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TheWorldAsMental

Mind,theprojector

1Wecanfindnodirectconnectionorimmediateoperationbetweenathoughtandathing.Weinstinctivelyrebelatthenotionthattherecouldbeone.Andrightlyso.Fortherearenothingsapartfromthethoughtsofthem.

2ItwasPlatowhorightlypointedoutthatexperienceisreallyamedleyofchangingopinionsandconflictingbeliefs,therebyofferingcontrastwiththeorderlinessandconsistencyofreasonedknowledge.Thisiswhywehavetobeginintellectualanalysisoftheworldbyseparatingtherealmofsenseperceptionfromtherealmofreasonedperception,asthoughtheywereentirelydifferent.Butwemustnotendwithsuchanartificialseparation.Forinthehigherstagesweclimbtotheviewpointwhichreunitesthemagain.TheThoughtisthentheThing.TheAppearanceisthenalsotheReal!

3Thefalsityoftheviewthattherealworldisoutsideconsciousnessandthatthementalcopyofitaloneisinsideconsciousness,becomesknownonlyafterthoroughlydeeppenetrativethought.Thereisnoworldapartandseparatetobecopied,fortheideaistheworld.

4Wedonothaveadirectacquaintancewithanexternal,materialobjectwehaveadirectacquaintancewithourownperceptiononly,therestbeingaprocessofunconsciousinference.Wedonotarriveatthenotionofthemanasawholeuntilwehaveexperiencedacompoundofsensationssuchashisheight,form,colour,andfeel.Aperceptisthediscriminationandcombinationofsensations,towhichisaddedtheassumptionofextramental,separate,independentexistenceofthethingperceived.Thatamanisstandingtwofeetawayfromourbodyinthedomainofobjectivityisaninferencewhichwedrawunconsciously,fortheonlyexperiencewhichwehaveofhimarethesehappeningsintheeyeandearthatis,happeningswhichareultimatelywithinmind.Itisonlyattheendofthiswholeprocessthatweassumetheobjectisinanindependent,outsideworld.Fromthesepersonalimpressionsourmindgetstoworkandmakesadeductionthatanoutermanisthere.Whatwereallyseeissomethingmental,theexistenceofthematerialmanbeingdeducedfromthatofthementalexperience.Wedonotimmediatelyseeanyseparate,independent,external,materialman.

5Thingsthatcanbeseenandhandledarenotthelessseenandhandledmentally.

6Thefirstquestionwhichneedstobeaskedandcorrectlyansweredis:Inwhatrelationdoesourthoughtofathingstandtothethingitself?

7Ifathingreallystoodalooffromconsciousness,wecouldneverobtainknowledgeofit.

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Somerelationmustsubsistbetweenthetwo.Todenythis,toassertthatconsciousnessmerelylightsuptheobject'sseparateexistenceforus,isunconsciouslytoassumeandtakeforgrantedastrueatheorythatstillremainstobeproved.

8Whenwebelievethatweareexperiencingtheworldoutside,wearereallyexperiencingtheselfinside.

9Thecommonbeliefisthatthecorrectorderis:firsttheworldofthingsexistsforus,andsecondweformanideaoftheworldafterwards.

10Weallfirmlybelieveintheexistenceofthismaterialworldandweallappealtocommonsenseandcommonexperienceinsupportofourbelief.Idealismretorts:Thataworldofwhichweareconsciousexistsisundeniablebutthatthisworldismaterialinnatureisdisputable.

11Onlywhenanobjectisregisteredinconsciousnessisitreallyseenatall.Notevenallthephysicaldetailsofvisionconstitutetherealexperienceofseeingit,fortheawarenessofitisnotaphysicalexperienceatall.

12Whatwefirstbecomeacquaintedwitharethoughtsandsensations,feelingsandpercepts,memoriesandanticipationsthatis,withmentalthings.

13Theminddealsdirectlywithitsobjectsandnotthroughtheintermediaryworkingofideasfortheideasareitsonlyobjects.

14Suchisthemakeupofourhabitualoutlookthatwetakeitunquestioninglyandimmediatelyforgrantedthatthepresenceofasensationinourfieldofawarenessindicatesthepresenceofanexternalmaterialthing.

15Allexperienceisthoughtexperience.Whatweknowastheworldisaseriesofthoughts,notanumberofmaterialthingsplusanumberofmentalthoughts.Consciousnessrunsthroughallofthemastheircommonelement:theyoriginatefromit,existinit,leaveitbehindwhentheyvanish.

16Thethoughtofathinginvariablyfollowsattentiontoathing,butthealmostinstantaneousrapiditywithwhichitdoesso,togetherwiththemomentarycharacterofboth,producestheillusionofasingleconsciousactandweremainignorantofthesuccession.

17Wehavenowbeenabletodiscoverthatourordinarysenseofselfisamuddledone,confusingthoughtandthing,mindandbody.Itmaybethoughtthatthestatementofmentalismcontradictsournaturalbeliefinthesolidityofthematerialworld.Butasamatteroffactitdoesnotreallycontradicteitheroftheaforementionedbeliefsitmerelycorrectsthem.Foritdoesnotdenythattheworldisexternaltothebody,anditdoesnotdenythatalltangiblethingsaresolidtothetouch.Whatitdoessayisthattheworldisinternaltothemindandthatitssolidityislikewisepresentinthemindalone.

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18Thefountainpen,beingamentalappearance,andone'sawarenessofit,beingamentalactivity,arethereforeseparatedonlywithintheworldofmindandpossessitastheircommonfactor.

19Allwecanrightlysayisthattheideaoftheworldispresentinourconsciousness.Themomentweassertthattherealworldcorrespondingtoitisoutside,independent,andapartfromus,weassertasupposition.

20Weformanideaofatableandunconsciouslyassumethereisaseparateobjectwithoutuswhichcorrespondstotheimageformed,butactuallytheexistenceoftheexternaltableisanassumption,forweknowandhaveonlyknownthementaltable.

21Doestheworldexistoutsideofandseparatelyfromthemindthatknowsit?Thisisquiteadifferentquestionfromthatwhichdealswithitsrelationtothebody.Nobodycoulddisputeitsoutsidenessandseparatenessthen.Butthequestionwearereallyaskingisnotsosimple.Forthelightbornimageoftheworldwhichformsitselfontheretinaoftheeye,theawarenessofthingstouched,smelled,ortasted,isallthatthemindactuallyknows.Itcannotspeakandhasnorighttospeakofanyworldwhichpossiblyliesbeyonditsfrontiers.

