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Paul Brunton Philosophic Foundation homepage > Notebooks of Paul Brunton > Category 20: What Is Philosophy? > Chapter 4: Its Realization Beyond Ecstasy Its Realization Beyond Ecstasy Mysticism and mystical philosophy compared 1 Philosophy clears away all the unnecessary mystery from mysticism, while preserving a proper attitude of awe and reverence to whatever is worthy of it. 2 Whereas not a few mystics in the past have been gullible votaries of superstition also, philosophical mystics seek to be entirely free of it. They want their mysticism to be worthy of a rational man. 3 The difference between the two is that one is partially inspired whereas the other is fully inspired. 4 It is not enough to measure the grade of a mystic by his emotional feelings. We must also concern ourselves with his egolessness, his intellectual expression, his aesthetic sensitivity, and his effective practicality. These things make up the difference between an infantile mysticism and a philosophical mysticism. 5 There is this important difference of approach between the wouldbe mystic and the wouldbe philosopher. The first is often actuated by emotional conflicts or frustrations for which he seeks some kind of compensation. The second is motivated by a deep love of truth for its own sake. 6 There is much more under judgement here than a merely verbal distinction. The matter is not so simple but far more complex than it seems. For philosophical mysticism introduces some new principles into mysticism which make a profound difference in results and values. 7 Whereas mysticism alone acquaints a man with his true Self, philosophical mysticism does this and also acquaints him with his connection with universal life. It not only tells him of the great laws of evolution and compensation, but also affiliates him with the great soul of the world. 8 All yoga and mystic methods, as well as certain religious practices, although of the highest value as preliminary disciplines, are not the ultimate ends in themselves. If one has sufficient sharpness of mindthat is, sustained concentration on abstract themesand sufficient freedom from any kind of egoistic preconception whatever, one can instantly grasp the truth and realize it. But who has that? Hence, these various methods of developing ourselves, these yogas, have been prescribed to assist us. Their practice takes a long time, it is true, but the actual realization is a matter of a moment. Nor can it ever be lost again, as can the feelingecstasies of the mystics. All these doctrines have their place

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  • 14/5/2015 Its Realization Beyond Ecstasy - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

    http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/20/4 1/47

    PaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundationhomepage>NotebooksofPaulBrunton>Category20:WhatIsPhilosophy?>Chapter4:ItsRealizationBeyondEcstasy

    ItsRealizationBeyondEcstasy

    Mysticismandmysticalphilosophycompared

    1Philosophyclearsawayalltheunnecessarymysteryfrommysticism,whilepreservingaproperattitudeofaweandreverencetowhateverisworthyofit.

    2Whereasnotafewmysticsinthepasthavebeengulliblevotariesofsuperstitionalso,philosophicalmysticsseektobeentirelyfreeofit.Theywanttheirmysticismtobeworthyofarationalman.

    3Thedifferencebetweenthetwoisthatoneispartiallyinspiredwhereastheotherisfullyinspired.

    4Itisnotenoughtomeasurethegradeofamysticbyhisemotionalfeelings.Wemustalsoconcernourselveswithhisegolessness,hisintellectualexpression,hisaestheticsensitivity,andhiseffectivepracticality.Thesethingsmakeupthedifferencebetweenaninfantilemysticismandaphilosophicalmysticism.

    5Thereisthisimportantdifferenceofapproachbetweenthewouldbemysticandthewouldbephilosopher.Thefirstisoftenactuatedbyemotionalconflictsorfrustrationsforwhichheseekssomekindofcompensation.Thesecondismotivatedbyadeeploveoftruthforitsownsake.

    6Thereismuchmoreunderjudgementherethanamerelyverbaldistinction.Thematterisnotsosimplebutfarmorecomplexthanitseems.Forphilosophicalmysticismintroducessomenewprinciplesintomysticismwhichmakeaprofounddifferenceinresultsandvalues.

    7WhereasmysticismaloneacquaintsamanwithhistrueSelf,philosophicalmysticismdoesthisandalsoacquaintshimwithhisconnectionwithuniversallife.Itnotonlytellshimofthegreatlawsofevolutionandcompensation,butalsoaffiliateshimwiththegreatsouloftheworld.

    8Allyogaandmysticmethods,aswellascertainreligiouspractices,althoughofthehighestvalueaspreliminarydisciplines,arenottheultimateendsinthemselves.Ifonehassufficientsharpnessofmindthatis,sustainedconcentrationonabstractthemesandsufficientfreedomfromanykindofegoisticpreconceptionwhatever,onecaninstantlygraspthetruthandrealizeit.Butwhohasthat?Hence,thesevariousmethodsofdevelopingourselves,theseyogas,havebeenprescribedtoassistus.Theirpracticetakesalongtime,itistrue,buttheactualrealizationisamatterofamoment.Norcaniteverbelostagain,ascanthefeelingecstasiesofthemystics.Allthesedoctrineshavetheirplace

  • 14/5/2015 Its Realization Beyond Ecstasy - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

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    forpeopleofdifferentdegreesofunderstanding,anditisourdutynottodestroythefaithofthosewhoclingtothem.ButforthosewhowantthehighestTruth,andwhoarepreparedtopartwiththeirillusionsforitssake,thereisonly"thestraightandnarrowway,andfewtherebethatfindit."Itisnarrowonlybecausetheegomustbeleftoutsidethegateitisstraightbecauseitgoesdirecttothefinaltruth.

    9Themysticmaygethisunionwiththehigherselfastherewardforhisreverentdevotiontoit.Butitslightwillshinedownonlyintothosepartsofhisbeingwhichwerethemselvesactiveinthesearchforunion.Althoughtheunionmaybeapermanentone,itsconsummationmaystillbeonlyapartialone.Ifhisintellect,forexample,wasinactivebeforetheevent,itwillbeunilluminedaftertheevent.Thisiswhymanymysticshaveattainedtheirgoalwithoutasearchfortruthbeforeitorafullknowledgeoftruthafterit.ThesimpleloveforspiritualbeingbroughtthemtoitthroughtheirsheerintensityofardourearningthedivineGrace.Heonlygetsthecompletelight,however,whoiscompletelyfittedforitwiththewholeofhisbeing.Ifheisonlypartiallyfit,becauseonlyapartofhispsychehasworkedforthegoal,thentheutmostresultwillbeapartialbutpermanentunionwiththesoul,orelseitwillbemarredbytheinabilitytokeeptheunionforlongerthantemporaryperiods.

    10Thephilosophicmysticseekstorisefromwhatissensetiedtowhatissensefree,fromtheappearanceofrealitytothepurerealityitself.Theperceptualsymbolsandopticalphenomenawhicharesooftenlabelled"mystical"are,therefore,adegreelesssensuoustohimthantheirphysicalcounterparts.Theyarehelpsatfirstontheupwardway,buttheybecomehindrancesintheend.Tolivepermanentlyinthemidstofapsychicmirage,howeverpleasantordazzlingitseemsatthetime,isnotgoingtohelphistrueadvancementinthispath.Heshouldbewarnedbytheirappearancenottodallytoolongwiththem,buttopassthembyunheededandseekthetrueinsightahead.ThisruleispushedtosuchanextentinthehighestmysticalcirclesofTibetthatthelamastudentwhohasemergedfromhisnovitiateisevenwarnedagainstacceptingasthegoalthevisionsofanenvelopinguniversallightwhichisthesupremeclairvoyantvisionpossibleformanandtoldthatthisismerelyatestofhisfixedpurposeandatrapforhismetaphysicalknowledge.Heiswarnedthattheywillpassastheycome.TheyareusefulasstepstotheTruth,buttheyarenotthepermanentrealizationoftruthitself.Thosewhoarebabesjustemergingfromthewoodofignorancemayseethemysticlightinatemporaryclairvoyantvision,butthosewhoaregrownadultswillknowitalwaysastheprincipleofpureconsciousnesswhichmakesallvision,whetherclairvoyantorphysiological,possible.Thedivinerealitybeingtheultimateandundisclosedbasisofallexistences,ifweexternalizeitinspectacularvisionsandphenomenalexperiences,wemissitspurebeingandmixitupwithmereappearance.Thustheveryexperienceswhichareconsideredsignsoffavourableprogressinmeditationonthemystic'spathbecomesignsofhindranceonthephilosopher'spath.

    11AnotherdifferencebetweenaPhilosopherandaMysticisthefollowing:theMysticmaybeilliterate,uneducated,simpleminded,butyetmayattaintheOverself.ThushefindshisInnerPeace.Itiseasierforhimbecauseheislessintellectual,hencehasfewerthoughtstogiveupandtostill.ButNaturedoesnotabsolvehimfromfinishinghisfurtherdevelopment.Hehasstilltocompletehishorizontalgrowthaswellasbalanceit.Hehasobtaineddepthofilluminationbutnotbreadthofexperiencewheretheundevelopedstateoffacultieswhichpreventshislightfrombeingperfectmaybefullydeveloped.Thiscanhappeneitherbyreturningtoearthagainorcontinuinginotherspheresofexistencehedoesallthisinsidehispeaceinsteadof,aswithordinaryman,outsideit.Whenhisgrowthiscomplete,hebecomesaphilosopher.

  • 14/5/2015 Its Realization Beyond Ecstasy - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

    http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/20/4 3/47

    12Hewhohasattainedillumination,butnotphilosophicillumination,mustcomebacktoearthforfurtherimprovementofthosefacultieswhoseundevelopedstatepreventsthelightfrombeingperfect.

    13Theneedofpredeterminingatthebeginningofthepathwhethertobeaphilosopheroramysticarisesonlyfortheparticularreincarnationwhereattainmentismade.Thereafter,whetheronthisearthoranother,theneedoffulfillingthephilosophicevolutionwillbeimpressedonhimbyNature.

    14ItwillbenoticedthatsomeofthemeditationexercisesgiveninTheWisdomoftheOverselfconcernthereeducationofcharacterandinvolvetheuseofmentalimagesandlogicalthoughts.Theaimofordinaryyogabeingtosuppresssuchimagesandthoughts,itisclearthatthephilosophicyogadoesnotlimititselftosuchaims.Itcertainlyincludesandusesthemwhenandwherenecessary,asinsomeoftheotherexercises,butitdoesnotmakethemitsultimateones.Ontheotherhand,theimagesandthoughtswhichitusesarenotquitetheordinarykind.Broughtintobeingwithintheatmosphereofdetachedcontemplationorintenseconcentrationastheyare,inspiredatcertainmomentsbythelightandpoweroftheOverselfanddirectedtowardsthepurestimpersonalgoalastheyshouldbe,theydonotinterferewiththephilosophicstudent'squest,but,onthecontrary,actuallyadvanceitfurther.

    15Whatevercreativeabilitieshepossesseswill,intheend,bevivifiedandnotnullifiedbytheeffectsofphilosophicexperience.Thisisnotalwaysthecasewithmysticalexperience.Hereisanotherimportantdifferencebetweenthetwo.

    16"Mysticalphilosophy"isabettertermthan"philosophicalmysticism."

    17Philosophyconstructivelytrainsthemysticinsecuringacorrecttransmissionofhissupernormalexperiencethroughhisnormalmentality.

    18Therelativityofallman'searthlyexperienceisalimitationwhichiscarriedintotherealmofhismysticalexperiencetoo.Butherehehastheadvantagethathemayescapefromitundercertainconditions.Thedemandforanabsoluteauthoritativeandunvaryingspiritualtruthcanthenbesatisfied.

    19Thefantasieswhichareoftenproducedbybeginnersasthevaluedfruitsoftheirmeditationwillberegardedwithrepugnancewhentheyhaveshiftedtheirstandpointtoahigherplane.Whentheyfollowthephilosophicdiscipline,visionsandmessageswhicharetheresultofanintoxicatedimaginationorluxuriantfancywillthennolongerbeabletoimposeuponthemandpretendtobeotherthanwhattheyreallyare.Thetemptationtoimplantouregoisticmotivesandtoprojectourhumanfeelingsintotheinterpretationsofthesephenomenaissostrongthatonlythecurbofsuchadisciplinecansaveus.Allthepsychicexperiencesaretheephemeralandaccidentalbyproductsofthemysticalpath,notabidingandessentialresults.Theyaresignsofapassagethroughtheimaginativepartoftheinnerbeing.Whenstudentsaresofortunateastoenterthetruestdeepestpartofbeing,suchexperienceswillvanishforeverorforatime.Hencetheyarenottoberegardedasworthwhileinthemselves.Thephilosopherlikethemysticmayandoftendoesseevisions,butunlikehimhealsoseesthroughthem.Hepossessestruevisionand

  • 14/5/2015 Its Realization Beyond Ecstasy - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

    http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/20/4 4/47

    doesnotmerelyexperienceavision.Butittakestimeandexperiencetoseparatewhatelementsareessentialandwhataremerelyincidental,whatisenduringfromwhatistransient,andtheinterpretationbuiltupoutoftheoriginalexperiencesfromtheexperienceitself.

    20Nomysticexperienceiscontinuousandpermanent.Allmysticexperiencescometomaninbrokenfragments.Itisthereforethetaskofphilosophytoturnthemintoacoherentandsystematiccorrelationwiththerestofman'sexperience.Anditcandothissuccessfullyonlybyexaminingmysticismwithasmuchcriticismassympathyitshouldneithertaketrancereportsattheirfacevaluenordismissthemasbeingoflessimportancethanordinarysensereports.

