About
I'm Jake Davila, a lifelong student of Japanese martial arts, holding a B.A. in Theology, a Master's degree in the Philosophy of Religion, and I'm a current PhD candidate in Intercultural Studies with an emphasis on Japanese culture and religion. I'm also a Japanese Metal enthusiast and host a program dedicated to that interest. I'm an adherent of the Perennialist school of philosophy and have written on spirituality and the wisdom traditions of the East for a variety of publications, both print and online, including PATHEOS. My personal quest for self-knowledge and the wisdom of the East has resulted in my having been granted diksa and siksa initiations in the Vaisnava tradition of India, initiation in the spiritual tradition of Meishusama, studying Shinto under the guidance of a priest of the Konko sect, and finding influence in the teachings of such men as Okada Mokichi, Rene' Guenon, Hatsumi Masaaki, Takamatsu Toshitsugu, Kōbō Daishi, Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki, Konko Daijin, and many others. From all of my teachers I have gained a deep appreciation for perennial metaphysics.
What do you mean by the term "perennial metaphysics"?
Also referred to as perennialism, perennial metaphysics is a school of thought in philosophy and spirituality which posits that the recurrence of common themes across world religions illuminates universal truths about the nature of reality, humanity, ethics, and consciousness. Some perennialists emphasize common themes in spiritual experiences and mystical traditions across time and culture, while others argue that religious traditions share a single, metaphysical truth or origin from which all esoteric and exoteric knowledge and doctrine has grown. I am of this latter school of thought, though I do see common themes as important.
Are these articles representative of Perennialist philosophy?
When speaking of Perennial Metaphysics, one is referring first to the definition common to all adherents given above. However, after that point you will find Perennialist Philosophers coming to divergent conclusions based on their personal experiences. Thus, these articles reflect my own realizations and not those of every Perennialist philosopher. Feel free to agree or disagree with their content as you wish. I simply encourage my readers to engage in serious study and real-life application and practice of whatever spiritual tradition or methodology they prefer.
