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PaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundationhomepage>NotebooksofPaulBrunton>Category20:WhatIsPhilosophy?>Chapter3:ItsRequirements
ItsRequirements
Basicqualifications
1Tobecomeaseekerinintentionisadmirableasthefirststepbutitisonlythefirstone.Toqualifyasaseekerinfactisthesecond.Whataretherequiredqualifications?
2Philosophyexpectsnothingfromitsvotariesthatisbeyondtheirpowertogive.Henceitmakesdifferentdemandsondifferentpeople,graduatingitsethicandinstruction,itsinjunctionsandduties,itspreceptsandcounsels,totheirstrengthscapacitiesandcircumstances.Butneverthelessitsacrificesnothingofenduringvalue,foratthesametimeitremindsthemnottoforgetthefinalideal,theultimateendtowardwhichalltheirlessereffortsaremoving.Thusitaccommodatesitselftothosewhowantaneasierandlongerroute,makingitselfaccessibletoordinarypeople,yetitdoesnotseparateitselffromtherarersoulswhoaresocircumstancedandsoformedbynatureastogladlygivethemselvestotheshortestandhardestroute.
3Justasaphysicallyimmaturebabycouldnottakeahalfmilewalk,howevermuchitwishedorevenwilledtodoso,soaspirituallyimmaturemancouldnottakeinthehigherphilosophy,howevermuchhewishedorwilledit.Theintuitionandintelligence,thecharacterandcapacityneededforthislatterpurposemustbepresentinhim,andused,beforetheteachingscanreallyreachhim.
4Ifphilosophyhidesitstruthfrommentalunreadinessanditsvotariesfromsocialpersecution,itis,nevertheless,alwaysreadywhenitisneededbyanysincereseekerwhohasevolvedtotherequisitedegree.Ifhehasgotenoughreligiousprejudiceandmysticalsuperstitionoutofhismindtobefreetothinkforhimself,ifhehasliftedhischaractersomewhatabovethecommonweaknesses,ifhissenseofvaluesissuchthattheTruthappearsdesirableaboveallthings,thenphilosophyistheonlythingtowhichhecanturnforguidanceandenlightenmentandphilosophywillsurelywelcomehim.
5TolearnistoreceiveknowledgebuthewhoseekstolearnthisTruthwhichisbothbehindandbeyondallothertruthsmustcomewithhismind,hisheart,hisbody,andhiswill.Withhismindbecausehisthoughtmustbepushedtoitsdeepestmeasure.Withhisheartbecausehisloveisdemandedmorethanhenowknows.Withhisbodybecauseitistobethetempleoftheholyspirit.Andwithhiswillbecausehemaynotstopthisenterpriseuntilheisthrough.
6Hehastolearndiscriminationifhewishestobecomeaphilosopher.Thisisnotmerelythatmoralqualitywhichseparatesrightfromwrongforthereligiousman,butthatpsychologicalactwhichseparatestheperceiverfromtheobjectsofhisperception,theexperiencerfromtheobjectsofhisexperience,initselementaryoperation.Althoughitwillhavetoreunitethemagaininitslateroperationonahigherplane,asthe
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unenlightenedmanunitesthemonalowerone,thatplanecannotbereachedabidinglybyjumping,onlybyclimbing.
7Theacceptanceofsuchateachingasphilosophyimpliesanunusualdegreeofintelligencewhichisnotthesameaseducationorevenintellect,althoughitmayincludethesethings.Fortherecognitionthatthereisaworldofbeingbeyondthatregisteredbythefivesenses,aworldofconsciousnessnotlimitedtothatreportedbythethinkingego,adivinesoulhiddenwithinthategoitself,asuperiorpowerinvolvingusallinitscosmicordersucharecognitioncancomeonlytothosewithunusualintelligence.Faithisgoodbutnotenough,foronedayitmaychangethroughcircumstancesorbeconfusedthroughlackofknowledge.Suchintelligenceisbestforitincludesandguidesfaithbutgoesfartherthanit.
8Philosophicalintelligencecombinestheintellectualfacultywiththeintuitive.
9Withoutpurephilosophy,thereisnopossibilityofascendingthehigherpeaksoftruth.InthehighestesotericschoolofAsianooneisadmittedbeforefirsthavingbeentakenthroughacourseoftheessentialsofthissubject.Inthisschoolthereisnoprogresswithoutthefulluseofintelligenceandsharpenedreason.Thelackofthisqualityhashelpedtocontributetothedownfalloforganizedmysticalmovementsknowntousall.
10Thestudyofphilosophyeducatesthemindindeepthinking.Itmustbeapproachedinthespiritofscientificdetachment.
11Somethingoftheimpersonalityanddetachmentofthemathematicianarenecessarytothebeginningphilosopher.
12Heistobeconcernedsolelywiththereality,withthatwhichIs,andnotwiththepresentationofitwhichothershaveinvented.
13Atthisstageheisfinishedwithcompromises:hecanacceptnothinglessandwantsnothingelsethanthepureTruth.
14Unlessmenpossesstherightintuitionalcalibre,theycannotgraspthisteaching,foritstandsatanaltitudebeyondthereachofthegrossandthematerialistic.
15Thecouragetobecomeindependentofhisownpastbeliefsisneeded.Thestrengthtosetasidethepatternsofthoughtimposedonhismindbylonghabitisrequired.Thesequalitiesmaynotnecessarilyhavetocomeintoactionbuttheymustbethere.
16Thehysteric,theneurotic,ortheparanoicisunreadyforphilosophy'sguidance,unfitformysticism'smeditation.Itisuselessforsuchaonetoapplyasacandidateforinitiation.Lethimgetridofhisselfcenteredmaniafirst.
17Philosophydemandsthepurityandexperienceofasage,notthepurityandignoranceofa
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child.
18Philosophydoesnotcompetewithanyreligion,anymysticalormetaphysicalsystem,foritdoesnotconsideritselfasexistingonthesamelevelasanyofthem.Itcanonlybegraspedbythosewhobringthenecessaryintuitive,mystical,intellectual,moral,anddevotionalqualificationstoit,anditcanonlybeappreciatedbythosewhocangraspit.
19Philosophyisforthosewhodemandtheultimate,whoaresatisfiedwithnothinglessandwhohaveenoughdiscernmenttodiscriminatebetweenitanditsmanysubstitutes.
20Thoseonlywillappreciatethispointofviewwhohaveawakenedtotheneedofpenetratingthroughillusiontorealityandwhounderstandhowimportantthisistohumanity'sfuture.
21Philosophycallsforsomeleisuretostudyitandforsomecapacitytounderstandwhatisbeingstudied.Itisnotenoughtobeanamateurinphilosophy:onemustbecomeanexpert.
22Thefirstlessonsofthehigherphilosophycannotbeusefullytaughttothosewhohavenotlearnedthelastlessonsofreligion.Butforthosewhohavegonealittlewayintomysticismormetaphysics,suchinstructionneednotbedeferred.
23Peopleofallreligiousfaithscancometothestudyofphilosophy.Theywillnotbeabletokeeptheirfaithaftersuchstudy,however,withoutprofoundlydeepeningit.Norwilltheybeabletokeepwithittheenthusiasticarroganceorintolerantignorancewhichaccompaniessomuchsectarianism.
24Orientalwisdomenjoinsingeneralwithholdingtruthfromtheunready,andinparticularfromthosewhodonotwantorseekit,frominebriatedoragitatedpersons,fromthoseinwhomlustorgreed,wrathorimpatiencepredominates,and,understandably,fromlunatics.
25Philosophygainsrecruitsonlyfromthosewhosevaluesaresoloftythattheyregardthefindingoftruthasatisfyingendinitself,andwhosemindsaresotolerantthattheymaketheirsearchforitinthewidespreadfieldofcomparativeanduniversalcultures.
26Theindependentmind,whichseeksallthefactsandnotmerelysomeofthem,whichdoesitsownthinkingaboutthosefacts,isnaturallybettersuitedtophilosophythanthedependentmind,whichacceptswithoutdemurinheritedcreedsandestablishedsects.
27Hisintellectualintegritymustbesuchthatevenifhissearchfortruthendsinideaswhichupsetmuchofwhathehashithertoaccepted,hewillnotflinchfrommakingthechange.
28Swedenborg:"WithouttheutmostdevotiontotheSupremeBeing,theOriginofallthings,noonecanbeacompleteandtrulyeruditephilosopher.VenerationfortheInfinite
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Beingcanneverbeseparatedfromphilosophy."
29Philosophyisforthosewhocanthinkcloselyandwhoarewillingtoabidebytheresultsoftheirthinking.Itisnotforthosewhosettleeverythingbytheevidenceoftheirsenses.Thatiswhyithasneverbeenanecessitytothosewhomustseerealitywiththeireyesandtouchitwiththeirhands,asithasbeentothosewhowerecontenttoknowwiththeirminds.
30Inthestudyofmodernscience,inalllaboratoryanalysisorexaminationofnaturalphenomena,greatstressislaiduponthenecessityforstrictimpersonalityandfreedomfromeverytraceofwishfulthinking,personalemotion,andprejudice.Thisisofequalnecessitytothestudentofphilosophy.
31Heisreadytolearnphilosophywhenheisreadytostriphimselfofallprejudice,oratleasttoallowphilosophyitselftodothistohim.
32Uninformedseekershavetolearnvariouslessonsbeforetheyfindtheirwaytothispath,tophilosophy.Theyareattractedtoancientideasandoutworkedmethodsofwhichonlyaportionreallysuittoday'shumanity.Whathashappenedtotheracesandtotheglobeonwhichtheydwellhasaffectedtheircharacterandmind,theirtendencies,capacities,andfaculties.Thosewholookbacknostalgicallytoteachingsandtexts,landsandnamessohonouredandquiteworthilytoodonotknoworunderstandthis.Thefactthattherearecertainbasiceternaltruthsiscertainlyirrefragable.ThatMindalwayswas,is,andwillbe,isoneofthem.Thatthehumansoulislinkedwithit(throughtheWorldMind)isanother.Butthemethodsbywhichthislinkmaybevivifiedandthemenwhoaretousethemandthecircumstancesunderwhichtheylivehaveallbeenmodified.
33Afterhehashadthecourage,freedom,intelligence,aspiration,anddiscriminationtoworkthroughallthecultsespeciallythepersonalityworshipcultsandcreeds,persistently,calmly,andsurvivedthetemptationofidolatry,hemaybefittertoreverethenobleimpersonalGodhead.
34IfyouwishtoknowtheTruth,youmustacceptitsdisconcertingrevelationsalongwiththepleasantones.Youmustbewillingtopractiseinnerdetachmentfromeverythingandeveryoneaswellastoenjoythebeautifulmomentsofrapture.
