Notebooks of Paul Brunton > Category 2: Overview of Practicies Involved > Chapter 2: he !

easure of Progress
he !easure of Progress
Attitudes that help or hinder
"
#e will have to recogni$e that not only the universe outside but his own nature inside is
governed by precise laws% and that his spiritual progression is sub&ect to such laws% too'
2
If the re(uest for enlighten)ent co)es fro) the botto) of your heart% the answer will
likewise be given there' It )ay co)e at once% or after a long ti)e' If you are too
i)patient% if you don*t find it worth waiting for% if you give up too soon% you do not
deserve it'
+
,o long as he is )easuring every inch of his progress along the spiritual path% so long as
he is constantly )easuring and often ad)iring his own virtues% he is really so
preoccupied with his own ego that his bondage to it beco)es )ore dangerous as it
beco)es )ore deceptive'
-
o the e.tent that he opens hi)self out passively to the higher self% its guidance%
instruction% and )essages% to that e.tent he will )ake real and safe progress' But he
)ust be careful not to try to i)pose his own ideas upon this guidance% not to seek to
instruct the )ystic Instructor% not to interfere with the process of trans)ission fro) the
higher self to the egoic )ind'
/
0ith the intelligence to perceive and the frankness to confess his faults and
shortco)ings% progress beco)es possible' 0ithout the) it re)ains slow and halting'
1
he key to understanding 2ao $u*s book% The Simple Way% is to understand that it
describes a goal and not a path to a goal' It does not give advice to aspirants as to what
they should do% but it describes the actuali$ed condition of an adept' #ence it would be
foolish for aspirants to adopt its policy of Wu-wei% )eaning inaction% doing nothing% to
take one instance% and let everything be done for the)33as it would be foolish for a
sheep to dress itself up in the skin of a lion and then atte)pt the e.ploits of a lion' It
would be foolish for a beginner to apply the techni(ue% adopt the way of life% assu)e the
power% and e.pect the results of an adept' #e would begin with self3deception and end
with confusion' #e would fail because he has not yet hi)self attained contact with the
ruling power'
4
Progress does not consist in picking up different scraps fro) a )edley of cults and
sects' It consists in hard work in )editation% in taking oneself well in hand% in reflective
study'
5
he way to )ake these changes for )ost people is not the herculean sudden way' It is to
)ake the) gradually and progressively% as the direction to do so co)es fro) within
the)selves' 6ntil then they will wait7 they will not heroically go over to the new regi)e
pre)aturely% &ust because so)e book or so)e refor)er or so)e lecturer urges the) to
do so' his )ay not be the )ost self3flattering way but it is the )ost prudent way' hey
will not be troubled by secret longings for the abandoned regi)e'
8
It would be wrong to e.pect that he )ust duplicate so)ebody else*s )ystical
e.periences and e(ually wrong to regard hi)self as a failure because he does not have
these e.periences'
"9
In )ost cases the i)agination is e.cited by the belief that great secrets will be unveiled
as the aspirant passes fro) grade to grade with the years' But the difficulty of )aking
this passage is usually underrated and the nature of these secrets overrated'
""
he aspirant should e)ulate the philosopher*s patience and not sit down every day to
feel his spiritual pulse% as it were% constantly worrying as to whether he is )aking
progress% re)aining stagnant% or going backwards' #e needs to re)e)ber that
enlighten)ent cannot be attained by a single act but only by slow degrees and constant
toil' :et une.pected cycles of (uickened progress )ay co)e on hi) unaware' here
)ay be ti)es when his inner being will see) to burst open in sudden bloo)' But
generally there will be no s)ooth onward progress all the way for hi)' #is spiritual
situation will vary strikingly fro) ti)e to ti)e' he final acco)plish)ent can be
brought about only in stages'
"2
If he see)s to be standing still% or if he see)s to have lapsed and regressed% he ought to
en(uire at what point in the road left behind hi) he took the wrong turn'
"+
!en% filled with pardonable an.iety or natural eagerness% often ask: #ow long will it
take )e to acco)plish this spiritual work; < definite period in years cannot be stated in
the answer' 0hoever thinks in this way will never be able to succeed in the task' =or
how can he enter the >ternal while he thinks only of ti)e; <ll hurry )ust be
abandoned' 2et results take care of the)selves% is the Bhagavad Gita*s advice in this
)atter'
"-
Progress along this path is not )erely a )atter of chronology7 nobody )ay )easure it
with accuracy for nobody knows what forces )ay suddenly arise out of an individual*s
past to hinder hi) or what forces )ay suddenly arise out of the Overself to help hi)'
"/
#e )ust not forget that he is only a short way fro) the start of his &ourney% and should
not assu)e attitudes or prerogatives suitable only to one who is well advanced'
"1
#ow few are the aspirants who look for )astery of the)selves as a reward not less
gratifying than e.perience of spirit% for triu)ph over te)per as being &ust as satisfactory
as a )ystical pheno)enon?