22Weareeasilydeludedbythesolidityofthingsintoabeliefin"matter."Thesolidityiscertainlythere,itisrealenough,butthe"matter"isnot.

23Thefactiswehaveneverseenmorethanourideaoftheexternalworld,neverknownitsphysicalnature,thelatterbeingourownimaginationormentalprojection.

24Whatistheuseofmaintainingthattheuniversehasanexistenceofitsown,entirelyseparateandapartfromthatwhichourmindsgiveit,whenwehaveneverbeenabletoknowitandobviouslycanneverknowitexceptthroughourminds?Anysuchstatementisamereassumptionforwhichwehavenogroundsatall.

25Theworldistobesoughtwithinconsciousness,notoutsideit.

26Theobjectionismadethateveniftheworlddoesnotexistforuswhenwedonotthinkit,itstillexistsforalltheotherhumanbeings.Theanswertothisis:Howdoesitexistforeachofthismultitudeofpersons?Itisinhisthoughtjustasmuchasinours.

27TheChineseChanjanwrote,asfarbackasthetwelfthcentury:"Noobjectsexistapartfromthemind."

28TheantiqueIndiandivisionofmanifestationintoselfandnotselfandthelabellingofthelatterasmayabecauseitwearsamisleadinggarbisquiteunderstandableonamentalisticbasis.Foriftheuniverseisreallyourthoughtofit,itsseemingseparatenessandapparentexternalitydonotmakeit,asathought,anylessapartofourownself.

29

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LaoTzu'sdefinitionofintelligenceastheabilitytoseethingsinthegermisexcellent,buttheabilitytoseethingsasideasisevenbetter.

30Philosophyisnondualisticinitsviewofmindandmatter.Theyarenottwoseparatethings,itsays,butone.

31Thenotionthatthereisaninnerrepresentationwithintheconsciousnessofanotherworld,amentalexistenceofthisworldcorrespondingtoaphysicalone,isnotadmissible.

32Thestatementthatwecanknowonlyourownsensationsandthatwedonotexperiencetheworlddirectlyconstitutestheverybeginningofthedoctrineofmentalism.

33Thephysicalsensesdonotprovideapictureoftheobjecttothemindforthesimplereasonthatallobjects,includingthesensesthemselves,areheldinthemind.Thisispossible,thiscouldonlybepossible,becausetheindividualmindisnotseparatefromtheuniversalmind.AstheHindussay:AtmanandBrahmanareone.Butthatiscarryingthediscussiontoalevelthatmustbedeferredforlaterstudy.

34Ourthoughtscannotbeseparatedfromourworld.Thetwocomeintobeingtogether.

35Thereisnodifferencewhateverbetweenthethingsofhisexperienceandthethoughtswherebythesethingsareknowntohim.Infactthethingsarethethoughtsandviceversa.

36Therecannotbeanycontactwithaworldoutsideconsciousness.Thisisatenetfundamentaltomentalism.

37Wearenotaskedtodoubttheactualityofthegroundbeneathourfeetorthemusicinourears,buttounderstandthattheyhavereachedourconsciousnessbecausewehavethoughtthem.

38What,beyondacontinuouslyflowingstreamofmomentsofsensation,dowereallyknowasourselves?

39Theviewwhichcriticalreflectiongivesofanobjectdoesnotcoincidewiththeviewwhichcommonsensegivesofit.Thefirstturnsitintoanideawhereasthelatterretainsitassomethingmaterial.

40Noonecancontestthattheideaoftheworldsurroundingusisinthemind.Butthatthereissomethingelsebeyondtheideaitselfiscontestable.

41ThewallwhichIseeisseenassomethingseparateasapartfrommybody.Thisistheexternalaspectofperception.Thecolour,thesize,andtheformofthewallaresensationswhichareexperiencedmentallyandthereforewithinme.Thisistheinternalaspectofperception.ThatawalliswithoutmeIknowonlybysomethingthathappenswithinme.ThismayseemparadoxicalbutthetruthisIdonotknowtheexternalityofthewallbut

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inferit.Itisnownecessarytoattendcloselytoanexaminationofthemechanismofwhatfollows.ForhavingsurmisedtheseparateandexternalexistenceofawallIhavereallyprojectedpartofmymentalexperienceintotheworldoutside.Ihaveobjectifiedanidea.

42Consciousnesspresentsitsownproductstoitself,fabricatinganentireworldintheprocess.Mindmakesandseesthepicture.

43Themindhasthepowertoexternalizetheverythingitperceives.

44Theworldisapparentlysuspendedintimeandspacebutactuallyallthreearesuspendedinthemind.

45Adistinguishedmusicianoncesaidtomethattheeffectivepowerandrealityofmusiclaynotinthesensoryimpressionsitcauses,butratherinthementalones,notinthesoundsthatentertheearbutinthethoughtsprovokedbythosesounds.Headdedthatitsessentialfeaturesoftimeandnumberaremathematicalonesthatis,mentalones.

46Mindconstructsitsownconceptsanditsownspacewhereintosetthemup,andfinallyviewsthemasdifferentfromitselfandexternaltoitself.Yetbothdifferencesandexternalityareillusions.

47HerbertSpenceradmittedthetruthofmentalisminhisPrinciplesofPsychology(Vol.2,Part7).Headmittedthattheworldweknowismentallyconstructedandmentallyexistent.Havinggotsofar,hethenfellintoerror,forhesaidthatourexperienceoftheresistancewhichobjectsintheworldofferusprovesthattheyalsoexistindependentlyofandoutsidethemind.WhatwasSpencer'smistake"ofalloftheobjectiveidealists"?Itwasthefailuretopenetratesufficientlyfarintothemeaningofthesetwowords:"independent"and"outside."Howcantheworldhaveanindependentexistencewhenithasnosignificanceforusbeforeweactuallyexperienceit?Itmusttouchourbodyoraffectoursensesbeforeitsexistencecomestohaveanymeaningatallforus.Whenthishappenswehavethefeelingsorthoughtswhichsciencecallssensations.Whethertheyarefeelingsofhardness,resistance,orweight,thoughtsofredness,fragrance,ornoise,theyarestillnothingelsethanourfeelingsandthoughts.Whereistheindependencehere?Theobjectsintheworldareonlyobjectsofourconsciousness.Theymaybeindependentinrelationtoourbodybuttheyarenotindependentinrelationtooursensesandhencetoourmind.Thesensationsofresistanceandhardnessarenolessmentalultimatelythanareanyoftheothersensations.Again,whereistheoutsidenesshere?Doestheworldreallystandoutsidethemindthatknowsit?Itisonlyatthecostofselfcontradictionthatwecananswerthatitdoessostand.Forwhateverisinconsciousness,whateverismental,canbeexplainedbythemindalone.Itisthemind'sownactivitywhichmakesresistanceasitmakessmells,sounds,andsights.Furthermoreitisthissameactivitywhichcreatesthespacerelationshipsbetweenobjectsandhencethethoughtoftheiroutsideness.

