Huston Smith discusses Frithof Schuon’s unique reconciliation of esoterism with exoterism

Prof. Huston Smith was particularly interested in the mystical dimensions of the world's religious traditions. A tension almost always exists between religious authorities (e.g. clergy, doctors of religious law) who determine doctrine and practices for most followers (i.e., "exoterism," the outer dimension of a religion) and those who are attracted to a deeper dimension of a religious framework (i.e., "esoterism," the inner dimension), which is practiced by fewer believers and is more nuanced. Smith thought that perhaps Frithof Schuon’s greatest contribution to metaphysics, philosophy, and comparative religion was how he reconciled them in a way that, in fact, even helped to reconcile the diverse religious traditions themselves.
In the series of clips from his interview with World Wisdom, of which this is one, Prof. Smith revealed that a major milestone in his career as a scholar of religions and philosophy was his finding and delving deeply into the writings of Frithjof Schuon.
Huston Smith (1919-2016) was a scholar, educator, and author who was widely recognized as a leading voice in the study of comparative religion. He authored over twelve books on the religions of the world and philosophy. His book “The World's Religions” was and still is a fundamental text in the study of the world’s great religions. Prof. Smith’s ideas were also shared with many others through television appearances with Bill Moyers (“The Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith”) and through film and audio field recordings he made in foreign locales. His work as an educator was greatly valued by generations of students in some of the finest universities in America.