"4
he )an who is ready to desert his (uest or his )aster because no visible grace co)es
his way% because no &oyous )ystical ecstasies visit hi)% because nothing see)s to
happen in his inner life% needs to beco)e ac(uainted with three facts of that life' he
first is that grace )ay co)e and not be recogni$ed for what it is' he second is that his
personal e)otions are not necessarily a correct )easure of his spiritual progress' he
third is that the true (uest leads for a ti)e through the dark lonely forest of inner
poverty% where the )an has nothing to boast of% is nothing to be proud of% and
e.periences nothing to co)pensate for the worldly life which he has sacrificed' It is
indeed a dark night of the soul'
"5
he aspirant who prefers to see hi)self as )uch )ore advanced than he really is% is
suffering fro) the inflation of a strong ego' he aspirant who prefers the opposite view
and prefers to underrate his position is suffering fro) the inferiority of a feeble ego'
Both attitudes are undesirable'
"8
oo )any beginners beco)e discouraged because progress is slow% or even non3
e.istent' But% really% )uch depends on the point of view' 0ithout succu)bing to the
sugary over3opti)is) of an >)erson% which could )ake hi) write that @the soul*s
highest duty is to be of good cheer@33in such contrast to Buddha*s oft3repeated insistence
that its highest duty is to see life as suffering33they can at least ad)it that they have
)ade a start on this conscious (uest of truth% that they have discovered there is such a
(uest% and that there is a )agnificent cli)a. to the hu)an adventure' hey can be
thankful for all this' I have known so)e )en who took this view% who en&oyed being
(uesters% who were even enthusiastic although they had had no inner e.periences and
)ade no dra)atic progress' hey were positive% not negative% thinkers'
29
Auring )y travels% I have watched so )any aspirants )ake so )any unavailing atte)pts
to gain this higher awareness that I would have been unobservant indeed if I had not
drawn the lesson' his was that those who were )ost easily discouraged and
disheartened% failing to try out new roads or to persevere in the old one% were too
fre(uently those who sank into the apathy of accepted failure'
2"
heir very eagerness to advance incapacitates the) fro) advancing% for it )erely swells
the ego fro) which they want to run away'
22
oo )any aspirants co)plain about their see)ing lack of progress% their failure to get
encouraging inner e.periences in pay)ent for their effort' If they were hu)ble enough
they would not co)plain% for then they would not be )easuring how high they had
grown' If they )ust look at all% it would be better to look for a finer character than for
stranger pheno)ena'
2+
It is a )istake to believe that so)ething )ust happen inwardly to show that he is
)aking progress% that so)e dra)atic e.perience or sti)ulating revelation )ust co)e to
hi) as a reward for his taking ti)e out to )editate' It is wiser to be satisfied with
settling down and being cal)% with the patient surrender to the Overself*s will' #e )ust
learn how to wait'
2-
If his actions lag behind his aspiration% he need not be unduly depressed' #e can be
)odest and even hu)ble in accepting the fact that he has far to go% but this acceptance
should be )ade (uietly and cal)ly because it should always be supported behind by
hope and faith'
2/
!ur)urings against the paucity of dra)atic or pheno)enal or ecstatic results% and
la)entations over the hardships of a (uester*s lot% )ay be e.pected but )ust be re&ected'
Aid he anticipate a special good fortune because he took to the (uest; 0as he to beco)e
e.e)pt fro) the darker side of the hu)an condition as a reward; Aid he not see then%
and does he not reali$e today% that the search for truth is long and difficult by its very
nature;
21
2est the co)placent consciousness of progress should give rise to spiritual pride% let
hi) re)e)ber that a change of circu)stances )ay shatter it'
24
0e )ay take Buddha*s half3s)ile as an encourage)ent: both to set our footsteps on the
0ay and to set all desires aside% to be content even with a slight result fro) our spiritual
efforts'
25
If people stop half3way or (uarter3way on this path% who can bla)e the); he )ore
they co)e to know what is really de)anded of the)% the )ore they co)e to see its
difficulty% even its see)ing i)possibility'
28
here are those who draw back after so)e years% or desert altogether% co)plaining that
the disciplines and regi)es of the Buest are too )uch for the)% and that even the few
successes took too )any years out of a lifeti)e to be worth waiting for' here is no
ade(uate reply for such co)plaints' Nobody is asked% forced% or ca&oled to go on this
(uest' >ach )ust co)e to it of his own free choice' hose who re)ain do so because
