Notebooks of Paul Brunton > Category 1: Overview of the Quest > Chapter 1: What the Quest Is

What the Quest Is

General description
1
he Quest not only begins in the heart but also en!s there too"
#
It is an en!eavour to lift to a higher plane$ an! e%pan! to a larger &easure$ the whole of
his i!entity" It brings in the &ost i&portant part of hi&self''being$ essen(e$
Cons(iousness"
)
*+an ,now hyself-* here is a whole philosophy !istille! into this single an! si&ple
state&ent"
.
Between the or!inary &an who takes hi&self as he is$ an! the philosopher who !oes
e%a(tly the sa&e$ there stan!s the Quester" In the first (ase$ outlook is narrow$ being
li&ite! by atten!ing to the ines(apable ne(essities an! !e&an!s of !ay'to'!ay living" In
the other (ase$ pea(e of &in! has been establishe!$ the thirst for knowle!ge fulfille!$ the
!is(ipline of self reali/e!" In between these two$ the Quester is not satisfie! with
hi&self$ has a strong wish to be(o&e a better an! &ore enlightene! &an" 0e tries to
e%er(ise his will in the struggle for reali/ation of his i!eal"
1
It lifts hu&an (ons(iousness verti(ally an! enlarges hu&an e%perien(e spiritually"
2
If the Infinite Being is trying to e%press its own nature within the li&itations of this
earth''an! therefore trying to e%press itself through us$ too''it is our highest !uty to
sear(h for an! (ultivate our !iviner attributes" Only in this way !o we really fulfil
ourselves" his sear(h an! this (ultivation (onstitute the Quest"
3
It offers a (on(eption of life whi(h originates on a higher level"
4
he Quest is both a sear(h for truth an! a !e!i(ation to the Overself"
5
By *Quest* I &ean the !eliberate an! (ons(ious !e!i(ation to the sear(h for spiritual
truth$ free!o&$ or awareness"
16
he inner &eaning of life !oes not rea!ily reveal itself7 it &ust be sear(he! for" 8u(h a
sear(h is the Quest"
11
When a &an begins to seek out his real nature$ to fin! the truth of his real being$ he
begins to follow the Quest"
1#
It is a (all to those who want inner nourish&ent fro& real sour(es$ not fro& fan(iful or
spe(ulative ones" It (alls the& away fro& things$ appearan(es$ shows$ an! e%ternals to
their inwar! being$ towar! reality"
1)
9fter su(h (onsi!erations$ we are le! to won!er what (onstitutes the reality behin! the
universe" his is a :uest whi(h takes us into religion$ &ysti(is&$ an! philosophy an! the
great &ysteries of life$ a :uest whi(h eventually (onfir&s those (elebrate! wor!s of
;ran(is Ba(on: *9 little thinking &ay in(line the &in! towar! atheis&$ but greatness of
stu!y bringeth the &in! ba(k again to <o!"*
1.
he :uest we tea(h is no less than a :uest for knowle!ge in (o&pleteness an! a sear(h
for awareness of this =niversal 8elf$ a vast un!ertaking to whi(h all &en are (o&&itte!
whether they are aware of it or not"
11
he great (entral :uestions of life for the thinking &an are: What a& I> What is &y true
relation to$ an! how shall I !eal with$ &y surroun!ings> What is <o!$ an! (an I for&
any (onne(tion with <o!>
12
?very pu//le whi(h fas(inates innu&erable persons an! in!u(es the& to atte&pt its
solution''be it &athe&ati(al an! profoun! or or!inary an! si&ple''is an e(ho on a lower
level of the 8upre&e ?nig&a that is forever a((o&panying &an an! !e&an!ing an
answer: What is he$ when(e an! whither> he :uester puts the proble& into his
(ons(ious &in! an! keeps it there"
13
It is a :uest to &ake a life of better :uality$ both insi!e an! outsi!e the self$ in the
thoughts &oving in the brain$ in the bo!y hol!ing that brain$ an! in the environ&ent
where that bo!y &oves"
14
It is a (larion (all to &an to seek his true self$ a voi(e that asks hi&$ *0ave you foun!
your soul>*
15
he :uest is si&ply the atte&pt of a few pioneer &en to be(o&e aware of their spiritual
selves as all &en are alrea!y aware of their physi(al selves"
#6
It is a :uest to be(o&e (ons(ious of Cons(iousness$ to e%plore the *I* an! penetrate the
&ystery of its knowing power"
#1
he se(ret path is an atte&pt to establish a perfe(t an! (ons(ious relation between the
hu&an &in! an! that !ivinity whi(h is its sour(e"
##
When a &an passes fro& the self'seeking &otives of the &ultitu!e to the Overself'
seeking aspirations of the Quest$ he passes to (ons(ious (o'operation with the @ivine
Worl!'I!ea"
#)
It is$ fro& another stan!point$ a :uest for his own (entre"
#.
It is the opening up of oneAs inner being"
#1
he very i!ea of a :uest involves a passage$ a !efinite &ove&ent fro& one pla(e to
another" 0ere$ of (ourse$ the passage is really fro& one state to another" It is a holy
Bourney$ so he who is engage! on it is truly a pilgri&" 9n! as on &any Bourneys$
!iffi(ulties$ fatigues$ obsta(les$ !elays$ an! allure&ents &ay be en(ountere! on the way$
yes- 9n! here there will (ertainly be !angers$ pitfalls$ oppositions$ an! en&ities too" 0is
intuition an! reason$ his books an! frien!s$ his e%perien(e an! earnestness will
(onstitute the&selves as his gui!e upon it" here is another spe(ial feature to be note!
about it" It is a ho&ewar! Bourney" he ;ather is waiting for his (hil!" he ;ather will
re(eive$ fee!$ an! bless hi&"
#2
It is a &ove&ent fro& the outwar! to the inwar! but it is effe(te! only with &u(h
labour$ through &u(h !espon!en(y$ an! after &u(h ti&e"
#3
he aspirant enters on the Quest of the heavenly king!o& fro& the first &o&ent that he
be(o&es willing to try to give up his ego" It !oes not &atter that it will engage his whole
lifeti&e$ that su((ess &ay only be foun! in so&e future in(arnation" ;ro& that first
&o&ent he be(o&es a !is(iple of the Overself$ an! a (an!i!ate for the king!o& of
heaven"
#4
It is a brave struggle for free!o&$ a noble refusal to be the egoAs puppet or the ani&al'
selfAs vi(ti&$ a fine resolve to win strength fro& weakness"
#5
0ow shall he !eliver hi&self fro& his weaknesses> 0ow (an he get free fro& his
pseu!o'self an! let his true being reveal itself> 0ow (ease to negate an! begin to affir&
his own best values> he :uest$ with its pra(ti(al !is(iplines an! &ysti(al e%er(ises$ is
part of the answer"
)6
It is a way of life whi(h (alls hi& to !eny his (losest pleasures an! ol!est habits" 8o it is
an! &ust be a har! way" But a ti&e (o&es when he values it out of his own (learer
per(eption$ an! follows it out of his own gla! (hoi(e"
)1
+any aspirants wrongly believe the :uest to be a &ove&ent fro& one psy(hi(
e%perien(e to another or fro& one &ysti(al e(stasy to another" But in fa(t it is a
&ove&ent in character fro& ani&ality to purity$ fro& egois& to i&personality"
)#
he Quest tea(hes a &an the art of !ying to the ani&alisti( an! egoisti( ele&ents in
hi&self" But it !oes not stop with these negative results" It trains hi& also in the art of
re'(reating hi&self by the light of the i!eal"
))
Co&ing to this Quest in the philosophi( sense si&ply &eans (o&ing to hu&an &aturity"
).
