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Paul Brunton Philosophic Foundation homepage > Notebooks of Paul Brunton > Category 20: What Is Philosophy? > Chapter 3: Its Requirements Its Requirements Basic qualifications 1 To become a seeker in intention is admirable as the first step but it is only the first one. To qualify as a seeker in fact is the second. What are the required qualifications? 2 Philosophy expects nothing from its votaries that is beyond their power to give. Hence it makes different demands on different people, graduating its ethic and instruction, its injunctions and duties, its precepts and counsels, to their strengths capacities and circumstances. But nevertheless it sacrifices nothing of enduring value, for at the same time it reminds them not to forget the final ideal, the ultimate end toward which all their lesser efforts are moving. Thus it accommodates itself to those who want an easier and longer route, making itself accessible to ordinary people, yet it does not separate itself from the rarer souls who are so circumstanced and so formed by nature as to gladly give themselves to the shortest and hardest route. 3 Just as a physically immature baby could not take a halfmile walk, however much it wished or even willed to do so, so a spiritually immature man could not take in the higher philosophy, however much he wished or willed it. The intuition and intelligence, the character and capacity needed for this latter purpose must be present in him, and used, before the teachings can really reach him. 4 If philosophy hides its truth from mental unreadiness and its votaries from social persecution, it is, nevertheless, always ready when it is needed by any sincere seeker who has evolved to the requisite degree. If he has got enough religious prejudice and mystical superstition out of his mind to be free to think for himself, if he has lifted his character somewhat above the common weaknesses, if his sense of values is such that the Truth appears desirable above all things, then philosophy is the only thing to which he can turn for guidance and enlightenmentand philosophy will surely welcome him. 5 To learn is to receive knowledge; but he who seeks to learn this Truth which is both behind and beyond all other truths must come with his mind, his heart, his body, and his will. With his mind because his thought must be pushed to its deepest measure. With his heart because his love is demanded more than he now knows. With his body because it is to be the temple of the holy spirit. And with his will because he may not stop this enterprise until he is through. 6 He has to learn discrimination if he wishes to become a philosopher. This is not merely that moral quality which separates right from wrong for the religious man, but that psychological act which separates the perceiver from the objects of his perception, the experiencer from the objects of his experience, in its elementary operation. Although it will have to reunite them again in its later operation on a higher plane, as the

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Requerimientos para la practica de la filosofia_ PAUL BRUNTON

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  • 14/5/2015 Its Requirements - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

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    PaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundationhomepage>NotebooksofPaulBrunton>Category20:WhatIsPhilosophy?>Chapter3:ItsRequirements

    ItsRequirements

    Basicqualifications

    1Tobecomeaseekerinintentionisadmirableasthefirststepbutitisonlythefirstone.Toqualifyasaseekerinfactisthesecond.Whataretherequiredqualifications?

    2Philosophyexpectsnothingfromitsvotariesthatisbeyondtheirpowertogive.Henceitmakesdifferentdemandsondifferentpeople,graduatingitsethicandinstruction,itsinjunctionsandduties,itspreceptsandcounsels,totheirstrengthscapacitiesandcircumstances.Butneverthelessitsacrificesnothingofenduringvalue,foratthesametimeitremindsthemnottoforgetthefinalideal,theultimateendtowardwhichalltheirlessereffortsaremoving.Thusitaccommodatesitselftothosewhowantaneasierandlongerroute,makingitselfaccessibletoordinarypeople,yetitdoesnotseparateitselffromtherarersoulswhoaresocircumstancedandsoformedbynatureastogladlygivethemselvestotheshortestandhardestroute.

    3Justasaphysicallyimmaturebabycouldnottakeahalfmilewalk,howevermuchitwishedorevenwilledtodoso,soaspirituallyimmaturemancouldnottakeinthehigherphilosophy,howevermuchhewishedorwilledit.Theintuitionandintelligence,thecharacterandcapacityneededforthislatterpurposemustbepresentinhim,andused,beforetheteachingscanreallyreachhim.

    4Ifphilosophyhidesitstruthfrommentalunreadinessanditsvotariesfromsocialpersecution,itis,nevertheless,alwaysreadywhenitisneededbyanysincereseekerwhohasevolvedtotherequisitedegree.Ifhehasgotenoughreligiousprejudiceandmysticalsuperstitionoutofhismindtobefreetothinkforhimself,ifhehasliftedhischaractersomewhatabovethecommonweaknesses,ifhissenseofvaluesissuchthattheTruthappearsdesirableaboveallthings,thenphilosophyistheonlythingtowhichhecanturnforguidanceandenlightenmentandphilosophywillsurelywelcomehim.

    5TolearnistoreceiveknowledgebuthewhoseekstolearnthisTruthwhichisbothbehindandbeyondallothertruthsmustcomewithhismind,hisheart,hisbody,andhiswill.Withhismindbecausehisthoughtmustbepushedtoitsdeepestmeasure.Withhisheartbecausehisloveisdemandedmorethanhenowknows.Withhisbodybecauseitistobethetempleoftheholyspirit.Andwithhiswillbecausehemaynotstopthisenterpriseuntilheisthrough.

    6Hehastolearndiscriminationifhewishestobecomeaphilosopher.Thisisnotmerelythatmoralqualitywhichseparatesrightfromwrongforthereligiousman,butthatpsychologicalactwhichseparatestheperceiverfromtheobjectsofhisperception,theexperiencerfromtheobjectsofhisexperience,initselementaryoperation.Althoughitwillhavetoreunitethemagaininitslateroperationonahigherplane,asthe

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    unenlightenedmanunitesthemonalowerone,thatplanecannotbereachedabidinglybyjumping,onlybyclimbing.

    7Theacceptanceofsuchateachingasphilosophyimpliesanunusualdegreeofintelligencewhichisnotthesameaseducationorevenintellect,althoughitmayincludethesethings.Fortherecognitionthatthereisaworldofbeingbeyondthatregisteredbythefivesenses,aworldofconsciousnessnotlimitedtothatreportedbythethinkingego,adivinesoulhiddenwithinthategoitself,asuperiorpowerinvolvingusallinitscosmicordersucharecognitioncancomeonlytothosewithunusualintelligence.Faithisgoodbutnotenough,foronedayitmaychangethroughcircumstancesorbeconfusedthroughlackofknowledge.Suchintelligenceisbestforitincludesandguidesfaithbutgoesfartherthanit.

    8Philosophicalintelligencecombinestheintellectualfacultywiththeintuitive.

    9Withoutpurephilosophy,thereisnopossibilityofascendingthehigherpeaksoftruth.InthehighestesotericschoolofAsianooneisadmittedbeforefirsthavingbeentakenthroughacourseoftheessentialsofthissubject.Inthisschoolthereisnoprogresswithoutthefulluseofintelligenceandsharpenedreason.Thelackofthisqualityhashelpedtocontributetothedownfalloforganizedmysticalmovementsknowntousall.

    10Thestudyofphilosophyeducatesthemindindeepthinking.Itmustbeapproachedinthespiritofscientificdetachment.

    11Somethingoftheimpersonalityanddetachmentofthemathematicianarenecessarytothebeginningphilosopher.

    12Heistobeconcernedsolelywiththereality,withthatwhichIs,andnotwiththepresentationofitwhichothershaveinvented.

    13Atthisstageheisfinishedwithcompromises:hecanacceptnothinglessandwantsnothingelsethanthepureTruth.

    14Unlessmenpossesstherightintuitionalcalibre,theycannotgraspthisteaching,foritstandsatanaltitudebeyondthereachofthegrossandthematerialistic.

    15Thecouragetobecomeindependentofhisownpastbeliefsisneeded.Thestrengthtosetasidethepatternsofthoughtimposedonhismindbylonghabitisrequired.Thesequalitiesmaynotnecessarilyhavetocomeintoactionbuttheymustbethere.

    16Thehysteric,theneurotic,ortheparanoicisunreadyforphilosophy'sguidance,unfitformysticism'smeditation.Itisuselessforsuchaonetoapplyasacandidateforinitiation.Lethimgetridofhisselfcenteredmaniafirst.

    17Philosophydemandsthepurityandexperienceofasage,notthepurityandignoranceofa

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    child.

    18Philosophydoesnotcompetewithanyreligion,anymysticalormetaphysicalsystem,foritdoesnotconsideritselfasexistingonthesamelevelasanyofthem.Itcanonlybegraspedbythosewhobringthenecessaryintuitive,mystical,intellectual,moral,anddevotionalqualificationstoit,anditcanonlybeappreciatedbythosewhocangraspit.

    19Philosophyisforthosewhodemandtheultimate,whoaresatisfiedwithnothinglessandwhohaveenoughdiscernmenttodiscriminatebetweenitanditsmanysubstitutes.

    20Thoseonlywillappreciatethispointofviewwhohaveawakenedtotheneedofpenetratingthroughillusiontorealityandwhounderstandhowimportantthisistohumanity'sfuture.

    21Philosophycallsforsomeleisuretostudyitandforsomecapacitytounderstandwhatisbeingstudied.Itisnotenoughtobeanamateurinphilosophy:onemustbecomeanexpert.

    22Thefirstlessonsofthehigherphilosophycannotbeusefullytaughttothosewhohavenotlearnedthelastlessonsofreligion.Butforthosewhohavegonealittlewayintomysticismormetaphysics,suchinstructionneednotbedeferred.

    23Peopleofallreligiousfaithscancometothestudyofphilosophy.Theywillnotbeabletokeeptheirfaithaftersuchstudy,however,withoutprofoundlydeepeningit.Norwilltheybeabletokeepwithittheenthusiasticarroganceorintolerantignorancewhichaccompaniessomuchsectarianism.

    24Orientalwisdomenjoinsingeneralwithholdingtruthfromtheunready,andinparticularfromthosewhodonotwantorseekit,frominebriatedoragitatedpersons,fromthoseinwhomlustorgreed,wrathorimpatiencepredominates,and,understandably,fromlunatics.

    25Philosophygainsrecruitsonlyfromthosewhosevaluesaresoloftythattheyregardthefindingoftruthasatisfyingendinitself,andwhosemindsaresotolerantthattheymaketheirsearchforitinthewidespreadfieldofcomparativeanduniversalcultures.

    26Theindependentmind,whichseeksallthefactsandnotmerelysomeofthem,whichdoesitsownthinkingaboutthosefacts,isnaturallybettersuitedtophilosophythanthedependentmind,whichacceptswithoutdemurinheritedcreedsandestablishedsects.

    27Hisintellectualintegritymustbesuchthatevenifhissearchfortruthendsinideaswhichupsetmuchofwhathehashithertoaccepted,hewillnotflinchfrommakingthechange.

    28Swedenborg:"WithouttheutmostdevotiontotheSupremeBeing,theOriginofallthings,noonecanbeacompleteandtrulyeruditephilosopher.VenerationfortheInfinite

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    Beingcanneverbeseparatedfromphilosophy."

    29Philosophyisforthosewhocanthinkcloselyandwhoarewillingtoabidebytheresultsoftheirthinking.Itisnotforthosewhosettleeverythingbytheevidenceoftheirsenses.Thatiswhyithasneverbeenanecessitytothosewhomustseerealitywiththeireyesandtouchitwiththeirhands,asithasbeentothosewhowerecontenttoknowwiththeirminds.

    30Inthestudyofmodernscience,inalllaboratoryanalysisorexaminationofnaturalphenomena,greatstressislaiduponthenecessityforstrictimpersonalityandfreedomfromeverytraceofwishfulthinking,personalemotion,andprejudice.Thisisofequalnecessitytothestudentofphilosophy.

    31Heisreadytolearnphilosophywhenheisreadytostriphimselfofallprejudice,oratleasttoallowphilosophyitselftodothistohim.

    32Uninformedseekershavetolearnvariouslessonsbeforetheyfindtheirwaytothispath,tophilosophy.Theyareattractedtoancientideasandoutworkedmethodsofwhichonlyaportionreallysuittoday'shumanity.Whathashappenedtotheracesandtotheglobeonwhichtheydwellhasaffectedtheircharacterandmind,theirtendencies,capacities,andfaculties.Thosewholookbacknostalgicallytoteachingsandtexts,landsandnamessohonouredandquiteworthilytoodonotknoworunderstandthis.Thefactthattherearecertainbasiceternaltruthsiscertainlyirrefragable.ThatMindalwayswas,is,andwillbe,isoneofthem.Thatthehumansoulislinkedwithit(throughtheWorldMind)isanother.Butthemethodsbywhichthislinkmaybevivifiedandthemenwhoaretousethemandthecircumstancesunderwhichtheylivehaveallbeenmodified.

    33Afterhehashadthecourage,freedom,intelligence,aspiration,anddiscriminationtoworkthroughallthecultsespeciallythepersonalityworshipcultsandcreeds,persistently,calmly,andsurvivedthetemptationofidolatry,hemaybefittertoreverethenobleimpersonalGodhead.

    34IfyouwishtoknowtheTruth,youmustacceptitsdisconcertingrevelationsalongwiththepleasantones.Youmustbewillingtopractiseinnerdetachmentfromeverythingandeveryoneaswellastoenjoythebeautifulmomentsofrapture.