they consider the worldly alternative to be worse'
+9
hose who do not find that they )ake the e.pected progress and throw up the Buest in
disappoint)ent% reveal not only their own i)patience but also insufficient
understanding of what it is that they undertook'
+"
It is perhaps pardonable that he should feel frustrated as the fulfil)ent of his aspirations%
the )atching of his perfectionist drea)s% see)s to slip farther away with the vanishing
years'
+2
hose who repine pessi)istically at the slowness of their growth% who talk in
disenchanted tones about the futility of the Buest% need to feel the invigorating and
blessing touch of Crace'
++
#is self3reproach and self3disgust will grow to such a height that a fresh start in a fresh
birth will so)eti)es see) the only way out'
+-
By conte)plating the inner sun% the Overself% he is inevitably drawn upward in
increasing light% whereas by e.cessively preoccupying hi)self with the ego he beco)es
depressed into increasing darkness' 0hen the latter happens the very (uest which was
supposed to di)inish his sorrow and enlarge his peace% beco)es a fresh source of
sorrow and agitation'
+/
If the Buester*s hopes are not fulfilled nor his aspirations reali$ed% it )ay be that he is
de)anding too )uch too soon fro) hi)self% his spiritual guide% or his spiritual
techni(ue' It )ay also be that he is undertaking what he is unprepared for and that he
has not e(uipped hi)self for the &ourney'
+1
he inability to feel this presence is not necessarily a sign of failure7 it is one of their
vicissitudes which aspirants often co)plain about' It is well to re)e)ber that these
usually co)e to an end' here are ti)es when a )an )ust not accept his follies and
weaknesses but discipline the) instead' Intelligence )ust take their place% and he )ust
support it by yielding to its rulership'
+4
2et hi) be sincere with hi)self% neither overrating his stature nor underrating it% neither
indulging false hopes nor e.aggerating his discourage)ents'
+5
If his first step on this path is wrong% all his later steps will necessarily be wrong' In the
end he will either have to retrace his steps or else take to the ,hort Path'
+8
he student should keep in )ind that it is not needful to feel tension about the Buest'
#e )ust strive to be patient and not try to )easure his progress every few weeks'
-9
#e who thinks only of the obstacles in his way will never attain the goal' It is necessary
to )editate on% and work to develop% positive (ualities which will )ake progress
possible'
-"
<spirants should beware of )istaking an evanescent and e)otional feeling that they are
)aking spiritual progress for the real thing'
-2
If past efforts for )any years have been useless and ended in failure% this )erely )eans
that he has e.hausted the possibilities of the road he has been travelling and that he has
to start on a new road'
-+
#e )ay find a little light after )uch searching'
--
Blavatsky herself% at the height of heosophy*s power and influence% stated that hardly
si. of her followers understood the Coal and had any favourable prospect of reaching it'
Aoes it follow that a reasonable )an will be too disheartened to enter on the path to
such an inaccessible goal; No33he need not be'
-/
he aspirant who fre(uently )easures how far he has advanced% or retrograded% upon
this path% or how long he has stood still% is seeking so)ething to be gained for hi)self%
is looking all the ti)e at hi)self' #e is )easuring the ego instead of trying to transcend
it altogether' #e is clinging to self% instead of obeying Desus* in&unction to deny it'
2ooking at the ego% he unwittingly stands with his back to the Overself' If he is ever to
beco)e enlightened% he )ust turn round% cease this endless self3)easure)ent% stop
fussing over little steps forward or backward% let all thoughts about his own
backwardness or greatness cease% and look directly at the goal itself'
-1
If% however% he dwells upon his spiritual develop)ent and changes of )ood% his sins and
faults all the ti)e and with all his )ind% he is likely to overbalance hi)self' <n
e.travagant preoccupation with his own ego would then result' his would not be true
progress' < wise spiritual director% if he has one% could do no better than thoroughly
shake hi) and tell hi) to go out and get so)e social en&oy)ent or see so)e funny
plays% where he can forget hi)self and lose this unhealthy obsession with his self3
centered thoughts and )orbid e)otions'
-4
rapped as they are by their own li)itations% looking in the wrong direction for
fulfil)ent of aspiration% bound to their past and therefore going round in circles% it is
understandable if they co)plain of the failure to )ake any substantial progress'
-5