35Ifpeoplecometomysticismwithunbalancedordiseasedminds,asanumbercertainlydo,andiftheypermeatetheirmysticalacquisitionswiththeirowndefects,theycannotdothesametophilosophy.Fortheendresultwouldbeeitherthattheyfleefromitondeeperacquaintanceorthatitsdemandsanddisciplineswouldbegintopermeatethem.Thisinturnwouldequilibrateorhealtheirminds.
36Thosewhobelongbynaturalaffinitytothisteachingstaywithit.Allotherseventuallyfindtheirproperlevelelsewhere.
37ItookthetroubleoflookingupthemeaninggiventotheSanskritwordshraddha,whichisoneofthesixsubsidiaryqualificationsrequiredoftheaspiranttotheknowledgeof
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higherVedanticphilosophy.Herearetheresults:(1)MonierWilliams'massiveSanskritdictionarylaconicallydefinesitastohave"trust"(2)Govindananda,inhisworktheRatnaPrabha,definesitasmeaning"arespectfultrustinallhigherthings"(3)Venkatramiah,inhisversionoftheAitareyopanishad,saysitmeans"faithintheVedanticveritiesasinculcatedbythepreceptor"(4)Vasudeva,theascetic,givesitssignificanceas"thestrongfaithinthewordsofone'steacher,"inhisMeditations(5)ProfessorGirindraN.Mallik,M.A.,definesitas"faithinthecontentsofthescriptures."Butwhatistheesotericandthereforethetruestmeaningofshraddha?Myowninterpretationis:"thatfaithintheexistenceoftruth,thatdeterminationtogetattruth,comewhatmay,whichwouldmakeoneaheroeveninthefaceofGod'swrath."
38Hewhowouldbecomeaphilosophermustkeepawayfrompartisanship,mustcultivateanindependentstateofmindsoastobefreetoreceiveideasfromanysource.Inthiswayhecanreallylearnwhatothershavethoughtorfoundlongagoorinhisownepoch,whethertheylivedintheEastorWest.Suchdetachmentisnoteasytoacquireortomaintainwithoutselfdiscipline.
39Hisattitudeshouldbe:"Takethetruth,whetherornotitbeusefultopracticallife.Takeitforitsownsake,disinterestedlyandenthusiastically,whetheritbeclosetopersonalneedsorfarfromthem."
40Itneedsforitsstudyanenlargedoutlookandgivesinreturnastilllargerone.Thisistruephilosophy,universal,widehorizoned,inclusive,andreconciliatory.
41Itneedssomecouragetofacefactsastheyareandtheworldasitreallyis,butthisisbetterthanharbouringillusionswhicharegoingtoberelentlesslyandpainfullydispelled.
42Thereisanothersidetothisdemandthatanaspirantbeatthestagewherehehasbeenpreparedfor,andisreadytoimbibe,thehighertruth.Thedemandmustnotbepushedtotheextentthatthosewhohavenothadanyopportunityforsuchpriorpreparationwillbeshutoutaltogether.Somethingcanandoughttobegiventhemtotheutmostpossibledegree.
43Fewpersonsareattherequiredleveloffullintellectual,intuitive,moral,andmetaphysicaldevelopmentforphilosophybutmanypersonsarecapableofbenefittingbyitspracticalapplications.
44Ifsomeofitstenetsareadmittedlyunfamiliarandprovocative,thisisnottosaythattheyareoutsidethereachofanyonewithmoderatecapacitywhowillapproachthemwithawilltounderstand.
45Themindwhichhasnotyetbeenproperlypreparedbythephilosophicaldisciplinetoreceivetruthdirectlythroughintuition,mustmeanwhilereceiveitindirectlythroughfaithandreason.
46PhilosophyisnotforhimwhosemindissoriddledwithraceprejudiceastothinknothinggoodcancomeoutofAsia,orwhoseownattitudeissosteepedinviolentbiasastojudge
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peoplesolelybytheirappearance,orwhoseideasarelitonlybyhisownlittlegutteringcandleoflimitedexperience.
47Itdoesnotadmitthepopulardelusionthateverymemberofthehumanraceisfittopassproperjudgementonanyissuemerelybyconsultinghisopinionorfeelingaboutitmuchlessaboutreligionandmysticism.
48Thehiddenteachingisonlyforthosewhoprefertotravelfreelyonaroadratherthancrawlslavishlyinarut.Onlythestrongcansubmittothismentalisolation.
49Itiscomfortingonlytothefewwhoarepreparedtopartwiththeiregoism,theirpride,theirsensuality,andtheirinertiaforthesakeoftruth.
50Errorwillcreepintohisfiniteapprehensionoftheinfinitetruthifhehasnotpreviouslymadehimselfready,pure,balanced,andmature.
51Ifonlybecausephilosophywasnotthereforanyonetopickupcasuallyifhewished,butonlythereforanyonewhocouldthinkandintuit,itspossibleadherentswerewelllimitedinnumber.Suchamanwouldinevitablythinkandintuithimselfmoreandmoreintoitsgreatteachingstothedegreethathewishedtoseektruthandwasabletoabandonego.
52Philosophyisprimarilyforthefairlyadvancedmentalityforthepersonwhoisfamiliarwiththechiefspiritualconceptionsandpracticesfortheaspirantwhoisexperiencedandmature.
53Onlyonewhohasspenthislifeinreligious,mystical,andphilosophicinvestigationscanappreciatetheuniversal,thetimeless,andtheplacelesscharacterofthisteaching.
54Nomanwhohastotallyfailedtousehisintuitionalfacultywillhavethecapacitytoreceivephilosophy.
55Everychildmustpassthroughapropertraininginelementaryandintermediatemathematicsbeforetheprinciplesofhighercalculuscanbeexplainedtoit.Sothosewhowishtograsptheadvancedportionofphilosophymustlikewisepreparethemindandheart,thewillandcharacter.
56Ahighlevelofgeneraleducationisadistinctadvantageforthosewhowouldtakeupsuchastudy,butitisnotanabsoluteessential.
57Itisforallclasses,alltypesofmind,andallkindsofcharacter.Itisforthesimpleaswellastheastute,thesinfulaswellasthegood.Butalas!personalhistoriesshowthatitistheastuteandthegoodwhomostlyacceptphilosophy.Theotherswhoneeditbecausetheytooarehumanbeingsacceptitlessfrequently.
58Thosewhopreferthepleasanttothetruewillnaturallyfeartoenterthekingdomof
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philosophy.
59Onlythosewhocanfollowphilosophywhereveritleadsthemandpracticeitstenetswithunflinchingcouragewilleverbecomephilosophers.Itisnotenoughtoaffirmprinciplestheymustalsobeappliedandgiventangibleform.
60Thosewhoarecultivated,educated,andintelligentenoughtoappreciatewhatphilosophyoffersthemmayyetbeblindedbyprejudiceorselfishnessorbetoostupefiedfromgorgingthepassionstodoso.
61Sensitiveandintrospectivemindswillmorequicklyfindtheirwaytothesetruthsthandullandextrovertedones.
62Ifheistoreachthispurewelloftruth,itswateruntaintedbybiasorprejudice,hewilldobestbykeepingindependent.
63Bothaproperlydisciplinedbodyandaphilosophicallystrengthenedmindshouldbeourreliance.
64OneshouldseekforknowledgeoftheHigherLawsgoverninglife,fortruepurityofcharacter,andforhumilityifhewishestoreachtheHighestTruth.
65Seekerswhoarenotsatisfiedwithconventionaldoctrinesormysticalexperiencesmustbewillingtodosomedifficultbutprofitablereasoning.
66Thetruthcannotbefoundbythosewhocannotprotectthemselvesagainstdeception,andespeciallyselfdeception.
67Philosophycarriesgoodtidingstothehumanrace,buttheywillberegardedas"good"onlybythosemembersoftheracewhoareableandwillingtotakeanimpersonalandimpartialviewofthings.
68Noteveryoneisreadyforthetruthwhenitcomestohim.
69Thekindofmindwhichlikestokeepeverythingneatlylabelled(goodorbad)andeveryoneneatlyclassified(atheist,believer,Christian,Hindu)willbesomewhatpuzzled,slightlyuneasy,andpartlyderisorywhenconfrontedbyphilosophyorphilosophers.
70Onewhoisripetoreceivetruthwillrespondtoitspresentationatonce,convincedthatitmustbeso.
71Onewhoisreadywillfeelthepowerinthesewrittentruthsandwillfollowtheirinjunctionsobediently.
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72Thateveryoneandanyoneshouldbetaughtphilosophyisanunreasonabledemand.Onlythosewhoconsciouslyseektruthanddeliberatelypractiseselfdisciplineareentitledtosuchteaching.
Philosophicdiscipline
73Truthisamanysidedunity.Itcannotbefoundbyanarrowsingletrackmind.Totakeafragmentoftruthandcallitallofthetruth,tostandononepointofviewandignoreallotherpointsentirely,iseasierforlazyminds.Butthisisnotphilosophical.Thisiswhysomekindofpreparatoryselftrainingtobroadenanddeepenoneselfmentallyisrequiredbyphilosophyandwhyitcannotbehandedoveronaplate.
74Thatsomerestraintanddisciplineareneededisimpliedbytheverynotionofaquestforhighergoals.Thatsomeportionmustbesetbytheteachingitselfbutanothermustbeselfimposedarisesoutofthebalanced,sensiblenatureofphilosophy.Ithasnoplaceforfanaticismortyranny.
75Withoutrequiringtheambitionforsainthood,itdoesrequirethecapacitytorecognizetheneedofadisciplineandthewillingnesstoundergoit.
76Truthalreadyexistswithinman.Hehastobringitfromthecentretothecircumferenceofhisconsciousness.Ifitishiddenfromhisview,thatisonlybecausehehasnotlookeddeepenoughorhasnotclearedawaytheobstructionstohisview.Thoseobstructionsareentirelywithinhislowerself,andmayberemovedbypracticeofthephilosophicdiscipline.
77Hehasfirsttofindoutwhatitisthatkeepshimfromthehigherself.And,thisknown,hewillseetheneedandvalueofthephilosophicdisciplineasameansofeliminatingtheseobstacles.
78Philosophyrequireseveryacolytetosubmittoaselfimposeddiscipline.Thatheshallnotknowinglycherishanuntruthinhisfeelingisthefirstandeasierrequirementthatheshallnotunknowinglycherishanuntruthinhisthinkingisthesecondandharder.
79Thispathisamasterstroke.Thismethodofdestroyingtheillusionoftheselfbymeansoftheintellectualfunctionwhichisitsprimaryactivitystandssupremeandalmostalone.Thatveryfunctionautomaticallyceaseswhendirecteduponitselfinthewaythatishereintaught.Andwithitscessation,theselfisdissolved,appropriatedbytheUniversal.
80ThemoststrikingpointinthissimpletechniqueisthatheusestheveryegoitselfforsolongindicatedbyallmysticsasthegreatestenemyonthePathasthemeansofdivineattainment.Thesewordsmaysoundlikepureparadox,buttheyhappentobetrue.Thestrengthofhisenemyisdrawnuponforhishelp,whilethatwhichwasthesupremehindrancetransformsintoapathwaytothegoal.