    21Whathascomesoaccidentallymaylikewisedepartaccidentally.Whathehasstumbledintohemayalsostumbleoutof.Thereforethephilosophicmystictriestoremoveasmuchoftheunconsciousnessofthewholeprocessashecanbymakinguseoftheintelligencetocompleteitevenas,paradoxically,hebegsforGraceatthesametimeandforthesamepurpose.

    22WerethegloriousrealizationoftheOverselfdevoidofanyfeeling,thentherealizationitselfwouldbeapalpableabsurdity.Itwouldnotbeworthhaving.Thegrandinsightintorealityiscertainlynotstrippedofferventdelightandissurelynotanaridintellectualconcept.Itisrightlysaturatedwithexaltedemotionbutitisnotthisemotionalone.Thebeatificfeelingofwhatisrealisquitecompatiblewithpreciseknowledgeofwhatisrealthereisnocontradictionbetweenthem.Indeedtheymustcoexist.Nay,thereisapointonthephilosophicpathwheretheyevenrunintoeachother.Suchapointmarksthebeginningofastablewisdomwhichwillnotbethevictimofmercilessalternationbetweentheebbandtheflowofarapturousemotionalismbutwillknowthatitdwellsintimelessnesshereandnowthereforeitwillnotbesubjecttosuchfluctuationsofmood.Betterthantheexuberantupsurgesandemotionaldepressionsofthemysticaltemperamentisthementalevennesswhichiswithoutriseorfallandwhichshouldbetheaimofthefarseeingstudents.Thefitfulflashesofenlightenmentpertainingtothemysticstagearereplacedbyasteadylightonlywhenthephilosophicstageisreachedandpassedthrough.Thephilosophicaimistoovercomethedifferencebetweensporadicintuitionsandsteadyknowledge,betweenspasmodicecstasiesandcontrolledperception,andthusachieveapermanentstateofenlightenment,abidingunshakeablyandatalltimesintheOverself.

    23Toviewtheinferiormysticalexperiencesortheratiocinativemetaphysicalfindingsotherwisethanaspassingphases,tosetthemupasfinallyrepresentativeofrealityintheonecaseoroftruthintheother,istoplacethemonaleveltowhichtheydonotproperlybelong.Thosewhofallintotheseconderrordosobecausetheyascribeexcessiveimportancetothethinkingfaculty.Themysticistooattachedtoonefaculty,asthemetaphysicianistotheother,andneithercanconductahumanbeingbeyondtheboundsofhisenchainedegotothatregionwhereBeingalonereigns.ItisnotthatthemysticdoesnotenterintocontactwiththeOverself.Hedoes.ButhisexperienceoftheOverselfislimitedtoglimpseswhicharepartial,becausehefindstheOverselfonlywithinhimself,notintheworldoutside.Itistemporarybecausehehastotakeitwhenitcomesatitsownsweetwillorwhenhecanfinditinmeditation.Itisaglimpsebecauseittellshimabouthisown"I"butnotaboutthe"NotI."Ontheotherhand,thesagefindsrealityintheworldwithoutashisownself,atalltimesandnotatspecialoccasions,andwhollyratherthaninglimpses.Themystic'slightcomesinglimpses,butthesage'sisperennial.

  • 14/5/2015 Its Realization Beyond Ecstasy - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

    http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/20/4 5/47

    Whereasthefirstislikeaflickeringunsteadyandunevenflame,thesecondislikealampthatnevergoesout.WhereasthemysticcomesintoawarenessoftheOverselfthroughfeelingalone,thesagecomesintoitthroughknowledgeplusfeeling.Hence,thesuperiorityofhisrealization.

    Theaveragemysticisdevoidofsufficientcriticalsense.Hedelightsinpreventinghisintellectfrombeingactiveinsuchadefinitedirection.Hehasyettolearnthatphilosophicaldisciplinehasasteadyinginfluenceonthevagariesofmysticalemotion,opinion,fancy,andexperience.Herefusestojudgethegoalhehassetupastowhetheritbeindeedman'sultimategoal.Consequentlyheisunabletoapplycorrectstandardswherebyhisownachievementsorhisownaspirationsmaybemeasured.Havingshuthimselfupinalittleheavenofhisown,hedoesnotattempttodistinguishitfromotherheavensortodiscoverifitbeheavenindeed.Heclingsasstubbornlytohisselfrighteousnessasdoesthereligionistwhomhecriticizesforclingingtohisdogma.Hedoesnotcomprehendthathehastransferredtohimselfthatnarrownessofoutlookwhichhecondemnsinthematerialistic.Hispositionwouldbepreposterouswereitnotsoperilous.

    Mysticismmustnotrestsosmuglysatisfiedwithitsownobscuritythatitrefuseseventomaketheefforttocomeoutintothelightofcriticalselfexamination,clearselfdetermination,andrationalselfunderstanding.Tocomplainhelplesslythatitcannotexplainitself,tositadmiringlybeforeitsownselfproclaimedimpalpability,ortostandaristocraticallyintherarefiedairofitsownindefinabilityasitusuallydoesistofallintoakindofsubtlequackery.Magnificenteulogyisnosubstituteforneededexplanation.

    24Thecrucialpointofourcriticismmustnotbemissed.Ourwordsaredirectedagainstthebeliefwhichequatesthecriterionoftruthwiththeuncheckedandunpurifiedfeelingofithowevermysticalitbe.Wedonotdemandthatfeelingitselfshallbeignored,orthatitscontributionwhichismostimportanttowardtruthshallbedespised.Ourcriticismisnotdirectedagainstemotion,butagainstthatunbalancedattitudewhichsetsupemotionalmostasareligioninitself.Weaskonlythatthereactionofpersonalfeelingshallnotbesetupasthesoleandsufficientstandardofwhatisorisnotrealityandtruth.WhenwespeakoftheunsatisfactoryvalidityoffeelingasprovidingsufficientproofbyitselfofhavingexperiencedtheOverself,wemeanprimarily,ofcourse,thekindofpassionatefeelingwhichthrowsthemysticintotransportsofjoy,andsecondarily,anystrongemotionwhichsweepshimoffhisfeetintorefusaltoanalysehisexperiencecoldlyandscientifically.Threepointsmaybeherenoted.First,merefeelingalonemayeasilybeegoisticanddistortthetruthorbeinflamedandexaggerateitorputforwardawantedfancyinplaceofanunwantedfact.Second,thereisherenomeansofattainingcertainty.Itsvalidity,beingonlypersonal,isonlyasacceptableasaretheofferingsofpoetsandartistswhocanalsotalkintermsofpsychological,butnotmetaphysical,reality.Forinstance,themysticmaygazeatandseewhathethinkstobereality,butsomeoneelsemaynotthinkittobeso.Third,thepathofthephilosophicalobjectiontoappraisingfeelingaloneasacriterionoftruthandofourinsistenceoncheckingitsintimationswithcriticalreasoningmaybeputinthebriefestwaybyananalogy.Wefeelthattheearthisstableandmotionless,butweknowthatittracesacurveofmovementinspace.Wefeelthatitisfixedinthefirmament,butweknowthatthewholeheliocentricsystemhasitsownmotioninspace.Thereadershouldponderupontheimplicationsofthesefacts.ArenottheannalsofmysticismstainedbymanyinstancesofmegalomaniacswhofalselysetthemselvesupasmessiahsmerelybecausetheyfeltthatGodhadcommissionedthemtodoso?Thisiswhythephilosopherisconcernednotonlywiththeemotionaleffectsofinnerexperience,asisthemystic,butalsowiththetruthabouttheseeffects.

  • 14/5/2015 Its Realization Beyond Ecstasy - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

    http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/20/4 6/47

    25Ihavenotswungovernightintothecriticismofyogabutratherhavegraduallymaturedintocriticismofwrongweighingsonthescaleofyoga.Yogaisasprofoundlynecessarytomyownlifeasbefore.OnlyIwantitatitsverybestanddonotwanttomistakeitsintermediatestageforitsfinalone.

    26IrealizethatthisexplanationaltersthestatementinTheQuestoftheOverselfmateriallyandImustexplainthatthatbookwaswritten,likemostofmyearlierbooks,forthosewhohavenotyetreachedthelevelofphilosophybutareseekingpeacethroughmysticism.Thequestoftruthisanotherandhighermatterforwhichmysticismandyogaarepreparatorystages.

    27"BywhateverformamanworshipsMe,inthatformIrevealMyselftohim,"isthegistofastatementmadebyKrishnaintheBhagavadGita.Thisishiswayofsayingwhatphilosophyteaches,thattheideaofGodwhichaManholdsisnotnecessarilyalteredwhenhehasaGlimpseorfeelsaninspiration,sincetheseoccuronthemysticallevel.OnlyphilosophicenlightenmentgivesthedoubleexperienceofraisingmantothehigherconsciousnessandcorrectinghisintellectualideaofGodatthesametime.

    28Themysticallyinclinedwhogloryintheirantirationalityandimpracticalitymayplaythepartofintellectualbabesandworldlyboobsiftheywishtodoso.Butthephilosophicallyinclined,realizingthattheyliveinanerawheretheevilforcesagainstwhichtheymuststrugglehavereachedunparalleledintensityandrevealedthemostdiaboliccunning,realizethattheycannotaffordsuchaluxury.Theywillconsequentlyfosterallthepracticalshrewdness,thecriticalintelligence,observance,andalertnesstheycansummonup.

    29Whattheydonotperceiveisthatinwardcontemplationisonlyatechnique,notanendinitself.Theproperendofcontemplationistheattainmentofahigherconsciousness.Thatconsciousnessisnot,astheyerroneouslysuppose,incommensurablewithoutwardactivity.Butcontemplation,asapracticalexercise,certainlyis.Here,then,iswheretheyconfuseamethodwiththegoalofthatmethod.Itisperfectlypossibletosustainboththehigherconsciousnessandphysicalandintellectualactivityatthesametime.Thelatterneednotnecessarilyimperiltheformer.Mysticswhocomplainthatitdoesdosoarereallycomplainingthatitimperilstheformalpracticeofcontemplationwhichisadifferentmatter.

    30Therearemanywhosaythatthisattempttounitecontemplationwithactivityisaselfcontradictoryoneandforedoomedtofailure.Answer:withthenarrowpreparationofordinaryreligiousmysticism,itcertainlyseemsanimpossiblefeatbutwiththefullerpreparationofphilosophicmysticism,itisabalancethatcanbelearnedinthesamewaythataskilfultightropewalkerlearnshisart,eventhoughitseemsjustasimpossibleatfirst.

    31Becausetheovereagerquestofmysticalexperienceshasbeencriticizedinthesebooks,itwouldbeamistaketobelievethatthephilosopherneverhasthembecausehehasoutgrownthem.Hemayhavethem.Theirappearanceisnotimproperanditisunlikelythatanyonewhoconsistentlymeditateswillnothaveafewormany.Butwhetherhehasthemornot,heisinwardlydetachedfromthemfreeofthem.

  • 14/5/2015 Its Realization Beyond Ecstasy - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

    http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/20/4 7/47

    32Itisagreatadvanceforhimwhenhebeginsreallytoseektruthinsteadofpersonalblissalone,howevermysticalthatmaybe.Indeed,wherethereistrueknowledgethereisbliss,butTruthisnotlimitedtoit.Itisfarwiderthanthat.

    33IntheBuddhist'sdeepermeditationaltrainingminutelydescribedintheAbhidhammacollectedandrecordedbytheBuddha'sdisciplesitisnoteworthythatecstasiesfirst,andblissnext,ceaseabouthalfwayalongthepath,tobesucceededbyintenseinnerquietfortheadvancedandterminalstages.Yetthetextsonyogawhichgobeyondthishalfwaystagearefew,andarestudiedbyfew.Foritisatthispointthatmysticismends,andrealphilosophybegins.

    34Textsmightprovemisleadingifstudiedalonetheymustbepersonallyexpoundedbyacompetentteacher.Moreover,ifbuttwobooks,forinstance,outofthirty,weretakenalonetheywouldgiveaonesidedandinaccuratepicture.ButthebookbySriKrishnaPrem,YogaoftheBhagavadGita,canbequitehelpful.TheaimofTheHiddenTeachingBeyondYogaistoprepareabasis,tocreateanatmosphere,butitdoesnotgofartherthanthat.Thereisalowermysticismandahighermysticismandthetwoareseparatedintimebythephilosophicdiscipline.NothingofthehighermysticismhasbeenrevealedinTheHiddenTeachingBeyondYoga.ThatisgiveninTheWisdomoftheOverselftogetherwithseveralpracticesorexerciseswhichdevelopthesupramysticinsighthintedatasbeingthefinalsourceofknowledge.Neithermysticismasordinarilyknownthatis,thelowermysticismandyoganorphilosophyofapurelyintellectualrationalkindcaneverleadtothisgoal.Neverthelesstheyareessentialstagesonthewaythereto.Onemustnotmakethemistakeeitherofdiscardingmeditation(asrecommendedbyAshtavakra)andresortingonlytoratiocination,orofdespisingratiocination(asordinarymysticsandyogisdo)andtrustingsolelytomeditation.Bothareneeded.Butbothareonlypreliminarydisciplines.OnlythesupramysticexercisescanleadtothefinalrevelationandtheseweregiventotheWestforthefirsttimeinTheWisdomoftheOverself.Theywereformerlykeptesotericineverysenseoftheword,buttimeshavechanged.