48Itisthestartingpointofallerrortoassumethatatsomepointintimeifnotinspacethemindsuddenlymadeitsappearanceintheuniverse.Thisistheinitialerrorofallmaterialismwhetheritbescientificortheologicalormetaphysical.Mindissupposedbyalltheseviewstostartfunctioningaftermatterhashadalonginningonthecricketfieldofthecosmos.Insolubleproblemsflownaturallyoutofthiserror.

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49Allformsofthepasthaveexistedintimeandplacebutmanyofthemarenowexistingonlyinmemory,thatis,inthought.Mentalismsays,"Theywerealwaysinthoughtonly."

50Allourexperienceisordinarilyconfinedtowhatthefivesensespresentusthatis,tothesoundstouchessmellstastesandcolourswhicharetheirobjects.Allthesemayconvenientlybecalledour"sensations."Thesearewhatwereallyknow,theyareoursindividually,andanythingwhichwebelieveweknowbeyondthemsuchasseparateandindependentlyexistentmaterialobjectsaremeresuppositionsandinferences.Therefore,theremustbesomethinginuswhichprojectsthemsoastoappearoutsideorinterpretsthemascausedbysomethingoutsidewhichamountstothesamething.Bothprojectionandinterpretationaregovernedbyconditionsofspaceandtime.Theobscurityinwhichalltheseoperationsarecarriedondoesnotcancelouttheoperationsthemselves.Theworlddoesnotexistoutsideofourmind.

51Theexistenceoftheworldisnotatestimonytotheexistenceofadivinecreator,buttotheconstructivecapacityofthemind.

52Stereoscopyoffersanexcellentillustrationtohelpusrealizethatspaceisanillusioncreatedbeforeourveryeyes.Iftwophotographsofthesameobjectaretakenfromdifferentangles,placedinasimplestereoscopicapparatus,andlookedatthroughitslittlewindow,theresultingpictureisnolongeraflattwodimensionalthingbutabulkythreedimensionalone.Therehasbeenaddedtotheheightandwidthofanordinaryphotographthenewelementofdepth,whichmakestheobjectstandoutinrelief.Whatseemstobeatangiblespacehasbeencreatedbehindandinfrontoftheobject.Theconsequenceisthattheimageistransformedinastartlingmannerfromalifelessrepresentationtosomethingthatseemsvividlyreal.Whensuchanapparatussoobviouslycreatesspaceforusweoughtnottoregarditasfantasticwhenmentalismtellsusthatthehumanmindsubconsciouslycreatesitsownformsandprojectsthemintoafanciedspace.

53Allthisvastandwonderfuluniverseisintheendonlytheplayofmind.Weareimprisonedinourowninvoluntarycreation.

54Thenecessaryactionofhumanreasonwhenatitsbestandsharpest,andwhendirectedinwardsuponitself,leadsittothisirresistibleconclusionthatthewholeexperienceofthisworldisbuttheendproductofaprocessofthehumanmind.

55Itisnottheclockorthesunwhichreallymeasurestimeforusbutthemind,byfeelingsandmoods.Time,space,cause,andformareallofsubjectiveorigin.

56Isitpossiblethatthemereoperationofthoughtsufficestoproducethisvastandwonderfuluniverseinourfieldofawareness?Wehaveonlytostudycarefully,bywayofillustration,theexperiencesofthedreamer,thenovelist,andthehypnoticsubjecttounderstandthattheanswermaybeintheaffirmative.

57"Themind,generatedbythyignorance,imaginestheentireuniverse,"saysanoldSanskrittext,SankshepaSarirake,bySarvajnatmaMuni.

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58Themoldsoftimeandplace,egoanditsextensions,whichshapehumanmentalism,theformsofthought,belongtothismaya,thisalchemicallytransformingpowerofmind.

59Howcanyouhavemovementwithoutspace?Butifspaceisinthemind,somustmovementbetheretoo.

60Hisdifficultymaybeselfcreatedbecausehemaythinkofthespiritualworldassomethingstillonaspacetimelevel,onlyfarfinerthanthephysicalworldsomethingoutsidehimselfawaitinghisentry.Butlikeallthedreamworlds,itisinseparablefromhismindonlyitisfreefromthespacetimecharacteristicsinherentinthepresentlevelofmentalexperience.

61WhatIexperienceinmymindisprojectedoutinspace,buttheordinarypersoninhisignorancebelievestheveryreverseishappening.

62Theworldthatyouhaveiscreatedbyyourmind.Thisappliestotheafterdeathstateandtothepresentstate.Ideasmanifestthemselvesinthisworld.Thusanarchitect'sideasmanifestasapalace.

63Weexperiencetheworldasoutsideusnotbecausewechoosetodosobutbecauseweareobligedtodoso.

64Theworldseemstobe"outthereatadistance"butitisactuallyherewithintheconsciousness.

65Theseemingrealityofphysicalmovementisnotlessyetnotmorethantheseemingrealityofmentalawareness.Movementimpliestheexistenceofspaceinwhichithappens.Whereisthisspace?Itisinus,inourmind.Allmotionofthebodyisanitemofthemind'sawareness.

66Ifthepastisamemoryandthefutureadream,thenbotharethoughts.Andifthepastwasoncethepresentandthefuturewillonedaybethepresent,whatelsebutathoughttoocantoday'spresentbe?

67Allquestionsabouttheuniverse'screationpresupposethepreviousexistenceoftimeandspacesincetheyunwittinglylookforitsbeginninginaparticularplaceataparticularmomentwhich,inturn,suggestsapreviousone,andsooninanendlessseries.Thesequestionsdefeatthemselves:unaskableandunanswerable.Everyexperienceoftheworldinvolvesthoughtsofit:thisremainstruewhengoingbackwardintoitspastorforwardintoitsfuture.Thoughtsrise,orappear,inConsciousness.Theuniverseisinseparablefromthisconsciousnessofit.This,isolatedfromeverything,shouldbethesubjectofourquestions.

