14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

PaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundationhomepage>NotebooksofPaulBrunton>Category21:Mentalism>Chapter2:
TheWorldAsMental

TheWorldAsMental
Mind,theprojector
1

Wecanfindnodirectconnectionorimmediateoperationbetweenathoughtandathing.
Weinstinctivelyrebelatthenotionthattherecouldbeone.Andrightlyso.Forthereare
nothingsapartfromthethoughtsofthem.
2

ItwasPlatowhorightlypointedoutthatexperienceisreallyamedleyofchanging
opinionsandconflictingbeliefs,therebyofferingcontrastwiththeorderlinessand
consistencyofreasonedknowledge.Thisiswhywehavetobeginintellectualanalysisof
theworldbyseparatingtherealmofsenseperceptionfromtherealmofreasoned
perception,asthoughtheywereentirelydifferent.Butwemustnotendwithsuchan
artificialseparation.Forinthehigherstagesweclimbtotheviewpointwhichreunites
themagain.TheThoughtisthentheThing.TheAppearanceisthenalsotheReal!
3

Thefalsityoftheviewthattherealworldisoutsideconsciousnessandthatthemental
copyofitaloneisinsideconsciousness,becomesknownonlyafterthoroughlydeep
penetrativethought.Thereisnoworldapartandseparatetobecopied,fortheideaisthe
world.
4

Wedonothaveadirectacquaintancewithanexternal,materialobjectwehaveadirect
acquaintancewithourownperceptiononly,therestbeingaprocessofunconscious
inference.Wedonotarriveatthenotionofthemanasawholeuntilwehaveexperienced
acompoundofsensationssuchashisheight,form,colour,andfeel.Aperceptisthe
discriminationandcombinationofsensations,towhichisaddedtheassumptionofextra
mental,separate,independentexistenceofthethingperceived.Thatamanisstanding
twofeetawayfromourbodyinthedomainofobjectivityisaninferencewhichwedraw
unconsciously,fortheonlyexperiencewhichwehaveofhimarethesehappeningsinthe
eyeandearthatis,happeningswhichareultimatelywithinmind.Itisonlyattheendof
thiswholeprocessthatweassumetheobjectisinanindependent,outsideworld.From
thesepersonalimpressionsourmindgetstoworkandmakesadeductionthatanouter
manisthere.Whatwereallyseeissomethingmental,theexistenceofthematerialman
beingdeducedfromthatofthementalexperience.Wedonotimmediatelyseeany
separate,independent,external,materialman.
5

Thingsthatcanbeseenandhandledarenotthelessseenandhandledmentally.
6

Thefirstquestionwhichneedstobeaskedandcorrectlyansweredis:Inwhatrelation
doesourthoughtofathingstandtothethingitself?
7

Ifathingreallystoodalooffromconsciousness,wecouldneverobtainknowledgeofit.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

1/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

Somerelationmustsubsistbetweenthetwo.Todenythis,toassertthatconsciousness
merelylightsuptheobject'sseparateexistenceforus,isunconsciouslytoassumeand
takeforgrantedastrueatheorythatstillremainstobeproved.
8

Whenwebelievethatweareexperiencingtheworldoutside,wearereallyexperiencing
theselfinside.
9

Thecommonbeliefisthatthecorrectorderis:firsttheworldofthingsexistsforus,and
secondweformanideaoftheworldafterwards.
10

Weallfirmlybelieveintheexistenceofthismaterialworldandweallappealtocommon
senseandcommonexperienceinsupportofourbelief.Idealismretorts:Thataworldof
whichweareconsciousexistsisundeniablebutthatthisworldismaterialinnatureis
disputable.
11

Onlywhenanobjectisregisteredinconsciousnessisitreallyseenatall.Notevenallthe
physicaldetailsofvisionconstitutetherealexperienceofseeingit,fortheawarenessof
itisnotaphysicalexperienceatall.
12

Whatwefirstbecomeacquaintedwitharethoughtsandsensations,feelingsandpercepts,
memoriesandanticipationsthatis,withmentalthings.
13

Theminddealsdirectlywithitsobjectsandnotthroughtheintermediaryworkingof
ideasfortheideasareitsonlyobjects.
14

Suchisthemakeupofourhabitualoutlookthatwetakeitunquestioninglyand
immediatelyforgrantedthatthepresenceofasensationinourfieldofawareness
indicatesthepresenceofanexternalmaterialthing.
15

Allexperienceisthoughtexperience.Whatweknowastheworldisaseriesofthoughts,
notanumberofmaterialthingsplusanumberofmentalthoughts.Consciousnessruns
throughallofthemastheircommonelement:theyoriginatefromit,existinit,leaveit
behindwhentheyvanish.
16

Thethoughtofathinginvariablyfollowsattentiontoathing,butthealmostinstantaneous
rapiditywithwhichitdoesso,togetherwiththemomentarycharacterofboth,produces
theillusionofasingleconsciousactandweremainignorantofthesuccession.
17

Wehavenowbeenabletodiscoverthatourordinarysenseofselfisamuddledone,
confusingthoughtandthing,mindandbody.Itmaybethoughtthatthestatementof
mentalismcontradictsournaturalbeliefinthesolidityofthematerialworld.Butasa
matteroffactitdoesnotreallycontradicteitheroftheaforementionedbeliefsitmerely
correctsthem.Foritdoesnotdenythattheworldisexternaltothebody,anditdoesnot
denythatalltangiblethingsaresolidtothetouch.Whatitdoessayisthattheworldis
internaltothemindandthatitssolidityislikewisepresentinthemindalone.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

2/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

18

Thefountainpen,beingamentalappearance,andone'sawarenessofit,beingamental
activity,arethereforeseparatedonlywithintheworldofmindandpossessitastheir
commonfactor.
19

Allwecanrightlysayisthattheideaoftheworldispresentinourconsciousness.The
momentweassertthattherealworldcorrespondingtoitisoutside,independent,and
apartfromus,weassertasupposition.
20

Weformanideaofatableandunconsciouslyassumethereisaseparateobjectwithoutus
whichcorrespondstotheimageformed,butactuallytheexistenceoftheexternaltableis
anassumption,forweknowandhaveonlyknownthementaltable.
21

Doestheworldexistoutsideofandseparatelyfromthemindthatknowsit?Thisisquite
adifferentquestionfromthatwhichdealswithitsrelationtothebody.Nobodycould
disputeitsoutsidenessandseparatenessthen.Butthequestionwearereallyaskingisnot
sosimple.Forthelightbornimageoftheworldwhichformsitselfontheretinaofthe
eye,theawarenessofthingstouched,smelled,ortasted,isallthatthemindactually
knows.Itcannotspeakandhasnorighttospeakofanyworldwhichpossiblyliesbeyond
itsfrontiers.
22