    35Suchmisunderstandingsasthatreasoningaloneleadstorealization,thatitcanreplacemeditation,andthatmetaphysicsissuperiortomysticismcouldnotpossiblyarise,ascanbeseenfromthesecondvolume[TheWisdomoftheOverself].Forinthisfinalvolumetheoldgodsarerestoredbutplacedinnewshrinesitshowsthattheearlierpreparatorychapterswerereallyleadinguptoit.Thesemisconceptionsarelikelytooccurbecauseinthefirstvolume[TheHiddenTeachingBeyondYoga]Ideliberatelycriticizedcertainthingsinordertostresswhat,itseemedtome,thetimehadcometostress.ForIwantedtoclearthegroundofallthisdebris,thuspreparingthewayforthehighermysticismunfoldedinTheWisdomoftheOverself.Theessentialprinciplesofmysticismandyogahaveremainedintactbutareexplainedfromanewangleofapproach,thescientificphilosophic,soastoclarifytherealissues.Astheangleofapproachdiffers,sodoeswhatisseenappeardifferentlytoo.IamfullypreparedtoaccepttheblameforwhatevermistakesIhavemadeinthepast,butIconsideritismoreimportanttolearnhowtheyhaveconstitutedsteppingstonestomypresentdayhigherknowledge.Ihavebeenengagedinawidespreadmysticalresearchformostofmylifetime,sothattheconclusionswhichIhaveformulatedareatleastworthyofconsideration,ifnotmore.Iconsideritasacreddutytofreethatwhichissoprecioustomefromthelargefalsifications,extravagantclaims,ancientdistortions,anddegradeddoctrinesfromwhichitissuffering.Icannotremainsilentandindifferentwhileitstreasuresarecaricaturedbytheunscientificandunphilosophicalorwhileitstruthsaredeformedandshamelesslycheapenedbytheegoistic,thehyperemotional,andthefoolish.Wemustviewthis

  • 14/5/2015 Its Realization Beyond Ecstasy - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

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    subjectasawhole,notmerelyinitsbrightordarkpatches.Thismeansthatwemustbebentonrealisticallyseeingboth.Ourmoralsmustbetoughenoughtodosoandexaltedenoughtoaccepttheconsequencesoffacingunpleasantfactswithoutlosingafarsightedconfidenceintheessentialworthofmysticism.ForsofarasIamawarenobodywithintheranksofthemysticallymindedcapableofspeakingwithsufficientauthorityhasheretoforeventuredtoexplaintheexistenceamongstthemoflargescalegullibility,notoriouscharlatanry,andfailuretobeneficiallyaffectpubliclifebyfranklyexposingthelimitations,defects,errors,andmisunderstandingsprevalentinmysticismitselfinascientificandphilosophicmanner.

    36Thephilosopherenjoysacontinuousinnerpeace.Hehasnoparticularwishatanytimetoexchangeitforthemystic'sblissalthoughthroughhiscapacityformeditationhemaybeabletodoso.

    37ThemystictouchestheserenityandlightoftheOverselfbutfallsawayfromthemsoon.Thephilosopherdoesnotmerelytouchthembutattainstheirfullnessforever.Thefirstispartialandprovisionalwhereasthesecondisfinalandcomplete.

    38Philosophystandsalignedwithmysticismsofarasthisaimofachievingtheprofoundestinwardselfabsorptionthroughmeditationisinquestion,butitstandsalooffrommysticismsofarasrational,moral,practical,andsocialissuesareinquestion.Acorrectappraisalofmysticismcanonlybeformedbyexaminingitsideologyagainstthewiderbackgroundofphilosophicdoctrine.

    39Theyogicviewpointstillembracesthephenomenaofcausation,howeverrefined.

    40Philosophyprescribesjustenoughmeditationtomakeitsvotariesmysticallyconsciousbutnotenoughtomakethemforgetthephilosophicgoalamidstitspleasures.

    41Thephilosophicgoalwhenenteringintomysticalexperienceofthehigherkindorwhenviewingone'srelationtoanyoneelseortoanysituation,istoseethetruthcorrectlyandunderstanditrightly,toaddnothingtoitoutofpersonalassociationsorhabitualtendencies.

    42Thenextpointofdifferenceistheactivenatureofphilosophicrealizationascomparedtothepassivenatureofmysticalrealization.Thisistheresultoftheholdingupofcompassionaspartofthephilosophicaspirant'sidealfromthebeginningtotheendofhiscourse.

    43Thephilosophicexperienceisabecalmedmysticalrapture.

    44Thelineofdemarcationbetweenthelowerandthehighermysticismisclearlyshown.Forthelowermystichassublimeexperiencesandmakesinspiredutterancesbutdoesnotunderstandprofoundly,clearly,andfullywhattheseexperiencesarenorwhattheseutterancesmean.Neitherhisattainmentsnorhisknowledgehasarrivedatadequateselfconsciousness.HeisinthepositionofpoetslikeTennyson,whoconfessedthathisInMemoriam,whichwaswrittentoproclaimhumanimmortality,waswiserthanhehimself

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    knew.(SeePlato'sTheApologyofSocrates7,regardingthis.)

    45Theendofphilosophicseekingisnotafleetingmysticecstasybutadurablemysticconsciousnessinlayingeverythought,word,feeling,anddeed.

    46Thatwhichthemysticfeelsiswhatthemetaphysicianthinks.Thephilosopherknowsandactsit,aswellasfeelsandthinksit.

    47Solongashisattainmentdependsonacontemplativestagewhichinitsturndependsoninactivityandsolitude,solongwillitbeonlyahalfattainment.

    48Amysticismwhichdoesnottakeintoaccountallthechieffunctionswhichmakeabeinghumanwill,feeling,reason,andintuitionleavessomeofhisevolutionarypossibilitiesundevelopedandcannotgiveafinishedresultbutonlyapartlyfinishedone.ItfailstodojusticetothegloriousidealsetbeforehimbytheWorldIdea.

    49Hemustcontinuetoprobeforhimselfintotherecessesofhisownmind.Thisrequiresmuchpatience.Heisquitecorrectinwantingtobeawareofeverystepofthepathandinrefusingtomoveblindly.Onthispathheneedstobalancetheclaimsofreasonandfeelingandtounderstandaccuratelywhatitisthatheistryingtodo.Hecannotgobacktotheunconsciousbeliefsofspiritualchildhood.Thisisthedifferencebetweenordinarymysticismandphilosophicalmysticism.

    50Themysticisusuallysatisfiedinenjoyingthisinnerstillnesswhereasthephilosopherneedsalsotoknowwhereitemanatesfrom.

    Discriminatinganalysis,mysticaldepth

    51Whatthemysticseeksthroughloveandselfpurificationalone,thephilosopherseeksthroughloveandselfpurificationandknowledgeaswell.

    52Philosophyoffersthesamemeditationalexperienceasmysticism,butitcarriesthisexperiencetoawideranddeeperlevelandatthesametimeintegratesitwithmoralsocialandrationalelements.

    53Philosophicalmysticismkeepsandcontainsallthatisbestinordinarymysticismbutreinforcesandbalancesitwithreason,culture,shrewdness,andpracticality,expressesitthroughserviceorart.

    54Whenthemindwithdrawsfromitscreationsafterunderstandingtheirmentalnessandlooksintoitself,itdiscoversthefinaltruth.Butwhenitdoesthisprematurelythatis,beforesuchenquiryintotheworld'snatureitdiscoversahalftruth:thenatureofthe"I."

    55

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    Thevirtueofphilosophicyogaisthatitmakesreasonanaccompliceandnot,aswiththeotheryogas,anenemyofthequestofspiritualrealization.

    56Thephilosophicalmystichasnouseforsuchvaguenessandprecariousness.Hemustknowwhatheisabout,mustbeselfconsciousandselfpossessed.Butallthisontheintellectuallevelonly.Hewillbethepersonificationofhumility,theincarnationofselfsurrender,ontheemotionallevel.

    57Mysticismrequirestheunreservedsurrenderoftheegotothesoul.Fromthisquitecorrectrequirement,unphilosophicmysticsdrawthequiteincorrectconclusionsthattheego'sfacultyofreasoninganduseofwillaretobebanishedfromthedomainofpracticalaffairs.Itshouldnot,forinstance,provideforitsworldlyfuture,becauseGodistoprovideforit.Beliefinmysticismisnoexcuseforsuchillogicalandinaccuratethinking,muchlessfortheparalysisofwilling.Themysticmaygivehimselfuntothesoulandyetrenderuntothoughtandactionthatwhichisrightlytheirs.

    58Boththetechniqueofmeditationandthestudyofmetaphysicsmustbebroughtintosatisfactoryadjustment.

    59Philosophicalunderstandingcanbloomwithinhimonlyafterhehascultivatedhismetaphysicalintelligenceaswellashismysticalintuition.

    60Howcanscienceandmysticismmeetwheneachusesadifferentfaculty,theoneintellectandtheotherintuition?Theycanmeetbyfollowingtwosteps:first,byeachoneunderstandingitsownandtheother'splace,function,andlimitation,andsecond,byamalgamatingtheirviewpoints,thusrisingintothedomainofphilosophy.

    61Truthwillnotinsultintelligence,althoughitsoarsbeyondintellect.Letthereligioniststalknonsense,astheydoattimesbutholinessisnotincompatiblewiththeuseofbrains,theacquisitionofknowledge,andtherationalfaculties.

    62Itisnotenoughtonegatethinkingthismayyieldamentalblankwithoutcontent.Wehavealsototranscendit.Thefirstisthewayofordinaryyogathesecondisthewayofphilosophicyoga.Inthesecondway,therefore,weseekstrenuouslytocarrythoughttoitsmostabstractandrarefiedpoint,toacriticalculminatingwherebyitswholecharacterchangesanditmergesofitsownaccordinthehighersourcewhenceitarises.Ifsuccessful,thisproducesapleasant,sometimesecstaticstatebuttheecstasyisnotouraim,aswithordinarymysticism.Withusthereflectionmustkeeployallytoaloftieraim,thatofdissolvingtheegoinitsdivinesource.Themetaphysicalthinkingmustworkitsway,firstupwardstoamoreandmoreabstractconceptandsecondinwardstoamoreandmorecompleteabsorptionfromtheexternalworld.Theconsequenceisthatwhenilluminationresults,whetheritcomesintheformofamysticaltrance,ecstasy,orintuition,itscharacterwillbeunquestionablydifferentandimmeasurablysuperiortothatwhichcomesfromthemeresterilizationofthethinkingprocesswhichisthemethodofordinaryyoga.

    63Thereisalittleconfusioninsomemindsastotheprecisedifferencesbetweenphilosophicmeditationsandordinarymeditation.Thefollowingnoteisintendedtohelp

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    clearupthismatter.Therearefivestagesinthephilosophicmethod.Thefirstfourofthesestagescoverthesamegroundasthoseintraditionalmysticism.Itisinthelaststagethatavitaldifferenceappears.Instageone,thestudentlearnstoconcentratehisfaculties,thoughts,andpowerofattention.Hemustfixbeforehandanyobjectforhisgaze,oranysubjectforhisthoughts,oranythemeforhisfeelings.Thisprovidesapost,asitwere,towhichthehorseofhismindcanbetetheredandtowhichitcanbemadetoreturnagainandagaineachtimeitstraysaway.Instagetwo,hemustdefinitelydroptheuseofhisbodilysensesandexternalobjects,withdrawhisattentionentirelywithinhimselfanddevoteitexclusivelytoconsideredthinkingaboutanddevotionalaspirationtohisspiritualquest,makinguseonlyofanelevatingideaoridealasatetheringpost.Instagethree,heistoreversethismethod,forheisnottofixbeforehandanythemeforthought,noteventopredeterminethewayinwhichhiscontemplationshalldevelopitself.Hisconsciousmindistobethoroughlyfreefromanyandeverysuggestionfromthethinkingself,evenifitbeofthepurestkind.Foreverythingmustherebeleftentirelytothehigherpower.Instagefour,thestudentunitescompletelywithhishigherselfanditsinfiniteuniversality,dropsallpersonalthinking,evenallpersonalbeing.Instagefive,itmightbesaidthathereturnstothefirsttwoandrecapitulatesthem,forhereintroducesthinkingandthereforeego.Butthereisanotabledifference.Thethinkingwillbe,first,illuminedbythehigherself'slight,andsecond,directedtowardstheunderstandingofReality.

    64Theuseofmetaphysicalthinkingaspartofthephilosophicsystemisafeaturewhichfewyogisoftheordinarytypearelikelytoappreciate.Thisisbothunderstandableandpardonable.Theyarethoroughlyimbuedwiththefutilityofamerelyrationalandintellectualapproachtoreality,afutilitywhichhasalsobeenfeltandexpressedinthesepages.Sofarthereisagreementwiththem.Butwhentheyproceedtodeducethattheonlywayleftistocrushreasonandstoptheworkingofintellectaltogether,ourpathsdiverge.Forwhatmetaphysicsadmittedlycannotaccomplishbyitselfmaybeaccomplishedbyacombinationofmetaphysicsandmysticismfarbetterthanbymysticismalone.Themetaphysicsoftruth,whichisheremeant,however,mustneverbeconfusedwiththemanyhistoricalspeculativesystemswhichexist.