    35Ifpeoplecometomysticismwithunbalancedordiseasedminds,asanumbercertainlydo,andiftheypermeatetheirmysticalacquisitionswiththeirowndefects,theycannotdothesametophilosophy.Fortheendresultwouldbeeitherthattheyfleefromitondeeperacquaintanceorthatitsdemandsanddisciplineswouldbegintopermeatethem.Thisinturnwouldequilibrateorhealtheirminds.

    36Thosewhobelongbynaturalaffinitytothisteachingstaywithit.Allotherseventuallyfindtheirproperlevelelsewhere.

    37ItookthetroubleoflookingupthemeaninggiventotheSanskritwordshraddha,whichisoneofthesixsubsidiaryqualificationsrequiredoftheaspiranttotheknowledgeof

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    higherVedanticphilosophy.Herearetheresults:(1)MonierWilliams'massiveSanskritdictionarylaconicallydefinesitastohave"trust"(2)Govindananda,inhisworktheRatnaPrabha,definesitasmeaning"arespectfultrustinallhigherthings"(3)Venkatramiah,inhisversionoftheAitareyopanishad,saysitmeans"faithintheVedanticveritiesasinculcatedbythepreceptor"(4)Vasudeva,theascetic,givesitssignificanceas"thestrongfaithinthewordsofone'steacher,"inhisMeditations(5)ProfessorGirindraN.Mallik,M.A.,definesitas"faithinthecontentsofthescriptures."Butwhatistheesotericandthereforethetruestmeaningofshraddha?Myowninterpretationis:"thatfaithintheexistenceoftruth,thatdeterminationtogetattruth,comewhatmay,whichwouldmakeoneaheroeveninthefaceofGod'swrath."

    38Hewhowouldbecomeaphilosophermustkeepawayfrompartisanship,mustcultivateanindependentstateofmindsoastobefreetoreceiveideasfromanysource.Inthiswayhecanreallylearnwhatothershavethoughtorfoundlongagoorinhisownepoch,whethertheylivedintheEastorWest.Suchdetachmentisnoteasytoacquireortomaintainwithoutselfdiscipline.

    39Hisattitudeshouldbe:"Takethetruth,whetherornotitbeusefultopracticallife.Takeitforitsownsake,disinterestedlyandenthusiastically,whetheritbeclosetopersonalneedsorfarfromthem."

    40Itneedsforitsstudyanenlargedoutlookandgivesinreturnastilllargerone.Thisistruephilosophy,universal,widehorizoned,inclusive,andreconciliatory.

    41Itneedssomecouragetofacefactsastheyareandtheworldasitreallyis,butthisisbetterthanharbouringillusionswhicharegoingtoberelentlesslyandpainfullydispelled.

    42Thereisanothersidetothisdemandthatanaspirantbeatthestagewherehehasbeenpreparedfor,andisreadytoimbibe,thehighertruth.Thedemandmustnotbepushedtotheextentthatthosewhohavenothadanyopportunityforsuchpriorpreparationwillbeshutoutaltogether.Somethingcanandoughttobegiventhemtotheutmostpossibledegree.

    43Fewpersonsareattherequiredleveloffullintellectual,intuitive,moral,andmetaphysicaldevelopmentforphilosophybutmanypersonsarecapableofbenefittingbyitspracticalapplications.

    44Ifsomeofitstenetsareadmittedlyunfamiliarandprovocative,thisisnottosaythattheyareoutsidethereachofanyonewithmoderatecapacitywhowillapproachthemwithawilltounderstand.

    45Themindwhichhasnotyetbeenproperlypreparedbythephilosophicaldisciplinetoreceivetruthdirectlythroughintuition,mustmeanwhilereceiveitindirectlythroughfaithandreason.

    46PhilosophyisnotforhimwhosemindissoriddledwithraceprejudiceastothinknothinggoodcancomeoutofAsia,orwhoseownattitudeissosteepedinviolentbiasastojudge

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    peoplesolelybytheirappearance,orwhoseideasarelitonlybyhisownlittlegutteringcandleoflimitedexperience.

    47Itdoesnotadmitthepopulardelusionthateverymemberofthehumanraceisfittopassproperjudgementonanyissuemerelybyconsultinghisopinionorfeelingaboutitmuchlessaboutreligionandmysticism.

    48Thehiddenteachingisonlyforthosewhoprefertotravelfreelyonaroadratherthancrawlslavishlyinarut.Onlythestrongcansubmittothismentalisolation.

    49Itiscomfortingonlytothefewwhoarepreparedtopartwiththeiregoism,theirpride,theirsensuality,andtheirinertiaforthesakeoftruth.

    50Errorwillcreepintohisfiniteapprehensionoftheinfinitetruthifhehasnotpreviouslymadehimselfready,pure,balanced,andmature.

    51Ifonlybecausephilosophywasnotthereforanyonetopickupcasuallyifhewished,butonlythereforanyonewhocouldthinkandintuit,itspossibleadherentswerewelllimitedinnumber.Suchamanwouldinevitablythinkandintuithimselfmoreandmoreintoitsgreatteachingstothedegreethathewishedtoseektruthandwasabletoabandonego.

    52Philosophyisprimarilyforthefairlyadvancedmentalityforthepersonwhoisfamiliarwiththechiefspiritualconceptionsandpracticesfortheaspirantwhoisexperiencedandmature.

    53Onlyonewhohasspenthislifeinreligious,mystical,andphilosophicinvestigationscanappreciatetheuniversal,thetimeless,andtheplacelesscharacterofthisteaching.

    54Nomanwhohastotallyfailedtousehisintuitionalfacultywillhavethecapacitytoreceivephilosophy.

    55Everychildmustpassthroughapropertraininginelementaryandintermediatemathematicsbeforetheprinciplesofhighercalculuscanbeexplainedtoit.Sothosewhowishtograsptheadvancedportionofphilosophymustlikewisepreparethemindandheart,thewillandcharacter.

    56Ahighlevelofgeneraleducationisadistinctadvantageforthosewhowouldtakeupsuchastudy,butitisnotanabsoluteessential.

    57Itisforallclasses,alltypesofmind,andallkindsofcharacter.Itisforthesimpleaswellastheastute,thesinfulaswellasthegood.Butalas!personalhistoriesshowthatitistheastuteandthegoodwhomostlyacceptphilosophy.Theotherswhoneeditbecausetheytooarehumanbeingsacceptitlessfrequently.

    58Thosewhopreferthepleasanttothetruewillnaturallyfeartoenterthekingdomof

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    philosophy.

    59Onlythosewhocanfollowphilosophywhereveritleadsthemandpracticeitstenetswithunflinchingcouragewilleverbecomephilosophers.Itisnotenoughtoaffirmprinciplestheymustalsobeappliedandgiventangibleform.

    60Thosewhoarecultivated,educated,andintelligentenoughtoappreciatewhatphilosophyoffersthemmayyetbeblindedbyprejudiceorselfishnessorbetoostupefiedfromgorgingthepassionstodoso.

    61Sensitiveandintrospectivemindswillmorequicklyfindtheirwaytothesetruthsthandullandextrovertedones.

    62Ifheistoreachthispurewelloftruth,itswateruntaintedbybiasorprejudice,hewilldobestbykeepingindependent.

    63Bothaproperlydisciplinedbodyandaphilosophicallystrengthenedmindshouldbeourreliance.

    64OneshouldseekforknowledgeoftheHigherLawsgoverninglife,fortruepurityofcharacter,andforhumilityifhewishestoreachtheHighestTruth.

    65Seekerswhoarenotsatisfiedwithconventionaldoctrinesormysticalexperiencesmustbewillingtodosomedifficultbutprofitablereasoning.

    66Thetruthcannotbefoundbythosewhocannotprotectthemselvesagainstdeception,andespeciallyselfdeception.

    67Philosophycarriesgoodtidingstothehumanrace,buttheywillberegardedas"good"onlybythosemembersoftheracewhoareableandwillingtotakeanimpersonalandimpartialviewofthings.

    68Noteveryoneisreadyforthetruthwhenitcomestohim.

    69Thekindofmindwhichlikestokeepeverythingneatlylabelled(goodorbad)andeveryoneneatlyclassified(atheist,believer,Christian,Hindu)willbesomewhatpuzzled,slightlyuneasy,andpartlyderisorywhenconfrontedbyphilosophyorphilosophers.

    70Onewhoisripetoreceivetruthwillrespondtoitspresentationatonce,convincedthatitmustbeso.

    71Onewhoisreadywillfeelthepowerinthesewrittentruthsandwillfollowtheirinjunctionsobediently.

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    72Thateveryoneandanyoneshouldbetaughtphilosophyisanunreasonabledemand.Onlythosewhoconsciouslyseektruthanddeliberatelypractiseselfdisciplineareentitledtosuchteaching.

    Philosophicdiscipline

    73Truthisamanysidedunity.Itcannotbefoundbyanarrowsingletrackmind.Totakeafragmentoftruthandcallitallofthetruth,tostandononepointofviewandignoreallotherpointsentirely,iseasierforlazyminds.Butthisisnotphilosophical.Thisiswhysomekindofpreparatoryselftrainingtobroadenanddeepenoneselfmentallyisrequiredbyphilosophyandwhyitcannotbehandedoveronaplate.

    74Thatsomerestraintanddisciplineareneededisimpliedbytheverynotionofaquestforhighergoals.Thatsomeportionmustbesetbytheteachingitselfbutanothermustbeselfimposedarisesoutofthebalanced,sensiblenatureofphilosophy.Ithasnoplaceforfanaticismortyranny.

    75Withoutrequiringtheambitionforsainthood,itdoesrequirethecapacitytorecognizetheneedofadisciplineandthewillingnesstoundergoit.

    76Truthalreadyexistswithinman.Hehastobringitfromthecentretothecircumferenceofhisconsciousness.Ifitishiddenfromhisview,thatisonlybecausehehasnotlookeddeepenoughorhasnotclearedawaytheobstructionstohisview.Thoseobstructionsareentirelywithinhislowerself,andmayberemovedbypracticeofthephilosophicdiscipline.

    77Hehasfirsttofindoutwhatitisthatkeepshimfromthehigherself.And,thisknown,hewillseetheneedandvalueofthephilosophicdisciplineasameansofeliminatingtheseobstacles.

    78Philosophyrequireseveryacolytetosubmittoaselfimposeddiscipline.Thatheshallnotknowinglycherishanuntruthinhisfeelingisthefirstandeasierrequirementthatheshallnotunknowinglycherishanuntruthinhisthinkingisthesecondandharder.

    79Thispathisamasterstroke.Thismethodofdestroyingtheillusionoftheselfbymeansoftheintellectualfunctionwhichisitsprimaryactivitystandssupremeandalmostalone.Thatveryfunctionautomaticallyceaseswhendirecteduponitselfinthewaythatishereintaught.Andwithitscessation,theselfisdissolved,appropriatedbytheUniversal.

    80ThemoststrikingpointinthissimpletechniqueisthatheusestheveryegoitselfforsolongindicatedbyallmysticsasthegreatestenemyonthePathasthemeansofdivineattainment.Thesewordsmaysoundlikepureparadox,buttheyhappentobetrue.Thestrengthofhisenemyisdrawnuponforhishelp,whilethatwhichwasthesupremehindrancetransformsintoapathwaytothegoal.

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    81Theabilitytodiscriminatebetweenappearanceandreality,betweenthefalse"I"andthetrue"I,"isdevelopedbysubjectingthereportsofthesensestothecriticismoftheintellect,bycheckingemotionwithreason,bystandingasidefromallofthesefacultieswiththeintuition,andbydivingdeeperanddeeperintoone'sessenceinmeditation.

    82Theenigmaticquestionswhichhavelonghauntedthehumanmindandwilllongcontinuetohauntitandwhichwillriseinsistentinthemindoftheaspirantare:Whatishetoseek?Howishetogaintheobjectsofhissearch?Whataretheprospectsofthefulfilmentofsuchanaspirationandthehindranceslikelytoattendit?Theanswerstothemareagradualrevealingwhichfollowsontheheelsofthecultivationofcertainattitudestotruthandtopersonsandthings.

    "Whatishetoseek?"Heshouldseekrealityandtheknowledgeofitwhichistruth.Thisistheidealwhichissetbeforehim.Thisistorealizehisspiritualnatureandthusachievehishigherdestiny.Becausetruthissosubtleandsohardtofind,hissearchafteritshouldbewellguided,hisknowledgeofitproperlytested,andhisadventuresinmeditationmorallyandintellectuallysafeguarded.Truerideasareneedednoblerstandardsarecalledfor.Suchideals,truthfullyformed,deeplyheld,andwholeheartedlyapplied,canonlybenefitmanandnothurthim.HewhohasbeengivenaglimpseoftheIdealwillnotbeabletoliealwaysasleepinthesensual.Thefinerpartofhisnaturewillrevoltagainstitagainandagain.