Who !oes not prefer Boy to grief> he instin(t is universal" here is a &etaphysi(al basis
for it" In!ivi!ual beings !erive their e%isten(e fro& a universal Being$ whose nature is
(ontinuously blissful" his is !i&ly$ briefly e(hoe! in the satisfa(tions of earthly !esires"
he :uest of spiritual fulfil&ent is really the sear(h for a fuller an! &ore lasting share in
the @ivine Pea(e$ the true heaven whi(h awaits us in the en!$ whether in the free!o& of
so'(alle! !eath or in the (onfines of physi(al flesh"
)1
he worl!ling seeks to enBoy hi&self" @o not think that the truly spiritual &an !oes not
seek to enBoy hi&self too" he !ifferen(e is that he !oes it in a better way$ a wiser way"
)2
0ere is a goal for &en an! wo&en whi(h (an bring the& the fulfil&ent of their best
purposes$ the happiness of being set free fro& their inwar! bon!ages$ an! the (al&ness
of knowing their own soul"
)3
he Quest is a veritable re'e!u(ation of the self$ lea!ing in its turn to a noble
trans(en!en(e of the self"
)4
What is the :uest but a pro(ess of &oral re'e!u(ation an! &ental self'(on:uest$ a
probing for an! over(o&ing of those faults whi(h keep the Cight out of the &in!>
)5
What is the hi!!en &etaphysi(al &eaning of the Quest> It is that the infinite self in &an
fin!s that it (annot a(hieve a!e:uate self'e%pression in the finite an! i&perfe(t life of
the worl!" he ego &ay try as it will$ !o what it &ay$ but the bliss$ wis!o&$ serenity$
an! perfe(tion that are the natural attributes of the Overself$ in the en! elu!e its every
&ove" here is ulti&ately no alternative e%(ept to let go of sear(hing an! grasping the
outer worl!$ an! retreat within" here$ !eep insi!e its own being the Bourney to en!uring
satisfa(tion will then(eforth be" his is the Quest lea!ing to !is(overy of Overself"
.6
We ought perhaps to have parti(ulari/e! the signifi(an(e of this wor!$ for &any &en
an! wo&en are engage! on the foo!':uest$ the pleasure':uest$ an! so on7 only a few$
however$ are on the Philosophi(al Quest"
.1
8o&e (o&e to the truth in a roun!about way" he Quest is !ire(t"
.#
he :uest is governe! by its own inherent laws$ so&e easily as(ertainable but others
!arkly obs(ure"
.)
It is a sear(h for &eaning in the &eaningless flow of events" It is response to the
i&pulsion to look beyon! the ever'passing show of earthly life for so&e sign$ value$ or
state of &in! that shall (onfer hope$ supply Bustifi(ation$ gain insight"
..
his :uest of the soul is ageless" Never has the hu&an ra(e been without it$ never (oul!
it be without it"
.1
It is not a new thing in hu&an e%perien(e$ but rather one of the ol!est" Its long history in
&any lan!s &akes i&pressive rea!ing"
.2
It is a &etho!$ a tea(hing$ an! an i!eal (o&bine! for those who seek a genuine inner life
of the spirit"
.3
he :uest &eans !is(ipline! e&otions an! !is(ipline! living$ sustaine! aspiration an!
nurture! intuition"
.4
It is not an i!eal so far off that those who have reali/e! it have no hu&an links left with
us" On the (ontrary$ be(ause it is truly philosophi($ it skilfully blen!s life in the
king!o&s of this worl! with life in the king!o& of heaven"
.5
he :uest is an a!venture as well as a Bourney: a work to be !one an! a stu!y to be
&a!e$ a blessing whi(h gives hope an! a bur!en of !is(ipline whi(h (annot be shirke!"
16
here is another kin! of e%ploration than that whi(h traverses !eserts$ penetrates
Bungles$ (li&bs &ountains$ an! (rosses (ontinents" It seeks out the &ysterious
hinterlan!s of the hu&an &in!$ s(ales the highest rea(hes of hu&an (ons(iousness$ an!
then returns to report routes an! !is(overies$ !es(ribe the goals to others so that they
also &ay fin! their way thereto if they wish"
11
he spiritual :uest is not a ro&anti( or !ra&ati( a!venture$ but a stern self'!is(ipline"
Nevertheless there is an ele&ent of &ystery in it whi(h at ti&es (an be :uite thrilling"
1#
he :uest is spiritual &ountaineering"
1)
It is not a path of anae&i( Boylessness for lean (a!averous votaries$ as so&e think" It is a
path of ra!iant happiness for keen positive in!ivi!uals"
1.
Its i!eals offer an invitation to nobility an! refine&ent" *Be(o&e better than you are-* is
its prea(h&ent" *Cive &ore beautifully than you !o-* is its (o&&an!&ent"
11
It is an un(ontentious tea(hing$ knowing that it is$ in pra(ti(e$ only palatable to those
who (o&e rea!ily e:uippe! for it"
12
It is not a !o(trine of life only for ageing her&its$ but :uite as &u(h for keen young &en
who wish to !o so&ething in the worl!" It is a pra(ti(al goal whi(h (oul! also be a
pra(ti(able one for &illions who now think it beyon! their rea(h$ if only they woul!