Weareeasilydeludedbythesolidityofthingsintoabeliefin"matter."Thesolidityis
certainlythere,itisrealenough,butthe"matter"isnot.
23

Thefactiswehaveneverseenmorethanourideaoftheexternalworld,neverknownits
physicalnature,thelatterbeingourownimaginationormentalprojection.
24

Whatistheuseofmaintainingthattheuniversehasanexistenceofitsown,entirely
separateandapartfromthatwhichourmindsgiveit,whenwehaveneverbeenableto
knowitandobviouslycanneverknowitexceptthroughourminds?Anysuchstatement
isamereassumptionforwhichwehavenogroundsatall.
25

Theworldistobesoughtwithinconsciousness,notoutsideit.
26

Theobjectionismadethateveniftheworlddoesnotexistforuswhenwedonotthinkit,
itstillexistsforalltheotherhumanbeings.Theanswertothisis:Howdoesitexistfor
eachofthismultitudeofpersons?Itisinhisthoughtjustasmuchasinours.
27

TheChineseChanjanwrote,asfarbackasthetwelfthcentury:"Noobjectsexistapart
fromthemind."
28

TheantiqueIndiandivisionofmanifestationintoselfandnotselfandthelabellingofthe
latterasmayabecauseitwearsamisleadinggarbisquiteunderstandableonamentalistic
basis.Foriftheuniverseisreallyourthoughtofit,itsseemingseparatenessandapparent
externalitydonotmakeit,asathought,anylessapartofourownself.
29
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

3/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

LaoTzu'sdefinitionofintelligenceastheabilitytoseethingsinthegermisexcellent,but
theabilitytoseethingsasideasisevenbetter.
30

Philosophyisnondualisticinitsviewofmindandmatter.Theyarenottwoseparate
things,itsays,butone.
31

Thenotionthatthereisaninnerrepresentationwithintheconsciousnessofanotherworld,
amentalexistenceofthisworldcorrespondingtoaphysicalone,isnotadmissible.
32

Thestatementthatwecanknowonlyourownsensationsandthatwedonotexperience
theworlddirectlyconstitutestheverybeginningofthedoctrineofmentalism.
33

Thephysicalsensesdonotprovideapictureoftheobjecttothemindforthesimple
reasonthatallobjects,includingthesensesthemselves,areheldinthemind.Thisis
possible,thiscouldonlybepossible,becausetheindividualmindisnotseparatefromthe
universalmind.AstheHindussay:AtmanandBrahmanareone.Butthatiscarryingthe
discussiontoalevelthatmustbedeferredforlaterstudy.
34

Ourthoughtscannotbeseparatedfromourworld.Thetwocomeintobeingtogether.
35

Thereisnodifferencewhateverbetweenthethingsofhisexperienceandthethoughts
wherebythesethingsareknowntohim.Infactthethingsarethethoughtsandviceversa.
36

Therecannotbeanycontactwithaworldoutsideconsciousness.Thisisatenet
fundamentaltomentalism.
37

Wearenotaskedtodoubttheactualityofthegroundbeneathourfeetorthemusicinour
ears,buttounderstandthattheyhavereachedourconsciousnessbecausewehavethought
them.
38

What,beyondacontinuouslyflowingstreamofmomentsofsensation,dowereallyknow
asourselves?
39

Theviewwhichcriticalreflectiongivesofanobjectdoesnotcoincidewiththeview
whichcommonsensegivesofit.Thefirstturnsitintoanideawhereasthelatterretainsit
assomethingmaterial.
40

Noonecancontestthattheideaoftheworldsurroundingusisinthemind.Butthatthere
issomethingelsebeyondtheideaitselfiscontestable.
41

ThewallwhichIseeisseenassomethingseparateasapartfrommybody.Thisisthe
externalaspectofperception.Thecolour,thesize,andtheformofthewallaresensations
whichareexperiencedmentallyandthereforewithinme.Thisistheinternalaspectof
perception.ThatawalliswithoutmeIknowonlybysomethingthathappenswithinme.
ThismayseemparadoxicalbutthetruthisIdonotknowtheexternalityofthewallbut
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

4/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

inferit.Itisnownecessarytoattendcloselytoanexaminationofthemechanismofwhat
follows.ForhavingsurmisedtheseparateandexternalexistenceofawallIhavereally
projectedpartofmymentalexperienceintotheworldoutside.Ihaveobjectifiedanidea.
42

Consciousnesspresentsitsownproductstoitself,fabricatinganentireworldinthe
process.Mindmakesandseesthepicture.
43

Themindhasthepowertoexternalizetheverythingitperceives.
44

Theworldisapparentlysuspendedintimeandspacebutactuallyallthreearesuspended
inthemind.
45

Adistinguishedmusicianoncesaidtomethattheeffectivepowerandrealityofmusic
laynotinthesensoryimpressionsitcauses,butratherinthementalones,notinthe
soundsthatentertheearbutinthethoughtsprovokedbythosesounds.Headdedthatits
essentialfeaturesoftimeandnumberaremathematicalonesthatis,mentalones.
46

Mindconstructsitsownconceptsanditsownspacewhereintosetthemup,andfinally
viewsthemasdifferentfromitselfandexternaltoitself.Yetbothdifferencesand
externalityareillusions.
47

HerbertSpenceradmittedthetruthofmentalisminhisPrinciplesofPsychology(Vol.2,
Part7).Headmittedthattheworldweknowismentallyconstructedandmentally
existent.Havinggotsofar,hethenfellintoerror,forhesaidthatourexperienceofthe
resistancewhichobjectsintheworldofferusprovesthattheyalsoexistindependentlyof
andoutsidethemind.WhatwasSpencer'smistake"ofalloftheobjectiveidealists"?It
wasthefailuretopenetratesufficientlyfarintothemeaningofthesetwowords:
"independent"and"outside."Howcantheworldhaveanindependentexistencewhenit
hasnosignificanceforusbeforeweactuallyexperienceit?Itmusttouchourbodyor
affectoursensesbeforeitsexistencecomestohaveanymeaningatallforus.Whenthis
happenswehavethefeelingsorthoughtswhichsciencecallssensations.Whetherthey
arefeelingsofhardness,resistance,orweight,thoughtsofredness,fragrance,ornoise,
theyarestillnothingelsethanourfeelingsandthoughts.Whereistheindependence
here?Theobjectsintheworldareonlyobjectsofourconsciousness.Theymaybe
independentinrelationtoourbodybuttheyarenotindependentinrelationtooursenses
andhencetoourmind.Thesensationsofresistanceandhardnessarenolessmental
ultimatelythanareanyoftheothersensations.Again,whereistheoutsidenesshere?
Doestheworldreallystandoutsidethemindthatknowsit?Itisonlyatthecostofself
contradictionthatwecananswerthatitdoessostand.Forwhateverisinconsciousness,
whateverismental,canbeexplainedbythemindalone.Itisthemind'sownactivity
whichmakesresistanceasitmakessmells,sounds,andsights.Furthermoreitisthissame
activitywhichcreatesthespacerelationshipsbetweenobjectsandhencethethoughtof
theiroutsideness.
48