    TheIdealservesmorethanoneusefulpurpose.Itisnotonlyapeaktowhosesummithetriestoraisehimselfbyslowdegrees.Itisalsoafocusformeditationexercises,aguideforpracticalconductincertainsituations,andacompasstogivegeneraldirectiontohistrendofthought,feeling,anddoing.Itcausestheaspiranttofeelthathehasbeenledthroughvaryingeventstothenewpathwhichnowopensupbeforehim,thataspiritualmeaningmustbegiventotheperiodofhislifejustclosed.Thesequenceofeventsandtheaccumulationofexperiencewillforcehimtofacehisproblemsintheend.Ifhecandothishonestly,analysethemintelligently,andintuitthemadequately,hemayacquireavaluablenewpointofview.

    "Howishetogaintheobjectsofhissearch?"Thetruthseekerwillbegintoturninwardinquestofunitywithhisownsoulandoutwardinquestofunitywithmankind.Lifeistheguidethatisbringinghimhometohimselfandtokindlierrelationtohisfellows.Lifeitselfteachesanddisciplinestowardsthesegreatends.Thefollowingoftheintegralphilosophicquest,withlifeastheguideandteacher,willinvolvethereeducationofmoralcharacterwhichisdoneinpartbyconstantreflectionandspecialmeditationsontheonehandanddisciplineofthesensesontheother,andinpartbyprayer,aspiration,andworship.Inaddition,ifamancultivatesthehabitofbarringentrancetonegativethoughtsandofinstantlythrowingweakeningonesoutofhismind,hischaracterwillstrengthenitselfmorequickly.Theoutcomewillbecertainrelationshipstooneself,toothers,andtosituationsandthings.

    Theascenttowardtruthproceedsbysteps.Ifatfirstthemeritsofaparticularteachingorteacherimpresstheemotionsunduly,itisalsolikelythatamorecriticalstudyoftheoneandamorethoroughexperienceoftheotherwillshowupunsuspecteddefects.Thephilosophicstudenttriestoavoidundergoingtheseunpleasantchangesbygettingabalancedviewoftheprosandconsfromthestart.Heoughtnottobesosweptoffhisfeetbythegreatadmirationfeltforageniusoradoctrinethathehasnoclearperceptionoftheformer'sdefectsorthelatter'sfaults.Hemustmaintainbalancenotonlyinthefaceofloweremotionsbutalsoofnoblerones.

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    83Allhumanknowledgeisconditionedbythefactofhumanrelativity.Humannature,humanintellect,andhumanegoismimposetheirlimitationsnotonlyinmaterialexperiencebutalsoinmysticalexperience.Statementsofdivinetruthmadebymortalmenshouldbereadinthelightofthefactthattheyaresubjecttosuchrelativity.Noneisinfallible,noneeternallyauthoritative.Suchseemstobetheunhopefulsituation.Istherethennowayofdisengagingthehumanagencyfromthedivinemessagewhichmanifeststhroughit?Theansweristhatthiswaydoesexistandthatitsmethodisanintellectualaswellasemotionalpurification,amoralandpracticaldiscipline,anintuitionalandmysticalpreparation,andaboveallaneliminationofthepersonalreferencecarriedonincessantlythroughalongperiod.

    84Philosophycanbeunderstoodonlybytheactualprocessofphilosophizing,bypassingthroughthewholecourseofemotionalandmentaldisciplinewhichphilosophyinvolves.

    85Thestudentshouldseekclearideasandwarmfeelingsinhisspiritualstudiesanddevotionalaspirations.

    86Thepurerevelationcomesonlytothosewhocanbringthemselvesatthebiddingoftruthtosacrificeruthlesslytheirpreviousbeliefs,ifnecessary.Allothersgetapartialormixedrevelation.

    87Thegoalistoobtainahigherconsciousnesswhichflashesacrossthemindwithblindinglight.Allhiseffort,allhistrainingisreallyforthis.

    88ThephilosophictrainingwillshowitsresultinhiscapacitytoseparatetheactualoperationoftheOverselfinhimfromanyadmixturebyhisownpersonalthoughts,feelings,andexpectations.

    89Thethingthatpassesforilluminationwithmostmysticsisgenerallyamixtureofgenuinemysticalexperiencewithaninterpretationofitfurnishedbytheintellect,theemotions,tradition,education,teachers,suggestion,andsoon.Themediumthroughwhichtheexperienceisbroughtdownintoconsciouscommunicationorunderstandingofteninterfereswithitandreshapesit.Thephilosophicdiscipline,withitsselfcriticizing,keenrationalityanditsegosubordination,purification,andillumination,isintendedtopreventthisinterferencefromhappening.

    90Theadvancedsectionofthephilosophicdisciplinerepresentsanendeavourtoreducethenumberandthicknessofthesecolouredwindowsthroughwhichthemysticreceivesrevelationsanddeliversmessages.Butthisisonlyitsfirstendeavour.Intheend,itstrivestoforcehimfromthemaltogether,torescuehisilluminationfromeverythingthatmightlimititspuretransparentuniversality.

    91Isitnotpossibletofreemysticalreceptionfromtheseegoisticinterferences,misrepresentations,exaggerations,distortions,andfalsifications?Yes,itispossible.Withthephilosophicdisciplinethemysticmaydisciplinehisego,trainhisfeelings,guidehisintellect,andcheckhisintuitionsothatthetruthbreaksintospaceandtimethroughhishumanpersonalityinfaultlesspurity.

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    92Man'simperfectnaturemustberenderedutterlypassive,itsdistortinginterferenceutterlyeliminated,beforethedivinetruthcanmanifestitselfinallitsauthoritativepurity.

    93HewilltrainhimselftodistinguishbetweenthefanciesoftheegoandthecertaintiesoftheSoul.Anditisonepurposeofthephilosophicdisciplinetoassisthimtodoso.Fortheresthemustdependonselfcriticalobservationandcarefulcheckingofresults.

    94Theknowledgeofselfwhichphilosophycangiveisunique.Butitcanbegotonlybyturningthewholeofthepsyche'sforceinwardsinsteadypenetrationandsustainedmeditation.Thehiddendoorsofourmentalbeingmustbeopened,thedelicatesourcesofouremotionalbeingmustbetraced,thegossamerthreadofourdeepestconsciousnessmustbefollowed.Allthiscallsfortheexerciseofwill,theeffortofconcentration,therefinementofattention,andsurrendertopatience.

    95Itisimpossibleforanyaspiranttoattainthefullandequilibratedilluminationifhedoesnothavethispreliminarypreparationofthephilosophicdiscipline.Hecangetresults,hecangetstrikingexperiences,butthesupremeresultisbeyondhisownpowersofreceptivity.

    96Philosophyimposesaseverementaldisciplineuponthosewhowouldpursueitstruths.

    97Hewhoknowsandfeelsthedivinepowerinhisinmostbeingwillbesetfreeinthemostliteralsenseofthewordfromanxietiesandcares.Hewhohasnotyetarrivedatthisstagebutisonthewaytoitcanapproachthesamedesirableresultbytheintensityofhisfaithinthatbeing.Butsuchaonemustreallyhavethefaithandnotmerelysayso.Theproofthathepossessesitwouldlieinthemeasurewithwhichherefusestoacceptnegativethoughts,fearfulthoughts,despondentthoughts.Inthemeasurethathedoesnotfailinhisfaithandhenceinhisthinking,inthatmeasure,thehigherpowerwillnotfailtosupporthiminhishourofneed.ThisiswhyJesustoldhisdisciples,"Takenoanxiousthoughtforthemorrow."Inthecaseoftheadept,havinggivenuptheego,thereisnoonelefttotakecareofhim,sothehigherSelfdoessoforhim.Inthecaseofthebeliever,althoughhehasnotyetgivenuptheego,nevertheless,heistryingtodoso,andhisunfalteringtrustinthehigherSelfisrewardedproportionatelyinthesameway.Inbothcasesthebiblicalphrase,"TheLordwillprovide,"isnotmerelyapioushopebutapracticalfact.

    98Thephilosophicdisciplineshowsushowwearetotreatourselves.Thephilosophicmoralityteachesushowwearetotreatothers.Itprovidesbothabstractprinciplefortheoryandconcreterulesforconduct.

    99Hemaymakeuseofadverseperiodstotesttheworthofphilosophyandthemeritofitsteaching,insteadoflettingthembecomeasourceofdepression.

    100Theinexperiencedandtheunbalancedmaymeasurespiritualprogressintermsofemotionalecstasyormeditationalvision,butthematureandwisewillmeasureitintermsofcharacteritsnobility,itsroundeddevelopment,anditspurity.

    101

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    Thephilosophictrainingwillhelphimtostopinsertingtheegointohisexperienceandtoceaseimposingitsbiasonhisreadingofit.

    102Philosophybeginsitsinstructiontotheneophytebythestartlingassertionthatneitherhenoranyothercandidateisreadyorqualifiedtoreceivetruth.Itdeclaresthatthisqualification,thisreadiness,mustfirstbedevelopedinthecandidatehimself.Thisworkofdevelopmentiscalledthephilosophicdiscipline.Heshouldstudyhimselfandexaminehisexperiencesinthemostcriticallight.Alibis,pretenses,andexcusesshouldbemercilesslyrejected.Thediceofdoubtfulcasesshouldbeloadedagainstit,andheshouldbeginwiththepremisethatheiseitherfaultyinjudgementorguiltyinconduct.

    103Thosewhowantphilosophywithoutacceptingitsdisciplinegetonlyafragmentofit.

    104Thephilosopher'sresearchisadisinterestedone.Thereisnoparticularbodyofdoctrineswhichhesetsouttosupport,noreligiousinstitutionwhosepowerorprestigeheseekstoincrease.Hedeliberatelycontrolshispredilections,trainshisthoughts,anddisciplineshisfeelingssoastomakehimselfcapableofthatintellectualdetachmentwhichisanecessaryprerequisitetogettingatthetruth.

    105Thephilosophicdisciplineaimstoshocktheaspirantoutofthecomplacencywithwhichheviewshimselfintoamorecriticalview.Hemayfeelchagrinandmortificationatwhathesees.

    106Philosophiclifeinoursenseisnotamatterofreadingpracticalmaxims.Itisgivingassentinactionandofferingwholeheartedbeliefinfeelingtothebestvalues,goals,andpurposes.

    107Thephilosopherdevelopstheprincipalsidesofhishumannature,thatis,hisintelligencebyreasoning,hisknowledgebystudy,hispietybydevotions,hismysticalintuitivenessbymeditation,andhiswisdombyassociationwiththosemoreevolvedthanhimself.

    108ThefirstaimthereforeistoknowTruthasitisandnotmerelyasitistous.

    109Itsaimistoproduceamanwhoshallbehumanlymatureandspirituallysecure,whoshallbefleshandmindputtotheserviceofspirit.

    110Thestudyofphilosophymustbenodesultorypursuititmustfollowaconsecutiveandsequentialcourseifitsprinciplesaretobemasteredanditsproblemssolved.

    111Thought,feeling,andwillarethethreesidesofahumanbeingwhichmustfindtheirrespectivefunctionsinthisquest.Thoughtmustbedirectedtothediscriminationoftruthfromerror,realityfromappearance.FeelingmustbeelevatedinlovingdevotiontowardstheOverself.Willmustbeturnedtowardswiseactionandaltruisticservice.Andallthreemustmoveineffectiveunisonandmutualbalance.

    112

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    Heshouldalwaysrememberthatthemerereadingaboutphilosophywillnotmakehimaphilosopher.Norwilleventhethinkingaboutphilosophyitselftransformhimintoone.Boththeseactivitiesarecertainlynecessarybuttheyneedonemoretocompletethem.Andthatisthepracticeofphilosophyinconduct,theexpressionofitindailyliving.

    113Meditation,rightlydone,isindispensabletothephilosophicquest,butitmustbeaccompaniedbyotherpracticesorendeavourswhicharenotlessindispensabletothesuccessofthisquest.

    114Meditationmustpredominateinthebeginner'sstage.Itisthemostimportanteffortthenrequiredofhim.Buttheotherrequirementsneednotthereforebeneglected.Itwillnotonlybegreatlytohisadvantagetodevelopmetaphysicalreasoningandwiseaction,butthecombinationofallthreewillyieldresultsfarinadvanceofthosewhichtheirseparateandsubsequentdevelopmentcouldpossiblyyield.

    115Onlyhewholivesfrommomenttomomentbytheclearlightofitsteaching,bythedeepestfaithinitstenets,andbytheardentfeelingofitsworthisatruediscipleofphilosophy.

    116Threetasksarerequiredofhimforthisintegralculture.Thefourelementsofthepsychearetobepurified,developed,andbalanced.

    117Everyoneinsomeway,blindlyorconsciously,slavishlyorindependently,wronglyorcorrectly,necessarilyandalwaysbelievesinaparticulardeciphermentoftheenigmaoflife.Butonlyhewhohasbroughtthebestmentalequipmenttobearuponitislikelytomakethebestdecipherment.Andonlythephilosophicaldisciplinegivesthis.

    118Thecravingsofthesensesaretobebroughtundercontrol.Thesoulistobetheirmasterthemindisnolongertobetheirslave.