a((ept an! a(t on the psy(hologi(al truth that *thinking &akes it so"* It is a
strengthening reassuran(e to &in!s awakening fro& the slavish !rea&s of lust that they
nee! not stay slaves forever" It is not an as(eti(is& that is happy only in &aking itself
&iserable$ but a (o&prehension that weighs values an! abi!es by the result"
13
he :uest is a (ontinual effort of self'release fro& inwar! oppressions an! self'
!eliveran(e fro& e&otional obstru(tions"
14
his :uest is really a syste& of therapeuti( training !evise! to (ure evil feelings$
ignorant attitu!es$ an! wrong thinking"
15
he high tea(hers of the hu&an ra(e have given us goals an! taught us ways to
approa(h the&"
26
It is not a subBe(t for a(a!e&i( stu!ents of te(hni(al &etaphysi(s or for professional
followers of institutional religion''although they are wel(o&e to all that it has to give
the&$ to the ri(her for& an! the inspire! un!erstan!ing of their own !o(trine" No''it is
pri&arily for the or!inary person who is willing to hee! his intuitive feeling or who is
willing to use his in!epen!ent thinking power"
21
It es(apes pushing into re(ogni/able an! separate !ivisions$ !efinitions$ or groups"
2#
Nature and Need of Mysticism
Cet it be state! (learly that &ysti(is& is an a'rational type of e%perien(e$ an! in so&e
!egree (o&&on to all &en"
It is an intuitive$ self'evi!ent$ self're(ogni/e! knowle!ge whi(h (o&es fitfully to &an"
It shoul! not be (onfoun!e! with the instin(tive an! i&&e!iate knowle!ge possesse! by
ani&als an! use! by the& in their a!aptations to environ&ent"
he average &an sel!o& pays enough attention to his slight &ysti(al e%perien(es to
profit or learn fro& the&" Det his nee! for the& is evi!en(e! by his in(essant seeking
for the thrills$ sensations$ uplifts$ an! so on$ whi(h he organi/es for hi&self in so &any
ways''the religious way being only one of the&" In fa(t$ the failure of religion''in the
West$ at any rate''to tea(h true &ysti(is&$ an! its overlaying of the !eeply &ysti( nature
of its tea(hings with a pseu!o'rationalis& an! an unsoun! histori(ity &ay be the root
(ause for !riving people to seek for things greater than they feel their in!ivi!ual selves
to be in the &any sensation'giving a(tivities in the worl! to!ay"
+ysti(is& is not a by'pro!u(t of i&agination or un(ontrolle! e&otion7 it is a range of
knowle!ge an! e%perien(e natural to &an but not yet en(o&passe! by his rational &in!"
he fun(tion of philosophy is to bring these e%perien(es un!er (ontrol an! to offer ways
of arriving at interpretations an! e%planations"
+ysti(is& not so (ontrolle! an! interprete! is full of pitfalls$ one of whi(h is the
a((eptan(e of (onfusion$ senti&entality$ (lou!iness$ illusion$ an! ai&lessness as integral
:ualities of the &ysti(al life''states of &in! whi(h go far to Bustify opponents of
&ysti(is& in their esti&ate of it as foolish an! superstitious"
he &ysti( shoul! re(ogni/e his own li&itations" 0e shoul! not refuse the proffere!
han! of philosophy whi(h will help his un!erstan!ing an! train his intuition" 0e shoul!
re(ogni/e that it is essential to know how to interpret the &aterial whi(h rea(hes hi&
fro& his higher self$ an! how to re(eive it in all its purity"
he belief that the negle(t of a(tual life is the beginning of spiritual life$ an! that the
failure to use (lear thought is the beginning of gui!an(e fro& <o!$ belongs to
&ysti(is& in its &ost ru!i&entary stages''an! has no truth in it"
he worl! will (o&e to believe in &ysti(is& be(ause there is no alternative$ an! it will
!o so in spite of &ysti(is&As histori(al weaknesses an! intelle(tual !efe(ts" But how
&u(h better it woul! be for everyone if those weaknesses an! !efe(ts were self'
eli&inate!"
0e has so learne! the art of living that the e%perien(es of every!ay life yiel! up their
&eaning to hi&$ an! the refle(tions of !aily &e!itation en!ow hi& with wis!o&"
If it be aske!$ *What is the nature of &ysti(al e%perien(e>* the answer given very
tersely is$ *It is e%perien(e whi(h gives to the in!ivi!ual a slant on the universal$ like the
heartAs !elight in the brightness of a +ay &orning in ?nglan!$ or the Boy of a &other in
her newborn (hil!$ in the sweetness of !eep frien!ship$ in the lilt of great poetry" It is
the language of the arts$ whi(h if approa(he! only by intelle(tual ways yiel!s only half
its (ontent" Whoever (o&es eventually to &ysti(al e%perien(e of the reality of his own
0igher 8elf will re(ogni/e the infinite nu&ber of ways in whi(h nature throughout life
is be(koning hi&" he higher &ysti(al e%perien(e is not a sport of nature$ a freak
pheno&enon" It is the (ontinuation of a se:uen(e the beginning an! en! of whi(h are as
vast as the beginning an! en! of the great (y(le of life in all the worl!s" No &an (an
&easure it"*
he Yoga Vasistha states$ *here are two kin!s of paths lea!ing to liberation" Now
hearken to the&" If one shoul!$ without the least fail$ follow the path lai! !own by a
ea(her$ !elusion will wear away fro& hi& little by little an! e&an(ipation will result$
either in the very birth of his initiation by his <uru or in so&e su((ee!ing birth" he
other path is where the &in!$ being slightly fortifie! with a stainless spontaneous
knowle!ge$ (easelessly &e!itates upon it$ an! there alights true gnana in it$ like fruit
falling fro& above une%pe(te!ly"*
here are pri&ary an! se(on!ary levels of &in! an! (onse:uently pri&ary an!
se(on!ary pro!u(ts" he for&er are insights$ the latter are intuitions"
8ages speak fro& the highest level7 &ysti(s (onte&plate$ while genius speaks$ writes$
paints$ an! (o&poses fro& the se(on!ary levels"
Pri&ary (ons(iousness is e%alte! but (al&7 se(on!ary (ons(iousness is e%alte! but
e%(ite!" he first !oes not (hange its settle! &oo!$ but the se(on! falls into rapture$
e(stasy$ an! absent'&in!e! reverie"
2)
Is the inner life irre(on(ilable with the worl!As life> Eeligio'&ysti(al !is(iplines an!
pra(ti(es are usually base! on su(h a fun!a&ental irre(on(ilability" ra!itional tea(hing
usually asserts it too" Det if that be true$ *hen$* as Ea&ana +aharshi on(e s(epti(ally
sai! to &e$ *there is no hope for hu&anity"*FPG
2.
It is a tea(hing whi(h prepares hi& to fin! a !eep inner life without ne(essarily
!eserting the a(tive outer one"
21
It is a tea(hing whi(h (an gui!e us through this worl! without itself be(o&ing worl!ly"
22
he ter& *spiritual* is very loosely use! nowa!ays" It in(lu!es in its !o&ain$ but is not
li&ite! to$ (ertain states of &ysti(al (ons(iousness$ (ertain religious &ental e%perien(es$
high &oral attitu!es$ an! non'worl!ly e&otional rea(tions" hus$ one &an &ay be
(alle! *highly spiritual* although he &ay not have ha! any &ysti(al e%perien(e$ when
what is &eant is that he is *highly &oral"*
23
he lower &ysti(is& &ay (ause a &an to lose all interest in his e%ternal life$ whereas
the higher &ysti(is& i&parts a new be(ause !iviner interest" If the first &ay enervate
hi&$ the se(on! will enliven hi&"
24
Nobo!y$ not even its bitter (riti(s$ &ay :uestion the purity an! nobility of its ethi(s$
however &u(h they &ay :uestion the a((ura(y of its &etaphysi(s"
25
his is not a :uest whi(h tries to te&pt prospe(tive (an!i!ates with the offer of
prosperity or to bribe the& with the satisfa(tion of their !esires"
36
his :uest is not in the private Buris!i(tion of any parti(ular group$ se(t$ s(hool$ or
religious following" hat is a narrow (on(ept whi(h &ust be fir&ly repu!iate!" It is the
:uest of life itself$ the nee! of self to (o&prehen! its own being"
31
he Quest is not to be looke! upon as so&ething added to his life" Eather it is to be his
life itself"
3#
his tor&enting feeling of the la(k of a spiritual state in his own e%perien(e$ will !rive
hi& to (ontinual sear(h for it" But his whole life &ust (onstitute the sear(h an! his
whole being &ust engage in it"
3)
If you take the wi!est possible view$ all the !ifferent se(tions of his a(tion an! thought
are inseparable fro& the a&ount of spirituality there is in a &an"
3.