    65Theactivityofanalyticthinkinghasbeenbannedinmostmysticalschools.Theyregarditasanobstacletotheattainmentofspiritualconsciousness.Andordinarilyitisindeedso.Foruntiltheintellectcanlieperfectlystill,suchconsciousnesscannotmakeitselfapparent.Thedifficultyofmakingintellectquitepassiveishoweveranenormousone.Consequentlydifferentconcentrationtechniqueshavebeendevisedtoovercomeit.Nearlyalloftheminvolvethebanishmentofthinkingandthecessationofreasoning.Thephilosophicalschoolusesanyorallofthemwhereadvisablebutitalsousesatechniquepeculiarlyitsown.Itmakesuseofabstractconceptswhichareconcernedwiththenatureoftheminditselfandwhicharefurnishedbyseerswhohavedevelopedadeepinsightintosuchnature.Itpermitsthestudenttoworkouttheseconceptsinarationalwaybutleadingtosubtlerandsubtlermoodsuntiltheyautomaticallyvanishandthinkingceasesasthetranscendentalstateisinducedtocomeofitself.Thismethodisparticularlysuitedeithertothosewhohavealreadygotovertheelementarydifficultiesofconcentrationortothosewhoregardreasoningpowerasanassettobeconservedratherthanrejected.Theconventionalmystic,beingthevictimofexternalsuggestion,willclingtothetraditionalviewofhisownschool,whichusuallyseesnogoodatallinreasonedthinking,andaverthatspiritualattainmentthroughsuchapathispsychologicallyimpossible.Neverhavingbeeninstructedinitandneverhavingtriedit,heisnotreallyinapositiontojudge.

    66Continuedandconstantponderingovertheideaspresentedhereinisitselfapartoftheyogaofphilosophicaldiscernment.Suchreflectionwillasnaturallyleadthestudent

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    towardsrealizationofhisgoalaswillthecompanionandequallynecessaryactivityofsuppressingallideasaltogetherinmentalquiet.Thisisbecausetheseideasarenotmerespeculationsbutarethemselvestheoutcomeofatranslationfrominnerexperience.Whilesuchideasasareherepresentedgrowunderthewateroftheirreflectionandthesunshineoftheirloveintofruitfulbranchesofthought,theygraduallybegintofosterintuition.

    67Thelogicalmovementofintellectmustcometoadeadstopbeforethethresholdofreality.Butwearenottobringaboutthispausedeliberatelyorinresponsetothebiddingofsomemanorsomedoctrine.Itmustcomeofitsownaccordasthefinalmaturationoflongandprecisereasoningandastheculminationoftheintellectualandpersonaldiscoverythattheapprehensionofmindasessencewillcomeonlywhenweletgooftheideaformsittakesanddirectourattentiontoit.

    68Thisistheparadox:thatboththecapacitytothinkdeeplyandthecapacitytowithdrawfromthinkingareneededtoattainthisgoal.

    69Themistakeofthemysticsistonegatereasoningprematurely.Onlyafterreasoninghascompleteditsowntasktotheuttermostwillitbepsychologicallyrightandphilosophicallyfruitfultostillitinthemysticsilence.

    70Hemustseekinmetaphysicsforthesecretoftheuniverseandinmysticismforthesecretofhisownself.Thisisabalancedapproach.

    71Philosophyisnothostiletoyogathelatterleadstosteadinessofmindwiththisonecanthenexercisediscrimination.Thecombinationofconcentrationandenquiryleadstofitfulglimpsesoftruth.Theseglimpsesmustthenbestabilizedbyconstanteffortandremembrancethroughoutthedayuntiltheybecomesecondnature.

    72Themysticwhorefusestousehisbrainsisdisplayingnotavirtue,ashebelieves,butafailing.Yetsuchamanhasbecomestereotypedinthethoughtofmostpeopleasatypeofmanpossessedofaflabbyintellect.Whattheyhavenotknownisthatthereisanotherkind,thephilosophicmystic,whoseekstodevelophisbrainpoweralongsideofhismysticalintuitions.Philosophysilencesthoughtwhenitwantstofeelinnerpeaceorenterspiritualecstasy,butitstimulatesthoughtwhenitwantstounderstandthispeaceandthatecstasy.

    73Thetypicallymedievalmysticalschoolofthoughttaughttheutternecessityofrestrictingthepowersofwillandintellect,dissolvingtheminsinglemindeddevotiontoprayer,meditation,andasceticlife.Philosophyteachesthecontraryandurgesthefulldevelopmentofthesepowersbutsafeguardsthisdevelopmentby,first,dedicatingittomysticalpurposesandimpersonalaimsand,second,controllingitbymysticalintuition.

    74Philosophydoesnotaskus,asmysticismdoes,tostifletheintellect,buttoillumineit.Itdemandseffectivethinkingandnotmeredaydreaming,intellectualselfdisciplineandnotmistyvagueness.Itsjourneyliesthroughmeditationreinforcedbyreason.

    75

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    Themysticiscontenttobecarriedawaybyhisfeelings.Thephilosopherwantstounderstandboththenatureoftheirmovementandthecharacterofthedestination.

    76Thelowermysticuseshismysticalexperiencesasanalibitojustifyhismentalslothfulness.Heknowsnothingofthatorganizedsystematicefforttoanswereveryquestionandcleareverydoubtwhichthehighermystichadtopassthroughbeforeheattainedthesuperiorgrade.

    77Metaphysicsisadisciplineinrationalizationwhileyogaisadisciplineindetachmentandconcentration.

    78Ouraimmustbeallrounddevelopmentasane,healthy,balancedlife.Meditationisnotenough,albeitessentialinitsplace.Thecultivationofasharpkeenintelligenceforphilosophicalreflectionisjustasessential.Thetwomustworkhandinhand,withaperfectdevelopmentofeachidealasthegoal.Thekingdomofheavenisintheheadaswellastheheart.

    79WecanunderstandtheattemptofmetaphysicstoknowthesupremerealityandknowtheattemptofmysticismtofeelinGod'spresence.Butthefirstdependsonfillingthemindwiththesubtlestthoughtswhereasthelastdependspartlyonemptyingthemindofthoughts.

    80Ifhethinksforhimselfandfeelsforothers,hewillappreciatethesuperiorityofthephilosophicformofmysticism.

    81Thatkeenrationalitycouldandindeedshouldaccompanysensitivespiritualityisbothpracticalwisdomandevolutionarynecessity.Atendencytoactthefoolinworldlyandintellectualmattersisnotasignofmysticalstrength,assomeaver,butasignofmysticalweakness.

    82MyfinalancientauthoritythatthiscombinationofyogaandvicharaisessentialisBuddha.Hesaid:"Themandiscreet,onvirtuefirmlyset,inintellectandintuitiontrained.Themanwithkeendiscriminationblessedmayfromthistangleliberatehimself."

    Keystotheultimatepath

    83Thestudenttravelsthroughthedifferentstagesonthejourneytosupremetruth.Butwithoutcompetentguidancehemayfallintotheerrorofmistakingoneofthestagesforthetruthitself.Hedoesnotusuallyunderstandthatthereisagradedseriesofdevelopments,eachoneofwhichlookslikethetruthitself,andthatonlyafterallthesehavebeenpassedthroughcanhereachthegloriousculminatinggoal.

    84Thereisonlyonetruth,henceonlyonetrueillumination.Buttherearevariousdegreesofitsreception.

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    85Thejourneyfrompreoccupationwiththeintellectualformsoftruthtolivinginthetruthitself,isalongandarduousone.Eventhestartisharderthanitseems,forthoseveryformswhichhavebeensohelpfulinthepastmustbeincreasinglyregardedastrapsandlessandlessasguides.

    86Suchanattainmentasphilosophyproposescannotbereachedallatonce.Itmustbeapproachedthroughaseriesofpreparatorysteps.Theywillbeslowinpaceatfirst,butquickerlaterandsuddentowardstheend.

    87Itisquitetruethattheattainmentofthishigherconsciousnessisanattainmentofwholeness,assomemodernmysticsclaim.ForthenonlyistheconsciousegoforcedtorelinquishtotheOverselfitsholdupontherestofthepsyche.Nevertheless,whenthisisfeltandsaid,itmustbestatedthatthepatternofwholenessisstillnotfinishedbyitsfirstattainment,forthatisonlythefirststagealbeitanimmenselydynamicandmemorableoneofaprocess.

    88Itisalongjourneyfromtheconditionofseekertothatofsage.Butthisistrueonlysofarasweascriberealitytotime.Tothosewhoknowthatourhumanexistenceisamovementthroughevents,butthatthehumanbeinginitsessencetranscendsalleventsanddwellsintimelessness,thisjourneymaybeconsiderablyshortenedorswiftlybroughttoitsdestination.Forthat,thethoroughunderstandingofphilosophyanditsincessantapplicationtooneselfisrequired.

    89Thetruthmaynotalwaysburstonitsvotaryinasuddenbriefandtotalflash.Itmayalsocomesoslowlythathewillhardlyknowitsmovement.Butinbothcasesthisprogresswillbemeasuredbyhisabandonmentofapurelypersonalandselfcenteredattitudetowardslife.

    90Fortheordinarymysticitisveryveryhardtoliveintheworld,inthewaythatordinarymendo,afterhehasexperiencedtheworldaroundhimasmereillusionanditsactivitiesasvain.Onlythephilosophicallytrainedmysticcanfindsufficientmotiveinhisknowledgeandsufficienturgeinhisfeelingtotakepartintheseactivitiesifneededordesirable.

    91Thesamemysticalexperiencewhichdetachesothersfromactioninspireshimtoit.Thisdifferenceofresultspringsfromadifferenceofapproach.

    92Ifamansinksinthiscontemplationwithoutbringingitintoreciprocalbalancewithreasonandcompassion,hewillsoonfallintoastateinwhich,quiteclearly,itwillbedifficultforhimtodemandactiveusefulnessfromhimself.Hewillsetupimmobilityofthoughtandbodyashischiefgoal,indifferenceoffeelinganddesireashisultimatebeatitude.Theconsequenceofthisdisequilibriummaybegratifyingtothemanhimself,butcannotbegratifyingtosocietyalso.Nevertheless,howeverhighsuchamysticmaysoarliketheskylark,hemustthenbefacedbytheproblemofreconcilingthetwoexistences.Thereareyogiswhoassertthattheoneblotsouttheother.Howthen,wemustaskthem,ifthemanisnolongerawareofanyothermindthantheDivineMindoranyotherlifethanGod'slife,canhebeawareofthepersonalbusinesstowhichheiscalledandtowhichhedoesattendfromhourtohour?

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    93Tothefearful,uninstructedseekereverythingconnectedwithaworldlylifeisastoponhisupwardway.Tothephilosophicallyenlightenedstudent,itisactuallyasteponhisupwardway.Heredeemstheearthlyenvironmentbythinkingrightlyaboutit,turnseveryearthlydeedintoasacramentbecauseheviewsitunderadivinelight,andseesafellowpilgrimintheworstsinner.

    94Themysticmustliveadoubleexistence,oneduringmeditationandtheotherduringwork.Thephilosopherisreleasedfromsuchanawkwardduality.Heknowsonlyoneexistencethephilosophiclife.Thedivinequalitypermeateshiswholeactivityasmuchasitpermeateshismeditativecessationfromactivity.Worktooisworshipforhim.

    95Therearethreethingsmanneedstoknowtomakehimaspirituallyeducatedman:thetruthabouthimself,hisworld,andhisGod.Themysticwhothinksitisenoughtoknowthefirstaloneandtoleaveoutthelasttwo,issatisfiedtobehalfeducated.

    96Itisnotenoughtoknowtheinternalselfasthemysticsknowit.WemustalsoknowtherealnatureoftheexternalworldbeforewecanrealizeTruth.ThismeansthatonewillseeoneselfintheAllandpossessaperfectcomprehensionwiththeAll.

    97Suffusedwithpiousfeelingasamanmightbe,upliftedinheartandbetteredincharacterasthismayleavehim,itisstillnotenoughtofulfilthehigherpurposeofhisexistence.HeneedsalsotounderstandwhatistheIdeabehindhisparticularlife,andallotherlives.

    98Theecstaticfeelingswhichcometothemysticsareemotionalandpersonalalbeittheypertaintothehigheremotionandtheyareamostexaltedpartofthepersonality.Ontheotherhand,thefeelingwhichcomestothesageisnotecstaticbutserene.Itisnotemotionalandnotlimitedtothepersonalityalone.Thecentreofthepsychologicalgravitydiffersinthetwocases.Whereasthemysticrevelsintheecstaticcomprehensionofhisinterior"I,"butisdoomedtorevelbrokenlyandintermittently,thesageisconcernedwithwhatliesbehindthat"I"thatis,theUniversalSelf,therealizationofwhichdoesnotdependuponmeditationortrancealoneandthereforeneednotbebrokenwhenmeditationortranceissuspended.