    119Anexternalasceticismofasensiblekindisalsocalledfor.If,onthespeciousadviceofthosewhosayrepressionisworse,heyieldstosexualpassioneverytimeitsolicitshim,hemakeshardertheinternalbattleagainstit.Fortemptationisnotremovedbyyieldingtoitiftheremovalismerelytemporary,andtherecurrenceiscertainandswift.

    120Hehastorejecttheappealofsensuousthingsforatimeandretreatfromtheirpursuit.Thisisintendedtofreehimfromtheirtyrannyoverhim.

    121Thedisinclinationtostartpractisingmeditationandtheinabilitytosustainitforlongwhenstartedaredueinparttothemind'sstronghabitofbeingpreoccupiedwithworldlymattersorbeingattachedtopersonaldesires.ThisiswhythestudyofwhollyabstractmetaphysicalandimpersonaltopicsispartofthePhilosophicPath.

    122Asenseofsacrednessshouldenterhisphilosophicalstudiesiftheyaretobearmorefruit.

    123

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    Someessentialsare:purificationofcharacter,disciplineofemotion,ennoblementofmotive,practiceofmeditation,studyofthemetaphysicsoftruth,elevationofconduct,andaconstantheartfeltaspirationtowardstheDivine.Prayer,too,oftherightkind,ishelpfulbecauseegohumbling.Andtherightkindisthephilosophickind.

    124Thevariousbranchesofphilosophicalstudyandpracticeincludethepreparatorystagesoftheasceticlifeandthenthefurtherfullerstagesofbeing,thinking,feeling,meditating,intuiting,anddiscriminating.Therearetwolevelsofreference:theAbsoluteandtheRelative,equivalenttotheMetaphysicalandthePhysicalPractical,theRealityandtheAppearance.

    125Inone'ssearchfortheHigherSelf,itisnecessarytocultivateimpersonalityandobjectivityalongwithreason,emotion,andbalance.Theseshouldalwaysbepresentinone'sanalysesofexperiences,sinceinaccurateconclusionswouldbereachedwithoutthem.

    126Thestrivingforimpersonalityisuncommonhoweverapprovedintheory,actualpracticeisunpleasantandunwilling.

    127Theearnestseekerwhohasalreadyachievedacertaindegreeofawarenessandunderstandinghasthebeginningsofwhatmaybeasplendidopportunitytomakephenomenalprogressinhispresentincarnation.Buteverythinginthisworldmustbepaidforthegreatesttreasuresareattainedonlyatthegreatestcost.Theaspirantmustnowembarkonadoordieendeavourtolifthischaracterontoahigherplanealtogethertopurifyhismotivesandtobepreparedtosacrificeallworldlyobjectsfirstinwardlyand,finally,outwardlyifcalledupontodoso.Thespiritualreturnsarecorrespondinglygreat,however.Theyare:serenity,understanding,liberation,satisfaction,andthedelightofperpetualcommunionwiththedivineOverselfwhilebeingalwaysinItsblissfulPresence.

    Theremustalsobethededicationtoservice.Here,moreoftenthannot,thespiritualreturnsareaterriblesadnesswhichmustbebornealoneandunshared.

    Suchisthephilosophiclifetheonlyconceivablewayoflifeformany,now,andformanymore,lateronforevermotivatedandsustainedbytheunchanginglivingReality,Mind.

    128Thementaltendencieswhichhehasbroughtoverfrompreviousbirths,theeffectsofphysicalheredityandenvironment,theinfluenceofsociety,andthesuggestionsofeducationallofthesehavetobedisciplinedandpurified,ifheistoacquiretruthwithoutunconsciouslydeformingit.

    129Thisdisciplinefreeshismentalityfromthetendencytoplacemerelytemporaryandlocalinfluencesabovethetrulyuniversalandeternalelements.Thus,itclearsapathwayfortherealrevelations.

    130Anotherofthepracticalapplicationsofphilosophyistheinjunctiontowastenothing.Theusefulnessofanythingisentirelyamatterofrelativity.Thatwhichisuselesstoyouinacertainconnectionmaybecomeusefulinadifferentconnectionoratalatertime.Again,

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    itmaystillbeuselessevenwhenconsideredunderthesetwoaspectsbutyetitmaybemostusefultoanotherperson.Thereforeifthereissomethingyoudon'twanttokeep,giveitawaytosomeonewhoneedsit.Don'tthrowitawayanddestroyit.Youareonlyasteward.Ifyoutakeapurelypersonalstandpointorifyoulivemerelyforthepresentmoment,suchcounselmaymakenoappealtoyou.If,however,youhaverisentothephilosophicanduniversalstandpointandconsidereverythingnotmerelyrelativetoyourownegobutalsototheAll,thenyouwillseeyourresponsibilityinthismatter.Thisdoesnotmeanyouaretobecomemiserly.Onthecontraryyouaretobecomegenerous.ForinthelastcountingeverythingbelongstoMotherNature.Weareonlyherstewardsandourtaskistouseherpossessionswiselyandcooperatively.

    131Philosophytellsusthatitisthebusinessofeverybody,nationsaswellasindividuals,tolookbehindtheirsufferingsandthusascertainthecausesofwhichthesesufferingsaremerelyeffects.Ifmenwishtostartabetterandhappierlife,itisneedfulthattheyshouldunderstandthelessonsoftheirownpast.Ifthishappierexistenceistobeareality,itcannotcomeaboutunlesstheybreakinwardlyandoutwardlywiththispast.

    132Afullyripenedmindcomesmoreeasilyandmorenaturallyintothetruth.Thelaboursofreflectivethoughtjoinedtothestillnessofsuspendedthought,theemotionofreverentialworshipbalancedbytheindependenceofselfreliance,areonlydifferentaspectsoftheprocessofripening:thereareothers.Thelargeoutlookwhichfollowsminimizestheegoandpushesoutblocks.SlowlyorsuddenlytheSpiritisletin,fills,andtakesover.Consciousnessliterallycomesintoitsownitself.

    133Abraveinsistenceonfacinghisinarguableprejudgementswillberequiredofhim.

    134Thephilosophicethicsmustbeappliednotonlyinhiswellstudiedunderstandingbutalsointhedepthsofhispersonalrelations.

    135Theoldideawasthataspirituallymindedpersonshouldsportalongbeard,indulgeinasceticselfdenials,andbeportentouslysolemn.Thenewideaisthatheshouldkeephisspiritualmindednessbutbemorehuman,morelikeoneofourselves.

    136Philosophictrainingtriestoproduceinitsvotariesaloftypersonalcharacterandawidesocialoutlook.Itshamesnarrowattitudesandreleasesbeneficentfeelings.

    137Wemustseethingsintheirproperproportions.Thisiswhythephilosophicstudentmustconsiderallavailableaspectsofasituation,allsidesofaquestion,andboththepastcausesandfutureoutcomeofanevent.

    138Thereisadangertohispilgrimagetowardstruthifheletsafixedandfinalizedstatementofitbecomedominant.Itisthedangerofarrestedgrowth,orspiritualconstriction.

    139Theconflictwithhimself,withillwillandevilwill,withfalsethoughtandmistakenthought,canendonlywhenthequestitselfends.

    140

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    Sincemostpeoplecometothesamesubjectwithpersonalpreconceptions,theyleavewithdifferentconclusions!Onlythosewhohaveundergonethepurifyingdisciplineofphilosophyarelikelytohavethesameconclusions.

    141Thisfurtherimpliestheeliminatingofallprejudicesandthepurgingofallpreconceptionsfromone'soutlook.Themindmustbeopen,notattachedundulytoanything,notthevictimofcontemporaryexternalinfluences,buteverreadytoenquire.

    142Hemustnotbeafraidtodisparagehisownpastthoughtandwork,valuesandtechniques,ifneedbe.

    143"TheBuddhistdisciplineorexercise(yoga)asistoldbytheBuddhaconsistsoftwoparts,philosophicalandpractical.ThephilosophicaldisciplineistotrainthemindtoabsoluteidealismandseethattheworldisMind,andthatthereisinrealitynobecomingsuchasbirthanddeath,andthatnoexternalthingsreallyexistwhilethepracticalsideistoattainaninnerperceptionbymeansofsupremewisdom.TobegreatintheexercisethatmakesupBodhisattvahood(mahayagayogin)onehastobeanexpertinfourthings(threeofwhichareintellectualandthelastonepractical):1)toperceiveclearlythatthisvisibleworldisnomorethanMinditself2)toabandonthenotionthatbirth,abiding,andpassingawayreallytookplace3)tolookintothenatureofthingsexternalandrealizethattheyhavenoreality(abhava)4)totrainoneselftowardstherealizationofthetruthintheinmostconsciousnessbymeansofsupremewisdom."Suzuki'sLankavataraSutraStudies

    144Therearetruthsinthephilosophicdoctrinewhichman'sheartcannoteasily,oratfirst,accept.Thisisbecausetheyaredistasteful.Onlyaftersufficienteducationbyteacher,study,life,orreflectioncanhebringhimselftobelievewhathedoesnotlike.

    145Thehistoryofreligiousandmysticalideasshouldbeinvestigatedandstudiedfromanimpartialindependentstandpoint,withoutbiasfor,orprejudiceagainst,withenoughcriticalabilitytosiftfactsfromopinionyetwithenoughsympatheticinterestinthesubjecttocollectmaterialswidelyfromtimeandplace.Thisisnotworkforadrieduppedanticscholarwithoutinnerexperienceofhisown,norforagullibleexcitableenthusiast,norforaselflimitedcommittedscientist,norforatraditionbound,excessivelypastworshipping,antimodern,religioscholarmystic.Withthisworkshouldbeconjoinedacomparativestudyofthoseideas,whichrequiresnotonlyhistoricaltalentandlearningbutdeeperinnerknowledge,advancedandpersonalexperience,andskillincommunicatingthehigheryieldsofintellect,feeling,mysticalintuitioninshort,somephilosophicalequipment.Therewouldbenoplaceinsuchteachingforrigiddogma,nodivisioninto"official"monopolizedtruthandunenlightenedunblessedinvention,certainlynodenunciationofheresy.

    146IgnoramusesandblockheadsfinditeasyandpleasanttocriticizethebackwardnessanddarknessoftheMiddleAgesandtheperiodsofantiquity.Suchcriticismgivesthemthefeelingofbeingonasuperiorplanealtogether,ofhavingtruthwheretheseearlier,andconsequentlyunluckier,forebearshaderror.

    Ipersonallydonottakesuchasillyattitude.Icriticizethepastwithoutdenyingitspossessionofspiritualtreasures.Themodernstudentshouldreveretheteachersandstudy

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    theteachingsofantiquity.HewillhonourthelivesandtreasurethewordsofJesusandBuddha,KrishnaandConfucius,Muhammed,Plato,andPlotinusalike.Butheshouldnotconfinehimselftoanysingleoneofthemalonenorlimithimselfwithinanysingletraditionalfold.Hemustalsolifthimselfoutofthepastintothepresent.Hemustreservehisprincipalthought,time,andstrengthforlivingteachersandcontemporaryteaching.

    147Tobeunattachedisalsotobeunattachedintellectually,totakeupnointellectualpositionasagainstalltheothersandtorefusepartisanship,sectarianism,groupjoining,onesidedness,andexclusionofallotherideasandteachings.Byrefusingtojoinasectthecandidateforphilosophyrefusestoputhimselfinthepositionwhichregardsallthoseoutsidethesectasbeingtheunchosenrace.

    148Dr.Johnsonunderstoodthephilosophicalattituderightlywhenhesaidthatwehavebothtoenjoylifeandtoendurelife.

    149ThegreatsacrificewhicheveryaspirantiscalledontomakeisthesacrificeofthatignorancewhichseparateshimfromhisDivineSource.Thisignorancecannotberemovedbytheintellectalone,however,orbyYogaalone.

    150Thepleasantandpainfulvicissitudesofhumanlifearecommontoall,butacorrectviewpointregardingthemisnot.Sothephilosophicaldisciplineaimstoprovideit.

    151Hemustcomeonthisquestnotforafewyearsbutforallhislife.

    152Itisnecessaryforthestudenttomakeacombinedeffortofwill,analyticreflection,prayer,andstudytounderstandanddissolvetheobstaclescreatedbytheego.

    153Itisvitaltoseeclearlythedifferencebetweenteachingsthatspringfromandserveonlytheego,andthosethatspringfromandleadtotheOverself.

    154Therearenoinitiatoryrites,nodisciplinaryrulesandvows.

    155Ifyouaskwhatrealityis,inphilosophy'sview,theanswermustbeconsciousness.Ifyoufurtheraskwhatman'sworkinthislifeis,theanswermustbetobecomeconsciousofconsciousnessassuch.Butbecause,ordinarily,consciousnessneverdisclosesitselftohimbutonlyitsvaryingstates,hecanaccomplishthisworkonlybyadoptingextraordinarymeans.Hewillhavetosteelhisfeelingsandstillhismind.Inshort,hewillhavetodenyhimself.

    156Plutarchpointedoutthatifanybodycouldeasilyfulfiltheinjunction"Knowthyself,"itwouldnothavebeenconsideredadivineprecept.

    157Itssearchingandsearingtruthwilldrawoutallhisvanityandleavehimfeelingquitehollowinside.