Mind,theimagemaker

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68Thedifferencebetweenthechairthoughtandthetablethought,theredthoughtandthegreenthought,theinnumerablerelationshipsamongideas,areallexplicablebythefactthatthemind'sprimarypowerisimagemaking.Thisisapowerwhich,inhumanbeings,canbecalledintoplaydeliberatelyandvoluntarily,asweoftendoduringwakefulness,orspontaneouslyandinvoluntarily,asweinvariablydoduringdreams.Themomentmindemergesfromdeepsleepandbecomesactive,itbeginstoimaginethewakefulworld.WhathappenswithmenonasmallscalehappensalsowiththeUniversalMind(God,ifyoulike)onacosmicscale.Itsfirstactivityisimagining.

69Themindexistsanddevelopsonitsownlatentresourcesandneedsnothingfromoutside.Thereisnothingoutside.Nevertheless,itsimaginativeandcreativepowercallsintoplayanenvironmentwhichseemstobeoutsideandwhichelicitsthoseresources.

70Twopersonsseeingthesamefountainpenwillexperiencetwodistinctsetsofsensationsandthereforewhattheyactuallyseemustinevitablydiffer.Foreachpersonperceiveshisownmentalconstruction,despitetheapparentreferencebeingthesame.

71TohaveseenHimalaya'ssnowsturnpinkatsunsetandtheTajMahal'smarbleturnphosphorescentinmoonlight,istohaveseenbeautyindeed.Yetafterallitisnottheplaceorthehandiworkthatreallymatterswhenwehavegone,buttheemotionevoked,thememoryetched,andthetasterefined.Allthesearementalthings.Wefindatsuchhighmomentsofappreciation,ofaestheticuplift,thattheveryessenceofbeautyisalreadypresentwithinourselves,isaninternalfact,mademomentarilyvividbyanexternalstimulus.

72Themindformsitsideasandimages.Hence"mentalformation"wouldbeacorrecttermtoreplace"mentalconstruction."

73IliveinaworldofMind.ThematerialformswhichIseeonlyappearasiftheywerenonmental.

74IfMatterhasanyexistenceatall,itisastheexternalizingpowerofthemind.

75Whenwepiercethroughtheillusionofmatterwediscoverthathisenvironmentisasmentalasthemanhimself.

76Theego,theconsciousnessofthepersonalandphysical"I,"isthatofwhichwearemostvividlyaware.Andthisessenceisthemental,notbodily,partofus.Butweareapartoftheuniverse.Thereforetheuniverse'sownessenceisalsomental,notthephysicalpartwhichweseeandexperienceallaroundus.

77Matterismerelysomethingweimagine.Causationismerelysuccessionandcoexistence.

78Itisnotpossibletoexplainintellectuallyhowsensationsofthephysicalworldareconvertedintoideas,howtheleapoverfromnervousvibrationsintoconsciousness

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occurs,andhowaneurosisbecomesapsychosis.Noonehaseverexplainedthis,norwillanyscientisteversucceedindoingso.Truthalonecandisposeofthisposerbypointingoutthatsensationsneverreallyoccur,butthattheSelfmerelyprojectsideasofthemjustasamanseesamirageandmistakesitforrealwatermerelybyhismentalprojection,sopeopleregardtheworldasrealwhentheyaremerelytransferringtheirownmentalideastotheworld.

79Hismindismuchmoreaman'sownthananythingelsecouldpossiblybe.

80Allotherpeoplethroughouttheworldmayapparentlybesharingthesameexperienceofitsexistenceasourownbutitisneverreallyso.Eachone'siswhollyindividualtohimselfandislivedonlywithinhimself,hisconsciousness.

81Wemustfirmlygraspthisprinciple,thattheonlyobjectsweknow,theonlyworldofourexperience,havenoexistenceapartfromthemind.Theydonotandcannotsubsistexternallybythemselves.Thatwhichprojectsthemintospaceismind,andasspaceitselfiswithinthemind,theirindependentexistenceissheerillusion,orMayaasIndianscallit.Wemustlookbehindtheirillusoryindependenceintothemindfromwhichtheyspring.

82Analyseyourawarenessofthephysicalworldand,ifyouranalysisisdeepenough,youwillbeunabletoavoidtheconclusionthatitisreallyaseriesofchanges,oragroupofstates,ofyourconsciousness.Inotherwords,matterissomethingpresentedinmyconsciousness,whetheritbenow,atsometimepast,orinthefuture,eventhoughitgivestheimpressionofoutsideness.

83Iseesomething,itmaybeapostoritmaybeaman.ThenbythesenseofagencyoneoutofthesepossibilitiesisassociatedwithahamkaraandIthenknowIknowIseeapost.

84"Thouartonlythought,"saidthephilosophicyogiwhomAlexandertheGreatinterviewed.Hethenproceededtoprovehisstatementbymesmerizingthekingintobelievinghimselftobeapoormanstrugglingagainstdestitution.IdonotknowifthisanecdoteexistsamongsttheGreekrecordsofAlexander'sadventures,butIfounditamongsttheIndiantraditionsabouthim.

85Ifwedosomeactwithoutattendingtoitbut,onthecontrary,withourthoughtsengrossedonanentirelydifferentsubjectwhichperhapsfillsuswithanxietyorjoy,weareoftenlaterquiteunabletorememberwhetherwehavedoneitornot.Hereisanindicationthatif,asmentalismdeclares,itisnotman'ssurfacemindnorhiseverydayconsciousnesswhichpresentstheuniversetohimasanoutsideappearancethen,infact,hehasadeeperunconsciousmindwhichdoesit.

86Iftheworldisanidea,theegowhichperceivesitisitselfanideatoo.

87Thefirststeptowardceasingsuchwrongselfidentificationistorecognizethebodytobebutastateofconsciousness,andtheegotobebutanidea.

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88Thelifewhichiseverywhereapparent,theformsinwhichitisconstantlyembodyingitselfaretheeffectsofthemysteriousmovementwhichisthekineticaspectoftheOverself.

89Mentalismtellsusnotonlythatmatterisanunrealshowbutalsothatmotionisjustthesame.Theeventsandmovementsonacinemafilmarenotaffectingormovingthewhitebacksheetatall.Yetwithdrawmatterandmotionandthewholeuniversewillbecomenothingmoresubstantialthanacosmiccinemapicture.

90Thesensationsofseeing,hearing,touching,smelling,andtastingthingscombinetomakeupourknowledgeoftheworldaroundusinspaceandtime.Thisknowledgedependsthereforeonegocentricpersonalexperience.Thisisveryeasilyprovenbycontrastingthestatementsmadebyahypnotizedsubjectaboutanobject,andthosemadeaboutitbyapersoninnormalcondition.

