Page "René Guénon" Paragraph 7

Although the exposition of Hindu doctrines to European audiences had already been attempted in piecemeal fashion at that time by many orientalists, Guénon ’ s Introduction to the Study of the Hindu Doctrines advanced its subject in a uniquely insightful manner, by referring to the concepts of metaphysics and Tradition in their most general sense, which Guénon precisely defined, along with the necessary distinctions and definitions of seemingly unambiguous terms such as religion, tradition, exoterism, esoterism and theology.

Guénon explained that his purpose was not to describe all aspects of Hinduism, but to give the necessary intellectual foundation for a proper understanding of its spirit.

The book also stands as a harsh condemnation of works presented by certain other European writers about Hinduism and Tradition in general ; according to Guénon, such writers had lacked any profound understanding of their subject matter and of its implications.

The book also contains a critical analysis of the political intrusions of the British Empire into the subject of Hinduism ( and India itself ) through Madame Blavatsky ’ s theosophism.