    99Realityistobefoundneitherbythinkingalonenorbynotthinkingatall.Thishighpathwhichopenstothephilosophicstudentisoneofunwaveringdeeplyabstractconcentrationofthemindinthereal,whetherthemindbethinkingornotthinking,andwhethertheindividualbeactingornotacting.

    100Ifmysticismrevealsthenatureofman,philosophyrevealsthenatureoftheuniverse.

    101Ifhehasstartedthinkinginaphilosophicmannerabouthisownlife,hewillhavedoneenough.Butifheseeksalsotowresttheuniverse'sownsecretfromit,hewillhavedonemore.

    102ThemysticseeksGodbyforsakingtheworldphysicallyorelsebyrenouncingitemotionally.Hishappiestmomentiswhenhecanwithdrawfromitintellectuallyso

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    completelythatitislostfromhisconsciousnessinanabnormaltrancestate,arapturousecstaticunionwithGodalone.Thephilosopherpassesthroughallthesestages,too,butdoesnotstopthere.Hefollowsanoppositemovementtoo.HefindsGodintheworldaswellasinhimself.

    103Thefirstgreateventfullofwonderwillbethisdiscoveryofwhatiswithinhimselfthesecondwillbehisdiscoveryofwhatiswithintheworld.ForwithinhimselfhewillfindthesoulandwithintheworldhewillfindtheworkingofGod.HewilldiscoverthatitisliteralfactthateverythinghappensunderthelawsandforcesoftheHigherPower,andthatthisisastrueofhumanlifeasitisofplantlifeandanimallife.Hewillfindthattheinfinitewisdomis,everywhereandeverywhen,takingcareofeveryhumanbeingthatthisincludeshimselfandthosewhoarenearanddeartohimandthatthereforehehasnoneedtoworryweaklyordespairinglyoverthem,fortheexperienceswhichtheygetarethosewhichtheyneedorearn.Whenheisnolongeranxiousabouthimself,howcanhebeanxiousaboutotherpeople?WhenhehascommittedhisownlifetoGod,whatelsecanhedoaboutotherpeople'slivesthancommittheirstoGodalso?Hefindsthateveryoneisherenotforthebody'ssakebutforthesoul'ssake,andthatthisistherealcriterionwherewithtomeasureallhappeningsandallexperiences.Hewillnolongerlethimselfbedeceivedbyappearances,nolongerleteventsrobhimofhisinwardpeace.HewillremainpassivetotheHigherPower,obedienttoitsleading,andreceptivetoitsprompting.Itwillcarryhimserenelyandsustainhimadequately.

    104Isitpossibletounitebothways,theactivelifeintheworldoutsideandthequietlifeinthestillnesswithin,andfindnobreak,noessentialdifference,nofalsificationoftheoftstatedidea,"Godiseverywhere"?TheanswerisYes!andhasbeentestedinancientandmodernexperience."WhatistheWorld?"givesthesamereplyas"WhoamI?"Withdrawingfromthephysicalsenseworldasthemysticdoesorgoingintophysicalactionwiththesensesengagedneednotbreaktheunion,theawarenessofdivinepresence.

    105Ofcourseitisquitetruetosaythatthetruthisinsideman,thathemustsearchthere.Butitisalsotruethatthetruthisoutsidemanandinthecosmositselfbecauseheisapartofit.Whybeonesidedandrejecttheseconddirectioninfavourofthefirstorrejectthefirstinfavourofthesecond?Botharenecessarytothefullperceptionoftruth.

    106TherearemysticswhoexperiencetheOverselfinitsglowofloveandjoyoffreedom,butwithoutreceivingknowledgeofthecosmiclaws,principles,andsecrets.Thereareothermysticswhoarenotsatisfiedwiththeonealonebutseektouniteandcompleteitwiththeother.Theyarethephilosophicalmysticsforwhomthemeaningoftheselfandthemeaningoftheworldhavebecometwosidesofthesamecoin.

    107ToarriveatasimultaneousconsciousnessofbothstatesthepersonalegoandtheimpersonalOverselfispossible,andhasbeendoneintermittentlybysomepeoplesuchasmysticsandartistsorpermanentlybyphilosophers.

    108Thephilosophercannotsetthespiritapartfromthebody,northespirituallifefromtheworldlylifeforhim,theypenetrateoneanother.

    109Thematerialistseespluralityaloneandseessuperficially.Themysticinhisdeepest

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    contemplationseesSpirit(orMindalone)withoutseeingPlurality,andseesincompletely.ThephilosopherseesbothMindanditsmanifoldworldimagesasessentiallythesameandseesrightlyandfully.

    110Whatheknowsandwhatheperceiveswillharmonizewith,illustrate,orcompleteoneanother.

    111Thethinkingofthoughtsnolongerveilsspiritualbeingfromhim.Insteaditisnowanactivitywhichactsasatransparentmediumforthatbeing.

    112Othersmayturnawayindespairordisgustfromtheharshnessoftheworldlysceneshemustgazeintoandbeyondthem.Othersmayignoreorescapefromitsuglinesseshemusttakethemupintohisschemeofthings,and,taking,transcendthembyphilosophicknowledge.

    113Philosophytakesitsvotariesonaholypilgrimagefromordinarylifeinthephysicalsensesthroughmysticallifeinthesensefreedspirittoadivinizedlifebackinthesamesenses.

    114Justasthesplendoursofthesettingsunbathedinfiery,glowingcolorsmaybeprofoundlyappreciateddespiteone'sawarenessofthefactthatthesciencesoflifeandopticsexplainthesesplendoursinabald,prosaic,disenchantingwayjustasanexcellentdinnermaybeeatenwithkeenenjoymentundisturbedbyone'sknowledgethattheconstituentsofthesetemptingdisheswerereallycarbon,nitrogen,hydrogen,andsoon,sothevariedfactorswhichgotomakeupthepictureofouruniversalexistencemaybeseenandexperiencedforwhattheyarebytheintegrallydevelopedmanintheirmaterialtangibilitydespitehisdeeperawarenessoftheoverwhelmingdifferencebetweentheirsingleBasisandtheirmanifoldappearances.

    115ThehighestcontributionwhichmysticismcanmakeistoafforditsvotariesglimpsesofthatgrandsubstratumoftheuniversewhichwemaycalltheOverself.TheseglimpsesrevealItinthepureunmanifestnonphysicalessencethatItultimatelyis.TheydetachItfromthethings,creatures,andthoughtswhichmakeupthisworldofours,andshowItasItisinthebeginning,beforetheworlddreammadeitsappearance.Thusmysticismatitsfartheststretch,whichisNirvikalpasamadhi,enablesmantobringaboutthetemporarydisappearanceoftheworlddreamandcomeintocomprehensionoftheMindwithinwhich,andfromwhich,thedreamemerges.Themysticinverytruthconductsthefuneralserviceofthephysicalworldashehashithertoknownit,whichincludeshisownego.Butthisisasfarasmysticismcantakehim.Itisanilluminativeandrareexperience,butitisnottheend.ForthenexttaskwhichhemustundertakeifheistoadvanceistorelatehisexperienceofthisworldasrealwithhisexperienceoftheOverselfasreal.Andthishecandoonlybystudyingtheworld'sownnature,layingbareitsmentalisticcharacterandthusbringingitwithinthesamecircleasitssource,theMind.Ifhesucceedsindoingthisandinestablishingthisrelationcorrectly,hewillhavefinishedhisapprenticeship,ascendedtotheultimatetruth,andbecomeaphilosopher.Thenceforwardhewillnotdenytheworldbutacceptit.

    Themetaphysicianmayalsoperformthistaskandobtainanintellectualunderstandingofhimself,theworld,andtheOverself.Andhehasthisadvantageoverthemystic,thathis

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    understandingbecomespermanentwhereasthemystic'sraptabsorptionmustpass.Butifhehasnotpassedthroughthemysticalexercises,itwillremainasincompleteasanutwithoutakernel.Fortheseexercises,whenledtotheirlogicalandsuccessfulissueinNirvikalpasamadhi,providethevivifyingprincipleofexperiencewhichalonecanmakemetaphysicaltenetsreal.

    Fromallthiswemayperceivewhyitisquitecorrectforthemystictolookundistractedlywithinforhisgoal,whyhemustshutoutthedistractionsandattractionsofearthlylifeinordertopenetratethesacredprecinct,andwhysolitude,asceticism,meditation,trance,andemotionplaythemostimportantrolesinhisparticularexperience.Whatheisdoingisrightandproperathisstagebutisnotrightandproperasthelaststage.Forintheendhemustturnmetaphysician,justasthemetaphysicianmustturnmysticandjustasbothmustturnphilosopherwhoisalonecapableofinfusingthethoughtsofmetaphysicsandthefeelingsofmysticismintotheactionsofeverydaypracticallife.

    116ThismysteriousexperienceseemsalsotohavebeenknowntoDionysiustheAreopagite.Itisdefinitelyanexperienceterminatingtheprocessofmeditation,forthemysticcanthengonohigherandnodeeper.Itisvariouslycalled"theNought"intheWestandnirvikalpasamadhiintheEast.EverythingintheworldvanishesandalongwiththeworldgoesthepersonalegonothingindeedisleftexceptConsciousnessinItself.Ifanythingcanburrowunderthefoundationsoftheegoandunsettleitspresentandfuturestability,itisthisawesomeevent.But,becauseitisstillanexperience,ithasacomingandagoing.Althoughitisforeverafterremembered,amemoryisnotthefinalsettledconditionopentomanforthat,philosophymustbebroughtin.Mysticismmayremovetheegotemporarilyafterfirstlullingit,butphilosophyunderstandstheego,putsitinitsplace,itssubservientplace,sothatthemanremainsalwaysundesertedbythepureconsciousness.

    117Hecomesbygrowthofknowledgeandwidthofviews,bymetaphysicalevolutionandemotionaldiscipline,toagreatcalm.Fromthenonheneitherseekseagerlyforincarnationalexperiencenoraspiresloftilyforliberationfromit.Argumentanddiscussion,meditationandexercisesandspiritualstates,labelsandcategories,teachersandteachingsandquestsareonlyforobservation,notparticipation.Othersmaythinkhehaslapsedandshaketheirheadsinsorroworpity.Thisisnottobeusedascounselforbeginners:iffolloweditcouldonlyhinderthem.Buttopreventlimitedviews,sectarianism,andfanaticismarisingamongthem,assooftenitdoes,theycanwellbetoldoccasionallythatsuchastageexists,anditmaybetheirswhenapatientdevelopmentbringsthemtoit.

    118Thestudentwhohasreachedthisstageisforcedtoadoptanuncompromisingattitudeifheisnottostagnate.Heshutsuphisholiestbooksandputsthemaside,turnsawayfromthetraditionalinstructionofhisteacherandfleesfromtheshelteringsocietyofhermitagesorfellowstudentsintotheroughhardmaterialisticsocietywhichhehashithertodisdained.Henceforthhemustlooktonothingandnobodyoutsidehisownselfforfinalguidanceorstrength.Thatwhichheseeksmustnowbefoundwithinornotatall.Heperceivesnowthatalltechniquesandteachersarelikeasundial,whichindicatesthepresenceofthesunandmeasuresitsrelativeposition,butifonedoesnotatlastturnawayfromthedialandlookupward,thenonewillneverseeorknowthesuninitself.Tousethedialforatimeisahelptobecomepreoccupiedwithitforalltimeisahindrance.Heisnowreadytoentertheultimatepath.Fortherearetwopathswithinthequest.

    119

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    Theneedofgoingbeyondtheordinaryyogasifheistoarriveatadeeperandpurertruth,isaperceptionwhichwillforcehimtoengageinfurtherresearchaswellasindependentresearch.

    120Alltheprocessesofcreationanddissolutionaretrueonlyfromthescientificorpracticalstandpointbuttheydisappearwhenthestudentinquiresdeeplyintothem.Itisamatterofgettingrightunderstandingandthenheseestheyaremerethoughtsorimaginations.Alongtraininginrightthatis,philosophicthinkingisrequiredbeforethemindbecomeshabituatedtosuchviews.Thisisgnanayoga.Afterthathehastopractiseastillhigherkindofyogawhichgoesoninthemidstofactivityandhasnothingtodowithmeditationasordinarilyknown.Thatultimatepathgivesrealization.Hegetsglimpsesfirst,lightningflashes,whichthroughcontinuedeffortgraduallybecomestabilizedandfinallymergeintocontinuousknowledgeoftruth.

    121ThemysticwillnotcareandmaynotbeabletodosobutthephilosopherhastolearntheartofcombininghisinwardrecognitionoftheVoidwithhisoutwardactivityamongstthingswithoutfeelingtheslightestconflictbetweenboth.Suchanartisadmittedlydifficultbutitcanbelearntwithtimeandpatienceandcomprehension.Thushewillfeelinwardunityeverywhereinthisworldofwonderfulvariety,justashewillexperienceallthecountlessmutationsofexperienceasbeingpresentintheverymidstofthisunity.

