Paul Masson-Oursel (1882–1956): Inside and Outside the Academy

Résumé En

Paul Masson-Oursel (1882-1956) was a French Indologist who held the position of director of studies in Indian religions from 1927 to 1953 at the École Pratique des Hautes Études in Paris. However, alongside his well-received academic publications, Masson-Oursel also published many articles on India in nonacademic periodicals, some of which are clearly associated with esoteric currents. In 1929 for instance, he wrote a report for the Gruppo di Ur titled "On the Role of Magic in Hindu Speculation" which was published in the periodical Krur, 1 directed by the Italian esotericist Julius Evola (1898-1974). Furthermore, in its edition of March 15th, 1946 the periodical Spiritualité printed an article by Masson-Oursel entitled "Similarity between physics and psychology in Indian philosophy." 2 This periodical was directed by Robert Linssen (1911-2004), a close disciple of spiritual spokesperson Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895-1986). In their journals, both Evola and Linssen approached India through spiritually engaged perspectives, which makes the presence of an academic such as Masson-Oursel in their columns somewhat surprising. In this article I will ask why he desired and saw it fit to publish in such periodicals.