    158

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    ThesecriticsofphilosophyshouldcloselyquestionthemselveswhethertherealreasonfortheirdislikeofitisthatithumiliatesthemintosecretlyacknowledgingtheirlackofthecouragetofollowthephilosophicQuest.

    159Nosinglepathwillsuffice.Allmustintertwinewitheachother,helpeachother,balanceandregulateeachother.Itisthetotalizedandequalizedeffortwhichcountsmost.

    160Lifeasksfromhimsomethingmorethanspiritualaspiration,morethanprayer,morethanmeditation.Heneedstoofferallthese,buthemustalsobeintelligentandpractical,kind,andcontrolled.

    161Wisdomliesincombiningthethreechiefyogas,notinseparatingthem.Forinstance,lowvitalitydoesnotpromotehighintelligencebutratherhindersit,hencesomephysicaldisciplinesareasneedfulasmentalones.Thethreeyogagroupsarenotonlynotantagonistictoeachotherbutactuallycomplementary.Whoeverignoresanysingleonecanmakeonlyonesidedprogress.

    162Apathwhichrequiressomuchfromthetravellerwillinevitablybeaslowerpaththanthereligiousandmysticalways.Butitwillalsobeasurerone.

    163Ifhemakesworshipapreparationformeditation,andifheaccompaniesinvestigationoftheinspiredtextsbyapplicationoftheknowledgegleanedifhejoinspurificationofhisbodytopurificationofhismindhemayexpecttogainabalancedstateofilluminationinreturnforthisbalancedapproach.

    164Hisspecialneedistouniteintellectualbreadthandemotionalbalancewiththisinnerattainment.

    165WehavedeeplyfelttheforceofEpictetus'outcry:"Showmeamanmodelledafterthedoctrinesthatareeveruponhislips.Sohelpme,HeavenIlongtoseeoneStoic!"Itisnotlesseasytopreachthantopractiseinourowntime.Buthereistheacidtestwhichwillrevealwhatisandwhatisnotpuregold.Onthebasisofsuchatest,mankindseemstocryinvainforasingleIlluminate.

    166Itispossiblebydepthofthoughtorbyperseveringovertheyearstosoimpregnatethemindwiththeseimplacabletruthsthatitautomaticallyreactsphilosophicallytoitsvariedexperiencesandsituations.

    167Thesetruthsmustbecomesovividinhismindthathecannothelpactinguponthem.

    168Thepromisesofreligionaremildeffortstoconsoleweakerpeople,buttherewardsofphilosophyaretruthsthathavetobeheroicallyborne.

    169Thebasisofthisphilosophicdisciplineisawelldevelopedreason,asoundcharacter,andacultivatedmysticalintuition.

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    170Notbyharshoutragesonthebodybutbythesimplegrowthofhighervaluethroughdeeperpenetrationofthetruth,isthephilosophicway."Thepuritywhichcomethfromknowledgeisthebest."saystheMahabharata.

    171Intheendheshouldseektogainconfirmationoftheteachingandpracticalknowledgeofitsworkingbyfirsthandpersonalexperience.Thisachievementispossible,butatthecostoflivingoutinactionwhathelearnsinthought.

    172Thepracticeofphilosophyisnoteasy,butitistheonlywaytogainitsadvantages.Whenittakesfirmrootindaytodaylife,experience,behaviour,andactivity,itstruthistestedandsurvives,solidlyconfirmed.

    173Wemustexaminecurrentconceptsoftheworldwiththegreatestcare,andthenhavethecouragetoacceptalltheconsequencesofsuchexamination.Wemustquestionlifeintheprofoundestpossiblemanner,neverhesitatingtoprobedeeperanddeeper,andtruthwillcomewhentheanswercomes.

    174Thequadrangleofreligiousdevotion,metaphysicalstudy,mysticalmeditation,andinspiredactionmakesthetoolforphilosophicwork.

    175Hisisnonarrowonesidedquest.Allthroughlifehewillbeseekingwisdomforhismind,goodwillforhisheart,andhealthforhisbody.

    176AlthoughitisnecessarytodifferentiatetheselinesofapproachtotheOverselfinthestudystageofgrowth,itwouldbewrongatanytimetoregardthemasbeingmutuallyexclusive.Actuallymetaphysicsandmysticismmust,atthelast,meetandintermingle.Fromthefirstthesensiblestudentwillperceivethisanduseeach,inturnaswellastogether,tobroadenhisoutlookandbalanceandunderstanding.

    177Philosophyattendstoeachsideofthisfivesidedcreaturemanandthusgiveshimatrainingthatisbroadenoughtomeetlife'sdemand.

    178Hehastotakethesubtlethoughtsofphilosophy,thedeepemotionsofreligion,thesensiblepracticalityofmodernism,andthewhisperingsofhisownintuitiontoformacompositesystematiccredo.

    179Ifheistotakeonthelabelofphilosopher,hewilltrytobearhistroubleswithfortitudeandendeavourtokeepholdofthegreateternaltruthsinsupportofit.

    180Thewayislongandhard.Itinvolvesdevelopingallthedifferentsidesofthepersonality.Prayerandmeditationleadtothecultivationofintuitionandaspirationandthese,atthesametime,mustbeaccompaniedbythestrengtheningofwill,plusstudyandreflection.Alleffortsshouldbemadesidebyside,sotospeak,toleadtoabalancedpsychethephilosophicideal.

    181

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    Thephilosophicapproachtoaproblemisfirsttolookatitandthentolookawayfromit.

    182Intheturmoilofdailyeventsitiseasytolosephilosophicperspective.Heshouldnotletthishappenbutinsteadstriveconstantlytogainsuchaperspective.

    183Withoutthisdisciplinetheywillbeunabletodistinguishtheauthenticcommunionwithaninspiringsourcefromtheirownpersonalthoughtsandfeelings.

    184Theegoissoboundupwiththethoughtshismindproducesandhisintuitionyields,withtheexperiencehismeditationpracticeandprayerfulworshipinvoke,thatitismostessentialforhimtoundergoacourseofpurificatorydisciplinetoobtainegofreeresults.

    185Howsuccessfullyheperceivesthetruthwilldependpartlyonhowsuccessfullyheovercomesthelimitationsandescapestheassociationsofhisownpersonality.

    186Itis,inasense,onelongexperienceofbecomingimpervioustodesires,ambitions,and,lastofall,eventoaspirationsforgrowth.Itisadyingtothelesser,personalselfasoneawakensandsurrenderstothegreaterOverSelf.

    187Hedividesintotwopersons,theonlookerandtheplayer,afeatbeyondordinarycapacityandpossibleonlywhenthephilosophicquesthastrainedmindandreeducatedfeeling.

    188If,assomethink,thephilosophicwayoflifeisahardone,itstillremainstherightone.Allotherwaysaremerecompromises,justconcessionstohumanweakness.

    189Thephilosophicallymindedstudentthinksclearlyinadvanceoftheprobableconsequencesbothgoodandbadofacontemplatedlineofaction.Forhedoesnotwanttowalkblindlyornegligentlyorrashly.

    190Theslowgradualenlightenmentofviewswillfinishhisdevelopment.

    191Firsthebelievesinitvaguely,thenheunderstandsitprecisely,nexthepractisesitdaily,andintheendhebecomesonewithitutterly.

    192Atimecomeswhentheseekerissothoroughlypenetratedwithphilosophicidealsthatthehigherlifewillbecometheeverydaylife.

    193Theinitiationintowisdomifitistobelastingisnotsuddenlygivenbyanymasteritisslowlygrownbytheexperiencesandreflectionoflife.Thoughtisgraduallyconvertedintohabit,andhabitisgraduallymergedintohighcharacter.Thephilosophicattitude,ifitistobegenuine,willpassintothestudent'snervesandmovehismuscles.

    194Ifhecannotbyhisnaturalpowerachievethis,hecanatleastpreparehimselfforitandawaitthegrantofgrace.

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    Wholeness,completeness,integrality

    195Whentheprincipleoftruedevelopmentisunderstood,itwillbeseenthatnosideofhumannatureisreallyhostiletoanyoftheothersandthatallsidesarecomplementarypartners.

    196Thephilosophicgoalistobespirituallyawareinallpartsofthepsyche,withthecompletelifeasthefinalresult.Togiveone'slifeaphilosophicalbasisistogiveitthequalityofimpregnablestability.Togiveone'sknowledgeaphilosophicalfoundationistogiveitthequalityofintellectualsoundness.Toconfineattentionexclusivelytosomeparticularaspectoftruth,ignoringtheotheraspectswhichbalanceorcompleteit,canonlyleadtoamisleadingresult.Thattheapproachisdifferentbutthegoalisthesamemaybequitetrueofallordinarysystemsofreligionandmysticism.Itisnotquitetrueofphilosophy.Heretheapproachismanysidedwhilethegoalisintegral.

    197Itisnotenoughtocleartheegoistic,passional,andemotionalcolouringsfromthepsyche.Ifheseesthetruthfromaverylimitedpointofview,hewillstillfailtoreceiveortransmititrightly.Thereforethepsyche'sdifferentsidesmustbefullydeveloped:histhinkingcapacity,intuitionalreceptivity,emotionalsensitivity,andactivewillmustthemselvesbebroughttoanadequatedegreebeforehisviewoftruthwillbeadequateenough.

    198Eachpartofthehumanpsychefulfilsaseparateandnecessaryfunction.Noneisasubstitutefororarivaltoanyoftheothersitdoesnotdisplacebutonlycomplementsthem.Eachhasitsownspecialworkwhichcouldnotbedonebythem.Afullviewoftruthcallsforafulltechnique.Onlyphilosophyprovidesforit.

    199Forhehastoregeneratethewholeofhisnature,andnotmerelyonesideofit,ifheisnotonlytoperceivethewholetruthbutalsotoperceiveitunspoiledandundisturbed.

    200Thepathisfourfoldandnotthreefold.Foritconsistsof(1)thedevelopmentofintelligencethroughbothconcreteandabstractreasoning,(2)thedevelopmentofmysticalconsciousnessthroughcultivationofintuitionandpracticeofmeditation,(3)thereeducationofmoralcharacter,(4)practicalservice.

    201Thefourfoldpathcallsforaction,intuition,devotion,andknowledge.

    202Heshouldseektodeveloponallfoursidesofhisnaturetheintellectual,theemotional,thepractical,andtheintuitional.Theentireendeavourshouldbedirectedtowardsdiscoveringhisweaknessesofcharacterandremedyingthem,strengtheninghiscapacitytothinkabstractlyandmetaphysically,refiningandennoblinghisfeelings,discipliningandunderstandinghispassions,cultivatingandrespondingtohisintuitions.Thusthephilosophicquestisanintegralone.Itaimsatatotalilluminationofthemindandtransformationofthecharacter.

    203

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    Philosophydemandssocompleteatrainingonlybecauseitofferssoperfectagoal.

    204Thesmoothlyroundedsymmetryofthisfourfolddevelopmentmakesnotonlyforthefullestacceptanceoftruthbutalsoforthematurestkindofliving.Becausephilosophyconsidersandimprovesthehumanpersonalityasawhole,itisnothinglessthaninspiredpracticality.Thereisindeednonewsituationwhichitcannotmeetandnegotiateforthebest,nooldoneforwhichithasfailedtoofferguidanceandinwhichithasfailedtogivesupport.

    205Inleadingmentowardahigherlifeandatruerworldview,itisasjustifiabletocajoletheirfeelingsasitistoconvincetheirreasonitisasrighttostimulateinthemthewarmaspirationofamysticaldevoteeasitistohardenthecoldprecisionofametaphysicalscholaritisasneedfultoinspirethemtocompassionateserviceasitistoexalttheirmoraloutlook.Alltheseareneededforanadequateresult.Allthesequalitiesareanecessityforafullerandbetterpoisedlife.Eachsupplementstheothersandsupplieswhatthey,byreasonoftheirownnatureandlimitations,cannotsupply.Alltheseseparatethingscantakeanaspirantsomewayalongthequest,butnonewilltakehimalltheway.Mosteffortsareaimedonlyatoneortheother,fortheyoftencontradicteachother,whereasphilosophynotonlyaimsatalltogetherbutalsoseekstoachievesomethingmore.Forontheonehanditseekstounfoldthetranscendentfacultyofinsightandontheotheritseekstotestallitsteachingsagainsttheoppositionofactualexperienceintheactiveworld.

    206Ifthechangeincharacterandoutlook,understandingandconductistobeadeepandlastingone,thenitwillhavetoproceedoutofallsidesofaman'snature,outofhisthinkingandfeeling,experienceandintuition,studyandbeliefwhichmeansthatitmustproceedoutoftheknowledgeandpracticeofphilosophy.Hischangemustbebasedonrationalideasaswellasemotionalmovements,onpracticalresultsaswellastheoreticalformulations,ontheexperiencesofothermenaswellashisown.

    207Wehavetobringthecosmicexperiencetothelivinghumanorganismasawhole,notmerelytojustapartofit.Formanisaunityandcanfulfilhishigherpurposeonlyashedoessowithallhisbeinganddoesnottrytoseparateitintoparts.