he truth &ust pass fro& his lips to his life" 9n! this passage will only be(o&e possible
when life itself without the :uest will be &eaningless"
31
It is only the beginner who nee!s to think of the :uest as separate fro& the (o&&on life$
so&ething spe(ial$ aloof$ apart" he &ore profi(ient knows that it &ust be(o&e the very
(hannel for that life"
32
he Quest is not anything apart fro& Cife itself" We (annot !ispense with (o&&on
sense an! balan(e in relation to it" No single ele&ent in life (an be taken too sole&nly$
as if it (onstitute! the whole of life itself$ without upsetting balan(e"
Its importance and practicality
33
he :uest is the &ost i&portant a!venture in hu&an e%perien(e"
34
0e who stan!s on the threshol! of this Path is about to (o&&en(e the last an! greatest
Bourney of all$ one whi(h he will (ontinue to the en! of his !ays" On(e begun$ there is
no turning ba(k or !eserting it$ e%(ept te&porarily" 9n! sin(e it is the &ost i&portant
an! &ost glorious a(tivity ever un!ertaken$ its rewar!s are (o&&ensurate"
35
0e (annot stake too &u(h on the out(o&e of su(h e%alte! strivings" ?ven all that the
worl! (an offer falls far below what the :uest (an offer" If outer sa(rifi(es an! inner
renun(iations are (alle! for$ the (o&pensation will be &ore than Bust" In the en! he gains
i&&ensely &ore than he loses" 8o why not let go freely if the :uest bi!s hi& !o so>
46
he &eaning an! en! of all su(h work is to arouse &en to see (ertain truths: that the
intuitive ele&ent is tre&en!ously &ore i&portant than the intelle(tual yet Bust as
(ultivable if pursue! through &e!itation$ that the &ysti(al e%perien(e is the &ost
valuable of all e%perien(e$ an! that the :uest of the Overself is the &ost worthwhile
en!eavour open to hu&an e%ertions"
41
If there is anything worth stu!ying by a hu&an being$ after the ne(essary preli&inary
stu!ies of how to e%ist an! survive in this worl! healthily an! wisely$ it is the stu!y of
&anAs own (ons(iousness''not a (ataloguing of the nu&erous thoughts that play within
it$ but a !eep investigation of its nature in itself$ its own una!ulterate! pure self"
4#
his is the higher (ause that is really worth working for$ the spiritual purpose that &akes
life worth living"
4)
In first$ the !is(overy of the Overself$ an! se(on!$ the surren!er to it$ &an fulfils the
highest purpose of his life on this earth"
4.
?a(h &an has only a li&ite! fun! of life'for(e$ ti&e$ an! ability" 0e &ay s:uan!er it on
worl!ly pleasures or spen! it on worl!ly a&bitions" But if$ without negle(ting the !uties
of his parti(ular situation$ he reali/es that these are (hanging an! transient satisfa(tions
an! turns instea! to the :uest of the Overself$ he begins to Bustify his in(arnation"
41
he business&an who !oes not know that the true business for whi(h he was put on
earth is to fin! the Overself$ &ay &ake a fortune but will also s:uan!er away a lifeti&e"
0is work an! &in! have been left separate fro& his OverselfAs when they &ight have
been kept in satisfying har&ony with the&"
42
?very &an has another an! veile! i!entity" =ntil he fin!s out this &ysti(al self of his$ he
has faile! to fulfil the higher &ission of his e%isten(e"
43
If you want to know the purpose of life$ rea! 9(ts 13:#: *<o! &a!e &an to the en! that
he shoul! seek the Cor!"*
44
It (o&es to this: 9re we to worship &an or <o!>
45
Cife offers &an a variety of &eanings$ but in the en! one &eaning (o&es to the top of
all the others an! that is the &eaning whi(h shall reveal the truth about his relation to
<o!"
56
When he sees life whole an! therefore sees it right$ he will un!erstan! why Hesus sai!$
*8eek ye first the king!o& of heaven an! all these things shall be a!!e! unto you$* an!
why$ if he is to insist upon any single renovation in hu&an life$ it &ust be its own self'
spirituali/ation" If he is to put e&phasis anywhere$ it &ust be upon the re!is(overy of
the !ivine purpose of his earthly life"
51
he ol! 8anskrit te%ts tell us of the *little purpose* of hu&an life an! of the *great
purpose"* 9ll know the one but few know the other7 fewer still seek to reali/e it"
5#
If &en only knew how glorious$ how ri(h$ how satisfying this inner life really is$ they
woul! not hesitate for a &o&ent to forsake all those things whi(h bar their way to it"
5)
We !o not un!erstan! the !epths of our own being$ the &ystery in whi(h it is groun!e!"
I speak for &ankin! in general$ not for those few great ones who have banishe! illusion
an! ignoran(e"
5.
What a&i! all the noise of the worl! is the hi!!en purpose of life$ what kin! of &en are
we ulti&ately &eant to be> It is the business of great prophets to answer these :uestions"
51
8o(rates: *I spen! all &y ti&e going about trying to persua!e you$ young an! ol!$ to
&ake your first an! (hief (on(ern " " " for the highest welfare of your inner selves"*
52
What gran!er i!eal (oul! a &an have than to live (ontinuously in the higher part of his
being>
53
hat whi(h really is$ as oppose! to that whi(h appears to be$ behin! all the (ountless
obBe(ts of this varie! universe$ is one alone$ beginningless$ en!less$ the sour(e of all$ the
parent of the *I*'(ons(iousness" his truth provi!es the final hope for &an" 8o&ewhere
along his way he will !is(over it$ a(t upon it$ an! be re!ee&e!" his will be his last
(onversion$ his final salvation$ his best :uest" hen only will the horrors he has
(ontribute! to the ra(eAs history begin to fa!e out" 9ll else is utopian (hi&era base!