It is a fact that as he progresses on this (uest )ethods% techni(ues% ideas% and practices
which suited the ele)entary stages of develop)ent later obstruct hi)'
-8
If you find progress to be slow and the pro)ised rewards still out of sight% do not
despair' Be patient as Nature herself is patient' =ind% if you can% the friendship of those
)ore advanced than yourself and receive fro) their presence the sti)ulus to beco)e
unhurried by ti)e and unhurt by )oods of i)patience' he path )ay be a long one% but
when success co)es it co)es une.pectedly and the final stages are short and rapid' It is
the earlier and )ore ele)entary stages which are long drawn out' :ou are not in a
position to &udge e.actly what progress you have )ade' his is why you )ust have
great patience'
Sources, signs, and stages of growth
/9
0hether one is hardened by overco)ing unpleasant setbacks or encouraged by the
sunshine of cheering successes% this is the strange parado. of the path: out of its
)ultitude of defeats and disappoint)ents% )istakes and disillusion)ents co)es forth
wisdo)% and after wisdo)% victory'
/"
It is true that there are sacrifices to be )ade on the way% cul)inating one day perhaps in
the biggest one33the ego*s co)pulsive will to insert itself in every situation or activity33
but there are also consolations and co)pensations to counterbalance the)' If certain
habits have to be given up and certain satisfactions dropped% new intuitions% signs of
progress% inner supports% encourage)ents% and learnings appear'
/2
#e )ay know that he is beginning to progress when he beco)es his own strictest &udge%
his own severest critic'
/+
#is degree of advance)ent will not only be shown by the deepest point touched in
)editation but also by the way of handling everyday situations'
/-
he fact that he has faithfully and perseveringly kept going on the course that leads to
the higher self will count for so)ething even if he fails to reach it' =or it will satisfy
conscience% attract occasional inspirations or enlighten)ents% and prepare the way for
eventual success in another birth' he constant effort to follow the spiritual (uest
produces in ti)e all the (ualifications needed to achieve its goal'
//
>ven if he did no )ore than study the teaching% even if he felt that inward weakness and
outward circu)stance placed its practice beyond his reach% his ti)e would not be
wasted and the study would still be beneficial' =or whilst he i)bibed these ideas and
dwelt upon the) fro) ti)e to ti)e% they would have a long3range effect' ,lowly%
perhaps i)perceptibly% his passions would abate% his faults would be te)pered% and his
virtues would be reinforced'
/1
he very changes which he )akes in habits% regi)es of living% and inherited custo)s%
are often signs that the Overself is being allowed to do its cleansing work in hi)'
/4
Buite apart fro) the spiritual rewards% there are additional and tangible ones also33better
health% greater achieve)ent% and less avoidable self3earned trouble'
/5
Not only when his associates find his outer behaviour% which they can observe%
unob&ectionable but also when he finds his inner reactions to the)% which they cannot
observe% unob&ectionable% should he be satisfied that his faults are a)ended'
/8
he seeker passes through different )oods% phases% and states during the years'
>(uani)ity is still only an ideal but its attain)ent is )ore likely to be nearer than not as
the years pass' But he )ay not think so until he )easures his attitudes of an earlier date
with those of today'
19
0hen a )an turns his back on erroneous thought and sinful conduct and penitently
seeks to cultivate wisdo) and virtue% he enters on a path whose rate of progression and
particular course are alike incalculable' =or they are in Cod*s hands and only partly in
his own'
1"
,tudy% prayer% )editation% and discipline of )otive% )ind% and body will yield their
results according to the intensity with which they are undertaken and the wisdo) with
which they are co)bined' he best results naturally co)e fro) the greatest intensity
and the fittest balance'
12
#e has gone far on this path when his last thought on falling asleep at night is the
Overself and his first thought on waking up in the )orning is again the Overself'
1+
:ou )ay certainly hope for success when the whole trend of your thinking and the
whole trend of your action is strongly directed to this single purpose only% when you
have resolutely subordinated personal feelings and te)pera)ental predilections to the
solution of the proble) of truth'
1-
If the discovery of Overself is still absent% then the search has not been deep enough or
long enough or valued enough'
1/
0hen the sense of his own i)perfections% his own failings% so overwhel)s hi) at ti)es
that he falls into deep depression% into gloo)y despondency% it will help to weaken the