    208Itmaysurprisepeopletolearnthatwholenessisaspiritualquality,thatallpartsofthemanmustreceiveandshareinthelight.

    209Henotonlyhastoreceivethisilluminationinallthepartsofhisbeingratherthananyonepart,butalsotoreceiveitequally.Itistheobstructionarisingintheundevelopedorunpurifiedpartswhichisthefurthercauseofhisinabilitytosustaintheillumination.

    210Wemustbringourwholepersonalitytothisquestandnotmerelyapartofit.Allsidesarevaluabletoeachother,henceallareneededbyourselvesandallmustbeembraced.Therichfullnessofphilosophiclifeappreciatesbeauty,aspirestoknowledge,activatesthewill,issuffusedbyfeeling,andcultivatesintuition.Alltheseactivitiesemotional,mental,physical,mystical,metaphysical,andethicalaretobeinseparablyconsolidatedinoneandthesamecharacter.TheremustbeatotalresponseofourtotalnaturetothiscallfromtheOverself.Foritisnotsomethingwhichcanpenetrateourreasoningalone,forexample,andleavetherestofourbeingcold.Thequestcannotbelimitedtoany

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    singlewayalone.Itmustbewideenoughandcomprehensiveenoughtoenableustothrowalltheforcesofourbeingintosuchasupremeenterprise.Howfaristhisgenerousidealfromthenarrowidealofasceticism!

    211Thatmanistrulycivilizedwhohasunfoldedthepossibilitiesofhisphysicalnatureandhisspiritualnatureboth,whohasrefinedhisfeelingsandtastesanddevelopedhisthoughtandintelligence,whorejectsthesterilityofasceticlivingstandardsbasedonpovertybutwelcomesthoseofaestheticandfunctionalvaluebasedonbeautyandcomfort.

    212Thatthegoalisnothingshortofcompletenessiswhatsofewunderstandorwant,foritdemandsmorefromthemthanthegoalofmerelyexperiencingpleasantfeelings.Itdemandsthewholeman.

    213Makewholenessathemeforyourthoughtsandmeditations,afocusforyourstudiesandaspirations.

    214Whenallpartsofhispsycheconcurinanattitude,wheneachfunctionorfacultyiscoordinatedwiththeothersinthereceptionanddeliveranceoftruth,thentherewillbeharmonyandunitywithinhisinnerbeingandouterlife.

    215Yes,weneedtoknowthetruth,todiscoverwhatisintheworldaroundusandinlifewithinus,butwealsoneedtofeelandintuititbyexperience.Thiscomingtogethermakesforitsrealization.

    216Thefoursidesofthepyramidofbeingthinking,feeling,doing,andintuitingmustbedrawntogether,properlydeveloped,andheldtogetherinproperbalance.Theinclinationtofragmenttheselfistheinclinationtofollowtheeasiestpath,nottheneededpath.Thewholepersonneedsbothdevelopingandbalancingpartofitcannotbeleftsafelyinneglectwhiletheotherpartisintensivelycultivated.

    Thephilosophicgoalistobespirituallyawareinallpartsofthepsyche,withthecompletelifeasthefinalresult.Theaspirantmustengagethewholeofhispersonintheworkofselfillumination,andnotmerelyapartofit.Ifonlyapieceofitisactiveinthiswork,onlyapiececangetilluminedorinspired.Evenmeditationitselfsoimportantfortheawakeningofintuitionisonlyapart,andalimitedpart,oftheQuest.Wholenessmustbetheideal,ifthewholeoftheOverself'slightistobebroughtforthandshonedownintoeveryday'sliving,thinking,feeling,andbeing.Anythinglessyieldsalesserresult.Andifthewholeisnotheldproperly,isunbalanced,ityieldsadistortedresult.

    217TheteachingthattheQuestcannotandshouldnotbeseparatedfromlifeintheworldisasoundone.Therefore,itispartofphilosophyandisnotsomeeccentricenterprisetobeundertakenbythosewhowishtoescapefromtheworld,orwho,beingunabletoescape,considerthemselvesasbelongingtoaclassapartfromothersintheirenvironmentsuperiortothem,differentfromthem,andholierthanthem.TheyalsocometoconsidertheQuestasanartificialsystemofliving,devoidofspontaneityandnaturalnesssomethingtobelabouredatbymakingthemselvesabnormalandinhuman.Oneoftheconsequencesofthisattitudeisthattheytendtooverlooktheireverydayresponsibilitiesandthusgetintodifficulties.Philosophyhasconsistentlyopposedthistendency.

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    Unfortunately,inthereactionfromit,therehasarisenafreshconfusioninthemindsofanothergroupofstudentswhodonotunderstandthebeautifulandadequatebalancewhichtruephilosophyadvocates.Thesestudents,swayedbysuchteachersasKrishnamurti,becomesoenthusedbythenotionofmakingspiritualprogressthroughlearningfromexperiencesandactionalonethattheyfollowKrishnamurti'sadviceandthrowawayprayer,meditation,andmoralstriving,aswellasstudyunderpersonalteachers.Thislimitsthemtoaonesidedprogressandthereforeanunbalancedone.TotaltruthcanonlybegotbyatotalapproachasLightonthePathpointsout,eachoftheseformsofapproachisbutoneofthestepsandallstepsareneededtoreachthegoal.

    Thewholeofhisbeingmustbeinvolvedintheeffortifthewholeoftruthistobefound.Otherwisetheresultwillbeemotionalalone,orintellectualalone,oradulteratedwithegoisticideasandfeelings.

    218Itisnotenoughtobeaphilosopherbecausethemindseestheteachingistruetheheartalsomustbeengagedinthematterandloveit.Norarethesetwoenough.Thewholepersonmustbeliftedupalsointoitandhimselfexperiencethetruth.

    219Itentersintothefullnessofphilosophyonlywhenitisfeltintheheart,understoodinthemind,intuitedinthesoul,absorbedbythestillness,andactualizedintheworld.

    220Bodyandminddependupononeanother,actupononeanother.Thedualismwhichwouldseparatethementirely,whichwouldevenputthemagainsteachotherasantagonists,iserroneous.Thebiologicalviewofman,thepsychologicalview,andthespiritualviewofmanarecomplementary.

    221Itisnotenoughtobeagoodperson.Onemustalsobeawiseperson.Itisinsufficienttobeselfdisciplined.Oneshouldalsobeselfillumined.

    222Wemustbeabletoreasonremorselesslywithoutbecomingimprisonedinreason,becausewemustdojusticetoeverypartofourbeingbutonlyasapartofthewholemustwedojusticetotheintellect.

    223Thosewhoassertthatinnerspiritualchangecancomeonlyfromouterphysicalchangeandthosewhoasserttheoppositearebothalikeextremistsandfanatics.Thetwoproceduresareneededtogetherandshouldaccompanyeachother.

    224HewillbeabletomanifestmoreoftheDivinewhenheisdevelopedtothepointofbeingcompleteinhimselfthanwhenheisnot.

    225Thereisnootherwayformantogrowinhisfullnessthanthewaywhichcoversthewholeofhumanlifeandusesthewholeofhumanfaculty.Thereisnootherwaytomakehimselffitforthenextstageofevolution,whichwillmakehimmorethanman.

    226Thefoolishmanactsatrandomtheintellectualmanplaysoffhisreasonsagainsteachotherandsomayfindhispowertodecideparalysedtheemotionalmanrejectseveryguideexceptpersonalfeelingthephilosophicmanusesreason,feeling,andintuition

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    alike.

    227Allsidesofthepsychearesointertwinedthatonlyanintegraldevelopmentwillbeenough.Abalancedmindcannotbegotunlesstheethicofrenunciationhasbeenaccepted,forinstance,forthevicissitudesoffortunebringdisturbingemotionsintheirwake.

    228Notaonesided,notevenamanysided,butonlyanallsidedprogresswillsuitphilosophy.

    229Whenthelightoftruthentersitwillthenshineintoallpartsofhisbeing,notintotheintellectalone.Itthusbecomesalivingpower,notmerelysomethingtobetalkedorwrittenabout.

    230Theextraordinarycompletenessofphilosophy,thefusionandequilibriumofbeinganddoing,thinkingandfeeling,introvertedstillnessandextrovertedliving,egolessnessandegoity,makeitrareandprecious.

    231Thus,strivingandstudying,prayingandwilling,meditatingandaspiring,heusesalltheselftoreachtotheAllSelf.

    232Thelogicalmindcantakehimonlypartoftheway.Theimaginativemindcantakehimwheretheothercannot.Ifheleavesouteitherthefirstorthesecond,hewillsufferloss.

    233Ifwearetocometotruthatall,wemustcometoitwithallourbeing,notwithahalforaquarterofourbeing.

    234Ifheistobemadewhole,hiseverydaypersonalitymustputitselfintoperfectharmonywith,andundertheruleof,hissuperpersonalOverself.

    235Itmaynotbepossibleformanypersonstoachievesuchwholenessaltogether,butasfarasitispossibleitshouldcertainlybesought.

    236Specializationinthesearchafterknowledgeleadsinevitablytoanunbalancedpictureofthewhole.Theexpertusuallyknowsmoreaboutonesinglethingbutlessabouteverythingelse.Helosestheartofputtingallthesebitsofknowledgetogetherinajustandundistortedway.

    237ReligionadoresGodfromadistance,mysticismfeelsGod'sraywithinitself,metaphysicsknowsthecertitudeofGod'sexistenceonlyintheintellect.PhilosophyalonemakesamanysidedapproachtoGod.

    238Anidealismwhichissincerebutnaveandadetachmentwhichisearnestbutfrigidarenotenough.

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    239Hismindcannoteasilytakeholdofthemanysidednessoftruthinitsentirety.Yetonlybysodoingcanhebringitsseemingcontradictionstogetherandreconcilethem.

    240Thewholeselfmustseektruthifthewholetruthistobefound.

    241Noonefacultyofhumannatureisthewholeofit.Thebody'swills,theheart'sfeeling,theintellect'sreasoning,andthesoul'sintuitingmustallbeconsideredandbroughtintoplay.

    242Iftheinnerlifeiscultivatedinpartofone'sbeingonly,theilluminationwhenitcomeswilllightthatpartonly.Butiftheintellectworshipsaswellasthinksandiftheemotionsmovewithit,bothdeveloptogetherinwholeness.

    243Atotalefforttopurifyallareasisneededifthereistobeatotalremovaloftheblockages,thecompulsions,thedistortionsandthesuperstitionsratherthanatemporarysuppressionofthem.

    244ThesatisfactionofonepartofhisnaturemaybesufficientforhimbutitisnotsufficientforLife.Soonerorlaterinthisorinanotherbirth,hewillhavetonurturewhathasbeenneglected.

    245Philosophyisnotlimitedtoworkinmeditation,althoughthatisperhapsitsmostnotabledramaticform.Itisalsoappliedintheareaofeverydaylivingroutinesandrelationships.Itisalsoactiveinworkoncharacter,emotions,andattitudes.Ittakesinthebodyanditsdiet.

    246Torecognizethatthepathsdownwhichtheegohasledhimareillusoryisadmirableandnecessary,butitisonlyafirststep.Itwillnotstophimfromcontinuingtogodownthemunlesshehasacquiredsomethingmorethanhismerelyintellectualknowledge.Otherthingsareequallyindispensabletocompletehisapproach.

    247WhattheChinesevividlycall"walkingonbothlegs"thatis,joiningandusingtwoormoreofourfacultiesinsteadofasingleoneavoidsnarrowmindednessandleadstobetterresults.

    248Ifthetruthissoughtforwitheveryfacultyofaman'sbeing,itsilluminationwhenfoundwillentereveryfacultytoo.

    249IfhebringsonlyapartofhisegointotheQuest,thenonlyapartofitwillbecomeenlightenedandonlyapartofhisactivitieswillshowtheeffectsofenlightenment.

    250Ifactiveintelligencewillstophimfrommakingonekindofblunder,activeintuitionwillsavehimfromadifferentkind.Hecannotaffordtoneglectanypartofhispsyche.Theremustbeanintegralandtotaldevelopmentofit.

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    251Wemustfindtruthwithourintellectandfeelitwithouremotion,surrendertoitwithourintuitionandapplyitwithourwill.

    252Iftheilluminationistocompleteitself,itmustbepassedthroughtheintellectaswellastheemotions,thewillaswellastheimagination,untilitlivesineverypartofhisbeing.

    253Somanyseekersfindalittlecalmfromtheirmeditation,butquitesoonwhentheyarebackintheworld'sturmoiltheyloseitagain.Thisisinevitableiftheydependontheshortmeditationsalone,whichisasmuchasmostWesternerscanperform.If,however,theywouldsupporttheseattemptswiththecultivationofthehigherknowledgewhichphilosophyofferstheywouldbelesslikelytolosethosecalmmoods.

    254OnemustnotbeprematureindemandingfinalunionwiththeOverself.Thatcomesonlyafteryearsofallrounddevelopment.Onemustfirstpreparehimselfinwardlytoreceiveitonlythenmayheexpecttheultimateunion.Thispreparationaffectsthewholepersonalityintellect,emotion,will,andintuition.