Itisthestartingpointofallerrortoassumethatatsomepointintimeifnotinspacethe
mindsuddenlymadeitsappearanceintheuniverse.Thisistheinitialerrorofall
materialismwhetheritbescientificortheologicalormetaphysical.Mindissupposedby
alltheseviewstostartfunctioningaftermatterhashadalonginningonthecricketfield
ofthecosmos.Insolubleproblemsflownaturallyoutofthiserror.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

5/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

49

Allformsofthepasthaveexistedintimeandplacebutmanyofthemarenowexisting
onlyinmemory,thatis,inthought.Mentalismsays,"Theywerealwaysinthoughtonly."
50

Allourexperienceisordinarilyconfinedtowhatthefivesensespresentusthatis,tothe
soundstouchessmellstastesandcolourswhicharetheirobjects.Allthesemay
convenientlybecalledour"sensations."Thesearewhatwereallyknow,theyareours
individually,andanythingwhichwebelieveweknowbeyondthemsuchasseparateand
independentlyexistentmaterialobjectsaremeresuppositionsandinferences.Therefore,
theremustbesomethinginuswhichprojectsthemsoastoappearoutsideorinterprets
themascausedbysomethingoutsidewhichamountstothesamething.Bothprojection
andinterpretationaregovernedbyconditionsofspaceandtime.Theobscurityinwhich
alltheseoperationsarecarriedondoesnotcancelouttheoperationsthemselves.The
worlddoesnotexistoutsideofourmind.
51

Theexistenceoftheworldisnotatestimonytotheexistenceofadivinecreator,butto
theconstructivecapacityofthemind.
52

Stereoscopyoffersanexcellentillustrationtohelpusrealizethatspaceisanillusion
createdbeforeourveryeyes.Iftwophotographsofthesameobjectaretakenfrom
differentangles,placedinasimplestereoscopicapparatus,andlookedatthroughitslittle
window,theresultingpictureisnolongeraflattwodimensionalthingbutabulkythree
dimensionalone.Therehasbeenaddedtotheheightandwidthofanordinaryphotograph
thenewelementofdepth,whichmakestheobjectstandoutinrelief.Whatseemstobea
tangiblespacehasbeencreatedbehindandinfrontoftheobject.Theconsequenceisthat
theimageistransformedinastartlingmannerfromalifelessrepresentationtosomething
thatseemsvividlyreal.Whensuchanapparatussoobviouslycreatesspaceforuswe
oughtnottoregarditasfantasticwhenmentalismtellsusthatthehumanmind
subconsciouslycreatesitsownformsandprojectsthemintoafanciedspace.
53

Allthisvastandwonderfuluniverseisintheendonlytheplayofmind.Weare
imprisonedinourowninvoluntarycreation.
54

Thenecessaryactionofhumanreasonwhenatitsbestandsharpest,andwhendirected
inwardsuponitself,leadsittothisirresistibleconclusionthatthewholeexperienceof
thisworldisbuttheendproductofaprocessofthehumanmind.
55

Itisnottheclockorthesunwhichreallymeasurestimeforusbutthemind,byfeelings
andmoods.Time,space,cause,andformareallofsubjectiveorigin.
56

Isitpossiblethatthemereoperationofthoughtsufficestoproducethisvastand
wonderfuluniverseinourfieldofawareness?Wehaveonlytostudycarefully,bywayof
illustration,theexperiencesofthedreamer,thenovelist,andthehypnoticsubjectto
understandthattheanswermaybeintheaffirmative.
57

"Themind,generatedbythyignorance,imaginestheentireuniverse,"saysanold
Sanskrittext,SankshepaSarirake,bySarvajnatmaMuni.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

6/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

58

Themoldsoftimeandplace,egoanditsextensions,whichshapehumanmentalism,the
formsofthought,belongtothismaya,thisalchemicallytransformingpowerofmind.
59

Howcanyouhavemovementwithoutspace?Butifspaceisinthemind,somust
movementbetheretoo.
60

Hisdifficultymaybeselfcreatedbecausehemaythinkofthespiritualworldas
somethingstillonaspacetimelevel,onlyfarfinerthanthephysicalworldsomething
outsidehimselfawaitinghisentry.Butlikeallthedreamworlds,itisinseparablefrom
hismindonlyitisfreefromthespacetimecharacteristicsinherentinthepresentlevel
ofmentalexperience.
61

WhatIexperienceinmymindisprojectedoutinspace,buttheordinarypersoninhis
ignorancebelievestheveryreverseishappening.
62

Theworldthatyouhaveiscreatedbyyourmind.Thisappliestotheafterdeathstateand
tothepresentstate.Ideasmanifestthemselvesinthisworld.Thusanarchitect'sideas
manifestasapalace.
63

Weexperiencetheworldasoutsideusnotbecausewechoosetodosobutbecauseweare
obligedtodoso.
64

Theworldseemstobe"outthereatadistance"butitisactuallyherewithinthe
consciousness.
65

Theseemingrealityofphysicalmovementisnotlessyetnotmorethantheseeming
realityofmentalawareness.Movementimpliestheexistenceofspaceinwhichit
happens.Whereisthisspace?Itisinus,inourmind.Allmotionofthebodyisanitemof
themind'sawareness.
66

Ifthepastisamemoryandthefutureadream,thenbotharethoughts.Andifthepast
wasoncethepresentandthefuturewillonedaybethepresent,whatelsebutathought
toocantoday'spresentbe?
67

Allquestionsabouttheuniverse'screationpresupposethepreviousexistenceoftimeand
spacesincetheyunwittinglylookforitsbeginninginaparticularplaceataparticular
momentwhich,inturn,suggestsapreviousone,andsooninanendlessseries.These
questionsdefeatthemselves:unaskableandunanswerable.Everyexperienceoftheworld
involvesthoughtsofit:thisremainstruewhengoingbackwardintoitspastorforward
intoitsfuture.Thoughtsrise,orappear,inConsciousness.Theuniverseisinseparable
fromthisconsciousnessofit.This,isolatedfromeverything,shouldbethesubjectofour
questions.