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81Theabilitytodiscriminatebetweenappearanceandreality,betweenthefalse"I"andthetrue"I,"isdevelopedbysubjectingthereportsofthesensestothecriticismoftheintellect,bycheckingemotionwithreason,bystandingasidefromallofthesefacultieswiththeintuition,andbydivingdeeperanddeeperintoone'sessenceinmeditation.
82Theenigmaticquestionswhichhavelonghauntedthehumanmindandwilllongcontinuetohauntitandwhichwillriseinsistentinthemindoftheaspirantare:Whatishetoseek?Howishetogaintheobjectsofhissearch?Whataretheprospectsofthefulfilmentofsuchanaspirationandthehindranceslikelytoattendit?Theanswerstothemareagradualrevealingwhichfollowsontheheelsofthecultivationofcertainattitudestotruthandtopersonsandthings.
"Whatishetoseek?"Heshouldseekrealityandtheknowledgeofitwhichistruth.Thisistheidealwhichissetbeforehim.Thisistorealizehisspiritualnatureandthusachievehishigherdestiny.Becausetruthissosubtleandsohardtofind,hissearchafteritshouldbewellguided,hisknowledgeofitproperlytested,andhisadventuresinmeditationmorallyandintellectuallysafeguarded.Truerideasareneedednoblerstandardsarecalledfor.Suchideals,truthfullyformed,deeplyheld,andwholeheartedlyapplied,canonlybenefitmanandnothurthim.HewhohasbeengivenaglimpseoftheIdealwillnotbeabletoliealwaysasleepinthesensual.Thefinerpartofhisnaturewillrevoltagainstitagainandagain.
TheIdealservesmorethanoneusefulpurpose.Itisnotonlyapeaktowhosesummithetriestoraisehimselfbyslowdegrees.Itisalsoafocusformeditationexercises,aguideforpracticalconductincertainsituations,andacompasstogivegeneraldirectiontohistrendofthought,feeling,anddoing.Itcausestheaspiranttofeelthathehasbeenledthroughvaryingeventstothenewpathwhichnowopensupbeforehim,thataspiritualmeaningmustbegiventotheperiodofhislifejustclosed.Thesequenceofeventsandtheaccumulationofexperiencewillforcehimtofacehisproblemsintheend.Ifhecandothishonestly,analysethemintelligently,andintuitthemadequately,hemayacquireavaluablenewpointofview.
"Howishetogaintheobjectsofhissearch?"Thetruthseekerwillbegintoturninwardinquestofunitywithhisownsoulandoutwardinquestofunitywithmankind.Lifeistheguidethatisbringinghimhometohimselfandtokindlierrelationtohisfellows.Lifeitselfteachesanddisciplinestowardsthesegreatends.Thefollowingoftheintegralphilosophicquest,withlifeastheguideandteacher,willinvolvethereeducationofmoralcharacterwhichisdoneinpartbyconstantreflectionandspecialmeditationsontheonehandanddisciplineofthesensesontheother,andinpartbyprayer,aspiration,andworship.Inaddition,ifamancultivatesthehabitofbarringentrancetonegativethoughtsandofinstantlythrowingweakeningonesoutofhismind,hischaracterwillstrengthenitselfmorequickly.Theoutcomewillbecertainrelationshipstooneself,toothers,andtosituationsandthings.
Theascenttowardtruthproceedsbysteps.Ifatfirstthemeritsofaparticularteachingorteacherimpresstheemotionsunduly,itisalsolikelythatamorecriticalstudyoftheoneandamorethoroughexperienceoftheotherwillshowupunsuspecteddefects.Thephilosophicstudenttriestoavoidundergoingtheseunpleasantchangesbygettingabalancedviewoftheprosandconsfromthestart.Heoughtnottobesosweptoffhisfeetbythegreatadmirationfeltforageniusoradoctrinethathehasnoclearperceptionoftheformer'sdefectsorthelatter'sfaults.Hemustmaintainbalancenotonlyinthefaceofloweremotionsbutalsoofnoblerones.
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83Allhumanknowledgeisconditionedbythefactofhumanrelativity.Humannature,humanintellect,andhumanegoismimposetheirlimitationsnotonlyinmaterialexperiencebutalsoinmysticalexperience.Statementsofdivinetruthmadebymortalmenshouldbereadinthelightofthefactthattheyaresubjecttosuchrelativity.Noneisinfallible,noneeternallyauthoritative.Suchseemstobetheunhopefulsituation.Istherethennowayofdisengagingthehumanagencyfromthedivinemessagewhichmanifeststhroughit?Theansweristhatthiswaydoesexistandthatitsmethodisanintellectualaswellasemotionalpurification,amoralandpracticaldiscipline,anintuitionalandmysticalpreparation,andaboveallaneliminationofthepersonalreferencecarriedonincessantlythroughalongperiod.
84Philosophycanbeunderstoodonlybytheactualprocessofphilosophizing,bypassingthroughthewholecourseofemotionalandmentaldisciplinewhichphilosophyinvolves.
85Thestudentshouldseekclearideasandwarmfeelingsinhisspiritualstudiesanddevotionalaspirations.
86Thepurerevelationcomesonlytothosewhocanbringthemselvesatthebiddingoftruthtosacrificeruthlesslytheirpreviousbeliefs,ifnecessary.Allothersgetapartialormixedrevelation.
87Thegoalistoobtainahigherconsciousnesswhichflashesacrossthemindwithblindinglight.Allhiseffort,allhistrainingisreallyforthis.
88ThephilosophictrainingwillshowitsresultinhiscapacitytoseparatetheactualoperationoftheOverselfinhimfromanyadmixturebyhisownpersonalthoughts,feelings,andexpectations.
89Thethingthatpassesforilluminationwithmostmysticsisgenerallyamixtureofgenuinemysticalexperiencewithaninterpretationofitfurnishedbytheintellect,theemotions,tradition,education,teachers,suggestion,andsoon.Themediumthroughwhichtheexperienceisbroughtdownintoconsciouscommunicationorunderstandingofteninterfereswithitandreshapesit.Thephilosophicdiscipline,withitsselfcriticizing,keenrationalityanditsegosubordination,purification,andillumination,isintendedtopreventthisinterferencefromhappening.
90Theadvancedsectionofthephilosophicdisciplinerepresentsanendeavourtoreducethenumberandthicknessofthesecolouredwindowsthroughwhichthemysticreceivesrevelationsanddeliversmessages.Butthisisonlyitsfirstendeavour.Intheend,itstrivestoforcehimfromthemaltogether,torescuehisilluminationfromeverythingthatmightlimititspuretransparentuniversality.
91Isitnotpossibletofreemysticalreceptionfromtheseegoisticinterferences,misrepresentations,exaggerations,distortions,andfalsifications?Yes,itispossible.Withthephilosophicdisciplinethemysticmaydisciplinehisego,trainhisfeelings,guidehisintellect,andcheckhisintuitionsothatthetruthbreaksintospaceandtimethroughhishumanpersonalityinfaultlesspurity.
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92Man'simperfectnaturemustberenderedutterlypassive,itsdistortinginterferenceutterlyeliminated,beforethedivinetruthcanmanifestitselfinallitsauthoritativepurity.
93HewilltrainhimselftodistinguishbetweenthefanciesoftheegoandthecertaintiesoftheSoul.Anditisonepurposeofthephilosophicdisciplinetoassisthimtodoso.Fortheresthemustdependonselfcriticalobservationandcarefulcheckingofresults.
94Theknowledgeofselfwhichphilosophycangiveisunique.Butitcanbegotonlybyturningthewholeofthepsyche'sforceinwardsinsteadypenetrationandsustainedmeditation.Thehiddendoorsofourmentalbeingmustbeopened,thedelicatesourcesofouremotionalbeingmustbetraced,thegossamerthreadofourdeepestconsciousnessmustbefollowed.Allthiscallsfortheexerciseofwill,theeffortofconcentration,therefinementofattention,andsurrendertopatience.
95Itisimpossibleforanyaspiranttoattainthefullandequilibratedilluminationifhedoesnothavethispreliminarypreparationofthephilosophicdiscipline.Hecangetresults,hecangetstrikingexperiences,butthesupremeresultisbeyondhisownpowersofreceptivity.
96Philosophyimposesaseverementaldisciplineuponthosewhowouldpursueitstruths.
97Hewhoknowsandfeelsthedivinepowerinhisinmostbeingwillbesetfreeinthemostliteralsenseofthewordfromanxietiesandcares.Hewhohasnotyetarrivedatthisstagebutisonthewaytoitcanapproachthesamedesirableresultbytheintensityofhisfaithinthatbeing.Butsuchaonemustreallyhavethefaithandnotmerelysayso.Theproofthathepossessesitwouldlieinthemeasurewithwhichherefusestoacceptnegativethoughts,fearfulthoughts,despondentthoughts.Inthemeasurethathedoesnotfailinhisfaithandhenceinhisthinking,inthatmeasure,thehigherpowerwillnotfailtosupporthiminhishourofneed.ThisiswhyJesustoldhisdisciples,"Takenoanxiousthoughtforthemorrow."Inthecaseoftheadept,havinggivenuptheego,thereisnoonelefttotakecareofhim,sothehigherSelfdoessoforhim.Inthecaseofthebeliever,althoughhehasnotyetgivenuptheego,nevertheless,heistryingtodoso,andhisunfalteringtrustinthehigherSelfisrewardedproportionatelyinthesameway.Inbothcasesthebiblicalphrase,"TheLordwillprovide,"isnotmerelyapioushopebutapracticalfact.
98Thephilosophicdisciplineshowsushowwearetotreatourselves.Thephilosophicmoralityteachesushowwearetotreatothers.Itprovidesbothabstractprinciplefortheoryandconcreterulesforconduct.
99Hemaymakeuseofadverseperiodstotesttheworthofphilosophyandthemeritofitsteaching,insteadoflettingthembecomeasourceofdepression.
100Theinexperiencedandtheunbalancedmaymeasurespiritualprogressintermsofemotionalecstasyormeditationalvision,butthematureandwisewillmeasureitintermsofcharacteritsnobility,itsroundeddevelopment,anditspurity.
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Thephilosophictrainingwillhelphimtostopinsertingtheegointohisexperienceandtoceaseimposingitsbiasonhisreadingofit.
102Philosophybeginsitsinstructiontotheneophytebythestartlingassertionthatneitherhenoranyothercandidateisreadyorqualifiedtoreceivetruth.Itdeclaresthatthisqualification,thisreadiness,mustfirstbedevelopedinthecandidatehimself.Thisworkofdevelopmentiscalledthephilosophicdiscipline.Heshouldstudyhimselfandexaminehisexperiencesinthemostcriticallight.Alibis,pretenses,andexcusesshouldbemercilesslyrejected.Thediceofdoubtfulcasesshouldbeloadedagainstit,andheshouldbeginwiththepremisethatheiseitherfaultyinjudgementorguiltyinconduct.
