Frithjof Schuon (1907–1998) on the Transcendent Unity of Five Divine Presence

Waryani Fajar Riyanto, - and Robby Habiba Abror, - (2026) Frithjof Schuon (1907–1998) on the Transcendent Unity of Five Divine Presence. African Journal of Religion, Philosophy and Culture (AJRPC), 7 (3). pp. 185-207. ISSN ISSN 2634-7636 (Print) ISSN 2634-7644 (Online)

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Abstract

Probably the most famous teaching of the School of Frithjof Schuon (1907–1998), the perennial philosopher and spiritual poet, after the Transcendent Unity of Religions (al-waḥda al-mutāʿaliyya li al-adyān) is that of the Five Divine Presence (al-ḥaḍra al-ilāhiyya al-khamsa). Although often discussed, seldom has it been analysed with reference to the original texts. From Sufi cosmology and models theory (monadic, diadic, triadic, tetradic and pentadic) perspectives, this study analysed Schuon’s thoughts on the Five Divine Presence. Employing a qualitative, document-based methodology, the study analysed Schuonʾs primary texts. The study advances the concept of the Transcendent Unity of Five Divine Presence, consisting of beyond-being, being, spirit, soul and body. These five structures place spirit (rūḥānī) as the bridge between God and man. Spirit (rūḥānī) is the Logos which with its two faces, created and uncreated, the “bridge” between man and God. Created, observed from the God side and uncreated, observed from the human side. The implication is that Pentadic Integralism can describe and clarify the relationships among the domains of Uncreated Logos–Created Logos, Absolute–Relative, Ātmā–Māyā, Divine–Human, Heaven–Earth, Esoterism (Ḥaqīqa)–Exoterism (Sharīʿa), and Immortal–Mortal. The current study also attempts to integrate Perennial Philosophy and Sufism.

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