Mind,theimagemaker
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

7/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

68

Thedifferencebetweenthechairthoughtandthetablethought,theredthoughtandthe
greenthought,theinnumerablerelationshipsamongideas,areallexplicablebythefact
thatthemind'sprimarypowerisimagemaking.Thisisapowerwhich,inhumanbeings,
canbecalledintoplaydeliberatelyandvoluntarily,asweoftendoduringwakefulness,or
spontaneouslyandinvoluntarily,asweinvariablydoduringdreams.Themomentmind
emergesfromdeepsleepandbecomesactive,itbeginstoimaginethewakefulworld.
WhathappenswithmenonasmallscalehappensalsowiththeUniversalMind(God,if
youlike)onacosmicscale.Itsfirstactivityisimagining.
69

Themindexistsanddevelopsonitsownlatentresourcesandneedsnothingfromoutside.
Thereisnothingoutside.Nevertheless,itsimaginativeandcreativepowercallsintoplay
anenvironmentwhichseemstobeoutsideandwhichelicitsthoseresources.
70

Twopersonsseeingthesamefountainpenwillexperiencetwodistinctsetsofsensations
andthereforewhattheyactuallyseemustinevitablydiffer.Foreachpersonperceiveshis
ownmentalconstruction,despitetheapparentreferencebeingthesame.
71

TohaveseenHimalaya'ssnowsturnpinkatsunsetandtheTajMahal'smarbleturn
phosphorescentinmoonlight,istohaveseenbeautyindeed.Yetafterallitisnotthe
placeorthehandiworkthatreallymatterswhenwehavegone,buttheemotionevoked,
thememoryetched,andthetasterefined.Allthesearementalthings.Wefindatsuch
highmomentsofappreciation,ofaestheticuplift,thattheveryessenceofbeautyis
alreadypresentwithinourselves,isaninternalfact,mademomentarilyvividbyan
externalstimulus.
72

Themindformsitsideasandimages.Hence"mentalformation"wouldbeacorrectterm
toreplace"mentalconstruction."
73

IliveinaworldofMind.ThematerialformswhichIseeonlyappearasiftheywere
nonmental.
74

IfMatterhasanyexistenceatall,itisastheexternalizingpowerofthemind.
75

Whenwepiercethroughtheillusionofmatterwediscoverthathisenvironmentisas
mentalasthemanhimself.
76

Theego,theconsciousnessofthepersonalandphysical"I,"isthatofwhichwearemost
vividlyaware.Andthisessenceisthemental,notbodily,partofus.Butweareapartof
theuniverse.Thereforetheuniverse'sownessenceisalsomental,notthephysicalpart
whichweseeandexperienceallaroundus.
77

Matterismerelysomethingweimagine.Causationismerelysuccessionandcoexistence.
78

Itisnotpossibletoexplainintellectuallyhowsensationsofthephysicalworldare
convertedintoideas,howtheleapoverfromnervousvibrationsintoconsciousness
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

8/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

occurs,andhowaneurosisbecomesapsychosis.Noonehaseverexplainedthis,norwill
anyscientisteversucceedindoingso.Truthalonecandisposeofthisposerbypointing
outthatsensationsneverreallyoccur,butthattheSelfmerelyprojectsideasofthemjust
asamanseesamirageandmistakesitforrealwatermerelybyhismentalprojection,so
peopleregardtheworldasrealwhentheyaremerelytransferringtheirownmentalideas
totheworld.
79

Hismindismuchmoreaman'sownthananythingelsecouldpossiblybe.
80

Allotherpeoplethroughouttheworldmayapparentlybesharingthesameexperienceof
itsexistenceasourownbutitisneverreallyso.Eachone'siswhollyindividualto
himselfandislivedonlywithinhimself,hisconsciousness.
81

Wemustfirmlygraspthisprinciple,thattheonlyobjectsweknow,theonlyworldofour
experience,havenoexistenceapartfromthemind.Theydonotandcannotsubsist
externallybythemselves.Thatwhichprojectsthemintospaceismind,andasspaceitself
iswithinthemind,theirindependentexistenceissheerillusion,orMayaasIndianscall
it.Wemustlookbehindtheirillusoryindependenceintothemindfromwhichthey
spring.
82

Analyseyourawarenessofthephysicalworldand,ifyouranalysisisdeepenough,you
willbeunabletoavoidtheconclusionthatitisreallyaseriesofchanges,oragroupof
states,ofyourconsciousness.Inotherwords,matterissomethingpresentedinmy
consciousness,whetheritbenow,atsometimepast,orinthefuture,eventhoughitgives
theimpressionofoutsideness.
83

Iseesomething,itmaybeapostoritmaybeaman.Thenbythesenseofagencyoneout
ofthesepossibilitiesisassociatedwithahamkaraandIthenknowIknowIseeapost.
84

"Thouartonlythought,"saidthephilosophicyogiwhomAlexandertheGreat
interviewed.Hethenproceededtoprovehisstatementbymesmerizingthekinginto
believinghimselftobeapoormanstrugglingagainstdestitution.Idonotknowifthis
anecdoteexistsamongsttheGreekrecordsofAlexander'sadventures,butIfoundit
amongsttheIndiantraditionsabouthim.
85

Ifwedosomeactwithoutattendingtoitbut,onthecontrary,withourthoughts
engrossedonanentirelydifferentsubjectwhichperhapsfillsuswithanxietyorjoy,we
areoftenlaterquiteunabletorememberwhetherwehavedoneitornot.Hereisan
indicationthatif,asmentalismdeclares,itisnotman'ssurfacemindnorhiseveryday
consciousnesswhichpresentstheuniversetohimasanoutsideappearancethen,infact,
hehasadeeperunconsciousmindwhichdoesit.
86

Iftheworldisanidea,theegowhichperceivesitisitselfanideatoo.
87

Thefirststeptowardceasingsuchwrongselfidentificationistorecognizethebodytobe
butastateofconsciousness,andtheegotobebutanidea.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

9/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

88

Thelifewhichiseverywhereapparent,theformsinwhichitisconstantlyembodying
itselfaretheeffectsofthemysteriousmovementwhichisthekineticaspectofthe
Overself.
89

Mentalismtellsusnotonlythatmatterisanunrealshowbutalsothatmotionisjustthe
same.Theeventsandmovementsonacinemafilmarenotaffectingormovingthewhite
backsheetatall.Yetwithdrawmatterandmotionandthewholeuniversewillbecome
nothingmoresubstantialthanacosmiccinemapicture.
90

Thesensationsofseeing,hearing,touching,smelling,andtastingthingscombinetomake
upourknowledgeoftheworldaroundusinspaceandtime.Thisknowledgedepends
thereforeonegocentricpersonalexperience.Thisisveryeasilyprovenbycontrastingthe
statementsmadebyahypnotizedsubjectaboutanobject,andthosemadeaboutitbya
personinnormalcondition.
91