103Thosewhowantphilosophywithoutacceptingitsdisciplinegetonlyafragmentofit.
104Thephilosopher'sresearchisadisinterestedone.Thereisnoparticularbodyofdoctrineswhichhesetsouttosupport,noreligiousinstitutionwhosepowerorprestigeheseekstoincrease.Hedeliberatelycontrolshispredilections,trainshisthoughts,anddisciplineshisfeelingssoastomakehimselfcapableofthatintellectualdetachmentwhichisanecessaryprerequisitetogettingatthetruth.
105Thephilosophicdisciplineaimstoshocktheaspirantoutofthecomplacencywithwhichheviewshimselfintoamorecriticalview.Hemayfeelchagrinandmortificationatwhathesees.
106Philosophiclifeinoursenseisnotamatterofreadingpracticalmaxims.Itisgivingassentinactionandofferingwholeheartedbeliefinfeelingtothebestvalues,goals,andpurposes.
107Thephilosopherdevelopstheprincipalsidesofhishumannature,thatis,hisintelligencebyreasoning,hisknowledgebystudy,hispietybydevotions,hismysticalintuitivenessbymeditation,andhiswisdombyassociationwiththosemoreevolvedthanhimself.
108ThefirstaimthereforeistoknowTruthasitisandnotmerelyasitistous.
109Itsaimistoproduceamanwhoshallbehumanlymatureandspirituallysecure,whoshallbefleshandmindputtotheserviceofspirit.
110Thestudyofphilosophymustbenodesultorypursuititmustfollowaconsecutiveandsequentialcourseifitsprinciplesaretobemasteredanditsproblemssolved.
111Thought,feeling,andwillarethethreesidesofahumanbeingwhichmustfindtheirrespectivefunctionsinthisquest.Thoughtmustbedirectedtothediscriminationoftruthfromerror,realityfromappearance.FeelingmustbeelevatedinlovingdevotiontowardstheOverself.Willmustbeturnedtowardswiseactionandaltruisticservice.Andallthreemustmoveineffectiveunisonandmutualbalance.
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Heshouldalwaysrememberthatthemerereadingaboutphilosophywillnotmakehimaphilosopher.Norwilleventhethinkingaboutphilosophyitselftransformhimintoone.Boththeseactivitiesarecertainlynecessarybuttheyneedonemoretocompletethem.Andthatisthepracticeofphilosophyinconduct,theexpressionofitindailyliving.
113Meditation,rightlydone,isindispensabletothephilosophicquest,butitmustbeaccompaniedbyotherpracticesorendeavourswhicharenotlessindispensabletothesuccessofthisquest.
114Meditationmustpredominateinthebeginner'sstage.Itisthemostimportanteffortthenrequiredofhim.Buttheotherrequirementsneednotthereforebeneglected.Itwillnotonlybegreatlytohisadvantagetodevelopmetaphysicalreasoningandwiseaction,butthecombinationofallthreewillyieldresultsfarinadvanceofthosewhichtheirseparateandsubsequentdevelopmentcouldpossiblyyield.
115Onlyhewholivesfrommomenttomomentbytheclearlightofitsteaching,bythedeepestfaithinitstenets,andbytheardentfeelingofitsworthisatruediscipleofphilosophy.
116Threetasksarerequiredofhimforthisintegralculture.Thefourelementsofthepsychearetobepurified,developed,andbalanced.
117Everyoneinsomeway,blindlyorconsciously,slavishlyorindependently,wronglyorcorrectly,necessarilyandalwaysbelievesinaparticulardeciphermentoftheenigmaoflife.Butonlyhewhohasbroughtthebestmentalequipmenttobearuponitislikelytomakethebestdecipherment.Andonlythephilosophicaldisciplinegivesthis.
118Thecravingsofthesensesaretobebroughtundercontrol.Thesoulistobetheirmasterthemindisnolongertobetheirslave.
119Anexternalasceticismofasensiblekindisalsocalledfor.If,onthespeciousadviceofthosewhosayrepressionisworse,heyieldstosexualpassioneverytimeitsolicitshim,hemakeshardertheinternalbattleagainstit.Fortemptationisnotremovedbyyieldingtoitiftheremovalismerelytemporary,andtherecurrenceiscertainandswift.
120Hehastorejecttheappealofsensuousthingsforatimeandretreatfromtheirpursuit.Thisisintendedtofreehimfromtheirtyrannyoverhim.
121Thedisinclinationtostartpractisingmeditationandtheinabilitytosustainitforlongwhenstartedaredueinparttothemind'sstronghabitofbeingpreoccupiedwithworldlymattersorbeingattachedtopersonaldesires.ThisiswhythestudyofwhollyabstractmetaphysicalandimpersonaltopicsispartofthePhilosophicPath.
122Asenseofsacrednessshouldenterhisphilosophicalstudiesiftheyaretobearmorefruit.
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Someessentialsare:purificationofcharacter,disciplineofemotion,ennoblementofmotive,practiceofmeditation,studyofthemetaphysicsoftruth,elevationofconduct,andaconstantheartfeltaspirationtowardstheDivine.Prayer,too,oftherightkind,ishelpfulbecauseegohumbling.Andtherightkindisthephilosophickind.
124Thevariousbranchesofphilosophicalstudyandpracticeincludethepreparatorystagesoftheasceticlifeandthenthefurtherfullerstagesofbeing,thinking,feeling,meditating,intuiting,anddiscriminating.Therearetwolevelsofreference:theAbsoluteandtheRelative,equivalenttotheMetaphysicalandthePhysicalPractical,theRealityandtheAppearance.
125Inone'ssearchfortheHigherSelf,itisnecessarytocultivateimpersonalityandobjectivityalongwithreason,emotion,andbalance.Theseshouldalwaysbepresentinone'sanalysesofexperiences,sinceinaccurateconclusionswouldbereachedwithoutthem.
126Thestrivingforimpersonalityisuncommonhoweverapprovedintheory,actualpracticeisunpleasantandunwilling.
127Theearnestseekerwhohasalreadyachievedacertaindegreeofawarenessandunderstandinghasthebeginningsofwhatmaybeasplendidopportunitytomakephenomenalprogressinhispresentincarnation.Buteverythinginthisworldmustbepaidforthegreatesttreasuresareattainedonlyatthegreatestcost.Theaspirantmustnowembarkonadoordieendeavourtolifthischaracterontoahigherplanealtogethertopurifyhismotivesandtobepreparedtosacrificeallworldlyobjectsfirstinwardlyand,finally,outwardlyifcalledupontodoso.Thespiritualreturnsarecorrespondinglygreat,however.Theyare:serenity,understanding,liberation,satisfaction,andthedelightofperpetualcommunionwiththedivineOverselfwhilebeingalwaysinItsblissfulPresence.
Theremustalsobethededicationtoservice.Here,moreoftenthannot,thespiritualreturnsareaterriblesadnesswhichmustbebornealoneandunshared.
Suchisthephilosophiclifetheonlyconceivablewayoflifeformany,now,andformanymore,lateronforevermotivatedandsustainedbytheunchanginglivingReality,Mind.
128Thementaltendencieswhichhehasbroughtoverfrompreviousbirths,theeffectsofphysicalheredityandenvironment,theinfluenceofsociety,andthesuggestionsofeducationallofthesehavetobedisciplinedandpurified,ifheistoacquiretruthwithoutunconsciouslydeformingit.
129Thisdisciplinefreeshismentalityfromthetendencytoplacemerelytemporaryandlocalinfluencesabovethetrulyuniversalandeternalelements.Thus,itclearsapathwayfortherealrevelations.
130Anotherofthepracticalapplicationsofphilosophyistheinjunctiontowastenothing.Theusefulnessofanythingisentirelyamatterofrelativity.Thatwhichisuselesstoyouinacertainconnectionmaybecomeusefulinadifferentconnectionoratalatertime.Again,
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itmaystillbeuselessevenwhenconsideredunderthesetwoaspectsbutyetitmaybemostusefultoanotherperson.Thereforeifthereissomethingyoudon'twanttokeep,giveitawaytosomeonewhoneedsit.Don'tthrowitawayanddestroyit.Youareonlyasteward.Ifyoutakeapurelypersonalstandpointorifyoulivemerelyforthepresentmoment,suchcounselmaymakenoappealtoyou.If,however,youhaverisentothephilosophicanduniversalstandpointandconsidereverythingnotmerelyrelativetoyourownegobutalsototheAll,thenyouwillseeyourresponsibilityinthismatter.Thisdoesnotmeanyouaretobecomemiserly.Onthecontraryyouaretobecomegenerous.ForinthelastcountingeverythingbelongstoMotherNature.Weareonlyherstewardsandourtaskistouseherpossessionswiselyandcooperatively.
131Philosophytellsusthatitisthebusinessofeverybody,nationsaswellasindividuals,tolookbehindtheirsufferingsandthusascertainthecausesofwhichthesesufferingsaremerelyeffects.Ifmenwishtostartabetterandhappierlife,itisneedfulthattheyshouldunderstandthelessonsoftheirownpast.Ifthishappierexistenceistobeareality,itcannotcomeaboutunlesstheybreakinwardlyandoutwardlywiththispast.
132Afullyripenedmindcomesmoreeasilyandmorenaturallyintothetruth.Thelaboursofreflectivethoughtjoinedtothestillnessofsuspendedthought,theemotionofreverentialworshipbalancedbytheindependenceofselfreliance,areonlydifferentaspectsoftheprocessofripening:thereareothers.Thelargeoutlookwhichfollowsminimizestheegoandpushesoutblocks.SlowlyorsuddenlytheSpiritisletin,fills,andtakesover.Consciousnessliterallycomesintoitsownitself.
133Abraveinsistenceonfacinghisinarguableprejudgementswillberequiredofhim.
134Thephilosophicethicsmustbeappliednotonlyinhiswellstudiedunderstandingbutalsointhedepthsofhispersonalrelations.
135Theoldideawasthataspirituallymindedpersonshouldsportalongbeard,indulgeinasceticselfdenials,andbeportentouslysolemn.Thenewideaisthatheshouldkeephisspiritualmindednessbutbemorehuman,morelikeoneofourselves.
136Philosophictrainingtriestoproduceinitsvotariesaloftypersonalcharacterandawidesocialoutlook.Itshamesnarrowattitudesandreleasesbeneficentfeelings.
137Wemustseethingsintheirproperproportions.Thisiswhythephilosophicstudentmustconsiderallavailableaspectsofasituation,allsidesofaquestion,andboththepastcausesandfutureoutcomeofanevent.
138Thereisadangertohispilgrimagetowardstruthifheletsafixedandfinalizedstatementofitbecomedominant.Itisthedangerofarrestedgrowth,orspiritualconstriction.