    122Whatsciencecallsthe"criticaltemperature,"thatis,thetemperaturewhenasubstancesharesboththeliquidandgaseousstates,issymbolicofwhatphilosophicalmysticismcallsthe"philosophicexperience,"thatis,whenaman'sconsciousnesssharesboththeexternalworldofthefivesensesandtheinternalworldoftheemptysoul.Theordinarymysticoryogiisunabletoholdthetwostatessimultaneouslyand,quiteoften,evenunwillingtodoso,becauseofthefalseoppositionhehasbeentaughttosetupbetweenthem.

    123Thelifeofsenseandthoughtveilsthelifeofthesoulfromthenonmysticalextrovertedperson.Theraptureofecstatictranceveilstheexternalworldfromthemysticalperson.Neitherman'sconditionisfull,perfect,andcomplete.Themystic'sishigher,butheneedstoadvancestillfarthertoacontinuousbalancedstatewheretheactivityofsenseandthoughtdoesnotveiltheexternalworldfromhim,butwherebotharefeltasdifferentphasesofonedivinerealityandseenasthesameexperiencefromtwodifferentpointsofview.Suchisthephilosophicachievement.Althoughitcontainstheordinarystateitisnotlimitedtoit,andalthoughitexperiencesmysticalunionitdoesnotneedtoenterintoanabnormalconditionliketrancetodoso.Thuswhetherthephysicalworldandthethinkingintellectrevealorconcealthisrealitydependsuponwhetherornotthephilosophicinsightisbroughttobearuponthem.

    124TheInfinitecannotbesetagainstthefiniteasthoughtheywereapairofopposites.Onlythingswhichareonthesamelevelcanbeopposedtooneanother.Thesearenot.TheInfiniteincludesandcontainswithinitselfallpossiblefinites.ThepracticalimportofthistruthisthatMindcannotonlybeexperiencedintheVoidbutalsointheworld.TheRealityisnotonlytobediscoveredasitisbutalsobeneathitsphenomenaldisguises.

    125Thephilosopherissatisfiedwithanoblepeaceanddoesnotrunaftermysticalecstasies.Whereasotherpathsoftendependuponanemotionalismthatperisheswiththe

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    disappearanceoftheprimalmomentumthatinspiredit,orwhichdissolveswiththedissolutionofthefirstenthusiasticecstasiesthemselves,herethereisadeeperandmoredependableprocess.Whatmustbeemphasizedisthatmostmysticalaspirantshaveaninitialoroccasionalecstasy,andtheyaresostirredbytheeventthattheynaturallywanttoenjoyitpermanently.Thisisbecausetheyliveunderthecommonerrorthatasuccessfulandperfectmysticisonewhohassucceededinstabilizingecstasy.Thatthemysticiscontenttorestontheleveloffeelingalone,withoutmakinghisfeelingselfreflectiveaswell,partlyaccountsforsuchanerror.Italsoarisesbecauseofincompetentteachersorshallowteaching,leadingthemtostrivetoperformwhatisimpracticableandtoyearntoattainwhatisimpossible.Ourwarningisthatthisisnotpossible,andthathoweverlongamysticmayenjoythese"spiritualsweets,"theywillassuredlycometoanendoneday.Thesternlogicoffactscallsforstressonthispoint.Toooftenhebelievesthatthisisthegoal,andthathehasnothingmoreaboutwhichtotroublehimself.Indeed,hewouldregardanyfurtherexertionsasasacrilegiousdenialofthepeace,asadegradingdescentfromtheexaltationofthisdivineunion.Helongsfornothingmorethanthegoodfortuneofbeingundisturbedbytheworldandofbeingabletospendtherestofhislifeinsolitarydevotiontohisinwardecstasy.Forthephilosophicmystic,however,thisisnottheterminusbutonlythestartingpointofafurtherpath.Whatphilosophysaysisthatthisisonlyapreliminarymysticalstate,howeverremarkableandblissfulitbe.Thereisamorematuredstatethatofgnosisbeyondit.Ifthestudentexperiencesparoxysmsofecstasyatacertainstageofhisinnercourse,hemayenjoythemforatime,butlethimnotlookforwardtoenjoyingthemforalltime.Thetruegoalliesbeyondthem,andheshouldnotforgetthatallimportantfact.Hewillnotfindfinalsalvationinthemysticalexperienceofecstasy,buthewillfindanexcellentandessentialsteptowardssalvationtherein.Hewhowouldregardrapturousmysticalemotionasbeingthesameasabsolutetranscendentalinsightismistaken.Suchamistakeispardonable.Soabruptandstrikingisthecontrastwithhisordinarystatethatheconcludesthatthisconditionofhyperemotionalblissistheconditioninwhichheisabletoexperiencereality.Hesurrendershimselftothebliss,theemotionaljoywhichheexperiences,wellsatisfiedthathehasfoundGodorhissoul.Buthisexcitedfeelingsaboutrealityarenotthesameasthesereneexperienceofrealityitself.Thisiswhatamysticfindsdifficulttocomprehend.Yet,untilhedoescomprehendit,hewillnotmakeanygenuineprogressbeyondthisstage.

    126Wemaywelcomeandappreciatetheradiantecstasyofthemystic'striumph,butweoughtnottoappraiseitatotherthanitsproperworth.Ifwebecomesocompletelysatisfiedwithitthatweseeknohighergoal,thenourverysatisfactionclosesthedoortothepossibilityofrealizingtheOverself.Onlythesagethatis,themasterofphilosophy,towhichmetaphysicsisbutanecessarystagecanappreciatethecalmwhichcomeswithmysticalbliss.Thepeacewhichmysticismyieldsisgenuine,butfitful,foritcanonlythriveinanatmosphereofconstantexaltation.Andwheneachexaltationintermittentlypassesasitmustourmysticisleftveryflat.Itisphilosophyalonethatexistsintheveryantithesisofsuchanatmosphereofcomingsandgoingstherefore,italoneyieldspermanentpeace.Theyogimayshuthiseyesandpasshistimeinpleasantmeditations,butforlargechunksofhisdayhewillbeforcedtoopenthemagainandattendtophysicalmatters.Thentheworldwillconfronthim,pressingforaplaceinhisschemeofthings,anddemandrationalinterpretation.Hehasgottoexplainthisantithesisbetweenselfandnotself,between"I"andtheworld.

    127Theyogiwhoachievesthecapacitytobewithoutthoughtsforacertainperiodoftimeisstillthevictimoftime,unlesshehassoughttounderstanditsmeaning,itsnature,andaboveallwhatliesbehindit.Thislatterisaphilosophicwork.Ifitisusedtosupportyogaorifyogaisusedtopreparethewayforit,aproperrelationshipisestablished

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    otherwisewemayhavethespectacleofSwamiswhocometotheWestafterlengthymeditationsandbegintobetraysignsoferraticconductsignswhichIdonotneedtodescribe.

    128Philosophybringstheknowledgeofthe"I"asitreallyis(inthedeepestsense)intotheconsciousnessofaman.Mysticismdoesthesame.Howcouldanythinghigherberealizedbyanyhuman,concerningthingshuman,thanwhatistaughtinboththesefields?Thenwhatmoredoesphilosophyoffer?Itoffersafullerresultandcompletestheworkbyincludingtheworld.

    129ItisherethatthevitaldifferencebetweentheUltimateandyogicpathsbecomesapparent.RamanaMaharshitookthestandwhichnearlyallyogistake:thatis,weneedhavenothingtodowiththeaffairsoftheworldwhichwehaverenounced.Letussitquietlyandenjoyourinnerpeace.Butontheultimatepaththegoalisquitedifferent.Webeginafterhavingpassedthroughyoga,andhavingfoundpeace.Thenweseektruth.ThelatterwhenfoundrevealsthattheOverselfispresentinallmennay,allcreaturesastheirultimatebeing.WenotonlyknowthisbutFEELit.Sowecannotremainindifferenttothelivesofothers.Thereforeandnowisrevealedagreatsecretwhenweattainliberationfromtheendlessturningwheelofreincarnation,wevoluntarilyreturnagainandagaintoearthsolelytohelpothers,mitigatesuffering,andreduceignorance.Solongasonecreaturelivesinignoranceandpain,solongatrueadeptMUSTreturntoearth.ButthisappliesonlytotheadeptsinWISDOM.Theadeptinyogadoesnotwanttoreturntoearthagain,doesnotfeelforothers,andishappyinenjoyinghisexaltedpeace.Heisquiteentitledtothisbecausehehasworkedforit.ButhehasnotattainedTruth,whichisahigherstage.Thereisatremendousdifferenceinthegoalweseek.Theyogi'saimisasublimeselfishnessthetrueadept'sisaburningdesiretoservehumanity.Thesuccessfulyogidwellsingreatpeaceandthatsufficesforhim.Neverthelessyogaisanessentialstagethroughwhichallmustpass,formindmustbecontrolled,sharpened,andpurifiedandpeacemustbeattainedbeforeheisfittoundertakethegreatinquiryintowhatisTruth.

    130Throughyogaormeditation,onearrivesatmindcontrol.Thenhetakeshissharpened,concentratedmindandappliesittotheunderstandingoftheworld.Thushediscoversthattheworldofmatterisultimatelyspaceandthatallmaterialformsaremerelyideasinhismind.Hediscovers,also,thathisinmostselfisonewiththisspace,becauseitisformless.Thendoesheperceivetheunityofalllife,andonlythenhashefoundTruththewholetruth.Allthismustbediscoveredbyexperience,notbyintellectualtheory,andherehispowertocontrolthoughtsbecomesimportant...firsttomakethemindabsolutelystill,thentousethisexceedinglysharpenedmindtosurveyandpenetratethetruthofthings.ThatiswhyneithermysticismnoryogacanleaddirectlytoTruth.TheyareonlypreparationsforthehigherpaththatdoesleadtoTruth.

    131Itisthedutyofanadvancedmysticwhowishestoattaingreaterheightsforhimselfandbeofgreaterservicetootherstotryearnestlytograduatetotheultimatepath.Thisdoesnotdemandthathegiveupanyofhismysticalpracticesorbeliefs,butmerelythatheamplifyandsupplementthem.Hemustfirstdevelopthetrinityofhead,heart,andhand,orreason,intuition,andaction,andthenbringthemallintoproperbalance.Ifinadditionheisinspiredbytheidealofservice,hewillattracttohimselftheunseenhelpofthosewhoarealsodedicatedtosuchservice.

    132

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    Thehiddenteachingstartsandfinisheswithexperience.Everymanmustbeginhismentallifeasaseekerbynotingthefactthatheisconsciousofanexternalenvironment.Hewillproceedintimetodiscoverthatitisanorderedone,thatNatureisthemanifestationofanorderlyMind.HediscoversintheendthatconsciousnessofthisMindbecomestheprofoundestfactofhisinternalexperience.

    133ThefirststepistodiscoverthatthereisaPresence,aPower,aLife,aMind,Being,unique,notmadeorbegot,withoutshape,unseenandunheard,everywhereandalwaysthesame.Thesecondstepistodiscoveritsrelationshiptotheuniverseandtooneself.

    134Twothingshavetobelearnedinthisquest.Thefirstistheartofmindstilling,ofemptyingconsciousnessofeverythoughtandformwhatsoever.ThisismysticismorYoga.Thedisciple'sascentshouldnotstopatthecontemplationofanythingthathasshapeorhistory,nameorhabitation,howeverpowerfullyhelpfulthismayhaveformerlybeentotheascentitself.OnlyinthemysteriousvoidofPureSpirit,intheundifferentiatedMind,lieshislastgoalasamystic.Thesecondistograsptheessentialnatureoftheegoandoftheuniverseandtoobtaindirectperceptionthatbotharenothingbutaseriesofideaswhichunfoldthemselveswithinourminds.ThisisthemetaphysicsofTruth.ThecombinationofthesetwoactivitiesbringsabouttherealizationofhistrueBeingastheeverbeautifulandeternallybeneficentOverself.Thisisphilosophy.

    135Intheordinarystate,manisconsciousofhimselfasapersonalthinkingandphysicalentity.Inthemysticaltrancelikestate,helosesthisconsciousnessandisawareoftheDivinealone.Inthephilosophicstate,hereturnstotheordinaryconsciousnessbutwithoutlettinggoofthedivinerone.

    136WheneverIhaveusedtheterm"thecentreofhisbeing,"Ihavereferredtoastateofmeditation,toanexperiencewhichisfeltatacertainstage.Theveryartofmeditationisadrawinginwardsandthefiner,themoredelicate,thesubtlerthisindrawingbecomes,thecloseritistothiscentralpointofconsciousness.Butfromthepointofviewofphilosophy,meditationanditsexperiencesarenottheultimategoalalthoughtheymayhelpinpreparingoneforthatgoal.Inthatgoalthereisnokindofcentretobefeltnoranycircumferenceeitheroneiswithoutbeinglocalizedanywherewithreferencetothebody,oneisbothinthebodyandintheOverself.Thereisthennocontradictionbetweenthetwo.

    137Thebodybelongstoourfieldofconsciousness,butweneednotlimitourselvessolelytoit.Wecanforexamplebringintoexperiencehighermentalstateswherethebodyandthememoryofitplayonlyalittlepart.Thisindeedisoneofthepurposesofyoga,butitisnotnecessarilyapurposeofphilosophy.Thephilosopheriscontenttoletthebodybethere,providedhecanbringitalongsideandwithinhisotherconsciousnessoftheOverself.