ego*s pride and conceit'
11
here are definite stages wherein the feelings beco)e purer% nobler and cal)er% the
desires thinner% lesser% and )ore refined% the thoughts positive% larger% and )ore
concentrated'
14
#e who has nurtured the thoughts and cultivated the stillness and behaved by the
in&unctions which philosophy has offered hi) will% when the late evening of his life
co)es% not only never regret it but be glad for it'
15
2et hi) look to the condition of his consciousness: Is it steady or fluctuating; Is it
per)eated with egois) to the point of being shrivelled up; Is it widely i)personal;
hese and several other signs )ay give the )easure of his progress'
18
he kind of (uestion he asks and even the way in which he puts it helps to show where
he stands on the path to ruth and how )uch he has understood'
49
he (uester )oves fro) beginning to end33if it could be said that there really is an end33
under a higher will' It is not only the point that he sets out to reach that )atters but also
the point that he will be per)itted to reach' But this is not arbitrarily and capriciously
predeter)ined' #is own kar)a co)es into play here'
4"
wo trustworthy evidences of real progress are attain)ent of balance and attenuation of
ego'
42
If anyone really wants to progress% let alone succeed% I do not know any way of escaping
these two indispensable conditions: e.ercise and perseverance'
4+
0hen the student on this path assu)es failure will be the only outco)e of his efforts to
progress spiritually% this pessi)istic attitude overlooks the fact of grace' <d)ittedly the
actuality of forgiveness for past errors does depend on sincere% hu)ble repentance in
prayer and to a certain e.tent on self3denying a)end)ent and self3disciplining refor)'
If this is done% a basis for hope does e.ist and can be sought'
>ven if for any reason i))ediate achieve)ents are not possible% there yet e.ist other
)otives for striving to do what he can in self3i)prove)ent' By that% the re)aining years
of his lifeti)e would be assisted and protected in different ways and% at the last% the ne.t
reincarnation would be )ade so )uch better and probably easier' If he really accepts the
principle of rebirth% then both the long view and the i))ediate possibility counsel a
continuance of aspiration and endeavour' #ope is dead only when faith is dead'
4-
hat few persons out of )any seekers succeed in finding this spiritual fulfil)ent to
)ore than a relative e.tent is undeniable' 0hy this should be so is not only due to the
difficulty of co)plying with all the re(uire)ents of the Buest but also to the kind of
nervous syste) inherited fro) parents7 to the character of the destiny allotted by the
2aw of Eeco)pense7 to the environ)ental and educational conditioning of the earlier
years of childhood% adolescence% and young adulthood7 and finally to the rarity of
co)petent teachers or guides'
4/
hey can )easure progress less by these things than by how )uch they have )astered
the lower nature% how often they deny the ego its desire to preponderate% and how
willing they are to detach the)selves fro) e)otional reactions'
41
he (uester who stops so)ewhere on the way% either dis)ayed by his own
transgressions or e.hausted by the paucity of results% is e.cusably hu)an' he sooner he
gets back to the herd the better for his co)fort' he fact is that no results can be
pro)ised: all results are only probable' If he e.pects to obtain a )ystical e.perience% he
)ust not forget that Crace is the giver of it% not his own efforts'
44
#e )ay )easure progress partly by the signs of strengthened intuition and partly by the
signs of strengthened will'
45
It is a sign of inner growth when a )an lets go of an.ieties in his )ind while doing what
he can in his body'
48
<lthough he will feel greater hu)ility as he advances% it is also true that he will feel
greater certainty'
59
here is the ever growing awareness of trans)aterial e.istence% the deepening peace of
it% and the increasing accu)ulation of inspiring knowledge'
5"
Crowth is to be )easured in ter)s of consciousness and understanding% character and
intelligence% intuition and balance in their totality% and not in ter)s of any single one of
these alone'
52
If it be asked why cases of illu)ination are so rare and so isolated% we )ust point to the
steep% rugged character of the way leading to it'
5+
In the end% it is individual endeavour helped by grace that wins' he one is not without
the other'
5-
If these state)ents (uoted33one fro) the Bhagavad Gita declaring that of thousands
who seek the <t)an only one finds it% and the other fro) the New esta)ent declaring
that )any are called but few are chosen33if these state)ents are to be taken literally%