139Theconflictwithhimself,withillwillandevilwill,withfalsethoughtandmistakenthought,canendonlywhenthequestitselfends.
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Sincemostpeoplecometothesamesubjectwithpersonalpreconceptions,theyleavewithdifferentconclusions!Onlythosewhohaveundergonethepurifyingdisciplineofphilosophyarelikelytohavethesameconclusions.
141Thisfurtherimpliestheeliminatingofallprejudicesandthepurgingofallpreconceptionsfromone'soutlook.Themindmustbeopen,notattachedundulytoanything,notthevictimofcontemporaryexternalinfluences,buteverreadytoenquire.
142Hemustnotbeafraidtodisparagehisownpastthoughtandwork,valuesandtechniques,ifneedbe.
143"TheBuddhistdisciplineorexercise(yoga)asistoldbytheBuddhaconsistsoftwoparts,philosophicalandpractical.ThephilosophicaldisciplineistotrainthemindtoabsoluteidealismandseethattheworldisMind,andthatthereisinrealitynobecomingsuchasbirthanddeath,andthatnoexternalthingsreallyexistwhilethepracticalsideistoattainaninnerperceptionbymeansofsupremewisdom.TobegreatintheexercisethatmakesupBodhisattvahood(mahayagayogin)onehastobeanexpertinfourthings(threeofwhichareintellectualandthelastonepractical):1)toperceiveclearlythatthisvisibleworldisnomorethanMinditself2)toabandonthenotionthatbirth,abiding,andpassingawayreallytookplace3)tolookintothenatureofthingsexternalandrealizethattheyhavenoreality(abhava)4)totrainoneselftowardstherealizationofthetruthintheinmostconsciousnessbymeansofsupremewisdom."Suzuki'sLankavataraSutraStudies
144Therearetruthsinthephilosophicdoctrinewhichman'sheartcannoteasily,oratfirst,accept.Thisisbecausetheyaredistasteful.Onlyaftersufficienteducationbyteacher,study,life,orreflectioncanhebringhimselftobelievewhathedoesnotlike.
145Thehistoryofreligiousandmysticalideasshouldbeinvestigatedandstudiedfromanimpartialindependentstandpoint,withoutbiasfor,orprejudiceagainst,withenoughcriticalabilitytosiftfactsfromopinionyetwithenoughsympatheticinterestinthesubjecttocollectmaterialswidelyfromtimeandplace.Thisisnotworkforadrieduppedanticscholarwithoutinnerexperienceofhisown,norforagullibleexcitableenthusiast,norforaselflimitedcommittedscientist,norforatraditionbound,excessivelypastworshipping,antimodern,religioscholarmystic.Withthisworkshouldbeconjoinedacomparativestudyofthoseideas,whichrequiresnotonlyhistoricaltalentandlearningbutdeeperinnerknowledge,advancedandpersonalexperience,andskillincommunicatingthehigheryieldsofintellect,feeling,mysticalintuitioninshort,somephilosophicalequipment.Therewouldbenoplaceinsuchteachingforrigiddogma,nodivisioninto"official"monopolizedtruthandunenlightenedunblessedinvention,certainlynodenunciationofheresy.
146IgnoramusesandblockheadsfinditeasyandpleasanttocriticizethebackwardnessanddarknessoftheMiddleAgesandtheperiodsofantiquity.Suchcriticismgivesthemthefeelingofbeingonasuperiorplanealtogether,ofhavingtruthwheretheseearlier,andconsequentlyunluckier,forebearshaderror.
Ipersonallydonottakesuchasillyattitude.Icriticizethepastwithoutdenyingitspossessionofspiritualtreasures.Themodernstudentshouldreveretheteachersandstudy
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theteachingsofantiquity.HewillhonourthelivesandtreasurethewordsofJesusandBuddha,KrishnaandConfucius,Muhammed,Plato,andPlotinusalike.Butheshouldnotconfinehimselftoanysingleoneofthemalonenorlimithimselfwithinanysingletraditionalfold.Hemustalsolifthimselfoutofthepastintothepresent.Hemustreservehisprincipalthought,time,andstrengthforlivingteachersandcontemporaryteaching.
147Tobeunattachedisalsotobeunattachedintellectually,totakeupnointellectualpositionasagainstalltheothersandtorefusepartisanship,sectarianism,groupjoining,onesidedness,andexclusionofallotherideasandteachings.Byrefusingtojoinasectthecandidateforphilosophyrefusestoputhimselfinthepositionwhichregardsallthoseoutsidethesectasbeingtheunchosenrace.
148Dr.Johnsonunderstoodthephilosophicalattituderightlywhenhesaidthatwehavebothtoenjoylifeandtoendurelife.
149ThegreatsacrificewhicheveryaspirantiscalledontomakeisthesacrificeofthatignorancewhichseparateshimfromhisDivineSource.Thisignorancecannotberemovedbytheintellectalone,however,orbyYogaalone.
150Thepleasantandpainfulvicissitudesofhumanlifearecommontoall,butacorrectviewpointregardingthemisnot.Sothephilosophicaldisciplineaimstoprovideit.
151Hemustcomeonthisquestnotforafewyearsbutforallhislife.
152Itisnecessaryforthestudenttomakeacombinedeffortofwill,analyticreflection,prayer,andstudytounderstandanddissolvetheobstaclescreatedbytheego.
153Itisvitaltoseeclearlythedifferencebetweenteachingsthatspringfromandserveonlytheego,andthosethatspringfromandleadtotheOverself.
154Therearenoinitiatoryrites,nodisciplinaryrulesandvows.
155Ifyouaskwhatrealityis,inphilosophy'sview,theanswermustbeconsciousness.Ifyoufurtheraskwhatman'sworkinthislifeis,theanswermustbetobecomeconsciousofconsciousnessassuch.Butbecause,ordinarily,consciousnessneverdisclosesitselftohimbutonlyitsvaryingstates,hecanaccomplishthisworkonlybyadoptingextraordinarymeans.Hewillhavetosteelhisfeelingsandstillhismind.Inshort,hewillhavetodenyhimself.
156Plutarchpointedoutthatifanybodycouldeasilyfulfiltheinjunction"Knowthyself,"itwouldnothavebeenconsideredadivineprecept.
157Itssearchingandsearingtruthwilldrawoutallhisvanityandleavehimfeelingquitehollowinside.
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ThesecriticsofphilosophyshouldcloselyquestionthemselveswhethertherealreasonfortheirdislikeofitisthatithumiliatesthemintosecretlyacknowledgingtheirlackofthecouragetofollowthephilosophicQuest.
159Nosinglepathwillsuffice.Allmustintertwinewitheachother,helpeachother,balanceandregulateeachother.Itisthetotalizedandequalizedeffortwhichcountsmost.
160Lifeasksfromhimsomethingmorethanspiritualaspiration,morethanprayer,morethanmeditation.Heneedstoofferallthese,buthemustalsobeintelligentandpractical,kind,andcontrolled.
161Wisdomliesincombiningthethreechiefyogas,notinseparatingthem.Forinstance,lowvitalitydoesnotpromotehighintelligencebutratherhindersit,hencesomephysicaldisciplinesareasneedfulasmentalones.Thethreeyogagroupsarenotonlynotantagonistictoeachotherbutactuallycomplementary.Whoeverignoresanysingleonecanmakeonlyonesidedprogress.
162Apathwhichrequiressomuchfromthetravellerwillinevitablybeaslowerpaththanthereligiousandmysticalways.Butitwillalsobeasurerone.
163Ifhemakesworshipapreparationformeditation,andifheaccompaniesinvestigationoftheinspiredtextsbyapplicationoftheknowledgegleanedifhejoinspurificationofhisbodytopurificationofhismindhemayexpecttogainabalancedstateofilluminationinreturnforthisbalancedapproach.
164Hisspecialneedistouniteintellectualbreadthandemotionalbalancewiththisinnerattainment.
165WehavedeeplyfelttheforceofEpictetus'outcry:"Showmeamanmodelledafterthedoctrinesthatareeveruponhislips.Sohelpme,HeavenIlongtoseeoneStoic!"Itisnotlesseasytopreachthantopractiseinourowntime.Buthereistheacidtestwhichwillrevealwhatisandwhatisnotpuregold.Onthebasisofsuchatest,mankindseemstocryinvainforasingleIlluminate.
166Itispossiblebydepthofthoughtorbyperseveringovertheyearstosoimpregnatethemindwiththeseimplacabletruthsthatitautomaticallyreactsphilosophicallytoitsvariedexperiencesandsituations.
167Thesetruthsmustbecomesovividinhismindthathecannothelpactinguponthem.
168Thepromisesofreligionaremildeffortstoconsoleweakerpeople,buttherewardsofphilosophyaretruthsthathavetobeheroicallyborne.
169Thebasisofthisphilosophicdisciplineisawelldevelopedreason,asoundcharacter,andacultivatedmysticalintuition.
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170Notbyharshoutragesonthebodybutbythesimplegrowthofhighervaluethroughdeeperpenetrationofthetruth,isthephilosophicway."Thepuritywhichcomethfromknowledgeisthebest."saystheMahabharata.
171Intheendheshouldseektogainconfirmationoftheteachingandpracticalknowledgeofitsworkingbyfirsthandpersonalexperience.Thisachievementispossible,butatthecostoflivingoutinactionwhathelearnsinthought.
172Thepracticeofphilosophyisnoteasy,butitistheonlywaytogainitsadvantages.Whenittakesfirmrootindaytodaylife,experience,behaviour,andactivity,itstruthistestedandsurvives,solidlyconfirmed.
173Wemustexaminecurrentconceptsoftheworldwiththegreatestcare,andthenhavethecouragetoacceptalltheconsequencesofsuchexamination.Wemustquestionlifeintheprofoundestpossiblemanner,neverhesitatingtoprobedeeperanddeeper,andtruthwillcomewhentheanswercomes.
174Thequadrangleofreligiousdevotion,metaphysicalstudy,mysticalmeditation,andinspiredactionmakesthetoolforphilosophicwork.
175Hisisnonarrowonesidedquest.Allthroughlifehewillbeseekingwisdomforhismind,goodwillforhisheart,andhealthforhisbody.
176AlthoughitisnecessarytodifferentiatetheselinesofapproachtotheOverselfinthestudystageofgrowth,itwouldbewrongatanytimetoregardthemasbeingmutuallyexclusive.Actuallymetaphysicsandmysticismmust,atthelast,meetandintermingle.Fromthefirstthesensiblestudentwillperceivethisanduseeach,inturnaswellastogether,tobroadenhisoutlookandbalanceandunderstanding.
177Philosophyattendstoeachsideofthisfivesidedcreaturemanandthusgiveshimatrainingthatisbroadenoughtomeetlife'sdemand.
178Hehastotakethesubtlethoughtsofphilosophy,thedeepemotionsofreligion,thesensiblepracticalityofmodernism,andthewhisperingsofhisownintuitiontoformacompositesystematiccredo.