    255Becausehiswholenatureisinvolvedinthesearchfortruth,itishiswholenaturethatintheendfindsandreceivesit.Consequentlyhegainsacertitude,asuretythatiscomplete,unshakeable,andstable.

    256Plato'steachingthatthethreegreatidealsoftruthvirtueandbeautyarereflecteddowntoandthroughalllevelsofexistencehoweverobscuredanddiminishedandfeeblertheybecomewitheachdescentisoneofthegrandestofferingsoftheWesternworld.

    257Whendevotionstandsonknowledge,itstandsonarockwhichnothingandnobodycanmove,norhardshipsweaken.

    258Wemayyieldintellectualassentandyetremainemotionallyunconvinced,justaswemayyieldemotionalassentandyetremainintellectuallyunconvinced.Philosophyharmonizesboththesesidesofournatureandthusdissolvesthedisharmony.

    259Theardourofhisdevotionandthefervourofhisaspirationwillnotbelessenedbecausehehasbeguntogetridofhismetaphysicalpovertyandsocialsterility.Onthecontrary,theywillbesupportedbytheoneeffortandconfirmedbytheother.

    260Faithmaycarryamanthroughcrisesbutfaithplusknowledgewillcarryhimallthebetter.

    261Hisloyaltytotheteachingmustpenetratethroughallthelevelsofthoughtandfeelingandfaith.

    262Theworkofselfintegrationisthetakingupofthewholephysicalandemotionalandintellectualnatureintotheintuitivehigherone.

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    263Theproperwaytosolvehisproblemsistobringtobearuponthemnotonlyallthathisownexperienceandreasonandotherpersons'counselandknowledgecancommand,butalsoalltheintuitiveleadinghecanobtainfromanegofreedheartandathoughtquietedmind.Thisisthetotalapproachtothem.

    264Abalanceddevelopmentwillnotstimulatetheintellectandstarvethefeelings,nordotheopposite.Itwillgivetheintuitionthehighestplace,makingittherulerofreason,thecheckonemotion.

    265Thethinking,feelingandwillingfacultiesofhumannaturehavetobedevelopedandrefinedbeforetheycangivesomemeasureofthehighersatisfactionandhappinessbutbythemselvesandlefttotheircompetingselvestheycannotgivethefullmeasureandperfectqualityofthesetwinrewards.Theyneedtobeintegratedtobebroughtharmoniouslytogether,putintheirproperplaceandruledbyanotherfacultyoperatingonalevelabovethem.Suchaoneistheintuition.

    266Itisneedfulonthephilosophicpaththatheunderstandaswellasfeel.Butifnowhebeginstotrytounderstandthiswonderfulconsciousnesswithhisthinkingintellectalone,hewillnecessarilylimitit.Theefforttocomprehendwhichheiscalledupontomakemustthereforebemuchmoreanintuitiveone.

    267Thus,andthusalone,canamanbecomeentireandintegrated,usingallhisnatureandallhisbeingforthemostdesiredanddesirableend.

    268Toisolatesomedetailandmakeitawholeuntoitselfisalwaysimprudentbutitwouldbemuchlesssointhiscaseifitweretheintuition.

    Balance

    269Theprincipleofbalanceisoneofthemostimportantofphilosophicprinciples.

    270Balancehasauniqueplace,foritisnotonlyneededasaqualificationtobecultivatedbutalsoasaregulatorofalltheotherqualifications.Thisisbecauseitisaneffectofwhichtheactivityofintuitionisacause.Thoughts,feelings,andactionswhichareinalignmentwithintuitivedirectionarebalancedinnature,whereasthosewhicharenotareunbalancedones.Intheuniversewefindbalancepresentwiththesameuniquenessattachedtoit.FornotonlydoesitappearthereastheLawofRecompensetobalanceallactionswithreactionsbutalsoastheMoralLawinthehumanentitytobalancehisrightdeedswithsatisfyingresultsandhiswrongoneswithpainfulresults.

    271Thephilosophiclifeisessentiallyabalancedone.ThereforeitiscondemnedbyextremeWesternmaterialists,whowouldextroverthumanenergiesforsensuousends,andbyextremeEasternmystics,whowouldintrovertthemforsupersensuousends.Itdoesnotarriveatitsbalancebycompromisingthesetwoviewsbutbycombiningthem.

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    272Allthatisneedfultoaman'shappinessmustcomefromboththesesourcesthespiritualandthephysicalfromtheabilitytorestinthestillcentre,inthedevelopedintellectualandaestheticnatures,inthegoodhealthandvigourofthebody.

    273Intheworldoftodaytherearesignsofmentaldisorderandemotionalupseteverywhere.Intheworldofmysticandoccultstudiestherearesimilarsigns,althoughofadifferentkind.Inthepostbagofawriterwhosesubjectbordersthefringeofthesesubjectsthereisalsoampleevidencefortheexistenceofsuchmaladies.Peopleshouldfirstfreethemselvestoasufficientextentandrecovertheirsanitybeforetheygetimmersedinideaswhichwillonlyaggravatethismalady.Whenwecometotheworldofstudentsofphilosophy,insanitydisappearsbecauseitisasubjectwhichregardsthesage,thefullydevelopedphilosopher,asthesanestofmenbecauseheisthebestbalancedofmen.Wemayperhapsfindapercentageofdreamersamongthem,asthemetaphysicalflightsandsubtleanalyseswhichitcallsformayliftthemalittletoohighabovepracticalconcernsbutphilosophyisautomaticallyselfadjustingandsoonbringsthemdownagaintotheseconcerns,whereastheothersubjects,themysticandtheoccult,leavethemupthereinhazycloudswhere,iftheyarenotcareful,theymaylosetheirbearings.

    274Thequestdoesnotstopwithyoga.Wehavealsotoachieveawisebalancebetweenfeelingforinnerpeaceandthinkingforultimatetruth.ReasonmustbecultivatedbecausewehavenotonlytofeelthepresenceofGodbutalsotodiscerntruefromfalsegodsthatis,truefromfalseideasofGod.

    275Clearthinkinghasnothingtofearfromawarmheart,solongasthetwocooperatebutdonotmeltintooneanother,solongastheywalkhandinhandanddonottumbleovereachother,forsolongcanwecallupontheirhelpwithequalfreedom.Ourpersonalproblemscannotbesolvedbyslushysentimentsalonebutneithercantheybesatisfactorilyadjustedbysteelylogicaloneweneedabalancedwisdomindealingwiththem.Onlysuchawisdomcanbestexplaintheseproblemsandexplodeourdelusionsaboutthem.

    276Thereasonedthoughtsofmanmustbeconfrontedbythedelicatefeelingsofman,balancedandmingledtoproduceabetterpersonthaneitheralonewouldproduce.

    277Evenourunderstandingofbalancehastobecorrected.Itisnot,forphilosophicpurposes,themeanpointbetweentwoextremesbutthecompensatoryunionoftwoqualitiesorelementsthatneedoneanother.

    278Therequiredconditionofbalanceasthepriceofilluminationrefersalsotocorrectingthelopsidednessoflettingtheconsciousegodirectthewholemanwhileresistingthesuperconsciousspiritualforces.Inotherwords,balanceisdemandedbetweentheintellectwhichseeksdeliberatecontrolofthepsycheandtheintuitionwhichmustbeinvitedbypassivityandallowedtomanifestinspontaneity.Whenamanhastrainedhimselftoturnequallyfromthedesiretopossesstotheaspirationtobeingpossessed,whenhecanpassfromthesolelypersonalattitudetotheonebeyondit,whenthewilltomanagehisbeingandhislifeforhimselfandbyhimselfiscompensatedbythewillingnesstolethimselfandhislifebequiescent,thenhisbeingandhislifeareworkeduponbyhigherforces.Thisisthekindofbalanceandcompletenesswhichthephilosophicdisciplinemustlead

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    tosothatthephilosophicilluminationmaygivehimhissecondbirth.

    279Thebasisoftheuniverseisitsequilibrium.Onlysocantheplanetsrevolveinharmonyandwithoutcollision.ThemanwhowouldlikewiseputhimselfintunewithNature,God,mustestablishequilibriumasthebasisofhisownnature.

    280Itismostimportanttogetridofanunbalancedcondition.Mostpeopleareinsuchaconditionalthoughfewknowit.Forexample,intellectualitywithoutspiritualityishumanparalysis.Spiritualitywithoutintellectualityismentalparalysis.Nomanshouldsubmittosuchsuicidalconditions.Allmenshouldseekandachieveintegrality.Tobewrappedupinasinglesideoflifeortobeoveractiveinasingledirectionendsbymakingamanmildlyinsaneinthetrueandnottechnicalsenseofthisword.Theremedyistotonedownhereandbuildupthere,tocultivatetheneglectedsides,andespeciallytocultivatetheoppositeside.Admittedly,itisextremelydifficultformostofus,circumstancedasweusuallyare,toachieveaperfectdevelopmentandequalbalanceofallthesides.Butthisisnoexcuseforacceptingconditionscompletelyastheyareandmakingnoeffortatalltoremedythem.Thedifficultyformanyaspirantsinattainingsuchanadmirablybalancedcharacterliesintheirtendencytobeobsessedbyaparticulartechniquewhichtheyfollowedinformerbirthsbutwhichcannotbyitselfmeettheverydifferentconditionsoftoday.Wemustcounterbalancethehabitoflivingonlyinapartofourbeing.Whenwehavebecomeharmoniouslybalancedinthephilosophicsense,heartandheadwillworktogethertoanswerthesamequestion,theunhurryingsenseofeternityandthepressingurgeofthehourwillcombinetomakedecisionsaswiseastheyarepractical,andthetranscendentalintuitionswillsuggestorconfirmtheworkingsofreason.Inthiscompletedintegrallife,thoughtandaction,devotionandknowledgedonotwrestleagainsteachotherbutbecomeone.Suchisthetriunequestofintelligence,aspiration,andaction.

    281Itisnotonlybalanceinsidetheegoitselfthatistobesought,notonlybetweenreasonandemotion,thoughtandaction,butalsoandmuchmoreimportant,outsidetheego:betweenitandtheOverself.

    282Butitisnotenoughthatallthesevariedelementsofhisbeingshouldbeharmonizedandbalanced.Itisalsoneedfulthattheyshouldbebalanceduponaspiritualcentreofgravity.

    283Awellbalancedpersonisnotnecessarilyonewhotakesthemeasuredmidpointbetweentwoextremesbutonewholetshimselfbetakenoverbytheinnercalm.Theneededadjustmentisthenmadebyitself.Althoughthisavoidshisfallingintolopsidedactsorexaggeratedviews,amerelymoderatecharacterisnotthebestresult.Moreimportantisthesurrendertothehigherpowerwhichisimplicitinthewholeprocessofbecomingtrulybalanced.

    284Balanceistheperfectcontrolandmutualharmonyofthought,feeling,andaction.

    285Sanctityneedsthebalanceofsanity.

    286Greece'sgreatestcontributiontothequestwastheideaofBalance.Thosewholackit,lackthepropercapacitytoreceivetruthasitis.Andamongthemthosewhoarenarrow

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    andfanatical,whomakeaspecialclaimtosupremacyfortheirway,cult,ordoctrine,endbybecomingthevictimsoftheirownexaggeration.Asingleglimpseisannouncedasapermanentilluminationaperceptionofmetaphysicaltruthisannouncedastotalillumination.

    287Whatmostmodernseekersneedistoattainequilibriuminthemselvesandtoachieveharmonyintheirlives.Fromthefirst,theywillbeabletoenjoyinnerpeacefromthesecond,outerpeace.

    288Therearetwopolesinallactivity.Togetatruepictureoflifebothmustberecognized,andneitherdenied.Butsincethesepolesareoppositeextremes,itisanunfortunatehumantendencypreciselytodenyoneortheother.

    289Toavoidthisimbalance,lookforbothpolesineachcaseandestablishthem.Donotbesatisfiedwithaonesidedviewwhichexcludesallothers,norwithsectariansmugnesswhichknowsonlyonewaytoliverightlyitsown.

    290Littlemindsaredismayedorbaffledbythistruth.Theywouldliketheuniversetobearasingleface,andlifetohaveasingledirection.Butthenthegrowthforwhichtheyareherewouldnotbepossible.Largermindsaregivenenoughvisiontoreconcilethecontradictionsandtowritetheopposites.Theyseelifewhole,notinfragments.

    291Thefanatics,theextremists,theexclusivists,andtheintolerantneverfindtruth.Thisisinpartbecausetheypersistentlyrejectthepolewhichopposestheoneonwhichtheyhavetakentheirstand.Theyrefusetoseethatitisneededtodojustice,tocompletethepicture,andtoexplainthetensionbetweenboth.Itisneededtogiveadeeperandclearerviewoftheirownexperience.Thisiswhyphilosophyteachestheneedandvalueofachievingbalancebetweenopposites.

    292Howshallapersonbalancehimself?Thewordmeansalotmorethanitsseemingsimplicitysuggests.Hecanstartbynotlettinganyonepartofhimselfcarrythewholepersonaway,offhisfeet.Butbalanceisnotonlyamatterofmakingnatureandcharacter,activityandliving,betterproportioned.Itisalsoamatterofmentalcalm,bywhoselightpropervaluesmaybeseenandeachthingputwhereitoughttobe.Thephilosopher'sbodyconsciousness,forinstance,ispartofhiswholeconsciousnessandnownolongerfillsallthespace.Itiswhereitbelongs,initsownplace.