    138Manycomplainthattheyareunableinmeditationsuccessfullytobringtheiractivethoughtstoanend.IntheancientIndianartofyoga,thiscessationcallednirvikalpasamadhiinSanskritisplacedasthehigheststagetobereachedbythepractitioner.Thissituationmustbeviewedfromtwoseparateanddistinctstandpoints:fromthatofyogaandfromthatofphilosophy.WouldbephilosophersseektobecomeestablishedinthatinsightintoRealitywhichiscalledTruth.Intuitivefeelingisahighermanifestationof

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    man'sfaculties.Solongasthefeelingitselfremainsunobstructedbyillusions,andafterincessantreflection,inquiry,study,remembrance,reverence,aspiration,trainingofthought,andpurificationamanfindstheinsightdawninginhismind,hemaynotneedtopractisemeditation.Hemaydosoandhewillfeelthesatisfactionandtranquillitywhichcomesfromit.Thosewhobecomesufficientlyproficientinyoga,eveniftheyachievethecompletecessationofthoughts,shouldstilltakeupthepursuitofunderstandingandinsight.Iftheyarecontentwiththeirattainment,theycanremainforyearsenjoyingthebliss,thetranquillity,thepeaceofameditationalstatebutthisdoesnotmeanknowledgeinitsfullestmeaning.

    139Thenotion,uncriticallylearnedandsedulouslytaughtbyseveralHindusects,includingamodernonewhichisactivelyproselytizingtheWest,thatacriterionforwhetheramanhasattainedthehigheststateishisabilitytoremainconstantlyimmersedinthetrance,isnotendorsedbyphilosophy.Thesesects,beingofareligiomysticorder,haveyettoreachahigherstandpoint.

    140Thephilosopherrejectsthedemandeithertoaccepttheworldortorenounceit.Forhimthisisunrealistic.Hedoesneitherofthesethings.Onlythosewhoaremuchtooignorantoftherealnatureoftheworldcanconcernthemselveswithsuchademand.

    141Theyogiseeksreleasefromthechainsofrebirthashisobjective.ThephilosopherknowsthatthisresultwillfollowautomaticallyasabyproductofhisownobjectivetheReal.

    142Carryinginhimselfwhateverhehasfoundinstudyandmeditationandprayer,hereturnstotheworldtogainexperienceoflifeandtoapplyinpracticewhathehaslearned.

    143Theknowledgegotfrommetaphysics,theintuitivepeacegainedfrommeditation,mustnowbeaccompaniedbypracticalworkdonewiselyandaltruisticallyintheworldtoexpressboth.Thestudentmustevokethestrengthtodescendintothissharplycontrastingactivity.Thequestisnotasingletrackbutratheratripletrackaffair.Hemusttravelalongitwithhisintelligence,hisintuition,andhisdeeds."AllspeakoftheOpenPath,onlyrareonesenterthecomplexpath,"wroteShahLatif,theeighteenthcenturySufipoet.Whenrationalthoughtandmysticalfeelingandselfalienatedactionarethusintegratedintoone,whenlifebecomesasincereandsuccessfulwhole,itbecomesphilosophic.Itmaybethatsuchacombinationofqualitieshasbeenrareinthepast,butitiscertainthatitwillbenecessaryinthefuture.Theworldwillneedmenandwomenasleaderswhohavetheirrootsdeepdowninthelifeofthedivineselfbutwhohavetheirintellectsverymuchalert,theirhandsverymuchalive,andtheirheartsverymuchexpanded.

    144Hehasnexttosubmithimselfsocompletelytothisexperiencethatitsinnerlightbecomeshisouterlife.

    145Itmustnotbethoughtthatthisisamodeoflivingwhichishalfintheworldandhalfoutofit.RatherisitamodewhichknowsnodifferencebetweentheworldandtheSpiritallisofonepiece.

    146Itisanaturalselfcontrolwhichcomesintoplaywithoutanywilledeffort,spontaneously

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    andeasily.Itisoneconsequenceofachievingthethirdstageofphilosophicquesting,completingandapplyingtoactiveeverydaylivingthefruitsofthesecondstage,contemplation.Egoandanimalfallfarbackinthehumantowheretheybelong.

    147Natureisguidingustowardaprogressiveselfenlargement,not,assomethink,towardselfattenuation.

    148Lifeisnotamatterofmeditationmethodsexclusively.Theirstudyandpracticeisnecessary,butletthembeputintheirproperplace.Bothmysticalunionandmetaphysicalunderstandingarenecessarystepsonthisquest,becauseitisonlyfromthemthatthestudentcanmounttothestillhighergradeofuniversalbeingrepresentedbythesage.Forwenotonlyneedpsychologicalexercisestotraintheinnerbeing,butalsopsychologicalexercisestotrainthepointofview.Butthestudentmustnotstayinmysticismashemustnotstayinmetaphysics.Inbothcasesheshouldtakeallthattheyhavetogivehimbutstrugglethroughandcomeoutontheotherside.ForthemysticismofemotionisnottheshrinewhereIsisdwellsbutonlythevestibuletotheshrine,andthemetaphysicianwhocanonlyseeinreasonthesupremefacultyofmanhasnotreflectedenough.LethimgofartherandheshallfindthatitsownsupremeachievementistopointbeyonditselftothatprincipleorMindwhenceittakesitsrise.Mysticismneedsthecheckofphilosophicdiscipline.Metaphysicsneedsthevivificationofmysticalmeditation.Bothmustbearfruitininspiredactionortheyarebuthalfborn.Innootherwaythanthroughactscantheyrisetotheloftystatusoffacts.

    Therealizationofwhatmanishereforistherealizationofafusedandunifiedlifewhereinalltheelementsofaction,feeling,andthoughtarevigorouslypresent.Itisnot,contrarytothebeliefofmystics,aconditionofprofoundentrancementalone,nor,contrarytothereasoningsofmetaphysicians,aconditionofintellectualclarityalone,andstillless,contrarytotheopinionsoftheologians,aconditionofcompletefaithinGodalone.Weareheretolive,whichmeanstothink,feel,andactalso.Wehavenotonlytocurbthoughtinmeditation,butalsotowhipitinreflection.Wehavenotonlytocontrolemotioninselfdiscipline,butalsotoreleaseitinlaughter,relaxation,affection,andpleasure.Wehavenotonlytoperceivethetransiencyandillusionofmaterialexistence,butalsotowork,serve,strive,andmovestrenuously,andthusjustifyphysicalexistence.WehavetolearnthatwhenwelookatwhatwereallyarewestandaloneintheawedsolitudeoftheOverself,butwhenwelookatwherewenowareweseenotisolatedindividualsbutmembersofathronginghumancommunity.Thehallmarkofalivingman,therefore,oughttobeanintegralandinseparableactivityofheart,head,andhand,itselfoccurringwithinthemysteriousstillnessandsilenceofitsinspirer,theOverself.

    Themistakeofthelowermysticiswhenhewouldsetupafinalgoalinmeditationitself,whenhewouldstopatthe"lettinggo"oftheexternalworldwhichisquiteproperlyanessentialprocessofmysticism,andwhenhewouldlethisreasoningfacultyfallintoapermanentstupormerelybecauseitisrighttodosoduringthemomentsofmentalquiet.When,however,helearnstounderstandthattheantinomyofmeditationandactionbelongsonlytoanintermediatestageofthisquest,whenhecomeslatertothecomprehensionthatdetachmentfromtheworldisonlytobesoughttoenablehimtomovewithperfectfreedomamidthethingsoftheworldandnottofleethem,andwhenheperceivesatlonglastthatthereasonitselfisGodgiventosafeguardhisjourneyandlatertobringhisrealizationintoselfconsciousnessthenheshallhavetravelledfromthesecondtothethirddegreeinthisfreemasonryofultimatewisdom.Forthatwhichhadearlierhinderedhisadvancenowhelpsitsuchistheparadoxwhichhemustunravelifhewouldelevatehimselffromthesatisfactionsofmysticismtotheperceptionsofphilosophy.Ifhismeditationsonceestrangedhimfromtheworld,nowtheybringhim

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    closertoit!IfformerlyhecouldfindGodonlywithinhimself,nowhecanfindnothingelsethatisnotGod!HehasadvancedfromthechrysalisstateofXtothebutterflystateofY.

    Iftherebeanyworthinthisteaching,suchliesinitsequalappealtoexperienceandtoreason.Forthatinwardbeatitudewhichitfinallybringsissuperiortoanyotherthatmundanemanhasfeltand,bereftofallviolentemotionitselfthoughitbe,paradoxicallycastsallviolentemotionsofjoyintheshade.Whenwecomprehendthatthisteachingestablishesasfactwhatthesubtlestreasoningpointstointheory,revealsinman'sownlifethepresenceofthatOverselfwhichreflectiondiscoversasfromaremotedistance,weknowthathereatlonglastissomethingfitforamodernman.Theagitationsoftheheartandthetroublingsoftheheadtaketheirdyingbreaths.

    Insight

    149Theterm"insight"hasaspecialapplicationinphilosophy.Itsresultsarestampedwithacertitudebeyondmerebelief,betterthanlogicaldemonstration,superiortolimitedsenseobservation.

    150Philosophyseeksnotonlytoknowwhatisbestinlifebutalsotoloveit.Itwantstofeelaswellasthink.Thetruth,beingabovethecommonformsofthesefunctions,canbegraspedonlybyahigherfunctionthatincludes,fuses,andtranscendsthematoneandthesametimeinsight.Inhumanlifeatitspresentstageofdevelopment,thenearestactivitytothisoneistheactivityofintuition.Fromitsuncommonandinfrequentvisitations,wemaygathersomefaintechoofwhatthiswonderfulinsightis.

    151Intuitionknowsearthlytruthwithouttheinterventionofreasoning,whileinsightknowsdivinetruthinthesamedirectway.

    152"Intuition"hadcometoloseitspristinevalueforme.Icastaboutforabetteroneandfounditin"insight."ThistermIassignedtothehighestknowingfacultyofsagesandwasthusabletotreattheterm"intuition"assomethinginferiorwhichwassometimesamazinglycorrectbutnotinfrequentlyhopelesslywronginitsguidance,reports,orpremonition.IfurtherendeavouredtostatewhattheoldAsiaticsageshadlongagostated,thatitwaspossibletounfoldafacultyofdirectinsightintothenatureoftheOverself,intothesupremerealityoftheuniverse,thatthiswasthehighestkindofintuitionpossibletoman,andthatitdidnotconcernitselfwithlesserrevelations,suchasgivingthenameofahorselikelytowintomorrow'srace,arevelationwhichthekindofintuitionwehearsomuchaboutissometimesabletodo.

    153ThereisanirreduciblePrincipleofBeingbehindallotherbeings,anUnconditionedPowerbehindalllesserandlimitedpowers,afinalRealitywhichwasneverbornorputtogether.Callitwhatyouwill,youcanneitherdefinenordescribeitadequately:mendonotperceiveitbecausetheydonothavethenecessaryfacultyforperceivingit,forthatisafacultywhichhasnothingtodowiththeaffairsoftheirlittleegoanditslittleworld.Buttheycanawakenthisinsight,nurtureit,developit.

    154

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    ButiftheUltimateisforeverbeyondhumangrasp,somesuggestionaboutitsnatureisnotbeyondthegraspofhumanintuition.Hewhohasdevelopedhimselfsufficientlytoreceiveunhinderedsuchasuggestionisamanofinsight.

    155Allmetaphysicalstudyandallmysticalexercisesarebutpreparationsforthisflashofrealityacrosstheskyofconsciousnesswhichisheretermedinsight.Thelatteristhereforethemostimportantexperiencewhichawaitsahumanbeingonthisearth.Ifmetaphysicsormysticismisregardedasanendinitselfandnotasapreliminary,thenitsfollowermisseswhatliesatthecoreofone'slife.

    156Insightmayapparentlybebornsuddenly,butitisreallytheculminatingstageofalongpreviousdevelopment.

    157Itflashesforthoutofthedarknessandmustbeseen.Whereasabookcontainingnewandtremendousrevelationsoftruthmaybereadbutitsmeaningsnotseenbecausenotunderstood,here,onthecontrary,toseeistounderstand.Why?Becauseitisalsotobe.

    158Suchistheoverwhelmingcertitudeofphilosophicinsightthatitdoesnotneedanyothersupporttojustifyitstruthforitself.Itspossessormay,ifhewishes,forthesakeofothers,putinsuchasupportwhenattemptingtocommunicatewiththeminwords:butforhimselfitisnotatallnecessary.Itisinaclassentirelybyitselfandleavesthepossessorwithsuchawe,suchafeelingofhomagetoitsrealityandtruth,thathewillbeloathtomentionitinanyordinarygatheringofmen.

    159ReasonmovescontinuouslyaroundtheideaoftheOverselfwhereasinsightentersitdirectly.

    160InTheHiddenTeachingBeyondYogaImostunfortunatelygavetheimpressionthatthehighertruthwasonlytobegotasanunderstandingincontrastwiththemystic'srealization,whichwasonlyanexperience.WithinafewweeksofitspublicationIwroteandissuedan"Appendix"toclearupthismatterandhaditincorporatedintheprintedtextinallfurthereditions.Moreover,inthesequel,TheWisdomoftheOverselfIreturnedagaintothesamepoint,explainingagainthatthephilosophicinsightisafusionofbothknowledgeandrealization,understandingandexperience.