then the efforts of the vast )a&ority of aspirants are doo)ed to tragic failure and it then
beco)es a (uestion why anyone should engage in such a hopeless lottery with the odds
against hi) so for)idable as to )ake the ga)e not worthwhile' 0hy too did those great
seers who )ade these state)ents nevertheless go on to encourage their followers to
engage in the task; 0hy if they really wanted their followers to engage in it did they not
keep secret the hopelessness of the task; hese are serious (uestions'
5/
>ven if an aspirant does not attain his goals% if he is patient and persevering% studious
and reflective% he should be able to get fro) the years a )odicu) of settled peace' It
)ay not be )uch% but at least it is so)ething which )ost others do not have'
51
,lowly% i)perceptibly% hectic i)patience% unnecessary haste% often even fla)ing anger%
fade out of his being as peace co)es into it'
54
It is true that no spiritual effort is ever )ade in vain either in the individual struggle for
progress or in the way individual progress influences others'
55
he Buest is a long drawn3out affair and self3i)prove)ent is a slow% unsatisfying
process' Nevertheless% fro) a long3range point3of3view% a great deal of progress can be
)ade in a single lifeti)e% and he who seeks to traverse this path is not walking alone'
58
he ti)e )ay suddenly arise when Crace will take a hand in the )atter% and the
student*s outward life will begin to confor) to the )ental ideal which he has so long33
and% see)ingly% so vainly33held for it'
89
#e )ust re)e)ber that he is sub&ect to trials of faith and character which he )ight not
otherwise have had' #e si)ply )ust believe that if he does his share towards the
fulfil)ent of his duties the results pass out of his hands and beco)e Cod*s concern' #e
)ust therefore leave it to Cod to arrange the ways and )eans whereby he will be able to
discharge his responsibilities' #e )ust have enough faith to believe that he will not be
let down' It often happens to one on this path that what he greatly needs does not co)e
to hi) when he pre)aturely asks for it but only co)es when the need is actually ripe'
his co)bination of doing his bit and then trusting in Cod will carry hi) through all his
difficulties'
8"
>ventually% one will tend to dislodge oneself fro) less worthwhile pursuits' Ordinary
auto)atic responses to these and other worldly affairs will cease as one feels the
deepening need for thought3stilling and inner peace'
82
he )ind )ust go on gradually parting with its ancient illusions% its ti)e3fed pre&udices%
hardly aware of any progress% until one fateful day truth triu)phs abruptly in a vivid
flash of supre)e illu)ination'
8+
0hen this feverish desire for wonderful or e)otional )ystic e.periences co)es to an
end% being replaced by recognition of the great funda)ental truths about Cod and
Overself% or by a (uiet trust which turns his spiritual future over to the higher power*s
care% he will have )ade a real advance'
8-
he errors and superstitions of the earlier stages have to be discarded as he advances%
but the truths and achieve)ents retained'
8/
he longing for personal affection to co)e fro) another person will fall away &ust as% at
an earlier stage% the craving for the physical gratification fell away'
81
>ver )indful of the presence of the 0orld3Idea in all events and all history% of the
working of the 0orld3!ind through cos)ic change% develop)ent% and decay% his
conviction beco)es ever stronger as proof accu)ulates'
84
It takes )uch inner e.perience% )uch reflection on the i))utable laws% and )uch outer
e.perience that confir)s those laws before his confidence in the divine wisdo)
beco)es as unshakable as a rock% and before all negative )oods beco)e powerless to
touch hi)'
85
#is (uest will begin to bear fruit when the sacrifice it entails and the discipline it en&oins
are borne% not with unwilling e)otions and hesitating thoughts% but with clear
understanding and patient resignation'
88
It is (uite possible to )ake progress on the Buest without the aid of a teacher' he
aspirant*s own higher self will give hi) the guidance and assistance he needs33provided
he has sufficient faith in its e.istence'
"99
he e.hilarating pheno)ena and ecstatic e.periences which often )ake the (uest*s
beginning so colourful have no per)anence in the)selves but only in their effects'
0hen they co)e to an end% a force is left behind which works upon the psyche both to
integrate it with the departed inspiration and to prepare it for the ne.t one'
"9"
<ll classifications and syste)i$ations of the )ystical ascent are in a certain sense
artificial and arbitrary' hey e.ist to satisfy the intellect*s re(uire)ents but by
the)selves they cannot satisfy the Overself*s re(uire)ents' <spiration% faith%
deter)ination% sacrifice% or service )ay% if carried to e.tre)e intensity% upset all such