91Everypresentedthingwhichisseensmelled,heard,felt,ortasted,nolessthaneveryrepresentativethought,idea,name,orimage,isentirelymental.Thestreetsofbusytownsandtheforestsoflonelymountainsareall,withoutexception,mereconstructsoftheimaginingfaculty.

92Hewhodoubtsthepowerofmindtofashionitsownworldshouldconsidersuchauthenticinstancesofthispowerasthoseprovidedbythehypnotist'sart.Thishasturnedwaterintowineforitsvictim,chillingcoldintoheat,andvolitionintoparalysis.Thetransformationsareallimaginaryonesyetarenotbereftoftheirrealityforhimbecauseofthat.

93Themindcreatestheseimagesbyitsownpowerandtheirtotalityconstitutestheuniverseofitsexperience.

94Hisownpast,oncesointenselyreal,sovividlyactual,hasbecomeonlyafadedandbrokenpanoramaofmentalpictures.The"matter"ofwhichitwasmadeisnownothingmorethan"thoughtstuff."

95Thechairwhichweseeataninstantaneousandsimpleglancewasreallybuiltupinthemindoutofseveralseparateelements.

96Themoodssucceedeachothersometimesbright,sometimesdarkbutwhoistheexperiencerofthem?Itistheego.Thefirststageofphilosophyistolearnthesecretofmentalism.Lookuponeverymoodasabunchofthoughts.Thesecondstageistolookupontheexperiencerasanobjectofthosethoughts.

97Thisisknowledgeofthehighestorder,thateverythingaroundusandwithinus,everybitofNatureandcreature,theexperienceoflifewithaphysicalbodyandofdeathwithoutitallarebutformsofconsciousness.

98

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Myexperienceofathingisreceivedfromthebody'ssenses.Sight:theeyestellmeitsshapeandcolour.Touch:theskintellsmeitshardnessorsoftness,solidityorliquidity.Smellandtastemaygivemoreinformation.Theseperceptionsmakeupthethingforme.Buttheywouldbenonexistentiftheyfailedtoreachconsciousnessasthoughts.Itexistsbecausemyconsciousnessexists.Ifthisconsciousnessdidnotexistbyitselfalonebeforethethoughtmyexperiencewouldbeimpossible.Itisprimary.Itwillcontinuetoexistevenbetweentwothoughts,and,evenmoreimportant,betweentwosensorialthoughtssightandtouchconnectedwiththephysicalbody.Butthebrainispartofthebody.Somindisnotthesamethingbutexistsasanindependententity,howeverclosetheirworkingconnectionmaybe.Thismindhasnoshapeorcolour,whereasthebrainhas.Itbeingformless,noonecanseeortakeholdofit,yetitisthere.Nowdropthetermmind,thetermconsciousness,andletthetermspirittaketheirplace.Herepsychologicalanalysisofexperienceseemstocrosstheborderintoreligion.Formindisarealthing,notanothing.Itexistsinitsownright.More,allexperienceisanuninterruptedspiritualexperience,whatevermanhasdonetodegradeit.

Everymanknowsthatheisawareofhimself,others,theworld.Butthatawarenessexistsalsoinanunlimiteduninterruptedwayhedoesnotknow.YettotheextentthathehasthislimitedkindofconsciousnesshederivesfromIt,sharesthespirit,ispartofit.

99Itwouldbeabsurdforhimtodenytheactuality,thelivingpresence,ofallthatishappeningtohimineverymomentoftheday.Theyarethereandtheyarerealasexperiencesandhewouldbeafoolindeedtodenythem.Nordoesmentalismaskhimtodoso.Whatitdoessayisthatifheanalysestheactualityofalltheseexperiences,ifhetriestotraceouttheirbeginningandend,theirexistenceandcontinuity,hewilldiscoverthatconsciousnessistheirseat,thatthisconsciousnesscanbyprofoundthoughtbeseparatedfromitsprojectionsthethoughts,thescenes,theobjectsandevents,thepeopleandtheworldinshort,thateverythingincludinghimselfisinthemind.

100Itisnotmerelyapersonalspeculationbutacommonplacefactofscience,anitemoftheacceptedphysiologyofthesenses,aknownresultofanatomicalresearch,thattheconsciousnessofwhatweseeandfeeliswhatwereallyexperience,notthethingsthemselves.Intheendallourfactsarementalones,alloursurroundingsareknownonlyasourownthoughts.

101Thementalnessofallexistenceisnotatheorynorabelief.Itisanincontrovertibleactuality.

102Iftheworldwerenotinthemindtostartwith,wewouldneverknowthattherewasworldatall.

103Justastheelectriccurrentmustmeetasecondthing,resistance,beforeitcanappearaslight,sound,heat,ormagnetism,somindmustmeetwithanideabeforeitcanappearasconsciousness,inthewaywehumansknowthelatter.Untilthenitmustrestintheblanknessofsleep,orthelatencyofsubconsciousness.

104Itisnotpossibleforsincere,scrupulousthinkingtoadmit,andneverpossibletoprove,theexistenceofaworldoutsideof,andseparatefrom,itsconsciousness.Thefaithbywhichweallconventionallygrantsuchexistenceismeresuperstition.

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105Theworldisneverreallygiventousbyexperiencenoractuallyknownbythemind.Whatisgivenisidea,whatisknownisidea,tobetranscendedonlywhenprofoundanalysistransformstheIdeaintotheReality.

106Wecannothelptakingobjectsintoourconsciousnesssolongaswetaketheegointoit.

107Itisnotbecauseathingisexistentthatyouthinkitbutbecauseyouthinkit,evenifinvoluntarily,thatitisexistent.Andthisthoughtofitisapartofyourownconsciousness,notoutsideyou.

108Itisabsurdeventosuggestthatthereisanexternalworldwhollyoutsideofone'sconsciousnessandwhollyindependentofit.Oneknowsonlycertainchangesofmentalawareness,neverofexternals.Themindcanonlyknowitschangesofindividualconsciousness.Allitsobservations,eachofitsinferences,everythingitknowstheselieenclosedwithinthatconsciousnessandareneverbeyondit.

One'sknowledgeofanythingwhatsoeverissimplyone'sthoughtofit.Thisisnottobeconfusedwithone'srightthoughtofit.Itisaconsciousmentalstate,andevenotherpersonsarebutappearanceswithinthisstate,creaturesinthecosmicdream.Tofollowthislineofreflectiontoitsinevitableenddemandscourageandcandourofthehighestkind,foritdemandsasultimateconclusiontheprinciplethatknowledgebeingbutideasinthemind,thewholeuniverseisnothingbutanimmenseideawithinone'sownmind.Fortheverynatureofknowledgeisthusinternal,andhencetheindividualmindcannotknowanyrealityexternaltoitself.Itbelievesthatitobservesaworldwithoutwhenitonlyobservesitsownmentalpicturesofthatworld.