upon wishful thoughts an! fan(iful i&aginations"
54
When &en a(:uire proper values$ whether by refle(ting over their e%perien(e or by
listening to their prophets$ they will re(ogni/e this truth''that nothing really &atters
e%(ept the sear(h for the Overself" If this (alls for the giving up of earthly obsta(les$
then they are worth giving up for it"
55
When he has be(o&e ripene! by e%perien(e an! refle(tion$ he will a((ept this truth with
the spontaneity of a biologi(al rea(tion"
166
If so&e are to be arouse! to its i&portan(e they &ust first be given so&ething of its
&eaning"
161
*0aving a hu&an bo!y one &ust think with oneAs heart on lifeAs en!"* ''Chinese te%t
Fachi-yao Sung Ching"
16#
his enterprise of the :uest is the &ost serious in whi(h a &an (an engage" We &ust
treat it as su(h" But let this not (ause anyone to lose the sense of hu&our"
16)
In pursuing this integral :uest$ they have the satisfa(tion of knowing that they are
pursuing the only :uest whi(h (an bring the& to a truth whi(h is all'e&bra(ing an! all'
e%plaining"
16.
he fa(t that so few have venture! on this :uest offers no in!i(ation of what will happen
in the future" If &ankin! (oul! take any other way to its own self'fulfil&ent$ this
situation &ight re&ain" But there is no other way"
161
;or hi& there &ust e%ist so&ething &ore than &erely being a &e&ber of the her!7 there
&ust be a higher !ire(tion lea!ing to truth to satisfy the &in!$ to a nobler (hara(ter to
satisfy the (ons(ien(e$ to refine! beautiful an! gentler &oo!s inspire! by the arts$
&usi($ literature$ an! reveren(e" ;or hi& there &ust be a Quest"
162
his is the only way whereby &an (an i&pregnably !e&onstrate to hi&self the
illustrious !ignity of his true being" his is the only way he (an obtain the power of
living in an! by hi&self$ that is$ of living in the only real free!o& possible on this earth"
163
If (ons(iousness is to be enlarge!$ if the &in!As !ark pla(es are to be lit up$ if a blesse!
inspiration for living$ work$ or virtue is to be !is(overe!$ then this self':uest &ust be
starte!"
164
he I!eal is in these (riti(al !ays no longer a &ere wish: it has be(o&e the ne(essary"
165
It is not enough to know with the intelle(t that <o! is everywhere an! everywhen" It is
also ne(essary to establish a pra(ti(al working (onne(tion with <o!$ if we are to obtain
the a(tual benefit of this knowle!ge" +oreover this$ an! this alone$ will give absolute
assuran(e"
116
0e nee!s to re(over his (ons(ious relationship to the Overself: the sub(ons(ious one is
never lost"
111
he vision of the worl! an! the un!erstan!ing of life whi(h he re(eives fro& the lips or
books of others will never be so true nor so real as that whi(h he &akes his own" What
shall it profit a &an if he hear a thousan! le(tures or rea! a thousan! books but hath not
foun! his Overself> he stu!ent &ust a!van(e to the ne%t step an! seek to reali/e within
his own e%perien(e that whi(h is portraye! to hi& by his intelle(t" 9n! this is possible
only by his entry upon the Quest"
11#
With every !ay that passes$ a &an &akes his silent !e(laration of faith in the way he
spen!s it" It is a poor !e(laration that &o!ern &an &akes when he brushes asi!e all
thought of prayer an! &e!itation as so&ething he has no ti&e for"
11)
o be(o&e so lost in this worl! of appearan(es$ as so &any have be(o&e lost$ is to shut
the !oor to the worl! of reality" his is why the lost art of (onte&plation is a ne(essity
an! &ust be regaine! if we are to open that !oor an! let truth in"
11.
What (o&es with the years an! whi(h is as(ribe! to the ol!er people is the wis!o& of
pra(ti(al living" his is &erely infor&ation$ knowle!ge fro& e%perien(e in pra(ti(al
affairs7 it is not the wis!o& whi(h (o&es fro& the !eeper being$ the !eeper self" hat
will arise only when one looks for it$ aspires to it"
111
he profoun! &eaning of life is not put before our eyes" We have to !ig for it with &u(h
patien(e an! &u(h perseveran(e"
112
We &ust put a spiritual purpose into our lives"
113
he first !uty of &an$ whi(h takes pre(e!en(e over all other !uties$ is to be(o&e
(ons(ious of his Overself" his is the highest !uty an! every other !uty &ust bow before
it" ?ven !o&esti( happiness &ust not stan! in the way of spiritual salvation when$ an!
if$ the two (olli!e" he training whi(h &akes this possible &ay be largely unpra(ti(able
in his parti(ular (ir(u&stan(es but it is never entirely so" he !iffi(ulty of perfor&ing
this !uty is not enough e%(use to relieve hi& of it"
114
What a &an sees an! thinks is only an awareness gleane! by the shallower part of
hi&self" here is his !eeper being''in!ee!$ the ter& *part* is :uite inappli(able here''his
real essen(e$ the greater Cons(iousness fro& whi(h thoughts an! e&otions e&erge for
their li&ite! lives" o fin! an! know this is a !uty to whi(h he must one !ay (o&e"
115
he sear(h for truth be(o&es$ for su(h a &an$ neither a spare'ti&e hobby nor an
intelle(tual (uriosity$ but a !riving &oral (o&pulsion"
1#6
he &ore !eeply we un!erstan! the nature of &an$ the &ore reliably shall we
un!erstan! the !uty of &an"
1#1
he risks of entering su(h a spiritual a!venture &ay be :uite for&i!able$ but the risks of
not entering it are un:uestionably frightful" ;or the probabilities of wrong a(tion an!
&istaken (hoi(e will still re&ain$ with the painful kar&i( after&ath"
1##
he &an who fails to tou(h the OverselfAs beauty in this life an! un!er this pressure (an
har!ly be bla&eworthy$ but the &an who fails to try to tou(h it$ is bla&eworthy"
1#)
Nobo!y really knows how to live (orre(tly unless he knows the higher laws governing
life itself"
1#.
Whether on (ollege (a&pus or lifeAs s(hool$ the higher laws have to be learnt at so&e
ti&e$ in so&e birth''whether by instru(tion when young or by e%perien(e when ol!er"
he fa(t of their e%isten(e &ay be !isregar!e! at our own peril"
1#1
+an (an (o&e into the personal knowle!ge that there is this unseen power out of whi(h
the whole universe is being !erive!$ in(lu!ing hi&self" But neither the ani&al nor the
plant (an (o&e into this knowle!ge" 0ere we see what evolution &eans an! why it is
ne(essary"
1#2
he &ost i&portant :uestions whi(h a &an (an ask hi&self''What he is an! What he is
here for''&ust be answere! before his life fin!s its proper (ourse" Otherwise$ in the
higher sense$ he re&ains a &ere ani&al"
1#3
Both 0in!u an! Bu!!hist tea(hers (on(ur in regar!ing the hu&an (reature as being the
&ost fortunate of all living (reatures$ be(ause he alone has the potential (apa(ity an!
opportunity to be(o&e spiritually *aware"*
1#4
?very life in the fleshly bo!y represents an opportunity to obtain spiritual reali/ation
be(ause &an (an only !is(over his !ivinity to the fullest whilst in the waking state"
1#5
he refusal to rea(h up towar!s the higher truth an! power leaves proble&s basi(ally
unsolve! an! :uestions really unanswere!$ for the (os&i( urge within &ust assert an!
reassert itself"
1)6
When a &an (o&es to his real senses$ he will re(ogni/e that he has only one proble&:
*0ow (an I (o&e into awareness of$ an! oneness with$ &y true being>* ;or it is to lea!
hi& to this final :uestion that other :uestions an! proble&s have stage! the roa! of his
whole life" his answere!$ the way to answer all the other ones whi(h beset hi&$ be they
physi(al or finan(ial$ intelle(tual or fa&iliar$ will open up" 0en(e HesusA state&ents:
*8eek ye first the king!o& of heaven and all these things shall be added unto you$* an!