179Ifheistotakeonthelabelofphilosopher,hewilltrytobearhistroubleswithfortitudeandendeavourtokeepholdofthegreateternaltruthsinsupportofit.
180Thewayislongandhard.Itinvolvesdevelopingallthedifferentsidesofthepersonality.Prayerandmeditationleadtothecultivationofintuitionandaspirationandthese,atthesametime,mustbeaccompaniedbythestrengtheningofwill,plusstudyandreflection.Alleffortsshouldbemadesidebyside,sotospeak,toleadtoabalancedpsychethephilosophicideal.
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Thephilosophicapproachtoaproblemisfirsttolookatitandthentolookawayfromit.
182Intheturmoilofdailyeventsitiseasytolosephilosophicperspective.Heshouldnotletthishappenbutinsteadstriveconstantlytogainsuchaperspective.
183Withoutthisdisciplinetheywillbeunabletodistinguishtheauthenticcommunionwithaninspiringsourcefromtheirownpersonalthoughtsandfeelings.
184Theegoissoboundupwiththethoughtshismindproducesandhisintuitionyields,withtheexperiencehismeditationpracticeandprayerfulworshipinvoke,thatitismostessentialforhimtoundergoacourseofpurificatorydisciplinetoobtainegofreeresults.
185Howsuccessfullyheperceivesthetruthwilldependpartlyonhowsuccessfullyheovercomesthelimitationsandescapestheassociationsofhisownpersonality.
186Itis,inasense,onelongexperienceofbecomingimpervioustodesires,ambitions,and,lastofall,eventoaspirationsforgrowth.Itisadyingtothelesser,personalselfasoneawakensandsurrenderstothegreaterOverSelf.
187Hedividesintotwopersons,theonlookerandtheplayer,afeatbeyondordinarycapacityandpossibleonlywhenthephilosophicquesthastrainedmindandreeducatedfeeling.
188If,assomethink,thephilosophicwayoflifeisahardone,itstillremainstherightone.Allotherwaysaremerecompromises,justconcessionstohumanweakness.
189Thephilosophicallymindedstudentthinksclearlyinadvanceoftheprobableconsequencesbothgoodandbadofacontemplatedlineofaction.Forhedoesnotwanttowalkblindlyornegligentlyorrashly.
190Theslowgradualenlightenmentofviewswillfinishhisdevelopment.
191Firsthebelievesinitvaguely,thenheunderstandsitprecisely,nexthepractisesitdaily,andintheendhebecomesonewithitutterly.
192Atimecomeswhentheseekerissothoroughlypenetratedwithphilosophicidealsthatthehigherlifewillbecometheeverydaylife.
193Theinitiationintowisdomifitistobelastingisnotsuddenlygivenbyanymasteritisslowlygrownbytheexperiencesandreflectionoflife.Thoughtisgraduallyconvertedintohabit,andhabitisgraduallymergedintohighcharacter.Thephilosophicattitude,ifitistobegenuine,willpassintothestudent'snervesandmovehismuscles.
194Ifhecannotbyhisnaturalpowerachievethis,hecanatleastpreparehimselfforitandawaitthegrantofgrace.
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Wholeness,completeness,integrality
195Whentheprincipleoftruedevelopmentisunderstood,itwillbeseenthatnosideofhumannatureisreallyhostiletoanyoftheothersandthatallsidesarecomplementarypartners.
196Thephilosophicgoalistobespirituallyawareinallpartsofthepsyche,withthecompletelifeasthefinalresult.Togiveone'slifeaphilosophicalbasisistogiveitthequalityofimpregnablestability.Togiveone'sknowledgeaphilosophicalfoundationistogiveitthequalityofintellectualsoundness.Toconfineattentionexclusivelytosomeparticularaspectoftruth,ignoringtheotheraspectswhichbalanceorcompleteit,canonlyleadtoamisleadingresult.Thattheapproachisdifferentbutthegoalisthesamemaybequitetrueofallordinarysystemsofreligionandmysticism.Itisnotquitetrueofphilosophy.Heretheapproachismanysidedwhilethegoalisintegral.
197Itisnotenoughtocleartheegoistic,passional,andemotionalcolouringsfromthepsyche.Ifheseesthetruthfromaverylimitedpointofview,hewillstillfailtoreceiveortransmititrightly.Thereforethepsyche'sdifferentsidesmustbefullydeveloped:histhinkingcapacity,intuitionalreceptivity,emotionalsensitivity,andactivewillmustthemselvesbebroughttoanadequatedegreebeforehisviewoftruthwillbeadequateenough.
198Eachpartofthehumanpsychefulfilsaseparateandnecessaryfunction.Noneisasubstitutefororarivaltoanyoftheothersitdoesnotdisplacebutonlycomplementsthem.Eachhasitsownspecialworkwhichcouldnotbedonebythem.Afullviewoftruthcallsforafulltechnique.Onlyphilosophyprovidesforit.
199Forhehastoregeneratethewholeofhisnature,andnotmerelyonesideofit,ifheisnotonlytoperceivethewholetruthbutalsotoperceiveitunspoiledandundisturbed.
200Thepathisfourfoldandnotthreefold.Foritconsistsof(1)thedevelopmentofintelligencethroughbothconcreteandabstractreasoning,(2)thedevelopmentofmysticalconsciousnessthroughcultivationofintuitionandpracticeofmeditation,(3)thereeducationofmoralcharacter,(4)practicalservice.
201Thefourfoldpathcallsforaction,intuition,devotion,andknowledge.
202Heshouldseektodeveloponallfoursidesofhisnaturetheintellectual,theemotional,thepractical,andtheintuitional.Theentireendeavourshouldbedirectedtowardsdiscoveringhisweaknessesofcharacterandremedyingthem,strengtheninghiscapacitytothinkabstractlyandmetaphysically,refiningandennoblinghisfeelings,discipliningandunderstandinghispassions,cultivatingandrespondingtohisintuitions.Thusthephilosophicquestisanintegralone.Itaimsatatotalilluminationofthemindandtransformationofthecharacter.
203
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Philosophydemandssocompleteatrainingonlybecauseitofferssoperfectagoal.
204Thesmoothlyroundedsymmetryofthisfourfolddevelopmentmakesnotonlyforthefullestacceptanceoftruthbutalsoforthematurestkindofliving.Becausephilosophyconsidersandimprovesthehumanpersonalityasawhole,itisnothinglessthaninspiredpracticality.Thereisindeednonewsituationwhichitcannotmeetandnegotiateforthebest,nooldoneforwhichithasfailedtoofferguidanceandinwhichithasfailedtogivesupport.
205Inleadingmentowardahigherlifeandatruerworldview,itisasjustifiabletocajoletheirfeelingsasitistoconvincetheirreasonitisasrighttostimulateinthemthewarmaspirationofamysticaldevoteeasitistohardenthecoldprecisionofametaphysicalscholaritisasneedfultoinspirethemtocompassionateserviceasitistoexalttheirmoraloutlook.Alltheseareneededforanadequateresult.Allthesequalitiesareanecessityforafullerandbetterpoisedlife.Eachsupplementstheothersandsupplieswhatthey,byreasonoftheirownnatureandlimitations,cannotsupply.Alltheseseparatethingscantakeanaspirantsomewayalongthequest,butnonewilltakehimalltheway.Mosteffortsareaimedonlyatoneortheother,fortheyoftencontradicteachother,whereasphilosophynotonlyaimsatalltogetherbutalsoseekstoachievesomethingmore.Forontheonehanditseekstounfoldthetranscendentfacultyofinsightandontheotheritseekstotestallitsteachingsagainsttheoppositionofactualexperienceintheactiveworld.
206Ifthechangeincharacterandoutlook,understandingandconductistobeadeepandlastingone,thenitwillhavetoproceedoutofallsidesofaman'snature,outofhisthinkingandfeeling,experienceandintuition,studyandbeliefwhichmeansthatitmustproceedoutoftheknowledgeandpracticeofphilosophy.Hischangemustbebasedonrationalideasaswellasemotionalmovements,onpracticalresultsaswellastheoreticalformulations,ontheexperiencesofothermenaswellashisown.
207Wehavetobringthecosmicexperiencetothelivinghumanorganismasawhole,notmerelytojustapartofit.Formanisaunityandcanfulfilhishigherpurposeonlyashedoessowithallhisbeinganddoesnottrytoseparateitintoparts.
208Itmaysurprisepeopletolearnthatwholenessisaspiritualquality,thatallpartsofthemanmustreceiveandshareinthelight.
209Henotonlyhastoreceivethisilluminationinallthepartsofhisbeingratherthananyonepart,butalsotoreceiveitequally.Itistheobstructionarisingintheundevelopedorunpurifiedpartswhichisthefurthercauseofhisinabilitytosustaintheillumination.
210Wemustbringourwholepersonalitytothisquestandnotmerelyapartofit.Allsidesarevaluabletoeachother,henceallareneededbyourselvesandallmustbeembraced.Therichfullnessofphilosophiclifeappreciatesbeauty,aspirestoknowledge,activatesthewill,issuffusedbyfeeling,andcultivatesintuition.Alltheseactivitiesemotional,mental,physical,mystical,metaphysical,andethicalaretobeinseparablyconsolidatedinoneandthesamecharacter.TheremustbeatotalresponseofourtotalnaturetothiscallfromtheOverself.Foritisnotsomethingwhichcanpenetrateourreasoningalone,forexample,andleavetherestofourbeingcold.Thequestcannotbelimitedtoany
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singlewayalone.Itmustbewideenoughandcomprehensiveenoughtoenableustothrowalltheforcesofourbeingintosuchasupremeenterprise.Howfaristhisgenerousidealfromthenarrowidealofasceticism!
211Thatmanistrulycivilizedwhohasunfoldedthepossibilitiesofhisphysicalnatureandhisspiritualnatureboth,whohasrefinedhisfeelingsandtastesanddevelopedhisthoughtandintelligence,whorejectsthesterilityofasceticlivingstandardsbasedonpovertybutwelcomesthoseofaestheticandfunctionalvaluebasedonbeautyandcomfort.
212Thatthegoalisnothingshortofcompletenessiswhatsofewunderstandorwant,foritdemandsmorefromthemthanthegoalofmerelyexperiencingpleasantfeelings.Itdemandsthewholeman.
213Makewholenessathemeforyourthoughtsandmeditations,afocusforyourstudiesandaspirations.
214Whenallpartsofhispsycheconcurinanattitude,wheneachfunctionorfacultyiscoordinatedwiththeothersinthereceptionanddeliveranceoftruth,thentherewillbeharmonyandunitywithinhisinnerbeingandouterlife.
215Yes,weneedtoknowthetruth,todiscoverwhatisintheworldaroundusandinlifewithinus,butwealsoneedtofeelandintuititbyexperience.Thiscomingtogethermakesforitsrealization.