Everypresentedthingwhichisseensmelled,heard,felt,ortasted,nolessthanevery
representativethought,idea,name,orimage,isentirelymental.Thestreetsofbusytowns
andtheforestsoflonelymountainsareall,withoutexception,mereconstructsofthe
imaginingfaculty.
92

Hewhodoubtsthepowerofmindtofashionitsownworldshouldconsidersuch
authenticinstancesofthispowerasthoseprovidedbythehypnotist'sart.Thishasturned
waterintowineforitsvictim,chillingcoldintoheat,andvolitionintoparalysis.The
transformationsareallimaginaryonesyetarenotbereftoftheirrealityforhimbecause
ofthat.
93

Themindcreatestheseimagesbyitsownpowerandtheirtotalityconstitutestheuniverse
ofitsexperience.
94

Hisownpast,oncesointenselyreal,sovividlyactual,hasbecomeonlyafadedand
brokenpanoramaofmentalpictures.The"matter"ofwhichitwasmadeisnownothing
morethan"thoughtstuff."
95

Thechairwhichweseeataninstantaneousandsimpleglancewasreallybuiltupinthe
mindoutofseveralseparateelements.
96

Themoodssucceedeachothersometimesbright,sometimesdarkbutwhoisthe
experiencerofthem?Itistheego.Thefirststageofphilosophyistolearnthesecretof
mentalism.Lookuponeverymoodasabunchofthoughts.Thesecondstageistolook
upontheexperiencerasanobjectofthosethoughts.
97

Thisisknowledgeofthehighestorder,thateverythingaroundusandwithinus,everybit
ofNatureandcreature,theexperienceoflifewithaphysicalbodyandofdeathwithout
itallarebutformsofconsciousness.
98
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

10/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

Myexperienceofathingisreceivedfromthebody'ssenses.Sight:theeyestellmeits
shapeandcolour.Touch:theskintellsmeitshardnessorsoftness,solidityorliquidity.
Smellandtastemaygivemoreinformation.Theseperceptionsmakeupthethingforme.
Buttheywouldbenonexistentiftheyfailedtoreachconsciousnessasthoughts.Itexists
becausemyconsciousnessexists.Ifthisconsciousnessdidnotexistbyitselfalonebefore
thethoughtmyexperiencewouldbeimpossible.Itisprimary.Itwillcontinuetoexist
evenbetweentwothoughts,and,evenmoreimportant,betweentwosensorialthoughts
sightandtouchconnectedwiththephysicalbody.Butthebrainispartofthebody.So
mindisnotthesamethingbutexistsasanindependententity,howeverclosetheir
workingconnectionmaybe.Thismindhasnoshapeorcolour,whereasthebrainhas.It
beingformless,noonecanseeortakeholdofit,yetitisthere.Nowdropthetermmind,
thetermconsciousness,andletthetermspirittaketheirplace.Herepsychological
analysisofexperienceseemstocrosstheborderintoreligion.Formindisarealthing,not
anothing.Itexistsinitsownright.More,allexperienceisanuninterruptedspiritual
experience,whatevermanhasdonetodegradeit.
Everymanknowsthatheisawareofhimself,others,theworld.Butthatawarenessexists
alsoinanunlimiteduninterruptedwayhedoesnotknow.Yettotheextentthathehas
thislimitedkindofconsciousnesshederivesfromIt,sharesthespirit,ispartofit.
99

Itwouldbeabsurdforhimtodenytheactuality,thelivingpresence,ofallthatis
happeningtohimineverymomentoftheday.Theyarethereandtheyarerealas
experiencesandhewouldbeafoolindeedtodenythem.Nordoesmentalismaskhimto
doso.Whatitdoessayisthatifheanalysestheactualityofalltheseexperiences,ifhe
triestotraceouttheirbeginningandend,theirexistenceandcontinuity,hewilldiscover
thatconsciousnessistheirseat,thatthisconsciousnesscanbyprofoundthoughtbe
separatedfromitsprojectionsthethoughts,thescenes,theobjectsandevents,thepeople
andtheworldinshort,thateverythingincludinghimselfisinthemind.
100

Itisnotmerelyapersonalspeculationbutacommonplacefactofscience,anitemofthe
acceptedphysiologyofthesenses,aknownresultofanatomicalresearch,thatthe
consciousnessofwhatweseeandfeeliswhatwereallyexperience,notthethings
themselves.Intheendallourfactsarementalones,alloursurroundingsareknownonly
asourownthoughts.
101

Thementalnessofallexistenceisnotatheorynorabelief.Itisanincontrovertible
actuality.
102

Iftheworldwerenotinthemindtostartwith,wewouldneverknowthattherewasworld
atall.
103

Justastheelectriccurrentmustmeetasecondthing,resistance,beforeitcanappearas
light,sound,heat,ormagnetism,somindmustmeetwithanideabeforeitcanappearas
consciousness,inthewaywehumansknowthelatter.Untilthenitmustrestinthe
blanknessofsleep,orthelatencyofsubconsciousness.
104

Itisnotpossibleforsincere,scrupulousthinkingtoadmit,andneverpossibletoprove,
theexistenceofaworldoutsideof,andseparatefrom,itsconsciousness.Thefaithby
whichweallconventionallygrantsuchexistenceismeresuperstition.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

11/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

105

Theworldisneverreallygiventousbyexperiencenoractuallyknownbythemind.
Whatisgivenisidea,whatisknownisidea,tobetranscendedonlywhenprofound
analysistransformstheIdeaintotheReality.
106

Wecannothelptakingobjectsintoourconsciousnesssolongaswetaketheegointoit.
107

Itisnotbecauseathingisexistentthatyouthinkitbutbecauseyouthinkit,evenif
involuntarily,thatitisexistent.Andthisthoughtofitisapartofyourown
consciousness,notoutsideyou.
108

Itisabsurdeventosuggestthatthereisanexternalworldwhollyoutsideofone's
consciousnessandwhollyindependentofit.Oneknowsonlycertainchangesofmental
awareness,neverofexternals.Themindcanonlyknowitschangesofindividual
consciousness.Allitsobservations,eachofitsinferences,everythingitknowstheselie
enclosedwithinthatconsciousnessandareneverbeyondit.
One'sknowledgeofanythingwhatsoeverissimplyone'sthoughtofit.Thisisnottobe
confusedwithone'srightthoughtofit.Itisaconsciousmentalstate,andevenother
personsarebutappearanceswithinthisstate,creaturesinthecosmicdream.Tofollow
thislineofreflectiontoitsinevitableenddemandscourageandcandourofthehighest
kind,foritdemandsasultimateconclusiontheprinciplethatknowledgebeingbutideas
inthemind,thewholeuniverseisnothingbutanimmenseideawithinone'sownmind.
Fortheverynatureofknowledgeisthusinternal,andhencetheindividualmindcannot
knowanyrealityexternaltoitself.Itbelievesthatitobservesaworldwithoutwhenit
onlyobservesitsownmentalpicturesofthatworld.
109

