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In the Dark Places of Wisdom
by
The author of "Ancient Philosophy, Mystery and Magic" has unearthed a sensational, true story of a mystical and esoteric tradition that lies hidden at the roots of Western culture--and that gave rise to the world we live in.
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Paperback, 255 pages
Published
December 1st 1999
by The Golden Sufi Center
(first published 1999)
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In this book, Peter Kingsley covers the roots of the Western civil system as revealed through the lives of Plato, Pythagoras and Parmenides. Essentially, the Phoenicians brought eastern spiritual traditions with them when they fled the Persians and settled in Italy. Through the methods of 'incubation', simply sitting quietly, the most revelatory discoveries that we accredit to the Greeks were developed.
In our current rational systems we would instantly discredit anyone bringing 'laws from the g ...more
In our current rational systems we would instantly discredit anyone bringing 'laws from the g ...more
Jan 22, 2013
Arlo
rated it
did not like it
Recommends it for:
-- don't bother
Shelves:
consciousness
What we have here is an academic paper puffed into a book, written by one who does not respect his reader.
If one has the patience to wade through his tedious repetitions, condescensions, ax grinding, and self-congratulations, one is rewarded with the glimmer of a new idea. But that idea, recedes mirage-like, ever into the horizon. I don't know how I ever made it through.
The essence, however, is that the early Greek teachers found enlightenment, not through intellectual discourse, as did the lat ...more
If one has the patience to wade through his tedious repetitions, condescensions, ax grinding, and self-congratulations, one is rewarded with the glimmer of a new idea. But that idea, recedes mirage-like, ever into the horizon. I don't know how I ever made it through.
The essence, however, is that the early Greek teachers found enlightenment, not through intellectual discourse, as did the lat ...more
This is an extraordinary book in which Peter Kingsley takes us on a journey through the roots of our esoteric traditions as Westerners. It's a simple book, written with a clear style, deeply appreciative of our mystical traditions without falling prey to silly eurocentric ideas. It is a book that helps placing us within a time and place, and shows the roots of the beliefs that we have come to destroy and pervert during the last couple of millennia. It's a book to read with the heart, to stimulat
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Engaging, compelling and very persuasive,
this book looks at the origins of Western philosophy
and turns them
and our current perspectives on their head.
It was easy to follow and yet very deep in it's scope.
Highly recommended. ...more
this book looks at the origins of Western philosophy
and turns them
and our current perspectives on their head.
It was easy to follow and yet very deep in it's scope.
Highly recommended. ...more
This book is written like a mystery or suspense pulp novel. While some may be critical of this, I found the topic framed very well leaving ample space for thought. This is also a very quick read. So it's hard to complain too much. I read it in two sittings. Anyway, onto the ideas.
What Peter Kingsley has hit on here is truly paradigm-shattering, the implications of which are enough to upend the history of philosophy. Kingsley reveals that Apollo, rather than being associated purely with light and ...more
What Peter Kingsley has hit on here is truly paradigm-shattering, the implications of which are enough to upend the history of philosophy. Kingsley reveals that Apollo, rather than being associated purely with light and ...more
Thoroughly unimpressed. The writing style was atrocious and not suitable at all for the material being presented, it was written too much like a mystery novel. A bad mystery novel.
The author's tone felt melodramatic, especially since most of the ideas he was presenting did not seem too "revolutionary" to me. I've given it two stars, as some information was redeeming and informative, so it has some merit. It just wasn't that great. ...more
The author's tone felt melodramatic, especially since most of the ideas he was presenting did not seem too "revolutionary" to me. I've given it two stars, as some information was redeeming and informative, so it has some merit. It just wasn't that great. ...more
Parmenides as the inheritor of a lengthy tradition. Thoroughly researched, splendidly written alternative history of religion/philosophy/medicine.
Fasinating book. Interesting take for Western mind on a spiritual course.
Fantastic, enlightening...dare I say life-changing? :)
Peter Kingsley leads the seeker gently by the hand, explaining historical migrations, revealing and righting inexact translation of Parmenides' poem and relevant ancient writings, uncovering the life and times of pre-Platonic Greece and connecting overlooked evidence for the historical role of shamanism in the West. The style is simple and straightforward, the pace careful, measured. I was struck by the many similarities between 'incubation' - the act of lying down in perfect stillness in a dark
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This book is a dramatic re-appraisal of Parmenides, the Ancient Greek philosopher who is commonly considered to be the founding father of logic. Far from being a pedantic academic, however, the Parmenides presented here is far more of a magus figure, a seer who went into a trance and descended into the underworld to talk personally to The Goddess herself, Persephone the Maiden, and came back to write his great poem as an account of this experience. Professor Kingsley is at times too full of hims
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This is the second time I have read this book, and I learned a lot more this time. Incubation as healing and prophecy is at the center of the book. This book explores how philosophy was rooted in the mystical as taught by Parmeneides, but was changed into Plato into the sciences and logic as the western world now recognizes. A very good read, I am glad I took the time to re-read this book.
Something about this book excited me unbearably, beyond the facts and research and scholarship. I think Kingsley taps into his Goddess on a level few achieve, and manages to share some of the holy awe. I love this book.
Fantastic hardcover edition by Ediciones Atalanta. Loved the book! a must read to understand truths of our civilization.
i may read through this again because of the recommendation of another reader, but i found it to be unimpressive. the author seemed incapable of making any straightforward points. it almost felt like he was being purposefully obscure in order to make the book longer and to make it sound "deeper".
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Breathtaking.
