Arthur Versluis is the author of Platonic Mysticism: Contemplative Science, Philosophy, Literature, and Art and a Professor of Religious Studies at Michigan State University. His work bridges the gap between rigorous scholarship and the experiential reality of spiritual traditions. We examine the transformative power of art and its ability to mediate between the material and the transcendent. Versluis highlights the Hudson River School and the concept of "Luminism," explaining how the visual representation of light in nature mirrors the internal experience of mystical illumination.
The discussion navigates the complex relationship between the "forms" of Plato and the direct experience of the divine, moving beyond the common accusations of dualism often leveled at the Platonic tradition. We explore the "apophatic" or negative theological tradition, comparing the insights of Western mystics like Meister Eckhart with the emptiness found in the Heart Sutra. Finally, Versluis shares how his background in agriculture informs his work ethic and how Western philosophy can be complemented by the precise "maps" of consciousness found in Vajrayana Buddhism.
0:00 - Introduction: Teaching Plato & The Allegory of the Cave
4:45 - The Eclipse of Platonism & The Dominance of Materialism
10:19 - Reframing the "Forms": Angels, Hierarchy & Non-Duality
16:11 - Gnosticism, The Heart Sutra, and the Apophatic Lineage
24:10 - Luminism: The Hudson River School & The Metaphysics of Art
33:59 - Kant vs. Schelling: Who Opens the Door to Mysticism?
40:21 - The Descent into Darkness & The Ancient Mysteries
50:38 - What is Perennial Philosophy? (Truth vs. Relativism)
58:52 - American Gurus & The Problem with New Age Spirituality
69:17 - Breaking Through the Materialistic Deception
75:23 - Farming, Buddhist Maps of Consciousness & Recovering the West
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The intro song is by Lief Sjostrom, titled Peril, from the album 'Impossible Parade'.
Website: https://liefsjostrom.com/
Album: https://liefsjostrom.bandcamp.com/album/impossible-parade