Itisagenerativeidea.Hereisawholephilosophycongealedintoasinglephrase:the
worldisanidea.
110

Unlessweareinpersonaltouchwiththeworld,itisnotpresentforus.Therelationends
themomentouregoiswithdrawn.Withoutit,withoutaviewingsubject,theworldas
objectsimplydoesnotexist.Andnobodylivingintheegoconsciousnesshasanywayof
knowingwhattheworldisinandbyitself.
111

Allexperienceisexperienceintheworldofconsciousness.Thereisnoother.
112

Sofarasitappearsinanycreature'sexperience,theworldisonlyathoughtinthat
creature'smind.Allcreaturesmaybanishthethoughtbysleepbutonlyahumancreature
maybanishitbyyoga.
113

Theonlyworldweknow,theonlyonewecaneverknow,istheonewithinourmind.
Thefirstproofofthisisthatwhenitleavesthemindindeepsleep,ithasnoexistencefor
usatallthesecondproofisthatwhenitreentersthemindonawakening,thesense
perceptionswhichtellusofitsexistencereenteritalso.
114

Thehillorthestarisaperceptioninyourmind.Youcannotnowsayexactlywhenyour
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

12/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

mindbegantoexistorwhenitwillceasetodoso,butonlyconjectureaboutit.
115

Suchisthemetaphysicalimportanceofmemorythatitgivesusthekeytoexistence.For
whatistheoncesorealseemingworldofthenowshadowingpastwhenrecalledagain
intobeingbyitsmagicalpowerbutaprocessionandcollectionofmentalimagesoflike
texturetoadream?Diditnotthenexistlikeacommondreamonlyintheconsciousness
ofallitscreatures?Anddonottheplacesandthingsandpersonstakeonacuriously
dreamlikecharacterwhenwebringitbackintoremembrance?Thuswehavetostepout
ofthepast,whichmeanstostepoutofthechainsoftime,beforewecandiscoverthe
essentialmentalnessofallourexperience.
116

Allthatisrealinhumanexperienceisthemind'sexperienceallthatisreceivedintothe
mindareideasalleventsofwhateverkindaremental,thatis,ideas.
117

MentalkofthesolidityoftheirmaterialexistenceyetawholecontinentAtlantis
vanishedinaday.
118

Whatisexperiencedisnothingotherthanyourself,foritisnothingotherthanyour
thoughtandyourperception.
119

Whenwegiveourselvesuptoadesireoranattachment,whydowereallydoso?Itis
becauseweseekthestateofhappyconsciousnesswhichthethingobtainedorthe
situationrealizedwould,webelieve,leadto.Whatwereallydesireisinthemind.
120

Thedoctrineofmentalismbeginsandendswiththeboldpronouncementthatall
experienceandevenallbeingisinthemind.
121

Howcanathoughtexistapartfromitsthinker?Onecanimaginethis,butphilosophy
doesnotdealwithimagination,onlywithknownfacts.Thenotionthatthoughtsareset
outintospaceandthatotherstuneintothemisbasedontheillusionthatmindisinthe
bodyorbrain,whereasthereverseistrue.Hasanyoneevermeasuredthemindand
shownwhereitstartedandended?Theverynotionoftheworldiswithinone'smind.
Thisshowsthathecannotsaythatthoughtsareoutsidethemindmerelybecausehe
believestheytouchsomebodywhoishundredsofmilesaway.Thereisnomore
separationbetweenthoughtsandthinkerthanbetweendreamsandthedreamer.
122

Wehavenoothercontactthanwithourownthoughtsoftheworld,yetthosethoughtsare
astrulyandactuallyourexperiencesofitasanythingelsecouldeverbe.
123

Itisutterlyimpossibletoexplainthematerialworldsatisfactorilywithoutreferenceto
mind,andthisreferencemustcomefirst,notlast,becauseitisthemindthattellsthatthe
worldexists.
124

WhentheNaqshabandiDervishMullah(expounderandexplaineroftheteaching)saysto
acrowdaroundhim,"Youareherebecauseofme!"hismeaningcancomealiveonlyina
mentalisticsense.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

13/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

125

Weareabletothinkoursurroundingsonlybecauseultimatelytheyareasmentalin
substanceasourcommonlyacceptedthinking.
126

Whatfactismorecertain,whatpartofhumanlifemoreinescapable,thanthatof
consciousness?Whatwouldbecomeofourexperienceoftheworldwithoutthe
awarenesswhichisbasictoit?
127

Mindisthefoundationofallourexistence.Itisalwaysthereevenwhen,asindeepsleep,
wearenotpersonallyconsciousthatitisthere.Anymaterialisticdenialofitsself
existencecanbemadeonlybecausemindispresenttomakeit.

Mind,theknower
128

WhatisMind?Itisthatinuswhichthinks,whichisaware,andwhichknows.
129

Thereisonenaturalcapacitywhichiscommontoeveryhumanbeingandtoeveryanimal
beingacapacitywhichistheveryessenceofitsselfhood.Itisconsciousness.Themost
importantofallstatesofconsciousnessisknowledge.
130

Theonlyrealexistenceisthemind's.Butweordinarilyknowonlyitsprojectionsand
retractions,itsphasesandstates,itsconsciousnessesandlapses.
131

Mindisthatqualityorcapacityinmanwhichenableshimtobeawareofbothhimself
andhissurroundings.
132

Weareconsciousofaworldoutsidethroughtheknowingfaculty,themind.Thevarious
ideaswhichweformoftheworldaresimplystatesofthemind.Theseideasarenot
separatefromtheminditselfandcouldnotbe.Iftheywere,thenwewouldhaveto
becomeconsciousofthem,asweareoftheworld,throughotherideas,throughother
statesofthemind.
133

Thereisaregionofmindwhichliesbeyondtheintellect'simmediatereach.Becauseit
holdssomanylowerbutrepresseddesires,somepsychologistshavecalleditthe
subconscious.Becauseitholdssomanylaudablebutvagueaspirations,mostreligionists
havecalledittheSoul.Becauseitisnotordinarilyinthefocusofawareness,other
psychologistshavecalledittheunconsciousmind.Allthreegroupsareright,buteachis
limitedinwhatitseesandwhatitunderstands,asifgropingforknowledgeinthedusk.
134

Itisnotthattherearedifferentmindsinman,butdifferentqualitiesofoneandthesame
mindineach.
135

Whatweareiswhatweareconsciousof.Themindmakesitsownreality.Consciousness
isking.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