109Itisagenerativeidea.Hereisawholephilosophycongealedintoasinglephrase:theworldisanidea.

110Unlessweareinpersonaltouchwiththeworld,itisnotpresentforus.Therelationendsthemomentouregoiswithdrawn.Withoutit,withoutaviewingsubject,theworldasobjectsimplydoesnotexist.Andnobodylivingintheegoconsciousnesshasanywayofknowingwhattheworldisinandbyitself.

111Allexperienceisexperienceintheworldofconsciousness.Thereisnoother.

112Sofarasitappearsinanycreature'sexperience,theworldisonlyathoughtinthatcreature'smind.Allcreaturesmaybanishthethoughtbysleepbutonlyahumancreaturemaybanishitbyyoga.

113Theonlyworldweknow,theonlyonewecaneverknow,istheonewithinourmind.Thefirstproofofthisisthatwhenitleavesthemindindeepsleep,ithasnoexistenceforusatallthesecondproofisthatwhenitreentersthemindonawakening,thesenseperceptionswhichtellusofitsexistencereenteritalso.

114Thehillorthestarisaperceptioninyourmind.Youcannotnowsayexactlywhenyour

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mindbegantoexistorwhenitwillceasetodoso,butonlyconjectureaboutit.

115Suchisthemetaphysicalimportanceofmemorythatitgivesusthekeytoexistence.Forwhatistheoncesorealseemingworldofthenowshadowingpastwhenrecalledagainintobeingbyitsmagicalpowerbutaprocessionandcollectionofmentalimagesofliketexturetoadream?Diditnotthenexistlikeacommondreamonlyintheconsciousnessofallitscreatures?Anddonottheplacesandthingsandpersonstakeonacuriouslydreamlikecharacterwhenwebringitbackintoremembrance?Thuswehavetostepoutofthepast,whichmeanstostepoutofthechainsoftime,beforewecandiscovertheessentialmentalnessofallourexperience.

116Allthatisrealinhumanexperienceisthemind'sexperienceallthatisreceivedintothemindareideasalleventsofwhateverkindaremental,thatis,ideas.

117MentalkofthesolidityoftheirmaterialexistenceyetawholecontinentAtlantisvanishedinaday.

118Whatisexperiencedisnothingotherthanyourself,foritisnothingotherthanyourthoughtandyourperception.

119Whenwegiveourselvesuptoadesireoranattachment,whydowereallydoso?Itisbecauseweseekthestateofhappyconsciousnesswhichthethingobtainedorthesituationrealizedwould,webelieve,leadto.Whatwereallydesireisinthemind.

120Thedoctrineofmentalismbeginsandendswiththeboldpronouncementthatallexperienceandevenallbeingisinthemind.

121Howcanathoughtexistapartfromitsthinker?Onecanimaginethis,butphilosophydoesnotdealwithimagination,onlywithknownfacts.Thenotionthatthoughtsaresetoutintospaceandthatotherstuneintothemisbasedontheillusionthatmindisinthebodyorbrain,whereasthereverseistrue.Hasanyoneevermeasuredthemindandshownwhereitstartedandended?Theverynotionoftheworldiswithinone'smind.Thisshowsthathecannotsaythatthoughtsareoutsidethemindmerelybecausehebelievestheytouchsomebodywhoishundredsofmilesaway.Thereisnomoreseparationbetweenthoughtsandthinkerthanbetweendreamsandthedreamer.

122Wehavenoothercontactthanwithourownthoughtsoftheworld,yetthosethoughtsareastrulyandactuallyourexperiencesofitasanythingelsecouldeverbe.

123Itisutterlyimpossibletoexplainthematerialworldsatisfactorilywithoutreferencetomind,andthisreferencemustcomefirst,notlast,becauseitisthemindthattellsthattheworldexists.

124WhentheNaqshabandiDervishMullah(expounderandexplaineroftheteaching)saystoacrowdaroundhim,"Youareherebecauseofme!"hismeaningcancomealiveonlyinamentalisticsense.

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125Weareabletothinkoursurroundingsonlybecauseultimatelytheyareasmentalinsubstanceasourcommonlyacceptedthinking.

126Whatfactismorecertain,whatpartofhumanlifemoreinescapable,thanthatofconsciousness?Whatwouldbecomeofourexperienceoftheworldwithouttheawarenesswhichisbasictoit?

127Mindisthefoundationofallourexistence.Itisalwaysthereevenwhen,asindeepsleep,wearenotpersonallyconsciousthatitisthere.Anymaterialisticdenialofitsselfexistencecanbemadeonlybecausemindispresenttomakeit.

Mind,theknower

128WhatisMind?Itisthatinuswhichthinks,whichisaware,andwhichknows.

129Thereisonenaturalcapacitywhichiscommontoeveryhumanbeingandtoeveryanimalbeingacapacitywhichistheveryessenceofitsselfhood.Itisconsciousness.Themostimportantofallstatesofconsciousnessisknowledge.

130Theonlyrealexistenceisthemind's.Butweordinarilyknowonlyitsprojectionsandretractions,itsphasesandstates,itsconsciousnessesandlapses.

131Mindisthatqualityorcapacityinmanwhichenableshimtobeawareofbothhimselfandhissurroundings.

132Weareconsciousofaworldoutsidethroughtheknowingfaculty,themind.Thevariousideaswhichweformoftheworldaresimplystatesofthemind.Theseideasarenotseparatefromtheminditselfandcouldnotbe.Iftheywere,thenwewouldhavetobecomeconsciousofthem,asweareoftheworld,throughotherideas,throughotherstatesofthemind.

133Thereisaregionofmindwhichliesbeyondtheintellect'simmediatereach.Becauseitholdssomanylowerbutrepresseddesires,somepsychologistshavecalleditthesubconscious.Becauseitholdssomanylaudablebutvagueaspirations,mostreligionistshavecalledittheSoul.Becauseitisnotordinarilyinthefocusofawareness,otherpsychologistshavecalledittheunconsciousmind.Allthreegroupsareright,buteachislimitedinwhatitseesandwhatitunderstands,asifgropingforknowledgeinthedusk.

134Itisnotthattherearedifferentmindsinman,butdifferentqualitiesofoneandthesamemindineach.

135Whatweareiswhatweareconsciousof.Themindmakesitsownreality.Consciousnessisking.

