Abstract

This article examines the French esoteric scholar René Guénon's concepts of tradition, the Centre and the primordial state, and the symbols which he argues body them forth. In particular it discusses the symbolism of the heart and the Grail in Guénon's work. It uses a close reading of the earliest Grail romances to develop a critique of Guénon, and in particular of his concept of tradition and his attitude towards Christianity.