14/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

136

Whyisitthatsomanypeoplearesounawareoftheirownhigherexistence?Theanswer
isthattheirfacultyofawarenessitselfisthatspiritualexistence.Whatevertheyknow,
peopleknowthroughtheconsciousnesswithinthem.Thatinthemwhichknowsanything
istheirdivineelement.Thepowerofknowingwhetheritbeathoughtthatisknown,a
complexofthoughtssuchasmemories,athingsuchasalandscapeisadivinepowerfor
itderivesfromthehigherselfwhichtheypossess.
137

Themindinterpretsitsownexperienceinaparticularwaybecause,owingtoitsstructure,
itcouldnotdosoinanotherway.Buttheselimitationsarenoteternalandabsolute.
When,asindream,yoga,death,orhallucination,theyareabruptlyloosened,then
experienceisinterpretedinanewanddifferentway.
138

Tofeelandtoknowareattributesofconsciousness,notofbrutematter.
139

Weknowonlybyinferenceoranalogythatthemindsofindividualsexist,notbydirect
perception.Oursociallifeisbaseduponthisknowledgeand,actingonit,wefindit
largelytrue.
140

Justaswefirstfindwatertobealiquidandlatertobeagaseouscombination,sowefirst
findinvisionthatalltheworldislight,andlater,inknowledge,thatitisMind.
141

Thinkingisanactdonementallyand,likeallacts,pointstotheexistenceofsomeone
whoalreadyexistsortosomethingindependentofit.
142

ThewriterGeorgeMoorewasnotparticularlyinterestedinmetaphysicsandusuallyleft
thesubjectalone.Yethalfofasentencehewroteuponwritingitselfcontainedthemost
importantandsignificantmetaphysicalprinciple.Itwas:"Myownmindaloneisknown
tome."
143

Therecanbenothoughtwithoutathinker,andwhenwebegintosearchforthatwhich
thinks,webegintofollowatrailwhichleadstotheSoul.
144

"Isee"and"Iknow"aretwoveryordinaryphrases.Butwhattremendousmetaphysical
meaningsarehiddenbehindthem!
145

Whenmanturnstoobservehimselfintheefforttoknowhimself,whathefirstnoticesis
notatallwhathewillhavetonoticelaterintheend:thatisConsciousness.
146

Bythelightofmind,manisabletoknow,think,reflect,andfeel.
147

Ifthehumanbeingfindsthathehasthecapacitytothink,toproduceideas,todiscover
thewordsorpicturesinwhichhecanclothetheseideas,heshouldrememberthatallthis
becomespossibleonlybecauseoftheprimacyofthemindthatis,mindconsciousness
alreadyexisted,andhencetheyareabletoexist.Withoutitspriorexistencetheycould
notcometobirth.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

15/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

148

Thisdeepunknownbasisofminddeterminesitssurfacelifeandisthekeytoits
conscioustrendsthereforeitshouldbecomeourchiefobjectofstudy.
149

Thatwhichenablesustoknowtheworldoutsideandtobeawareoftheselfinside,is
Mind.
150

Ismannothingmorethannervestuff,flesh,andbone?Thoughtasksthisquestion.
Thoughtalonecananswerit.Nobutchershop,howevercrammedwithnervestuff,flesh,
andbone,willeveranswerit.Onlythethinkingprincipleinman,whichisanemanation
ofhissoul,canexplainitself.
151

Itismindwhichmakesthoughtsintelligible,thingsexperienceable,andthethinker(the
experiencer)selfconsciousMind!themysteriousunknownbackgroundofourlife.
152

Wedonotknowtheselfdirectlybutonlythroughthethoughtsitproduces.Itis
impossibleintellectuallytoexamineitandequallyimpossibletoexcludeitfromour
examinations.
153

Thingsexistonlyinthecharacterofknownthings.Iftheyareabsentfromoursenses
theyarepresentinourthoughts.Iftheyareabsentfromourconsciousnesstheymustbe
presenttotheuniversalconsciousness.Whateverischaracterizedassomethingknown,
cannotbetheknowingprincipleitself.
154

Thinkingispossibleonlywherethereexistsanobjectaboutwhichtothink,whetheritbe
amaterialthingoramereidea.Wecannotthinkunlesswehavesomethinginmind.This
meansineveryactofthoughttherearetwoelements:thethinkingitselfandtheobjector
ideathoughtabout.Thesearesocoupledtogetherbythepsychologicalconstitutionof
manthatthefirstcannotexistwithoutthesecond.
Thisisequallytrueoftheactofseeing.Wecannotseeanythingunlessthereissome
object,somethingtobeseen.Hencesightdependsuponbothseeingitselfandtheobject
seen.Botharesointerrelatedthattheformercouldnotexistiftherewerenottheother.
Thesestatementsmaybemoreeasilyunderstoodafterduereflection,butitwillbemuch
moredifficulttounderstandthatthecontraryoneslikewiseholdtrue.Thatistosay,no
objectorideacanexistwithoutbeingthoughtof,andnothingperceptiblecanexist
withoutsomethingorsomeonetoseeit.Inshort,thefactorswhichhavebeencoupled
togetherherearemutuallydependent.
Itisimpossibleforathinkableobjectorideatoexistinastatewherethoughtitselfis
impossible.Itisimpossibleforaseeablethingtoexistinastatewheresightis
impossible,asindeepsleep.And,sinceeverythingmaterialiseitherthinkableorseeable
orboth,itfollowsthattheentirematerialuniversehasitsbeinginbeingthoughtofor
perceived.Itisonlyanappearancewithinthemindofthethinkerordependentuponthe
perceiver.Noidea,noobject,couldhaveanyconceivableexistenceiftheperceiver
himselfneverhadany.Somethinglivingandconsciousthatcanthinkandbecomeaware
ofthemmustfirstexistthroughtheirrelationtoit.Theycannotpossiblyexistin
disconnectionfromaconsciousmind.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

16/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

Ifweimagineauniversalstatewhereintherewasnobodypresent,nomindthatcould
thinkofanything,perceiveit,orbeconsciousofit,thenwearequiteunabletoputany
ideaorobjectorsoundorcolourintothisstate.
Thisistruewhetherweapplyittomereideasortohardandheavythingswhichwesee
andfeel,suchashousesandtrees.Thepointcannotbegraspedbytheunderstanding
withoutpreviousreflectionandmeditation,foritappearstobecontrarytocommon
experienceandcommonsense.Inshort,matterisamentalsensationandnotthecauseof
amentalsensation.
155

Whateverthought,idea,image,orremembrancecomestousisnotseparatefromour
mindandconsequentlyfromus.Andbecauseeveryobject,thing,orcreatureintheworld
aroundusisonlyathought,idea,image,orremembrancetous,itislikewisenotseparate
fromus.
156