    293Heshouldcultivatethoseaspectsofhispsychewhichneedfurtherstatureandheshoulddeliberatelyneglectthosewhichhavealreadybeenovercultivated.Inthiswayhewillbringaboutabetterequilibrium,asounderharmonywithinhisownbeing.

    294ThevirtueofthisbalancedapproachshowsitselfineverydepartmentoftheQuest.Forinstance,intherelationshipbetweendiscipleandmaster,hewillavoidtheonesidedemphasisuponthelatter'spersonalitywhichcertaincirclesintheOrientandOccidentfosterthroughtheirownimmaturity.

    295Oneofthechiefsymbolsofthislawofbalanceisthecross.

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    296Amanisabletobalanceapairofscalesifheholdsthemattheircentre.Heisabletobalancethevarioushumanfunctionsifhefindshistruecentre.Fromthatpointhecanseewhereonehasbeenneglectedandwhereanotherhasbeenoverused.Fromthatsourcehecangetthestrengthandguidancetomakethenecessaryadjustments.

    297Heoughtnottobecomesosaturatedwithhismetaphysicalstudiesorsostrainedbyhismysticalcontemplationsthateverythingelse,andespeciallyeverythinghuman,haslostinterestforhim.Whenthishappens,whenheisnolongercapableofenjoyinghimself,orrelaxing,hismentalequilibriumisupset.

    298Wisdomrequiresbalanceandhencethewisemanrejectsextremesandreconcilesopposites.

    299Thephilosopherseekstoattainaproperequilibriumwhichwillenablehimtomovewithintheworldofturmoil,conflict,egocentricmen,andmaterialisticaimsandyetkeepincontinuouscontactwiththeconsciousnessofhisOverself.

    300Inthesenseofproportion,balance,andmeasurewefindagiftfromphilosophy,asalsoapathtophilosophy.

    301Ifaseekerlackssufficientpracticalexperience,hemustlearnto"do"moreandto"dream"lessifheishighlyintuitiveandidealistic,hemustlearnalsotobephysicallyactiveandconstructiveinadowntoearthfashion.

    302Ihaveofteninsistedontheneedofkeepingthepersonalitytoawellbalancedform.Thisinsistencearisesprincipallyoutofthenatureoftruephilosophyitself.Itmustbelived.Butitalsoarisesoutoftheneedforselfprotectionagainsttheperilswhichopposethequest:internally,thewanderingsoffancyintohallucinationandtheselfengrossmentwhichbreedsneuroticismexternally,thenegativepassionsandblindmaterialismofadeterioratingsociety.

    303Ametaphysicaltruthoughtnotbetreatedinadryaridmannerasifitstoodquitealone,apartfromitsconnectionswiththerestofphilosophy.Ifthedevotional,theactive,andtheaestheticsidesareleftoutfromthewholeness,theunionwiththeseotheraspects,metaphysicscaneasilybecomelifelessandmonotonous.Philosophylivesintheheartnolessthaninthehead,initsgloriousbeautynolessthaninitssturdysupportforthelifeofaction.

    304Buddhismisareligionfoundedondisillusionmentwithlife.Butphilosophy,beingmorethanareligion,cannotrestsolidlybalancedonsuchaslenderfoundation.IfwithBuddhismitseestheugliness,thetransiency,andthesufferinginlife,italsoseesthebeautyinNatureandart,theEternalbehindlifeandthesatisfactioninit.Whyshouldphilosophypretendtoseenobrightplacesbecauseitcanseethedarkones?Whyshoulditdenythethrillofmusicinhumanexistencebecauseitcanhearthewailofmisery?Thisiswhyitisasquietlyhappyasitisgravelyresigned.

    305

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    Itiscommonenoughtoseeaspirantsbecomeonesidedand,tothisextent,unbalanced.Becausetheyareattractedorhelpedbysomeparticularwayaspecialmethod,attribute,teaching,ordoctrinethisisnoreasontoignorealltheothersortomakeitthecentralpivotonwhichthewholeofliferests.Lightoughttobroadenhisoutlook,notnarrowit.

    306Halfright,halfwrong,manytheoriesandjudgementsneedtobepairedinordertocompensateandbalanceoneanother.

    307IntheMasonryofancienttimes,theinitiatewasgiventhesymboloftwopillarsinhiscourseofinstruction.Themeaningwasthatatruebalanceshouldsustainhisprogress.

    308Anotherreasonforthegreatimportanceofachievingabalancedpersonalityisthatthedangersofneuroticism,inertia,fantasy,andpsychismaretherebyavoided.

    309Itisraretofindamanwhosemindisevenlybalanced,rarerstilltofindonewhosemindandlifeareso.

    310Inawiselybalancedlife,neithercontemplationnoractivitywillbeauxiliarytotheother.Eachwillbeuseful,evennecessary,totheother.

    311Itislaudabletopractiseoptimismtoajustifiabledegree,butitisreprehensibletopractiseittoanabsurddegree.Balanceisneeded.

    312Theunbalancedgeniusisnottobeadmiredforhisunbalancebutinspiteofit.

    313ItisnaturalthattheendeavourtofollowthisidealofBalancewillspilloverintohisjudgementsandopinions.Hewillwanttoseeallsidesofamatter,andespeciallyalltheweaknessesinhisownviews,allthesoundpointsinopponent'sviews.

    314Balancerequiresthebusinessmantoliveforsomethingmorethathisoffice.Itrequirestheartisttoliveforsomethingmorethanhisstudio.Bothmaybegivingausefulservicetomanypeople.Stillthisisnotenough.Theyneedalsotoservetheidealoftheirownhigherintegration.

    315Toachieveproperbalanceitmaybenecessarytooveremphasizesomeparticularattribute,quality,orcapacity.

    316Abalancemaybeestablishedbetweenoppositesorbetweencomplements.

    317Mannotonlyneedsintelligencetofindhiswaytothetruth,heneedsbalancedintelligence.

    318Toattainbalanceisgoodbutnotenoughtosustainitisalsocalledfor.

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    319ThisprincipleofBalanceoperatesthroughouttheuniverse.Thegrowthofplantandanimalformsisbalancedbytheirdecay,theirlifebytheirdeath.Ifthisprinciplefailedtooperateforonlyfiftyyears,theseaswouldbepackedwithfishtosuchanextentthattheirwaterswouldspilloverandfloodmostlands,submergingtheircities.

    320Fewhavesymmetricalfacesfewstandequallyuponbothfeet.

    321Togainbetterbalanceheneedsalsothevirtuesoppositetohisownvirtues.

    322Whentheimbalancedpersonbecomesanonconformist,hebecomesanextremenonconformist.Ifhedoestherightthing,heusuallydoesitinthewrongway.

    323Itisnoteasytocultivatesensitivitywithoutcultivatingsoftnessatthesametime.

    324Balanceisalwaysneeded.Agoodstretchedtoofarmaybecomeanevil,virtuegrownunbalancedmaybecomeavice,atruthpushedtoextremesmaybecomeagrotesqueparodyofitself.

    325Awellbalanced,welldevelopedmanwillhabituallyfunctioninallpartsofhisbeing,regularlydrawonallhisresources,andliveinharmonywithhiswholepsyche.

    326Inourtimeevenmorethaninothertimes,worldhistoryhasproducedpolitical,religious,racial,economic,andotherkindsoffanatics,someofthemquitefrenziedones.Butnophilosophicfanatichasbeenproduced.Forhowcouldthebalance,thediscipline,theintelligence,andtheimpartialitysooftenandsorightlyinculcatedbyphilosophyeverletthathappen?

    327Humourcanbeusedtorestorealostsenseofproportionortoshowupadeplorablelapsefromsanity.

    328Somehavebeenpushedoffbalancebycertainhappeningsintheirlivesbutmostwerebornwiththetendency,whichwaseitherlatent,andneededtimetoshowitself,orpatent,andwasdisplayedfromchildhood.

    329Thebody'ssenses,ifunexamined,unanalysed,andleftuncontrolled,leadhimintoananimalizedexistence.Butunderstoodandruledbyreasonwithaspiration,theyservehim.

    330Thepleasuresoflifemaybetakenheneednotbecomemoroseandgloomybutbalanceanddisciplineareneededtotakethemwisely.

    331Whenthereisnocollisionbetweenintellectandemotion,orbetweenintuitionandegoism,orbetweenimaginationandwill,itmaybesaidthatone'sinnerharmonyhasbeenfullyattained.

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    332Hemaywellstudyindifferentschoolsofthoughtandexperimentwithdifferentviewsoflife.Butthisisadvisableonlyifhetakescaretodosowithabalancedapproach,temperingenthusiasmswithanalysis,acceptanceswithdiscrimination,acclamationswithcriticisms.

    333Letuswelcometheofferingsofartandculture,ofappliedintellectandcivilizedliving,withouthostilityorbelittlement,evenwhilerememberingthemockingfutilityofanexistencewhichdoesnotgobeyondthemtothedeepervaluesoftheOverself.

    334ThecasesofKrishnamurtiandD.H.Lawrenceareveryillustrativeoftheneedandvalueofbalance.Herearetwomenofunquestionedgeniusandindependentthoughtwhohaveinfluencedthecurrentsoftheirtime.Krishnamurtiarousedpeopletothefactthattheywerereallycaptivesandinvitedthemtoleavetheircages.Lawrencedeniedtheconventionaldenialofsex.Whatboththesemenhadtosaywasimportant,andneededtobesaid.ButKrishnamurtiwassorigidlyuncompromisingandLawrencesopassionatelyrebelliousthattheirverynecessarycontributionshavethemselvesbecomefreshsourcesofmisunderstanding.Whatissoundintheirteachingisapartofphilosophy,andquiteacceptable:buttheexaggerationandoveremphasiswhichaccompanyitarenot.Theyaretheconsequencesoftheteachers'temperamentalimbalance.Againandagainseekersaftertruthhavebeencounselledtopractisetheartofbringingtogetherandbalancingthedifferentelementsoftheirnature,thedifferentfactorsofthequest,thedifferentdemandsofeverydayliving.Philosophyisabletogiveuspeacebecauseitincorporatesthisart.

    335Wheneverreligionbecomesandremainsanobsessionalactivity,itistimetocallahalt.TheneedofkeepingmentalequilibriumissupremewiththephilosophyoftruthasitwaswiththephilosophyofGreece.

    336Awellbalancedmancannotbethrowndown.Hemaybepushedaboutbycircumstancesbuthewillalwayskeep,orreturnto,hiscentre.

    337ThebestGreekmindsrejectedsuperstitionandrefusedtogivemetaphysicsandreligionandscienceanyplacebeyondthatwhichwastheirdue.TheyavoidedtheexcessivereligiosityoftheIndianminds,whichBuddhatriedtocorrect.

    338TheDelphiTempleinscriptioncarvedonthewallwasnotonly,"KnowThyself,"butcontinued,"Nothinginexcess."

    339Ourschoolsteachmanysubjectstotheyoungtopreparethemforlife,totrainthemforacareer,toshowthemhowtodisciplinethemind,ormerelytoinstillinformation.Butnoneteachesthemthemuchneededsubjectofbalance.Wherethereistoomuchofonething,ortoolittleofit,thereisunbalance.Wherecertainattributespreponderateandothersaredeficient,thereisthesameresult.Itisnotonlyextremistsandfanaticswhosufferfromthistrouble,butmillionswhopassasordinarycitizens,forittakeswidelydifferentforms.

    340Withthisbeautifulidealofbalanceeverbeforehim,hewillbeabletoavoidfallingintoanarchy'sabyss,ononeside,orbecomingamerecopyofhisteacher,ontheother.

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    341TheIdealBalancemaybeimpossibletoattainbutwecangetnearertoitandestablishausefulworkingbalance.

    342Ifitbeaskedwhyallthisbothertoequilibratetheego,whyallthistalkaboutthenecessityofbalance,theansweristhatwhattheBhagavadGitacalls"evennessofmind"isaninescapablepreconditiontotheaccuratereceptionofthephilosophicenlightenment.

    343AllofRudyardKipling'sfamouspoemIfisapreachmentuponthevirtuesofbalance.

    344Whenthoughtandfeelinggrowpurertogether,whenknowledgeandaspirationwaxstrongersidebyside,whenideaandactionprogressmutually,hewillcometoknowthistruthaboutthevirtuesandvaluesofbalancebyhisownselfexperience.

    345Impulsivenesscanbeahelptowardmovingmorequicklytothegoal,butbyitself,withoutthecheckandbalanceofintuitiveandrationaldevelopment,itbecomesfanaticismandisharmful.

    346Enthusiasmisahelpfulemotionwhennewideashavetobeputforwardagainstinertiaoropposition.Butwhenitlosesitsinnerbalanceandpropermeasure,becomesincautiousandexaggerated,thenitrendersadisservicetoitsowncause.

    347Heshouldrealize


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