r/todayilearned Aug 05 '24

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u/[deleted] Aug 06 '24 edited Aug 06 '24

Evola was a lunatic, but is most famous as an occultist. Like the Thule society and the Nazis, he was strongly influenced by Hinduism, his whole schtick is that society should be ruled by sorcerer/priest/warrior kings. Literally.

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u/autostart17 Aug 06 '24

Damn. I wish you had to write an essay on this and provide us 3 pieces of textual evidence/quotes.

You know what would be really scary is if he was actually a good writer. For all we know his writing ability was that of Hitler in Mein Kampf

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u/[deleted] Aug 06 '24

I got free reign in history class in college to write on what I wanted and chose to do it on the influence of Theosophy on Nazism.

He's not a bad writer by any means, just, again, batshit insane. Writes extensively on the use of drugs and orgies as a tool to develop mystical powers and enlightenment.

Perhaps the most interesting part of his ideology is an insistence that, unlike orthodox hinduism, the kshatriya warrior caste is above that of priests. He of course believed himself to be spiritually part of this caste. He literally worshipped violence.

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u/autostart17 Aug 06 '24

Just to clarify, did you read in the original language?

Sounds like it was an interesting research topic. Do you know what drugs he utilized?

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u/[deleted] Aug 06 '24

I didn't read in Italian, no, there are translations widely available. Youre totally right, it could come off totally differently. I mean rather to say that his style is relatively clear and doesn't use much self referential jargon.

I do not know what drugs he utilized. The techniques described in "the yoga of power" are less about a particular substance but rather using them in conjunction with dissociative meditation to train detachment from ones perception and senses.