*o hi& that hath Ienlighten&entJ shall be given Iwhat he personally nee!sJ"*
1)1
Be(ause we have lost our way$ these truths are on(e again as fresh an! signifi(ant an!
i&portant as if they ha! never before been known to hu&anity"
1)#
he earlier the age at whi(h a &an begins these stu!ies an! pra(ti(es the better for hi&"
o be born into a fa&ily where they alrea!y prevail$ is to have an e%(ee!ingly goo!
!estiny" But however late in life anyone (o&es to the&$ it is never too late" 0e will have
to (onten! with set ways an! fi%e! habits that will nee! (hanging$ it is true"
1))
he &i!!le'age! an! the el!erly shoul! take to spiritual stu!ies as a !uty" hey have
(o&e to a perio! of life when they (an evaluate its e%perien(es better than the youthful"
1).
It is not too late at any perio! of life$ even in ol! age$ to obtain a fir& footing upon the
spiritual path an! gain its satisfying rewar!s"
1)1
In the end we all &ust turn to the inner 8our(e of all our best hu&an sour(es$ to the
<uru of all the gurus$ to the Overself" hen why not now>
1)2
NOW is the right &o&ent to pra(tise philosophy$ to (rush the ego$ an! to think
positively"
1)3
0e who la(ks the (apa(ity to worship so&ething higher than hi&self$ to revere
so&ething better than hi&self$ is alrea!y inwar!ly !ea! before his bo!y is outwar!ly
!ea!"
1)4
he :uest$ with its i!eas an! goals$ is essential to the awakene! &an" 0e (oul! not live
without it without feeling half'!ea!$ e&pty an! futile"
1)5
8uffering &en resort to travel in or!er to forget their bur!ens$ but ruefully fin! that
&e&ory pa(es the stea&er !e(k besi!e the&$ the ego travels in their train$ an! &in!
lays its throbbing hea! upon the sa&e hotel pillow" hey &ay es(ape fro& the whole
worl! but$ unless an! until thought is (on:uere!$ they (annot es(ape fro& the&selves"
1.6
8o long as &an !oes not know the &ost i&portant part of hi&self an! the best part of
his possessions$ so long will he re&ain the blin! (reator of his own &iseries an! the
!upe! plaything of his own trivialities"
1.1
If we (hoose to be en!lessly preo((upie! with e%ternal &atters$ business$ an! pleasure$
if we will not turn lovingly in the only !ire(tion to whi(h we &ust turn if we are to
behol! our !ivine self$ then it is useless to bla&e life$ <o!$ or lu(k for our unhappy
blin!ness"
1.#
hose who prefer their own egoAs opinion to the OverselfAs i&personal intuitions$
re&ain in the egoAs !arkness"
1.)
No &an who !enies the Eeal an! reBe(ts the rue (an attain happiness or pea(e of &in!
or have enough reason to be :uite goo!"
1..
he :uest &ay see& a long an! !iffi(ult affair: it is" But sin(e even a little effort in
travelling it brings a noti(eable rewar!$ while saving so&e avoi!able suffering$ an!
sin(e the :uestless life is in (o&parison a useless effort to hol! on to &any illusions$ it
still offers enough in!u(e&ent to &ake a start an! e%ert oneself to enter on the first
stage"
1.1
here is no other way to true happiness$ as !istin(t fro& the false kin!$ than to follow
the path whi(h the higher power has set for hi&" his is to prea(h a har! !o(trine but it
is a true one"
1.2
What is the greatest nee! of &an> I reply :uite si&ply$ ruth- ;or no other satisfa(tion
will en! his !is(ontents"
1.3
8o long as a &an !oes not e%perien(e his real self$ so long will he be unhappy" he
possession of &aterial things an! the in!ulgen(e in &aterial pleasures only alleviate an!
palliate this unhappiness$ an! then te&porarily$ an! !o not re&ove it"
1.4
he true &ysti( is always please! to learn that an in!ivi!ual has starte! upon the
spiritual :uest in earnest" 0e knows that nothing else in life will yiel! su(h satisfa(tion$
espe(ially in these ti&es of worl! (risis when the nee! for inner support is greater than
ever before" here (annot be any true or lasting outwar! for& of se(urity to!ay"
1.5
+ost of his resour(es &ay (arry a &an through &any situations be(ause they are purely
&aterial" But they (annot (arry hi& through all situations" here are others to &eet for
whi(h he nee!s spiritual resour(es$ an! if he la(ks the& he will be in a sorry state"
116
It is true that property$ &oney$ an! possessions give &ost &en a sense of se(urity" But it
!epen!s on the& an! they bring an%ieties$ (ares$ even fears$ along with their (o&fort
an! support" hey still nee! to fin! or to a!! a personal se(urity whi(h is in!epen!ent of
these e%ternals$ whi(h is personal" his (an (o&e only fro& within" But it &ust be fro&
a !eeper level than their or!inary thoughts an! e&otions" hey are too unstable$ too
subBe(t to &oo!s"
111
8o long as a &an is a stranger to his own !ivine soul$ so long has he not even begun to
live" 9ll that he !oes is to e%ist" In this &atter &ost &en !e(eive the&selves" ;or they
take (o&fort in the thought that this attitu!e of in!ifferen(e$ being a (o&&on one$ &ust
also be a true one" hey feel that they (annot go far wrong if they think an! behave as
so &any other &en think an! behave" 8u(h i!eas are the grossest self'!e(eptions" When
the hour of (ala&ity (o&es$ they fin! out how e&pty is this (o&fort$ how isolate! they
really are in their spiritual helplessness"
11#
+illions of other hu&ans (a&e into the worl! an! after a relatively short e%isten(e
!isappeare!" 0e will be no e%(eption: his turn to vanish will also (o&e" hought$
(onfronte! with this terrible fa(t$ &ust either !espair$ take refuge in the hopes of
religion$ or resolve to fin! out the truth behin! the tre&en!ous (os&i( !ra&a"
11)
It is better to a((ept the loneliness of the :uester than the (o&pla(en(y of the worl!ling
who lives without any un!erstan!ing of lifeAs inner purpose"
11.