Excellent book, well written and full of intriguing and unusual viewpoints that provide answers to some of the most complex questions of life and history of thought. Highly recommended.
Perfect warm-up to the more expansive book Reality
don't know if any of its true
but medaitive for the lonely soul ...more
but medaitive for the lonely soul ...more
Foundational reading. A phenomenal introduction to the Western Mystery tradition for those who are completely unfamiliar with the concept. Taking a look at other reviews, I've seen some people complain that Kingsley's tone is patronizing, the book is slow-paced, goes nowhere, etc.
A response:
1) As an esoteric practitioner, it's quite evident to me that the book is literally a spell - it is meant to induce a particular state of consciousness in the reader. In the Dark Places of Wisdom deals with ...more
A response:
1) As an esoteric practitioner, it's quite evident to me that the book is literally a spell - it is meant to induce a particular state of consciousness in the reader. In the Dark Places of Wisdom deals with ...more
In the course of looking for information on Empedocles, I happened to find this short book on Parmenides at my university library. Probably one's opinion of this book will depend a good deal on one's familiarity with philosophy and with ancient Greece, as it's not written (as far as I can tell) for a scholarly audience, but a more general one.
I'm a scholar, but not at all well read in philosophy, while my knowledge of ancient Greece is fairly wide but not especially advanced or up to date. Conse ...more
I'm a scholar, but not at all well read in philosophy, while my knowledge of ancient Greece is fairly wide but not especially advanced or up to date. Conse ...more
So here's the thing. The book is about 57 thousand words long, so barely even a book to begin with. But what Kingsley has to say of substance can be said comfortably in maybe fifteen or twenty thousand words. So around two thirds of the work is filler. Some of it is just extremely slow-paced, like the many times he declines to move on from one piece of evidence to another without first having spent a transitional paragraph to say that it would be easy to dismiss the point he's just made, were it
...more
Mixed feelings. This book provides some great info on Parmenides and the roots of the Western world, but it could also have been about 100 pages shorter if the author could manage to go even one paragraph without talking about how stupid everyone else in the world is. A little more respect for the reader would have been appreciated, not to mention the fact that the whole book comes off as a 'let me show you the right way to think' work, which is constantly deflated by the authors own massive sel
...more
I'm not sure what to make of this book. The prose is very clear, but at the same time, it feels as though the author is dancing around the points that he wants to make. The book feels similar in spirit to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance in talking about what we may have lost along the way, but never really seems to get to what it is that we have lost?
...more
It's about a poem. It's about a history. It's about the evidence. It nips lightly at philosophy and metaphysics.
It's elegantly written and was so compelling for me that I bought the subsequent book then next day.
It may not be for everyone, but it opened a path of inquiry for me.
I'm glad I read it. This one stays in my library. ...more
It's elegantly written and was so compelling for me that I bought the subsequent book then next day.
It may not be for everyone, but it opened a path of inquiry for me.
I'm glad I read it. This one stays in my library. ...more
There's one quote at the very beginning of this book that I find valuable.
The rest of it is far too wishy washy for my taste.
I skimmed through most of it and decided to put it down. ...more
The rest of it is far too wishy washy for my taste.
I skimmed through most of it and decided to put it down. ...more
Not a great book. While fine for what it is, there are some definite drawbacks.
1) Peter Kingsley writes this book as though he were talking to a 6-year-old. I just ignored it, and focussed on his message. While this is a good message, there is no need to speak to the reader as though they are a child. What Kingsley loses through doing this is the chance to take us to some truly brilliant heights in the spell he is trying to weave. He talks down to us, rather than taking us with him. I think he t ...more
1) Peter Kingsley writes this book as though he were talking to a 6-year-old. I just ignored it, and focussed on his message. While this is a good message, there is no need to speak to the reader as though they are a child. What Kingsley loses through doing this is the chance to take us to some truly brilliant heights in the spell he is trying to weave. He talks down to us, rather than taking us with him. I think he t ...more
Reading Peter Kingsley's "In the Dark Places of Wisdom" is a challenge, but a challenge worth taking up. His thesis is that there's more to the origins of our "Civilization" than is commonly portrayed in dry academic circles; his book explores the mysticism of Parmenides and other "healer-prophets" that informed pre-Socratic philosophy.
Kingsley's prose is fluid, poetic even, so his narrative slides along smoothly. But, you'll soon find you can't read with intellect alone. You may sense a deeper ...more
Kingsley's prose is fluid, poetic even, so his narrative slides along smoothly. But, you'll soon find you can't read with intellect alone. You may sense a deeper ...more
An entertaining introduction to the Ancient Mediterranean tradition of cave journeys and Underworld myths written in an enjoyable way. Perhaps too pleasant, for the colloquial style hinders at certain points the reading and the author conclusions become mixed with his research, unlike his work regarding Empedocles.
Particularly of note is the effort put into portraying a different worldview from the past, rather than examining historical clues from an strict contemporary viewpoint.
Particularly of note is the effort put into portraying a different worldview from the past, rather than examining historical clues from an strict contemporary viewpoint.
Stunning. Illuminating. Deep.
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Classical scholar and spiritual teacher Peter Kingsley was born in the UK. He received his BA from the University of Lancaster, his Master of Letters from King's College, Cambridge University, and his PhD from the University of London. He is a former Fellow of the Warburg Institute in London and has held honorary professorships or fellowships at universities in Canada, the United Kingdom and the U
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“Tiene mérito: hemos conseguido crear la ilusión de que somos más sabios que las gentes de tiempos anteriores”
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