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136Whyisitthatsomanypeoplearesounawareoftheirownhigherexistence?Theansweristhattheirfacultyofawarenessitselfisthatspiritualexistence.Whatevertheyknow,peopleknowthroughtheconsciousnesswithinthem.Thatinthemwhichknowsanythingistheirdivineelement.Thepowerofknowingwhetheritbeathoughtthatisknown,acomplexofthoughtssuchasmemories,athingsuchasalandscapeisadivinepowerforitderivesfromthehigherselfwhichtheypossess.

137Themindinterpretsitsownexperienceinaparticularwaybecause,owingtoitsstructure,itcouldnotdosoinanotherway.Buttheselimitationsarenoteternalandabsolute.When,asindream,yoga,death,orhallucination,theyareabruptlyloosened,thenexperienceisinterpretedinanewanddifferentway.

138Tofeelandtoknowareattributesofconsciousness,notofbrutematter.

139Weknowonlybyinferenceoranalogythatthemindsofindividualsexist,notbydirectperception.Oursociallifeisbaseduponthisknowledgeand,actingonit,wefinditlargelytrue.

140Justaswefirstfindwatertobealiquidandlatertobeagaseouscombination,sowefirstfindinvisionthatalltheworldislight,andlater,inknowledge,thatitisMind.

141Thinkingisanactdonementallyand,likeallacts,pointstotheexistenceofsomeonewhoalreadyexistsortosomethingindependentofit.

142ThewriterGeorgeMoorewasnotparticularlyinterestedinmetaphysicsandusuallyleftthesubjectalone.Yethalfofasentencehewroteuponwritingitselfcontainedthemostimportantandsignificantmetaphysicalprinciple.Itwas:"Myownmindaloneisknowntome."

143Therecanbenothoughtwithoutathinker,andwhenwebegintosearchforthatwhichthinks,webegintofollowatrailwhichleadstotheSoul.

144"Isee"and"Iknow"aretwoveryordinaryphrases.Butwhattremendousmetaphysicalmeaningsarehiddenbehindthem!

145Whenmanturnstoobservehimselfintheefforttoknowhimself,whathefirstnoticesisnotatallwhathewillhavetonoticelaterintheend:thatisConsciousness.

146Bythelightofmind,manisabletoknow,think,reflect,andfeel.

147Ifthehumanbeingfindsthathehasthecapacitytothink,toproduceideas,todiscoverthewordsorpicturesinwhichhecanclothetheseideas,heshouldrememberthatallthisbecomespossibleonlybecauseoftheprimacyofthemindthatis,mindconsciousnessalreadyexisted,andhencetheyareabletoexist.Withoutitspriorexistencetheycouldnotcometobirth.

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148Thisdeepunknownbasisofminddeterminesitssurfacelifeandisthekeytoitsconscioustrendsthereforeitshouldbecomeourchiefobjectofstudy.

149Thatwhichenablesustoknowtheworldoutsideandtobeawareoftheselfinside,isMind.

150Ismannothingmorethannervestuff,flesh,andbone?Thoughtasksthisquestion.Thoughtalonecananswerit.Nobutchershop,howevercrammedwithnervestuff,flesh,andbone,willeveranswerit.Onlythethinkingprincipleinman,whichisanemanationofhissoul,canexplainitself.

151Itismindwhichmakesthoughtsintelligible,thingsexperienceable,andthethinker(theexperiencer)selfconsciousMind!themysteriousunknownbackgroundofourlife.

152Wedonotknowtheselfdirectlybutonlythroughthethoughtsitproduces.Itisimpossibleintellectuallytoexamineitandequallyimpossibletoexcludeitfromourexaminations.

153Thingsexistonlyinthecharacterofknownthings.Iftheyareabsentfromoursensestheyarepresentinourthoughts.Iftheyareabsentfromourconsciousnesstheymustbepresenttotheuniversalconsciousness.Whateverischaracterizedassomethingknown,cannotbetheknowingprincipleitself.

154Thinkingispossibleonlywherethereexistsanobjectaboutwhichtothink,whetheritbeamaterialthingoramereidea.Wecannotthinkunlesswehavesomethinginmind.Thismeansineveryactofthoughttherearetwoelements:thethinkingitselfandtheobjectorideathoughtabout.Thesearesocoupledtogetherbythepsychologicalconstitutionofmanthatthefirstcannotexistwithoutthesecond.

Thisisequallytrueoftheactofseeing.Wecannotseeanythingunlessthereissomeobject,somethingtobeseen.Hencesightdependsuponbothseeingitselfandtheobjectseen.Botharesointerrelatedthattheformercouldnotexistiftherewerenottheother.

Thesestatementsmaybemoreeasilyunderstoodafterduereflection,butitwillbemuchmoredifficulttounderstandthatthecontraryoneslikewiseholdtrue.Thatistosay,noobjectorideacanexistwithoutbeingthoughtof,andnothingperceptiblecanexistwithoutsomethingorsomeonetoseeit.Inshort,thefactorswhichhavebeencoupledtogetherherearemutuallydependent.

Itisimpossibleforathinkableobjectorideatoexistinastatewherethoughtitselfisimpossible.Itisimpossibleforaseeablethingtoexistinastatewheresightisimpossible,asindeepsleep.And,sinceeverythingmaterialiseitherthinkableorseeableorboth,itfollowsthattheentirematerialuniversehasitsbeinginbeingthoughtoforperceived.Itisonlyanappearancewithinthemindofthethinkerordependentupontheperceiver.Noidea,noobject,couldhaveanyconceivableexistenceiftheperceiverhimselfneverhadany.Somethinglivingandconsciousthatcanthinkandbecomeawareofthemmustfirstexistthroughtheirrelationtoit.Theycannotpossiblyexistindisconnectionfromaconsciousmind.

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Ifweimagineauniversalstatewhereintherewasnobodypresent,nomindthatcouldthinkofanything,perceiveit,orbeconsciousofit,thenwearequiteunabletoputanyideaorobjectorsoundorcolourintothisstate.

Thisistruewhetherweapplyittomereideasortohardandheavythingswhichweseeandfeel,suchashousesandtrees.Thepointcannotbegraspedbytheunderstandingwithoutpreviousreflectionandmeditation,foritappearstobecontrarytocommonexperienceandcommonsense.Inshort,matterisamentalsensationandnotthecauseofamentalsensation.

155Whateverthought,idea,image,orremembrancecomestousisnotseparatefromourmindandconsequentlyfromus.Andbecauseeveryobject,thing,orcreatureintheworldaroundusisonlyathought,idea,image,orremembrancetous,itislikewisenotseparatefromus.