sche)es and (uickly win its Crace' he aspirant will pass through a succession of levels
of spiritual awareness% each higher than the one before' But he will not pass through it
)echanically and s)oothly' Between the first step on the )ystical path and the gaining
of its glorious pri$e% an e.istence of ups and downs% of terrible darknesses and
e.hilarating enlighten)ents% of sha)eful weakness and satisfying endeavour% awaits
hi)'
Owing to the presence of such unknown factors as Crace and e)otional stability% a fi.ed
period cannot be assigned for develop)ent and it is not possible to )ake correct%
generali$ed state)ents about the ti)e re(uired for its various stages' hat is entirely a
)atter of the individual*s situation% character% and the develop)ent he has brought over
fro) for)er births' <lso it would be wrong to suppose that during the ascent% these
stages always and necessarily follow each other in the prescribed order' his would
have to be the case if we were cli)bing a physical )ountain like the !atterhorn or if
we were )astering an intellectual profession like law' But here there is% first% an F3
factor involved33Crace33and% second% delayed3action tendencies or ac(uire)ents fro)
for)er earth3lives' herefore% the different stages )ay so)eti)es e.ist side by side'
,o)e who enter upon this Buest pass swiftly through its early stages but )ost do not'
!ost )en are destined to pursue the Buest through a long discipleship' <las? how long
is the way% how slow the &ourney of self3un)asking' On this road one eventually learns
that the notion of a (uick% abrupt victory is often a deceptive one' Eather will it be found
that nature*s usual way of slow growth with occasional spurts )ust be followed'
If this (uest is pursued% then the advance of age should bring advance of wisdo) to the
philosophical student who should grow )orally stronger and )entally taller with the
years' 0ith continuous perseverance on the (uest% his life beco)es stabili$ed and his
energies concentrated' #is advance will be )arked no less by deeper thoughts and
steadier e)otions% by kindlier words and nobler e)otions in the ordinary round of daily
life% as by subtler intuitions and serener )editations in the hidden life' #e will advance
inwardly beyond the co))on intellectual li)itations and find that no book can give hi)
the feeling of rich living presence% the sense of real glorious being% that these intuitions
evoke within hi)' Out of these long years of spiritual travail% he will e)erge with
chastened )ood and deepened conscience7 indeed% the )easure of his advance)ent will
be tokened by the gradual alteration of his reaction to events% by the serenity which
replaces sorrow and the indifference which replaces &oy'
#ow he is to apply this philosophy to particular situations in everyday living33for we
live in practical ti)es and a teaching is &udged and tested not only by what it clai)s to
do but also by what it actually does33is (uite rightly a )an*s own business and
responsibility' #e has taken to philosophy not only for the truth it contains but also for
the happiness it yields' #e desires its intellectual doctrines and delights in its practical
results' he philosophic )entality is sufficiently realistic not to waste ti)e on
i)possible goals' It is sufficiently idealist not to leave out the nobler possibilities of
regulating and governing itself for both its spiritual and physical benefit' It is neither
foolishly senti)ental nor brutally calculating' It understands both what can i))ediately
be done to better its life and what will eventually have to be done' <nyone can sit down
and draw up a progra) for self3refor) which will fall to pieces when put to the test of
practical e.peri)ent% but only a philosopher can sit down and draw up a progra) based
on hard facts yet illu)ined by the lantern of a true desire to i)prove his spiritual
situation and infused with the i)agination to understand and the understanding to
i)agine the better )an that he ought to be' If the philosopher has no ti)e to indulge in
i)practicable )irage3like plans% he has the capacity to perceive practical possibilities
not beyond actual hu)an scope although they )ay be beyond conventional hu)an
vision'
,o% the natural (uestion which arises% @0hat is the )eaning% what is the value of
philosophy for my life;@ )ay be answered'
"92
0hen the picture of hi)self is no longer pleasing to hi) but on the contrary% painful% he
is beginning to see truly' 0hen he passes fro) the stage of self3pity to that of self3
loathing he is beginning to progress effectively'
"9+
Auring this first period of his develop)ent he learns to shed tensions and to achieve
poise'
"9-
In the earlier stages of his develop)ent the aspirant is helped by being told e.actly what