216Thefoursidesofthepyramidofbeingthinking,feeling,doing,andintuitingmustbedrawntogether,properlydeveloped,andheldtogetherinproperbalance.Theinclinationtofragmenttheselfistheinclinationtofollowtheeasiestpath,nottheneededpath.Thewholepersonneedsbothdevelopingandbalancingpartofitcannotbeleftsafelyinneglectwhiletheotherpartisintensivelycultivated.
Thephilosophicgoalistobespirituallyawareinallpartsofthepsyche,withthecompletelifeasthefinalresult.Theaspirantmustengagethewholeofhispersonintheworkofselfillumination,andnotmerelyapartofit.Ifonlyapieceofitisactiveinthiswork,onlyapiececangetilluminedorinspired.Evenmeditationitselfsoimportantfortheawakeningofintuitionisonlyapart,andalimitedpart,oftheQuest.Wholenessmustbetheideal,ifthewholeoftheOverself'slightistobebroughtforthandshonedownintoeveryday'sliving,thinking,feeling,andbeing.Anythinglessyieldsalesserresult.Andifthewholeisnotheldproperly,isunbalanced,ityieldsadistortedresult.
217TheteachingthattheQuestcannotandshouldnotbeseparatedfromlifeintheworldisasoundone.Therefore,itispartofphilosophyandisnotsomeeccentricenterprisetobeundertakenbythosewhowishtoescapefromtheworld,orwho,beingunabletoescape,considerthemselvesasbelongingtoaclassapartfromothersintheirenvironmentsuperiortothem,differentfromthem,andholierthanthem.TheyalsocometoconsidertheQuestasanartificialsystemofliving,devoidofspontaneityandnaturalnesssomethingtobelabouredatbymakingthemselvesabnormalandinhuman.Oneoftheconsequencesofthisattitudeisthattheytendtooverlooktheireverydayresponsibilitiesandthusgetintodifficulties.Philosophyhasconsistentlyopposedthistendency.
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Unfortunately,inthereactionfromit,therehasarisenafreshconfusioninthemindsofanothergroupofstudentswhodonotunderstandthebeautifulandadequatebalancewhichtruephilosophyadvocates.Thesestudents,swayedbysuchteachersasKrishnamurti,becomesoenthusedbythenotionofmakingspiritualprogressthroughlearningfromexperiencesandactionalonethattheyfollowKrishnamurti'sadviceandthrowawayprayer,meditation,andmoralstriving,aswellasstudyunderpersonalteachers.Thislimitsthemtoaonesidedprogressandthereforeanunbalancedone.TotaltruthcanonlybegotbyatotalapproachasLightonthePathpointsout,eachoftheseformsofapproachisbutoneofthestepsandallstepsareneededtoreachthegoal.
Thewholeofhisbeingmustbeinvolvedintheeffortifthewholeoftruthistobefound.Otherwisetheresultwillbeemotionalalone,orintellectualalone,oradulteratedwithegoisticideasandfeelings.
218Itisnotenoughtobeaphilosopherbecausethemindseestheteachingistruetheheartalsomustbeengagedinthematterandloveit.Norarethesetwoenough.Thewholepersonmustbeliftedupalsointoitandhimselfexperiencethetruth.
219Itentersintothefullnessofphilosophyonlywhenitisfeltintheheart,understoodinthemind,intuitedinthesoul,absorbedbythestillness,andactualizedintheworld.
220Bodyandminddependupononeanother,actupononeanother.Thedualismwhichwouldseparatethementirely,whichwouldevenputthemagainsteachotherasantagonists,iserroneous.Thebiologicalviewofman,thepsychologicalview,andthespiritualviewofmanarecomplementary.
221Itisnotenoughtobeagoodperson.Onemustalsobeawiseperson.Itisinsufficienttobeselfdisciplined.Oneshouldalsobeselfillumined.
222Wemustbeabletoreasonremorselesslywithoutbecomingimprisonedinreason,becausewemustdojusticetoeverypartofourbeingbutonlyasapartofthewholemustwedojusticetotheintellect.
223Thosewhoassertthatinnerspiritualchangecancomeonlyfromouterphysicalchangeandthosewhoasserttheoppositearebothalikeextremistsandfanatics.Thetwoproceduresareneededtogetherandshouldaccompanyeachother.
224HewillbeabletomanifestmoreoftheDivinewhenheisdevelopedtothepointofbeingcompleteinhimselfthanwhenheisnot.
225Thereisnootherwayformantogrowinhisfullnessthanthewaywhichcoversthewholeofhumanlifeandusesthewholeofhumanfaculty.Thereisnootherwaytomakehimselffitforthenextstageofevolution,whichwillmakehimmorethanman.
226Thefoolishmanactsatrandomtheintellectualmanplaysoffhisreasonsagainsteachotherandsomayfindhispowertodecideparalysedtheemotionalmanrejectseveryguideexceptpersonalfeelingthephilosophicmanusesreason,feeling,andintuition
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alike.
227Allsidesofthepsychearesointertwinedthatonlyanintegraldevelopmentwillbeenough.Abalancedmindcannotbegotunlesstheethicofrenunciationhasbeenaccepted,forinstance,forthevicissitudesoffortunebringdisturbingemotionsintheirwake.
228Notaonesided,notevenamanysided,butonlyanallsidedprogresswillsuitphilosophy.
229Whenthelightoftruthentersitwillthenshineintoallpartsofhisbeing,notintotheintellectalone.Itthusbecomesalivingpower,notmerelysomethingtobetalkedorwrittenabout.
230Theextraordinarycompletenessofphilosophy,thefusionandequilibriumofbeinganddoing,thinkingandfeeling,introvertedstillnessandextrovertedliving,egolessnessandegoity,makeitrareandprecious.
231Thus,strivingandstudying,prayingandwilling,meditatingandaspiring,heusesalltheselftoreachtotheAllSelf.
232Thelogicalmindcantakehimonlypartoftheway.Theimaginativemindcantakehimwheretheothercannot.Ifheleavesouteitherthefirstorthesecond,hewillsufferloss.
233Ifwearetocometotruthatall,wemustcometoitwithallourbeing,notwithahalforaquarterofourbeing.
234Ifheistobemadewhole,hiseverydaypersonalitymustputitselfintoperfectharmonywith,andundertheruleof,hissuperpersonalOverself.
235Itmaynotbepossibleformanypersonstoachievesuchwholenessaltogether,butasfarasitispossibleitshouldcertainlybesought.
236Specializationinthesearchafterknowledgeleadsinevitablytoanunbalancedpictureofthewhole.Theexpertusuallyknowsmoreaboutonesinglethingbutlessabouteverythingelse.Helosestheartofputtingallthesebitsofknowledgetogetherinajustandundistortedway.
237ReligionadoresGodfromadistance,mysticismfeelsGod'sraywithinitself,metaphysicsknowsthecertitudeofGod'sexistenceonlyintheintellect.PhilosophyalonemakesamanysidedapproachtoGod.
238Anidealismwhichissincerebutnaveandadetachmentwhichisearnestbutfrigidarenotenough.
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239Hismindcannoteasilytakeholdofthemanysidednessoftruthinitsentirety.Yetonlybysodoingcanhebringitsseemingcontradictionstogetherandreconcilethem.
240Thewholeselfmustseektruthifthewholetruthistobefound.
241Noonefacultyofhumannatureisthewholeofit.Thebody'swills,theheart'sfeeling,theintellect'sreasoning,andthesoul'sintuitingmustallbeconsideredandbroughtintoplay.
242Iftheinnerlifeiscultivatedinpartofone'sbeingonly,theilluminationwhenitcomeswilllightthatpartonly.Butiftheintellectworshipsaswellasthinksandiftheemotionsmovewithit,bothdeveloptogetherinwholeness.
243Atotalefforttopurifyallareasisneededifthereistobeatotalremovaloftheblockages,thecompulsions,thedistortionsandthesuperstitionsratherthanatemporarysuppressionofthem.
244ThesatisfactionofonepartofhisnaturemaybesufficientforhimbutitisnotsufficientforLife.Soonerorlaterinthisorinanotherbirth,hewillhavetonurturewhathasbeenneglected.
245Philosophyisnotlimitedtoworkinmeditation,althoughthatisperhapsitsmostnotabledramaticform.Itisalsoappliedintheareaofeverydaylivingroutinesandrelationships.Itisalsoactiveinworkoncharacter,emotions,andattitudes.Ittakesinthebodyanditsdiet.
246Torecognizethatthepathsdownwhichtheegohasledhimareillusoryisadmirableandnecessary,butitisonlyafirststep.Itwillnotstophimfromcontinuingtogodownthemunlesshehasacquiredsomethingmorethanhismerelyintellectualknowledge.Otherthingsareequallyindispensabletocompletehisapproach.
247WhattheChinesevividlycall"walkingonbothlegs"thatis,joiningandusingtwoormoreofourfacultiesinsteadofasingleoneavoidsnarrowmindednessandleadstobetterresults.
248Ifthetruthissoughtforwitheveryfacultyofaman'sbeing,itsilluminationwhenfoundwillentereveryfacultytoo.
249IfhebringsonlyapartofhisegointotheQuest,thenonlyapartofitwillbecomeenlightenedandonlyapartofhisactivitieswillshowtheeffectsofenlightenment.
250Ifactiveintelligencewillstophimfrommakingonekindofblunder,activeintuitionwillsavehimfromadifferentkind.Hecannotaffordtoneglectanypartofhispsyche.Theremustbeanintegralandtotaldevelopmentofit.
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251Wemustfindtruthwithourintellectandfeelitwithouremotion,surrendertoitwithourintuitionandapplyitwithourwill.
252Iftheilluminationistocompleteitself,itmustbepassedthroughtheintellectaswellastheemotions,thewillaswellastheimagination,untilitlivesineverypartofhisbeing.
253Somanyseekersfindalittlecalmfromtheirmeditation,butquitesoonwhentheyarebackintheworld'sturmoiltheyloseitagain.Thisisinevitableiftheydependontheshortmeditationsalone,whichisasmuchasmostWesternerscanperform.If,however,theywouldsupporttheseattemptswiththecultivationofthehigherknowledgewhichphilosophyofferstheywouldbelesslikelytolosethosecalmmoods.
254OnemustnotbeprematureindemandingfinalunionwiththeOverself.Thatcomesonlyafteryearsofallrounddevelopment.Onemustfirstpreparehimselfinwardlytoreceiveitonlythenmayheexpecttheultimateunion.Thispreparationaffectsthewholepersonalityintellect,emotion,will,andintuition.
255Becausehiswholenatureisinvolvedinthesearchfortruth,itishiswholenaturethatintheendfindsandreceivesit.Consequentlyhegainsacertitude,asuretythatiscomplete,unshakeable,andstable.