+en an! wo&en try various ways to over(o&e their innate loneliness an! with various
results in the en!" 8o long as the e%pe!ient use! is so&ething or so&eone outsi!e
the&selves$ their vi(tories turn out to be illusions" here is no final way other than the
Way whi(h everyone has ha! to trea! at last who ever su((ee!e! in this obBe(tive$ an!
whi(h lea!s inwar!s to the Overself"
111
In their sear(h for satisfa(tions outsi!e of an! apart fro& the Overself$ &en an! wo&en
are really fugitives fro& it"
112
he response provoke! in you by the entry of these i!eas will !eter&ine your future"
113
We suffer fro& stagnation an! i&agine that e%isten(e in the intelle(t an! bo!y is
enough7 it is not" he pri&ary e&phasis &ust be lai! on the living prin(iple of our
being$ the (entral self whi(h (reates both bo!y an! intelle(t"
114
0ere it is$ the hu&an (reature put upon this roun! planet an! left to &ake nothing fro&
life$ &erely survive$ or to &ake so&ething out of it$ an! hol! the great vision of the
Worl!'I!ea$ in (o&pany with the go!s"
115
he &aking of &oney$ the earning of a livelihoo!$ an! the attain&ent of professional or
business su((ess have their proper pla(e in life an! shoul! be a((or!e! it but''in
(o&parison with the fulfil&ent of spiritual aspiration''ought to be regar!e! as having
:uite a se(on!ary pla(e"
126
No s(ientifi( te(hnologi(al a!van(e$ no politi(al gain$ no e(ono&i( i&prove&ent will
ever be enough in an! of itself to provi!e a proper goal for hu&an en!eavour" It is easy
to forget this in (ertain favourable perio!s$ an! if we !o we (o&e (lose to !isaster in the
en!"
121
We use every possible &o&ent to (ultivate the un(ertain fiel!s of (o&&er(e or to grow
the perishing flowers of pleasure$ but we are unable to spare one &o&ent to (ultivate
the (ertain fiel!s of the spirit within ourselves or to grow the en!uring aspho!els of
!ivine !evotion"
12#
he goals of progress are but i&agine! ones" here is only one goal whi(h is un!eniably
real$ (o&pletely (ertain$ an! authenti(ally true''an! that is an un(hanging one$ an
eternal one" Det it is also the one that has es(ape! &ankin!-
12)
0ere in this (ountry$ &en are &ore eager to better their &anufa(tures than the&selves"
hey will a((ept their own i&perfe(tions :uite s&ugly an! (ontente!ly$ but the
i&perfe(tions of their auto&obiles''never- Det what is the use of their running fro&
point to point on this earth if they !o not even know why they are stan!ing upon it at
all>
12.
+an as s(ientist has put un!er observation (ountless obBe(ts on earth$ in sea an! sky" 0e
has thoroughly e%a&ine! the&" But &an as &an has put hi&self un!er a shallower
observation" 0e has li&ite! his s(rutiny first to the bo!y$ se(on! to what thinking (an
fin!" Det a !eeper level e%ists$ where a !eeper hi!!en self (an be foun!"
121
0e will !is(over that it is not enough to regar! as goo! only that whi(h is favourable to
his physi(al life" 0e &ust (o&plete the !efinition an! so&eti&es even (ontra!i(t it by
a!!ing that whi(h is favourable to his spiritual life"
122
here is nothing &ore i&portant in life than the Quest$ an! the ti&e will (o&e when the
stu!ent !is(overs that there is nothing &ore enBoyable as well" his is inevitable in a
Quest whose essential nature is one of infinite har&ony an! unbroken pea(e" No
worl!ly obBe(t$ person$ or pleasure (an ever bestow the satisfa(tion e%perien(e! in
uniting with the Overself"
123
It is not the ani&al nee!s an! their gratifi(ation but the reali/ation of our !ivine
possibilities whi(h is the hi!!en Bustifi(ation of our presen(e in this worl!"
124
he (easeless longing for personal happiness whi(h e%ists in every hu&an being is a
right one$ but is generally &istaken in the !ire(tion along whi(h satisfa(tion is sought"
;or all outwar! obBe(ts an! beings (an yiel! only a transient an! i&perfe(t !elight that
(an never be e:uivalent to the uninterrupte! happiness of life in the Overself"
125
9n e%isten(e whi(h has no higher ai&s than purely physi(al ones$ no nobler a(tivities
than &erely personal ones$ no inner referen(e to a spiritual purpose$ has to !epen! only
on its own s&all resour(es" It has faile! to benefit by its (onne(tion with the power
behin! the universe"
136
hat the truth of life &ust be !eeper than what we see an! hear an! tou(h$ is suspe(te!
by intuitive persons$ believe! or felt by pious persons$ an! !ire(tly known by wise
persons" What the surfa(e story tells us is not the whole of it$ they say"
131
No one who ever gives the philosophi( life a proper trial for a suffi(ient ti&e is likely to
!esert it" Only the one who has never given it a fair trial$ or who has faile! to un!erstan!
philosophyAs real &eaning$ is ever likely to Boin the her! again an! re&ain an
unaspiring$ insensitive$ an! prosai( (reature"
13#
0u&ans !e&ean the&selves by not (aring for the !ignity of their status$ the i!eals they
ought to honour"
13)
Our !aily lives be(o&e &e(hani(al$ obe!ient to the worl!As !e&an!s$ an! our !aily
a(tivities a (onstantly turning trea!&ill7 but this only happens if there are no spiritual
ai&s$ spiritual aspirations$ an! spiritual pra(ti(es to provi!e a resistan(e to this (ourse"
13.
We are regar!e! as o!! people be(ause we trouble our hea!s with the sear(h for an
intangible reality" But it never o((urs to our (riti(s that it is &u(h &ore o!! that they
shoul! go on living without pausing to in:uire if there be any purpose in life at all"
131
9 ti&e (o&es in the intelle(tual growth of a &an when he knows that he &ust put asi!e
the trivialities of life an! (o&e to ter&s with the !e&an!s &a!e upon hi& by his higher
nature"
132
hose who wish to !o so&ething &ore than &erely gli!e over the surfa(e of &ysti(al
life$ who wish to be fully at pea(e with the&selves$ &ust take to the :uest"
133
o put oneAs own purposes in har&ony with the universeAs purpose is the &ost sensible
thing he (an !o" herefore there is nothing unpra(ti(al$ irrational$ or e((entri( in the
Quest" Only the unthinking (row!$ who suffer blin!ly an! !rift tragi(ally$ &ay believe
so" No one who has felt the inner pea(e$ re(eive! the !eep wis!o&$ an! tou(he! the
ro(klike strength whi(h &ark the &ore a!van(e! stages$ (oul! ever believe so"
134
he &o&ent we be(o&e (onvin(e! that the universal life has a higher purpose than the
&ere repro!u(tion of the spe(ies$ that &o&ent our own in!ivi!ual life takes on a higher
&eaning$ a glorious signifi(an(e"
135
It is this that gives our poor personal lives their &eaning an! res(ues the& fro& their
foa&like (hara(ter"
146
0ere is a (on(ept on whi(h the &in! (an linger$ bra(e! by its re&in!er of our hu&an
possibilities"
141
hose who &ove through life hopeless an! !rea&less$ who see none of its beauty an!
hear none of its &usi($ who have lost &ost of its battles an! won none of its pri/es$
these (an (onsole the&selves only by a!opting a new set of values or by applying one if
they &erely theori/e! before" If they !o this$ the en! (an be a new beginning"
14#
he !is(overy that there are higher (on(epts of hu&an e%isten(e$ that these have a
vali!ity not less than the &eaner ones whi(h are all that so &any people know$ &ay
prove a turning point at any age" ;or the young it gives so&e gui!an(e$ for the ol!
getting (loser an! (loser to !eath it offers so&e hope"
14)
8o short a ti&e$ so s&all a gain$ so high a :uest" ;or what is best$ serves better in the
en!"