    161Insightistheflowerofreasonandnotitsnegation.(p.277)

    162Insightcanonlysupervenewhenthinkingconsiderationhasfinisheditsworkandrelinquisheditseffortinfavourofanultramysticalprocess.

    163Whentheformmakingactivityofthemindisbroughttoastandstillbythecombinedtwofoldprocessofyogaandenquiry,insightintotheminditselfcanthenbeobtained,butnotbefore.

    164Whattheintellectformulatesasopinion,belief,orobservationarisesoutofitsownmovementinthinking.Whattheinsightexperiencesasbeingarisesoutoftheintellect's

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    utterstillnesssothatitpermitsitselftobereplacedbythehigherfacultywhichalonecanknowreality.

    165Theintellectisnotabletogetthiskindofknowledge,notabletogainaccesstothishigherdimension.Butwhatisdeniedtoitisgrantedtoanotherofman'sfacultiesinsight.True,thisisstillonlyalatentoneinnearlyallmen.Butitisthereand,withtheOverself'sgrace,canbeunfolded.

    166Insightisnotaworkofthelogicalreason.Yetthekeenestreasoningispresentinit.Itisnotmerelyamovementoftheemotions.Yettheheartelementisequallypresentinit.

    167Thephilosopher'sinsightisnotonlysublime,likeeveryothermystic's:itisalsoprecise.

    168Itisnotenoughtoattainknowledgeofthesoulanymysticmaydothat.Itisnecessarytoattainclearknowledge.Onlythephilosophicmysticmaydothat.Thisemphasisonclarityisimportant.Itimpliesaremovalofalltheobstructionsinfeeling,thecomplexesinmind,andobfuscationsinegowhichpreventit.Whenthisisdone,theaspirantbeholdstruthasitreallyis.

    169Insightintotruthcomesfromaregionwhichmetaphysicscannotenter.Neverthelesshisinsightshouldbeabletosquarewiththereasonandappealtotheheart.

    170Hewhopossessesinsightdoesnothavetouseargumentsandreachconclusions.Thetruthisthere,selfevident,insidehimselfashimself,forhisinnerbeinghasbecomeonewithit.

    171Insightpossessesforthesagethehighestdegreeofthatinstantaneouscertaintyoftheirownexistencepossessedbyothermen.

    172Theordinarymetaphysiciancanformnopreciseandimpeccableideaoftruthwithouttheguidanceofthephilosopher'sinsight,orifhedoesitispurelyaspeculativeone.Suchinsightremainsthehighestnorm,thefinalcriterion,opentomankind.

    173Becausethephilosophicexperienceisthesupremehumanexperience,itexplainsandmakesunderstandablealltheothers.

    174Weneednotbeafraidofdesertingreasonwhenithasfinallyfulfilleditsloftyoffice.Fortheinsightforwhichweexchangeitisnotreallyopposedtoitbutimplementsit.Thatwhichreasondescribesastheindefinableandinfinitepurenondualmindisactualizedbyinsight.

    175Itisoutoftheinterplayofmeditation,metaphysics,andaltruisticactionthatinsightisunfolded.Nosingleelementwillalonesuffice:theconjunctionofallthreeisneededandthenonlycaninsightemerge.Wecannotintheendescapefromthiscomplexityoflife.Themetaphysicianwhohasnotbalancedhisovermuchthinkingwithricherfeeling,the

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    yogiwhohasnotbroughthiscontemplativetendencyintobetterequilibriumwithaltruisticaction,sufferseventuallyfrompsychicillhealthandexternalfailures.Forheisonlyonethirdoronehalfalive.

    176Whenthisknowledgebecomesafusionofthoughtandfeeling,intuitionandmeditation,itburstsoutasinsight.Thisisextremelyclear,finallyestablished,andcertainlybalanced.Whenadjustedtoeverydaylivingitisnaturalized.Thereisthennohighersatisfactionfortheself,nonoblerethicwhichstaysinsidewisdom,andnomorereligiouswaytoworshipGod.Inprofitinghimselfheprofitshumanityalso.Forwhathashappenedinhismindwillandmustaffectothermindstoo.

    177Ifamanistorisetothephilosophicinsight,hewillfinditthroughintellectandfeeling,intelligenceandintuition,mysticalexperienceanddeeppenetrationintoconsciousnesshisownandtheworld's.

    178Sucharevolutionaryacquisitionasinsightmustnecessarilyprovetobeinaman'slifecanonlybedevelopedbyovercomingallthetremendousforceofhabitualwrongthinking,byneutralizingallthetremendousweightofhabitualwrongfeeling,andbycounteractingallthetremendousstrengthofhabitualwrongdoing.Inshort,thefamiliarpersonal"I"musthavethegroundcutfromunderitsfeet.Thisisdonebythethreefolddiscipline.Thecombinedthreefoldtechniqueconsistsofmetaphysicalreflection,mysticalmeditation,andconstantremembranceinthemidstofdisinterestedactiveservice.Thefulluseandbalancedexerciseofeveryfunctionisneedful.Althoughthesethreeelementshaveherebeenisolatedonebyoneforthepurposeofclearerintellectualstudy,itmustberememberedthatinactuallifethestudentshouldnotattempttoisolatethem.Suchadivisionisanartificialone.Hewhotakesforhisprovincethiswholebusinessoftruthseekingandgainsthisroundedallcomprehensiveviewwillnolongerbesoonesidedastosetupaparticularpathasbeingtheonlywaytosalvation.Onthecontrary,hewillseethatsalvationisanintegralmatter.Itcannomorebeattainedbymeremeditationalone,forexample,thanbymereimpersonalactivityaloneitcannomorebereachedbyevadingthelessonsofeverydayexternallivingthanbyevadingthesuppressionofsuchexternalitywhichmeditationrequires.Whereasmetaphysicsseekstoliftusuptothesuperphysicalideabythinking,whereasmeditationseekstoliftusupbyintuition,whereasethicsseekstoraiseustoitbypracticalgoodness,artseekstodothesamebyfeelingandappreciatingbeauty.Philosophyinitswonderfulbreadthandbalanceembracesandsynthesizesallfourandfinallyaddstheircopingstone,insight.

    179Rightconduct,rightmeditation,rightmetaphysicsareallessentialtothebirthofthetruestinsightandareallinvolvedinrealization.Theymustallpervadeandperfectlybalanceeachother.

    180Thesethreeeffortstodevelop,tobalance,andtofusethequalitiesonceachievedandperfected,yieldinsight.

    181Whenacertainbalanceofforcesisachieved,somethinghappensthatcanonlybeproperlycalled"thebirthofinsight."

    182Intheilluminationthatspontaneouslyfollowsthebalancethatisreachedwhencompletenessofdevelopmentitselfisreached,manfindshisreallove,hismostintense

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    gratification.

    183Philosophymustcriticallyabsorbthecategoriesofmetaphysics,mysticism,andpracticality.Foritunderstandsthatinthequestoftruththecooperationofallthreewillnotonlybehelpfulandprofitabletoeachotherbutisalsonecessarytoitself.Foronlyaftersuchabsorption,onlyafterithastravelledthroughthemallcanitattainwhatisbeyondthemall.Thedecisivepointofthisquestisreachedafterthecooperationbetweenallthreeactivitiesattainssuchapitchthattheybecomefusedintoasingleallcomprehensiveonewhichitselfdiffersfromthemincharacterandqualities.Forthewholetruthwhichisthenrevealedisnotmerelyacompositeone.Itnotonlyabsorbsthemallbuttranscendsthemall.Whenwaterisbornoutoftheunionofoxygenandhydrogen,wemaysayneitherthatitisthesameasthesimplesumtotalofbothnorthatitisentirelydifferentfromboth.Itpossessespropertieswhichtheyinthemselvesdonotatallpossess.Wemayonlysaythatitincludesandyettranscendsthem.Whenphilosophicinsightisbornoutoftheunionofintellectualreasoning,mysticalfeeling,andaltruisticdoing,wemaysayneitherthatitisonlythetotalizationofthesethreethingsnorthatitisutterlyremotefromthem.Itcomprehendsthemallandyetitselfextendsfarbeyondthemintoahigherorderofbeing.Itisnotonlythatthephilosophersynthesizesthesetriplefunctions,thatinoneandthesameinstanthisintellectunderstandstheworld,hisheartfeelsatendersympathytowardsit,andhiswillismovedtoactionforthetriumphofgood,butalsothatheiscontinuouslyconsciousofthatinfiniterealitywhich,initspurity,nothinking,noemotion,andnoactioncanevertouch.

    184Insightisafunctionoftheentirepsycheandnotofanysinglepartofit.

    185Insightisnotmerelytheresultofweddingintuitionwithreason,althoughthisisanessentialprerequisitetoitsbirth,butactuallysomethingthatarisesofitsownaccordthroughtheoperationofahigherpower.SuchanoperationiscalledGraceandreligiousdevoteesorpractisingmysticsdogetanexperienceofitslowerphases.

    186Theordinarymysticalinsightisalsoatranscendentalonebutthereisthisdifference,thatitisnotpure,itisalwaysmixedupwithanemotionorathought.Philosophicalinsightisutterlypure.

    187The"natural"philosophicattainmentgivesinsightasacontinuitywhereasmeditationgivesitasaninterruption.More,itsattitudesaresorelaxed,itsoperationssoeffortless,itsoutlooksocarefree,thatthosewhohavetoworkhardtogetthetemporaryenlightenmentknowthatnothingelseinlifehasthesameimportance,thesamevalue.

    188Wherewespeakeithermetaphysicallyormeditationallyoftheexperienceofpureconsciousness,wemeanconsciousnessuncolouredbytheego.

    189Insightrevealsthegoodness,beauty,power,andstillnessoftheInnerRealitywhencethisworldofturmoilandstrifehasemerged,andwhichcannotbedraggeddowntothatworld.However,theordinaryfacultiesofthought,feeling,andactingcanbesoprofoundlyaffectedbytheexperienceofattaininginsightthattheywillthenseeallproblemsinadifferentlight.Thus,practicalhelpfollowsindirectlyinthis,aswellasinotherways.

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    190Misunderstandingabouttheusefulnessofinsightregardingmundaneaffairsiseasilycleared.Itislikebringingaprintedpagebeforealamp:thelamp'slightisnotconcernedwiththeindividualwords,butratherclarifiesthewholeofwhatappearsonthepage.Similarly,althoughinsightisnotconcernedwiththelesserfaculties,theilluminationitprovidesenablesthelattertodealfarmoreeffectivelywitheverydayaffairs.

    191Whencontactbetweenthelightandtheeyeisestablished,theresultantactofseeingisaninstantaneousaffair.WhencontactbetweentheRealandtheinsightisestablished,theresultantenlargementofconsciousnessisequallyimmediate.

    192Thinkingwillcometoanend,butnotconsciousness.

    193Hisunderstandingbecomesextraordinarilylucid,asifapowerfullighthadbeenthrownuponthefieldofConsciousness.

    194Itisalllikeagiganticdream,witheveryhumaninsertinghisownprivatedreaminsidethepublicone.Adoublespellhastobebrokenbeforerealitycanbeglimpsedthespellwhichtheworldlaysuponusandthatwhichselflaysuponus.Themanwhohascompletelyawakenedfromthisspellisthemanwhohasgainedcompleteinsight.Thisfacultyisnothingotherthansuchfullwakefulness.Itisimmenselydifficulttoattain,whichiswhysofewofthedreamerseverwakeupatallandwhysomanywillnotevenlistentotherevelationsoftheawakenedones.However,Natureteachesushereaselsewherenottoletpatiencebreakdown.Thereisplentyoftimeinherbag.Lifeisanevolutionaryprocess.Menwillbegintostirintheirsleeperraticallybutincreasingly.

    195Onthehighestplaneallinsightsareone.

    196SeeChapter55ofLaoTzuwherehedefines"insight"alsoChapter16:"ToknowtheEternaliscalledInsight."

    197EventheSouthernBuddhistPalitextsadmitthattruth(Dharma)isattakkavcarathatis,notattainablebyreasonalonebutisfinallyreachedbySamadhithatis,rightinsight.

    198Amysticexperienceissimplysomethingwhichcomesandgoes,whereasphilosophicinsight,onceestablishedinaman,cannotpossiblyleavehim.HeunderstandstheTruthandcannotlosethisunderstandinganymorethananadultcanlosehisadulthoodandbecomeaninfant.

    199Becausehehasworkedforhisprize,becausehehasundergoneapatientandarduoustraining,andbecausehehastakeneverysteponthewaywithfullcomprehensionandclearsight,hisinspirationisnotheretodayandgonetomorrowbut,whenheacquiresit,remainsconstantandispermanentlykept.

    200Therearecertainsignswherebythenatureofinsightcharacterizesitselfinitspossessor'srelationswithhisfellows.Foremostamongtheseareunderstandingandsympathy,a

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    reverentregardforthesanctityandneedsofanother'spersonallife.Amanofinsightwillneverutterrecriminatorywordshewillbeslowinjudgementandswifttobless.

    201Thesignsofgenuinenessintrueinsightinclude(a)conf


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