Anyonewhoisabletoimagineorfeelarealseparationbetweenthoughtandbeing,has
donewhatIamquiteunabletodo.Onthecontrary,Ifindmyselfalwaysconstrainedto
imagineorfeelthatanessentialandinevitablerelationexistsbetweenthem.
157

Weneverknowthingsbyandinthemselvesbutonlybyandinthemind.
158

Mindcanknowonlythatwhichisofthesamenatureasitself,namely,thought.
159

Iftheobjectofmyexperiencehadnothingincommonwithmyideaofit,itcouldnot
evenstandinthisallegedrelationofcauseandeffect.Ifitdoessostand,thenwhatisthe
commonthingbetweenthem?Thereisnoanswertothisquestionexceptthementalist
one.
160

Spaceissimplythewayinwhichourmindsseetheworldthatis,itispurelymentaland
notreallyoutsideus.Thecorollarytothisisthatasallthingshavetheirbeinginspace,
theymustlikewisehavetheirbeinginthemind.Butmindalonecanonlyentertainmental
visitorsitistoosubtletoreceivenonmentalmaterials.Mindcannotreceivethatwhich
iswhollydissimilartoit.Thereforeallthingsmustenteritasideasonly.
161

Themindcanhavedealingsonlywithkindredobjectsformedfromitsownsubstance,
thatis,withthoughts,ideas.Thereforewhenitknowsmaterialobjectstheymustreallybe
ideas.
162

Mindandmatterareincommensurables.Mindcanenterintorelationsonlywith
somethingalliedtoitsownsubtlernature,notwithsomethingwhollydissimilar,as
matterissaidtobe.ThatwhichthemindknowsmustberelevantinrelationtotheMind
itself.Theremustbeacommunityofkindbetweenthetwo,acommonidentityof
substance.Theworldasknowncannotpossiblybeextramentalinnature.Hencethe
characteristicsofwhatthemindknowsmustbementalthatis,theyconstituteourideas.
163

Thehumanmindcanenterintorelationwiththatis,becomeawareofthatwhichisof
thesamenatureasitself,thatwhichiscorrelatedtoit,thatwhichisalsomental.Itis
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

17/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

impossibleformaterialthingstoenterdirectlyintotheimmaterialconsciousnessofman.
164

Wereourconsciousnessoftheworldandtheworlditselfsoessentiallydifferentafterall,
thennorealcontactbetweenthemcouldeverbepossible.Butcontactdoeshappen.And
itdoeshappenbecausetheworldisnothinglessthanthemind'sidea.
165

Ifamanwouldbewillingtothinkdeeplyenough,hewouldbeobligedtoagreewiththe
assertionthathecanknowonlytheideaofathing,andnotthethinginitself.
166

Twothingswhicharetotallydifferentfromoneanother,quiteunrelated,cannotwork
togetheroraffecteachother.Thisismentalism'scase.
167

Thehumanmindisforeverdealingwithhumanconceptionsofthingsunderthebelief
thatitisdealingwiththethingsthemselves.
168

Twolipsutterasingleword.Theexperiencerandtheexperiencedobjectareasingle
stuff.
169

Mindistheknowingagentandmindistheobjectknown.Inthefirstcaseitassumesthe
internalformofselfconsciousness,inthesecondcase,theexternalformofexperienced
world.
170

Whenweanalysetheexperienceofhumanexperienceitself,wefindthatitreducesdown
totheknowerandtheknown,themindanditsthought.Allattemptstoseparatethe
physicalobjectfromsensedataandthesefrommentalperceptionsendinartificiality.
171

Mindcannotprojectitselfoutsideitselftoobservewhatitis.Onlythroughwhatitknows
ordoesordesires,onlyasitsexistenceisexpressedinanygivensituation,canitperceive
itself.
172

Theobjectseen,theeyewhichseesit,andtheactofseeingareallpartofamentally
createdsceneallareidea.
173

ThephilosophicalmeaningofEinstein'sdiscoveriesthatthenatureoftheworlddepends
onthenatureofitsrelationtotheonewhoseesit,thatwecannottrulyspeakaboutany
objectindependentlyoftheobserver,andthattimeisthehallmarkofthisrelativityisin
perfectaccordancewithourowndoctrine.Whateverisseen,isseenbythemind.Apart
fromthemindweknownothingofitsexistenceandapartfromthemindthethoughtof
timecouldnotariseforus.Inshort,everyexistentobjectiswhollyrelativetothesubject
Mind.
174

Experienceisaunityandcannotbebrokenintomindandmatter.Wecannotpossibly
separatetheworldfromthemindthatknowsit.Thetwoarealwaysrelated.Toobjectthat
sucharelationneednotexistoutsidetheactofknowingtheworld,eventhoughitmust
existinsideit,istoutterwordswhichdissolveawayassoonastheirmeaningisanalysed.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

18/19

14/5/2015

The World As Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

Fortheonlyworldwhichhumanbeingscaneverdiscussisonewhichtheycanthink
aboutandwhichisthereforeanideafortheirminds.
175

BecauseIamaconsciousbeingIamawareofphysicalsensationsandmentalthoughts
buttheconsciousnesswhichenablessuchawarenesstoexistitselfexistedbefore
sensationandbeforethought,andthisisastrueofnewbornbabiesasitisofdyingmen.
Thisiswhatthematerialisticanatomistdissectingthebodyfailstoperceive.Thisisthe
forgottenselfofthefabledtenpersonscrossingariverinIndianmythology,andthisis
thegreatsecretwhichmentalismunveilsforus.
176

ThetenthmanintheHindustory,whofailedtocounthimselfwhencheckingifallthe
partywhowadedacrossariverweresafetheHebrewrabbiwhosaidonhisdeathbed,"If
thereprovestobenofuturelife,howIshalllaugh!"andthescientistwhodeniedthe
existenceofmindbecausebrainfleshproducesconsciousnessallthreeshowhoweasyit
istoforgetthesubjectwhenlookingattheobject.
177

Theobjectwhichthesensesdirectlyestablishcontactwithisregardedasonethingthe
mentalimpressiontheyhavewhenthinkingofthatobjectisregardedasanotherand
totallydifferentthing.Thisisaverysimpleandapparentlyveryobviousviewofthe
matter.Totheordinarymind,bywhichImeanthemetaphysicallyunreflectivemind,the
statementisunarguableanditsimplieddivisionofNatureintomentalandmaterial,
uncontestable.Butifyouanalysethewayyouperceiveobjectsyouwillfindthatboththe
perceiverandtheperceivedareinseparableintheactofperception.Youcannotshowa
dualityofideaandthingbutonlyaunityofthem.
TheNotebooksarecopyright19841989,ThePaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundation.

http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/21/2

19/19