to do' But in the later stages the less this is done the better for hi)'
"9/
o say% as so)e )ystics do% that no )ethod can be for)ulated for the progress of )an
toward spiritual self3reali$ation% is to confess their own inade(uacy' Aid not the
fore)ost of ,panish )ystics% ,aint Dohn of the Cross% write out an al)ost )athe)atical
chart of this progress;
"91
here are re)arkable e.periences on the way% each of which )ay see) to signal the
finding of Cod and lead hi) to tell others about it or to set out to advise and help the)'
But they are pseudo3enlighten)ents in the sense that the goal is still farther away'
"94
Is it possible to take part in the world*s pursuits and still )ake solid spiritual progress;
he answer depends upon the particular phase of inner life through which a )an is
passing' he young tender plant could not endure what the older and )ore solidly
established one could'
"95
It is true that )any )ay find the (uest )ore difficult without personal freedo) to
)editate undisturbed and without privacy to study the inspired te.ts' his will be )ore
pronounced in the beginning perhaps' But a ti)e will co)e when the circu)stances
)ay change outwardly or inwardly by the benignant work of grace'
"98
!ost aspirants go through a period of disgust with the world and of scorn for the petty
ai)s of their fellows' hey feel% as in this scrap of verse by #'C' #opkins% @Now%
severed fro) )y kind by )y conte)pt% I live apart and beat )y lonely dru)'@
""9
< )ere belief in the soul*s e.istence is the first and shortest step' <n intellectual study of
its nature and a devotional discipline of the self is the ne.t and longest step' < direct
intuitive reali$ation of the soul*s presence is the third and last one'
"""
<t a certain stage% following a period of concentrated study or activity% it )ay beco)e
necessary to slow down for a while in order to achieve so)e )easure of clarity and
har)ony33both in one*s inward and in one*s outward life' =urther progress is not
possible until this has been satisfactorily acco)plished'
""2
<t a certain stage of develop)ent% it is )ore i)portant to work hard at self3
i)prove)ent and to detect hidden weaknesses and re)edy the) than to atte)pt
anything else'
""+
here is a definite spiritual pattern to be worked out in the (uester*s life' <t so)e ti)e%
for instance% he will be urged fro) within or driven fro) without to care properly for
the body through diet% cleansings% breathings% and e.ercise' hese are i)portant for his
purification'
""-
he (uester who has reached a sufficiently advanced stage beco)es keenly aware of the
parado.es and contrarieties of his life'
""/
he ,oul is always there but he has to use prayer% )editation% and )oral self3discipline
to beco)e aware of it' #e should pray for its Crace% )editate on its presence and reality%
and purify his thoughts and e)otions by disciplining the)' o turn away fro) hu)an
desires is hard' ,o to speed the process% the ,oul puts hi) through agoni$ing ordeals%
tragic bereave)ents% or great losses' Only after a deep )elancholy falls on the )ind and
a thorough disgust for the unsatisfactoriness of earthly life settles on the heart% does he
really yearn for the ,oul' his is the )ystic death' Only after it co)es the second birth'
""1
#is spiritual progress co)es to a standstill because the )otive of using it for healing
disease or changing )aterial conditions has served its purpose' It took hi) fro) a
li)ited orthodo.y or a barren scepticis) to a higher level of truth' Now he is called
upon to relin(uish this )otive if he is to cli)b to a still higher level and thus fulfil the
purpose of living'
""4
<t first he will find nothing )ore on the path than what his efforts can secure for hi)'
his is why the earlier years often see) so long% so sterile% and so )onotonous' But
during the ne.t period grace )ingles with his efforts and encouraging results then
appear' he third and last stage witnesses the gifts of the Overself falling like ripe plu)s
into his lap without any further efforts on his part' #ere all is done by the si)ple
working of grace' hen the )a&or virtues of life will co)e into his possession% not as
arbitrary co)pulsions of an unwilling ego% but as ripe fruit falling into his hands fro) a
sap3filled tree' =or although it is often said that the spiritually evolved )an undergoes a
profound self3loss% which penetrates his whole nature and affects his whole e.pression%
the truth is that he does not really lose hi)self in the new consciousness which has
taken possession of hi)' #e loses only his frailty and ignorance% his egoistic pettiness
and )ental distractedness% his body3based )aterialis) and useless sorrow'
The Noteboos are copyright G "85-3"858% he Paul Brunton Philosophic =oundation'