “sex meditations” for universal development.
Osho - in Russian it sounds like "dissolved in the ocean", "oceanic". Osho was born in Bhopal (now Madhya Pradesh), Kuchwad, British India. The name given at birth is Chandra Mohan Jain.
The mystic is also known under the pseudonyms Acharya Rajneesh, Rajneesh and Bhagavan Sri Rajneesh.
A new religious doctrine - the "Movement of Rajneesh" (neo-sannyas), was founded by him on September 26, 1970 and is still operating throughout the world.
Osho criticized both the traditionalism of the methods of different religions, and the socialist policies of Mahatma Gandhi, as well as the Puritan restrictions on "freedom of choice" in everything.
Osho, an internationally recognized neo-Hindu mystic and guru, is the inspirer and preacher of the Rajneesh movement, which is recognized as neo-Hindu and unoriented for the 20th century.
Such radically different views on the upbringing and development of the soul and spirit led to the fact that society broke up into irreconcilable opponents and equally ardent admirers all over the world.
In many countries, Osho opened ashrams for his followers; in America, the international settlement "Rajneeshpuram" was created.
However, it is worth noting that some countries considered the activities of these ashrams to be destructive, and ranked them as sects and cults.
In our country, this teaching was banned, as contrary to the positive line of Indian culture and the protest youth movement of Western countries against the laws existing at that time.
Numerous works of Osho (more than 600) have been translated and sold all over the world, and in Russia too.
Here are just a few of the brightest stars of the 20th century who should be known, remembered and thanked for their great work.

Esotericism, books about which excite the minds of readers around the globe, has always been considered accessible only to a circle of selected adherents. However, many wanted to try to touch, get to know her better. After all, the very principle of the teaching - penetration into the mystical, hidden essence of the objects of the world and man - is fascinating. Hence the popularity and recognition by some that esoteric books are the best treasure trove of knowledge.

What esoteric explores: books - revelations from recognized masters of the genre

So far, numerous researchers have not been able to definitively establish what esotericism is. Books devoted to this teaching touch upon a number of issues from various fields: astrology, magic, gnosticism, cabalism, yoga, suffism, gnosticism, mondialism, freemasonry, Buddhist tantrism and much more. By the way, maybe that's why esoteric books are the best friends for many who yearn for truth and harmony with the world. The extreme comprehensiveness of such works will allow them to meet the needs of the widest audience of readers.

Knowledge of the inner world of man, knowledge of the secrets of nature and the universe are some of the more general tasks that the one who picks up a book on esotericism sets for himself. In the modern life of chaos, constant difficulties and misunderstanding, many are trying to escape from the fetters of everyday life. Achieving self-improvement, harmony with oneself and the outside world is one of the opportunities that esotericism provides. Books of this genre helped millions of our ancestors and contemporaries to learn what is called sacred information, secret knowledge.

How to choose esoteric books for beginners?

Choosing books on esotericism for beginners should be especially careful. After all, the interest of a particular reader in understanding this issue depends on how correctly the vector of immersion in new, sacred knowledge is set. First of all, it is necessary to determine which particular area is of great interest, then you should rely on proven options - give preference to famous authors. So, an inexperienced audience perfectly perceives the works of Carlos Costaneda. His "The Art of Dreaming", "Journey to Ixtlan", "Separate Reality", "Tales of Power", "Wheel of Time", etc. - books that diverge in huge circulations and every day gain more and more fans.