14.
he i&portan(e of this work is ignore! by &ost people an! unknown to &any people"
hey believe it to be the preo((upation of ti&e'wasting !rea&ers or ill'a!Buste!
neuroti(s" If they !o not treat it with su(h in!ifferen(e they treat it either with open
abuse or with (onte&ptuous in!ulgen(e" But if they (oul! un!erstan! that it penetrates
to the foun!ations of hu&an living an! affe(ts the settle&ent of hu&an proble&s$ they
&ight be less arrogant in their attitu!e towar!s it" It is not less i&portant to the
in!ivi!ual than to so(iety at all ti&es but i&&easurably &ore so in these grave$ (riti(al
ti&es"
141
It &ay be aske! of what so(ial use are those who &ake this :uest their pri&ary
o((upation$ an! therefore &ake their worl!ly o((upation an! way of life (onfor& to it>
;irst of all$ they e&bo!y$ an! therefore (arry on an! keep alive$ the very i!ea of the
:uest" 8e(on!ly$ their very presen(e$ by telepathi( an! auri( e%isten(e$ does tou(h the
inner beings of those who (o&e into (onta(t with the& an! does leaven the &ental
at&osphere of those who !o not''however &inute the effe(t on any parti(ular !ay"
hir!ly$ although ea(h has to live an! e%press the :uest in the way referable to his
te&pera&ent an! (ir(u&stan(es$ he does offer a &o!el''in general ter&s''for others to
see$ an e%a&ple fro& whi(h to !raw sti&ulation"
142
In (hoosing this Path$ the aspirant has taken the first step towar! a @ivine Power whose
possession$ or rather whose possession of hi&$ will$ ulti&ately$ enable hi& to be(o&e a
real healer of suffering &ankin!"
143
he view that su(h an e%isten(e is selfish an! unpro!u(tive$ is a shallow one" It takes no
a((ount of the value of higher for(es" ;or whoever$ by this :uest an! pra(ti(e$ reali/es
the !ivine presen(e$ !oes so not only for hi&self but for all others in that little part of
the worl! (onfi!e! to his (are"
144
Who are the &ost i&portant hu&an beings in the worl!> hose who try to bring sanity
to an insane worl! or those who try to perpetuate its (on!ition>
145
Our artists (an fin! new sour(es of inspiration in it" Our !ying religious hopes (an
re(eive an influ% of une%pe(te! new life fro& it" he phoeni% of @ivine ruth (an rise
again out of the ashes of &aterialis& strewn aroun! us if we turn our fa(es to that
!ire(tion where the sun rises in re! !awn" Det sin(e the spiritual is the !eepest part of
our nature$ the pro(ess of our absorption of spiritual truths is a slow an! not obvious
one"
156
0e &ay be tol! (onte&ptuously that that kin! of truth an! reality have no pra(ti(al
value for us living in the worl! as it is$ a(tive in the worl! an! !ealing with the fa(ts as
they are$ not getting lost in !rea&s" hat in several ways this is not so (an be
!e&onstrate! without too &u(h !iffi(ulty" But let it be sai! that su(h a supre&e
knowle!ge or e%perien(e &ay possibly serve higher purposes whi(h our s&all &in!s
(annot yet gli&pse"
151
9ll that really &atters is how one lives oneAs life" But relative'plane a(tivities !o not
(onstitute all there is to living" Cons(iousness rises fro& the plane behin! the &in!$ an!
this region$ like the outer worl!$ nee!s to be e%plore! with (o&petent gui!es''its
possibilities an! benefits fully reveale! by ea(h in!ivi!ual for hi&self" Civing will begin
to a(hieve its own purpose when oneAs outer life be(o&es &otivate!$ gui!e!$ an!
balan(e! by the fruits of oneAs inner fin!ings"
15#
Dou !o not !e&olish the (ase for &ysti(s when you show up an! (ensure the o!!ities
an! (harlatanries$ the unreasons an! fanati(is&s of a few &ysti(al (ults"
15)
If the &ysti(al life were nothing &ore than a way of forgetting the !ark sorrows of
earthly life$ a &eans of es(aping the har! proble&s of earthly life$ it woul! still be
worthwhile" If its e&otional raptures were nothing &ore than &ake'believe$ it woul!
still be worthwhile" We !o not !is!ain theatres an! books$ fil&s an! &usi( &erely
be(ause the worl! into whi(h they lea! us is only one of glorious unreality" But the fa(t
is that &ysti(is& !oes seek reality$ albeit an inner one"
15.
0e is not only an a(tor giving a perfor&an(e on the worl!'stage" 0e is also so&eone
who &ust learn to live in the still (entre of his being"
151
he history of &ysti(is& is &arre! by i&posture an! frau!$ superstition an! (re!ulity"
Det with all these !efe(ts it is still the history of a tre&en!ous !is(overy"
152
his is the higher purpose of life7 to this &en &ust in the en! !e!i(ate the&selves: for
this they &ust work$ stu!y$ an! &e!itate"
153
Our whole life on earth is in the en! nothing else than a kin! of preparation for this
:uest"
154
9s he a!van(es on this :uest his s(he&e of values &ay (hange" his is partly be(ause
he learns by e%perien(e what every &an has to learn$ :uester or not$ that all is passing
an! nothing is stable$ that the fruits of !esire &ay turn to ashes$ an! that every !ay
brings hi& nearer to !eath an! farther fro& life" But it is partly also what the non'
:uesters too often fail to per(eive$ that e%isten(e is like a !rea&$ ulti&ately hollow$ an!
that without so&e sort of link$ (onne(tion$ (o&&union$ or gli&pse bringing hi& nearer
to the inner reality his life re&ains unfulfille!"
155
+en of the worl! are not suppose! to !abble in &ysti(is&$ &u(h less e%alt it to the
status of religion" Det this is pre(isely what they nee!$ an! nee! urgently"
The Noteboos are (opyright K 154.'1545$ he Paul Brunton Philosophi( ;oun!ation"