156Anyonewhoisabletoimagineorfeelarealseparationbetweenthoughtandbeing,hasdonewhatIamquiteunabletodo.Onthecontrary,Ifindmyselfalwaysconstrainedtoimagineorfeelthatanessentialandinevitablerelationexistsbetweenthem.

157Weneverknowthingsbyandinthemselvesbutonlybyandinthemind.

158Mindcanknowonlythatwhichisofthesamenatureasitself,namely,thought.

159Iftheobjectofmyexperiencehadnothingincommonwithmyideaofit,itcouldnotevenstandinthisallegedrelationofcauseandeffect.Ifitdoessostand,thenwhatisthecommonthingbetweenthem?Thereisnoanswertothisquestionexceptthementalistone.

160Spaceissimplythewayinwhichourmindsseetheworldthatis,itispurelymentalandnotreallyoutsideus.Thecorollarytothisisthatasallthingshavetheirbeinginspace,theymustlikewisehavetheirbeinginthemind.Butmindalonecanonlyentertainmentalvisitorsitistoosubtletoreceivenonmentalmaterials.Mindcannotreceivethatwhichiswhollydissimilartoit.Thereforeallthingsmustenteritasideasonly.

161Themindcanhavedealingsonlywithkindredobjectsformedfromitsownsubstance,thatis,withthoughts,ideas.Thereforewhenitknowsmaterialobjectstheymustreallybeideas.

162Mindandmatterareincommensurables.Mindcanenterintorelationsonlywithsomethingalliedtoitsownsubtlernature,notwithsomethingwhollydissimilar,asmatterissaidtobe.ThatwhichthemindknowsmustberelevantinrelationtotheMinditself.Theremustbeacommunityofkindbetweenthetwo,acommonidentityofsubstance.Theworldasknowncannotpossiblybeextramentalinnature.Hencethecharacteristicsofwhatthemindknowsmustbementalthatis,theyconstituteourideas.

163Thehumanmindcanenterintorelationwiththatis,becomeawareofthatwhichisofthesamenatureasitself,thatwhichiscorrelatedtoit,thatwhichisalsomental.Itis

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impossibleformaterialthingstoenterdirectlyintotheimmaterialconsciousnessofman.

164Wereourconsciousnessoftheworldandtheworlditselfsoessentiallydifferentafterall,thennorealcontactbetweenthemcouldeverbepossible.Butcontactdoeshappen.Anditdoeshappenbecausetheworldisnothinglessthanthemind'sidea.

165Ifamanwouldbewillingtothinkdeeplyenough,hewouldbeobligedtoagreewiththeassertionthathecanknowonlytheideaofathing,andnotthethinginitself.

166Twothingswhicharetotallydifferentfromoneanother,quiteunrelated,cannotworktogetheroraffecteachother.Thisismentalism'scase.

167Thehumanmindisforeverdealingwithhumanconceptionsofthingsunderthebeliefthatitisdealingwiththethingsthemselves.

168Twolipsutterasingleword.Theexperiencerandtheexperiencedobjectareasinglestuff.

169Mindistheknowingagentandmindistheobjectknown.Inthefirstcaseitassumestheinternalformofselfconsciousness,inthesecondcase,theexternalformofexperiencedworld.

170Whenweanalysetheexperienceofhumanexperienceitself,wefindthatitreducesdowntotheknowerandtheknown,themindanditsthought.Allattemptstoseparatethephysicalobjectfromsensedataandthesefrommentalperceptionsendinartificiality.

171Mindcannotprojectitselfoutsideitselftoobservewhatitis.Onlythroughwhatitknowsordoesordesires,onlyasitsexistenceisexpressedinanygivensituation,canitperceiveitself.

172Theobjectseen,theeyewhichseesit,andtheactofseeingareallpartofamentallycreatedsceneallareidea.

173ThephilosophicalmeaningofEinstein'sdiscoveriesthatthenatureoftheworlddependsonthenatureofitsrelationtotheonewhoseesit,thatwecannottrulyspeakaboutanyobjectindependentlyoftheobserver,andthattimeisthehallmarkofthisrelativityisinperfectaccordancewithourowndoctrine.Whateverisseen,isseenbythemind.Apartfromthemindweknownothingofitsexistenceandapartfromthemindthethoughtoftimecouldnotariseforus.Inshort,everyexistentobjectiswhollyrelativetothesubjectMind.

174Experienceisaunityandcannotbebrokenintomindandmatter.Wecannotpossiblyseparatetheworldfromthemindthatknowsit.Thetwoarealwaysrelated.Toobjectthatsucharelationneednotexistoutsidetheactofknowingtheworld,eventhoughitmustexistinsideit,istoutterwordswhichdissolveawayassoonastheirmeaningisanalysed.

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Fortheonlyworldwhichhumanbeingscaneverdiscussisonewhichtheycanthinkaboutandwhichisthereforeanideafortheirminds.

175BecauseIamaconsciousbeingIamawareofphysicalsensationsandmentalthoughtsbuttheconsciousnesswhichenablessuchawarenesstoexistitselfexistedbeforesensationandbeforethought,andthisisastrueofnewbornbabiesasitisofdyingmen.Thisiswhatthematerialisticanatomistdissectingthebodyfailstoperceive.ThisistheforgottenselfofthefabledtenpersonscrossingariverinIndianmythology,andthisisthegreatsecretwhichmentalismunveilsforus.

176ThetenthmanintheHindustory,whofailedtocounthimselfwhencheckingifallthepartywhowadedacrossariverweresafetheHebrewrabbiwhosaidonhisdeathbed,"Ifthereprovestobenofuturelife,howIshalllaugh!"andthescientistwhodeniedtheexistenceofmindbecausebrainfleshproducesconsciousnessallthreeshowhoweasyitistoforgetthesubjectwhenlookingattheobject.

177Theobjectwhichthesensesdirectlyestablishcontactwithisregardedasonethingthementalimpressiontheyhavewhenthinkingofthatobjectisregardedasanotherandtotallydifferentthing.Thisisaverysimpleandapparentlyveryobviousviewofthematter.Totheordinarymind,bywhichImeanthemetaphysicallyunreflectivemind,thestatementisunarguableanditsimplieddivisionofNatureintomentalandmaterial,uncontestable.Butifyouanalysethewayyouperceiveobjectsyouwillfindthatboththeperceiverandtheperceivedareinseparableintheactofperception.Youcannotshowadualityofideaandthingbutonlyaunityofthem.

TheNotebooksarecopyright19841989,ThePaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundation.