You're currently on:
About ITP
Integral Tradition was formed to publish books addressing issues relating to spirituality, culture and politics, often taking inspiration from the world’s spiritual traditions, and which elucidate the failings, shortcomings and spiritual bankruptcy of modern society. Apart from publishing books we sell a wide variety of books from other publishers, music, clothing and other items through our online store.
Our books are published through our imprints: Traditio, which is concerned with the inner search for meaning, and Eos, which looks outward at the world around us with a critical eye. We often publish authors whose ideas are too controversial for mainstream publishers, but who effectively address core modern problems.
The Perennial Philosophy
Although not exclusively a perennialist publisher, Integral Tradition is based on the principles of the perennial philosophy – also known as Integral Traditionalism (hence the name).
Thus, we abide by, and seek to promote knowledge of, the following principles, which we call ‘the traditional norms’. Firstly, there is a physical order and a metaphysical one. The physical order is the realm of impermanent, corruptible matter; the metaphysical order is the realm of permanence, knowledge and bliss. It is possible for man to achieve spiritual realisation to varying degrees by diligently applying himself to an orthodox tradition such as the Vedic, Buddhist, Islamic, Christian or another bona fide esoteric path. Once self-realisation is achieved, the meaning of life becomes apparent to the spiritual seeker, and he becomes wise, detached and perfectly at peace.
Secondly, there is a ‘transcendent unity of religions’, which is to say that although the individual traditions are different in form as a consequence of the cultural conditions in which they manifested, they share the same transcendental essence.
Thirdly, it is possible for sacred institutions to re-sacralise society as a whole. In a society invested with such sacred institutions, people in general exist in a higher state of consciousness than modernity, and those with spiritual talent have the benefit of an environment highly conducive to full self-realisation, benefiting society as a whole by serving as the carriers of traditional wisdom. Traditional societies were always organised in a monarchic-feudal hierarchy and their leaders, being spiritually self-realised, possessed both temporal power and spiritual authority. This allowed for much greater social cohesion, stability and longevity for the society, benefiting members at all levels.
Fourthly, there are four ages in every cycle of metahistory: the ‘Golden Age’, the ‘Silver Age’, the ‘Bronze Age’ and the ‘Iron Age’, also known as the kali-yuga. In the Golden Age the traditional wisdom was complete and tradition was practiced ideally; in the Ages that followed it was gradually forgotten; in the present, last age – the kali-yuga, characterised by corruption, hypocrisy and quarrel – traditional norms almost completely disappear and modern norms become increasingly dominant.
Finally, the current, modern way of life is an inversion of the traditional norms as it does not recognise the metaphysical order, but encourages the gratification of base desires as the highest good; enforces secular law over sacred law; promotes democracy – the rule of the common man – over sacred government; and asserts the idea of ‘progress’ based on a notion of linear time, thus considering the traditional societies of the past to have been inferior to the present.
The Modern Situation
Apart from books explaining the traditional norms in depth, we publish and distribute works which examine how they apply to the modern situation. The issues these books are concerned with include –
- - The modern dogma of equality which seeks to artificially do away with all qualitative differences, such as those between men and women, the classes of society and the various ethnicities, and which holds all philosophical, ideological and ethical positions to be equally valid (except those doctrines which question the said dogma). The result of this is utter moral dissolution.
- - Consumerism, which implicitly upholds the notion that the purpose of human life is the exploitation and enjoyment of things and people, whereby one labours to earn money to purchase goods one does not need and fosters an attitude in which so long as I spend $100 on dinner I am justified in using your body for my pleasure because you have been sufficiently compensated. This mind-set also extends to society as a whole in the form of capitalism, which exploits people, animals and the environment to increase the wealth of avaricious corporate demagogues.
- - Modern politics, where politicians operate only in response to the latest opinion poles rather than acting in accord with any higher ideals or striving to realise a greater, integral vision for society, encompassing all aspects of life.
- - Secularism, or the idea that spirituality should be confined to the private sphere. This extends to the area of science which in keeping with the idea of unlimited progress has become the de facto religion of modern states, causing man to ascribe to himself all the characteristics which were once ascribed only to God. We see this for example with evolution being compulsorily taught as the only truth in modern schools and the traditional view presented as unworthy of serious consideration by intelligent individuals.
As a publisher and distributor we do not propose a single solution to these problems, but some of the solutions our authors propose include ecologically sustainable autonomous communities, nature-based economy and pre-Christian European tribal culture; devotion, religious practice and spiritual fulfillment; all out violent revolution against the state; and learning to live ‘among the ruins’ without compromising on traditional principles.
Our Contributors
Integral Tradition is supported by a community of highly motivated and skilled contributors, who either give their time and skills for free as volunteers or for a modest fee. They help with translation, editing, proof-reading, layout, design and marketing as well as administrative matters. One of ITP’s purposes is to give like-minded traditionalists a chance to interact, exchange ideas and create cordial relationships. If you would like to know more about our volunteer scheme please click here.
Charitable Activities
One of ITP’s chief aims is to support causes we deem worthy by donating part of our income every year. In the past we have given donations to the legal fund of Nordiska Förlaget to help in suing a Swedish journalist for defamation; their legal defence fund; and Sri Sri Radha-Gopinath Temple, Mumbai, to support Vedic preaching programmes and organic farm communities in Maharashtra.
Our Aim
Integral Tradition’s final aim is to become one of the leading alternative media outlets in the world. With this aim in mind we will publish relevant, original literature; expand our selection to include all significant literature, music and other items relevant to our audience; and by branching out into different fields in the future, using music, clothes, films and other media to elucidate the questions pertinent to our time. In this way we hope to help preserve the ancient knowledge of tradition and exercise at least some influence on the direction of society.
Veritas Omnia Vincit
