I’ve heard many references to them, but I couldn’t find a list specifying what each one signfies. Or is there no such list and they’re simply taken as a group?
When Oscar Wilde wrote the play Salome, he included a stage direction saying that Salome “Dances the ‘Dance of the Seven Veils’”. Wikipedia mentions a possible mythical origin, but other sources I’ve read said that Wilde made it up out of whole cloth, so to speak.
There’s the dance of the seven veils, as xnylder explains, and there are “the veils of illusion,” but I’ve never heard the latter numbered.
Of course, how all the above fits into society should be determined from behind a veil of ignorance. (I think the only exception in the fight against ignorance.)
What the heck are ‘veils of illusion?’ I was thinking something Buddhist but all I get from Google are wacky New-Age sites.
It’s the idea that the physical world isn’t real, and that we need to pierce the “veil of illusion” that is our physical reality to discover the truth and become enlightened
Are you perhaps thinking of The Seven Pillars Of Wisdom ?
Huh.
I just read Skinny Legs and All a few months ago and had no understanding that Tom Robbins hadn’t simply made up the Dance of the Seven Veils himself. It was an allusion. Now I know. Thanks!
-FrL-
That was my understanding; but are there supposed to be seven particular steps towards gaining enlightenment? i.e. “Step One: xxx Step Two: yyy”, etc.?
I think the term dates back to spirtualistm/theosophy in the late 19th century, but I could be wrong about that.
It could be a successor to the Seven Veils of Mystical Experience (and judging by the descriptions, it very well may be). In which case the seven veils are:
Dreams
Reason
Passion
Bliss
Courage
Compassion
Knowledge