The Doors of Perception
This book was written in 1954 and is based on Aldis Huxley's
experiences while taking mescaline. The Perennial
Philosophy
According to Huxley the perennial philosophy is the metaphysic that
recognizes a divine Reality substantial to the world of things and lives
and minds.
The psychology that finds in the soul something similar to, or even
identical with divine Reality. The ethic that places man's final end in
the knowledge of the immanent and transcendent ground of all being.
The thing is immemorial and universal. Rudiments of the perennial
philosophy may be found among the traditional lore of primitive peoples
in every region of the world, and in its fully developed forms it has a
place in every one of the higher religions.
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July 26, 1894 to November 22, 1963
Aldous was born in Godalming Surrey, England to his father Leonard and
his mother Julia Arnold.
He was the grandson of Thomas Henry Huxley a famous zoologists and was
basically one of Darwin's Bulldogs.
When Aldous was 16 years old he became ill and the illness practically
left him blind for the next 18 months. Once his eyesight recovered he
was able to study at Balliol College in Oxford. In 1916 he graduated
with honors.
In 1937 Aldous moved to Hollywood California with his wife and son. In
1938 Aldous met J. Krishnamurti and Swami Prabhavananda, these people
had a great influence on his life.
Aldous was known for using psychedelic drugs such as LSD and peyote and
on his deathbed instructed his wife to give him a large does of LSD and
within a few hours he was dead.
Aldous Huxley, John F. Kennedy and CS Lewis died on the same day
November 22, 1963.
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| I have not read any of Aldis Huxley's books yet.
Quotes by Aldous Huxley
Consistency is contrary to nature, contrary to life. The only
completely consistent people are dead.
Defined in psychological terms, a fanatic is a man who consciously over
compensates a secret doubt.
God isn't compatible with machinery and scientific medicine and
universal happiness. You must make your choice. Our civilization has
chosen machinery and medicine and happiness.
Hell isn't merely paved with good intentions; it's walled and roofed
with them. Yes, and furnished too.
My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of
churchgoing.
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