256Plato'steachingthatthethreegreatidealsoftruthvirtueandbeautyarereflecteddowntoandthroughalllevelsofexistencehoweverobscuredanddiminishedandfeeblertheybecomewitheachdescentisoneofthegrandestofferingsoftheWesternworld.
257Whendevotionstandsonknowledge,itstandsonarockwhichnothingandnobodycanmove,norhardshipsweaken.
258Wemayyieldintellectualassentandyetremainemotionallyunconvinced,justaswemayyieldemotionalassentandyetremainintellectuallyunconvinced.Philosophyharmonizesboththesesidesofournatureandthusdissolvesthedisharmony.
259Theardourofhisdevotionandthefervourofhisaspirationwillnotbelessenedbecausehehasbeguntogetridofhismetaphysicalpovertyandsocialsterility.Onthecontrary,theywillbesupportedbytheoneeffortandconfirmedbytheother.
260Faithmaycarryamanthroughcrisesbutfaithplusknowledgewillcarryhimallthebetter.
261Hisloyaltytotheteachingmustpenetratethroughallthelevelsofthoughtandfeelingandfaith.
262Theworkofselfintegrationisthetakingupofthewholephysicalandemotionalandintellectualnatureintotheintuitivehigherone.
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263Theproperwaytosolvehisproblemsistobringtobearuponthemnotonlyallthathisownexperienceandreasonandotherpersons'counselandknowledgecancommand,butalsoalltheintuitiveleadinghecanobtainfromanegofreedheartandathoughtquietedmind.Thisisthetotalapproachtothem.
264Abalanceddevelopmentwillnotstimulatetheintellectandstarvethefeelings,nordotheopposite.Itwillgivetheintuitionthehighestplace,makingittherulerofreason,thecheckonemotion.
265Thethinking,feelingandwillingfacultiesofhumannaturehavetobedevelopedandrefinedbeforetheycangivesomemeasureofthehighersatisfactionandhappinessbutbythemselvesandlefttotheircompetingselvestheycannotgivethefullmeasureandperfectqualityofthesetwinrewards.Theyneedtobeintegratedtobebroughtharmoniouslytogether,putintheirproperplaceandruledbyanotherfacultyoperatingonalevelabovethem.Suchaoneistheintuition.
266Itisneedfulonthephilosophicpaththatheunderstandaswellasfeel.Butifnowhebeginstotrytounderstandthiswonderfulconsciousnesswithhisthinkingintellectalone,hewillnecessarilylimitit.Theefforttocomprehendwhichheiscalledupontomakemustthereforebemuchmoreanintuitiveone.
267Thus,andthusalone,canamanbecomeentireandintegrated,usingallhisnatureandallhisbeingforthemostdesiredanddesirableend.
268Toisolatesomedetailandmakeitawholeuntoitselfisalwaysimprudentbutitwouldbemuchlesssointhiscaseifitweretheintuition.
Balance
269Theprincipleofbalanceisoneofthemostimportantofphilosophicprinciples.
270Balancehasauniqueplace,foritisnotonlyneededasaqualificationtobecultivatedbutalsoasaregulatorofalltheotherqualifications.Thisisbecauseitisaneffectofwhichtheactivityofintuitionisacause.Thoughts,feelings,andactionswhichareinalignmentwithintuitivedirectionarebalancedinnature,whereasthosewhicharenotareunbalancedones.Intheuniversewefindbalancepresentwiththesameuniquenessattachedtoit.FornotonlydoesitappearthereastheLawofRecompensetobalanceallactionswithreactionsbutalsoastheMoralLawinthehumanentitytobalancehisrightdeedswithsatisfyingresultsandhiswrongoneswithpainfulresults.
271Thephilosophiclifeisessentiallyabalancedone.ThereforeitiscondemnedbyextremeWesternmaterialists,whowouldextroverthumanenergiesforsensuousends,andbyextremeEasternmystics,whowouldintrovertthemforsupersensuousends.Itdoesnotarriveatitsbalancebycompromisingthesetwoviewsbutbycombiningthem.
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272Allthatisneedfultoaman'shappinessmustcomefromboththesesourcesthespiritualandthephysicalfromtheabilitytorestinthestillcentre,inthedevelopedintellectualandaestheticnatures,inthegoodhealthandvigourofthebody.
273Intheworldoftodaytherearesignsofmentaldisorderandemotionalupseteverywhere.Intheworldofmysticandoccultstudiestherearesimilarsigns,althoughofadifferentkind.Inthepostbagofawriterwhosesubjectbordersthefringeofthesesubjectsthereisalsoampleevidencefortheexistenceofsuchmaladies.Peopleshouldfirstfreethemselvestoasufficientextentandrecovertheirsanitybeforetheygetimmersedinideaswhichwillonlyaggravatethismalady.Whenwecometotheworldofstudentsofphilosophy,insanitydisappearsbecauseitisasubjectwhichregardsthesage,thefullydevelopedphilosopher,asthesanestofmenbecauseheisthebestbalancedofmen.Wemayperhapsfindapercentageofdreamersamongthem,asthemetaphysicalflightsandsubtleanalyseswhichitcallsformayliftthemalittletoohighabovepracticalconcernsbutphilosophyisautomaticallyselfadjustingandsoonbringsthemdownagaintotheseconcerns,whereastheothersubjects,themysticandtheoccult,leavethemupthereinhazycloudswhere,iftheyarenotcareful,theymaylosetheirbearings.
274Thequestdoesnotstopwithyoga.Wehavealsotoachieveawisebalancebetweenfeelingforinnerpeaceandthinkingforultimatetruth.ReasonmustbecultivatedbecausewehavenotonlytofeelthepresenceofGodbutalsotodiscerntruefromfalsegodsthatis,truefromfalseideasofGod.
275Clearthinkinghasnothingtofearfromawarmheart,solongasthetwocooperatebutdonotmeltintooneanother,solongastheywalkhandinhandanddonottumbleovereachother,forsolongcanwecallupontheirhelpwithequalfreedom.Ourpersonalproblemscannotbesolvedbyslushysentimentsalonebutneithercantheybesatisfactorilyadjustedbysteelylogicaloneweneedabalancedwisdomindealingwiththem.Onlysuchawisdomcanbestexplaintheseproblemsandexplodeourdelusionsaboutthem.
276Thereasonedthoughtsofmanmustbeconfrontedbythedelicatefeelingsofman,balancedandmingledtoproduceabetterpersonthaneitheralonewouldproduce.
277Evenourunderstandingofbalancehastobecorrected.Itisnot,forphilosophicpurposes,themeanpointbetweentwoextremesbutthecompensatoryunionoftwoqualitiesorelementsthatneedoneanother.
278Therequiredconditionofbalanceasthepriceofilluminationrefersalsotocorrectingthelopsidednessoflettingtheconsciousegodirectthewholemanwhileresistingthesuperconsciousspiritualforces.Inotherwords,balanceisdemandedbetweentheintellectwhichseeksdeliberatecontrolofthepsycheandtheintuitionwhichmustbeinvitedbypassivityandallowedtomanifestinspontaneity.Whenamanhastrainedhimselftoturnequallyfromthedesiretopossesstotheaspirationtobeingpossessed,whenhecanpassfromthesolelypersonalattitudetotheonebeyondit,whenthewilltomanagehisbeingandhislifeforhimselfandbyhimselfiscompensatedbythewillingnesstolethimselfandhislifebequiescent,thenhisbeingandhislifeareworkeduponbyhigherforces.Thisisthekindofbalanceandcompletenesswhichthephilosophicdisciplinemustlead
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tosothatthephilosophicilluminationmaygivehimhissecondbirth.
279Thebasisoftheuniverseisitsequilibrium.Onlysocantheplanetsrevolveinharmonyandwithoutcollision.ThemanwhowouldlikewiseputhimselfintunewithNature,God,mustestablishequilibriumasthebasisofhisownnature.
280Itismostimportanttogetridofanunbalancedcondition.Mostpeopleareinsuchaconditionalthoughfewknowit.Forexample,intellectualitywithoutspiritualityishumanparalysis.Spiritualitywithoutintellectualityismentalparalysis.Nomanshouldsubmittosuchsuicidalconditions.Allmenshouldseekandachieveintegrality.Tobewrappedupinasinglesideoflifeortobeoveractiveinasingledirectionendsbymakingamanmildlyinsaneinthetrueandnottechnicalsenseofthisword.Theremedyistotonedownhereandbuildupthere,tocultivatetheneglectedsides,andespeciallytocultivatetheoppositeside.Admittedly,itisextremelydifficultformostofus,circumstancedasweusuallyare,toachieveaperfectdevelopmentandequalbalanceofallthesides.Butthisisnoexcuseforacceptingconditionscompletelyastheyareandmakingnoeffortatalltoremedythem.Thedifficultyformanyaspirantsinattainingsuchanadmirablybalancedcharacterliesintheirtendencytobeobsessedbyaparticulartechniquewhichtheyfollowedinformerbirthsbutwhichcannotbyitselfmeettheverydifferentconditionsoftoday.Wemustcounterbalancethehabitoflivingonlyinapartofourbeing.Whenwehavebecomeharmoniouslybalancedinthephilosophicsense,heartandheadwillworktogethertoanswerthesamequestion,theunhurryingsenseofeternityandthepressingurgeofthehourwillcombinetomakedecisionsaswiseastheyarepractical,andthetranscendentalintuitionswillsuggestorconfirmtheworkingsofreason.Inthiscompletedintegrallife,thoughtandaction,devotionandknowledgedonotwrestleagainsteachotherbutbecomeone.Suchisthetriunequestofintelligence,aspiration,andaction.
281Itisnotonlybalanceinsidetheegoitselfthatistobesought,notonlybetweenreasonandemotion,thoughtandaction,butalsoandmuchmoreimportant,outsidetheego:betweenitandtheOverself.
282Butitisnotenoughthatallthesevariedelementsofhisbeingshouldbeharmonizedandbalanced.Itisalsoneedfulthattheyshouldbebalanceduponaspiritualcentreofgravity.
283Awellbalancedpersonisnotnecessarilyonewhotakesthemeasuredmidpointbetweentwoextremesbutonewholetshimselfbetakenoverbytheinnercalm.Theneededadjustmentisthenmadebyitself.Althoughthisavoidshisfallingintolopsidedactsorexaggeratedviews,amerelymoderatecharacterisnotthebestresult.Moreimportantisthesurrendertothehigherpowerwhichisimplicitinthewholeprocessofbecomingtrulybalanced.
284Balanceistheperfectcontrolandmutualharmonyofthought,feeling,andaction.
285Sanctityneedsthebalanceofsanity.
286Greece'sgreatestcontributiontothequestwastheideaofBalance.Thosewholackit,lackthepropercapacitytoreceivetruthasitis.Andamongthemthosewhoarenarrow
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andfanatical,whomakeaspecialclaimtosupremacyfortheirway,cult,ordoctrine,endbybecomingthevictimsoftheirownexaggeration.Asingleglimpseisannouncedasapermanentilluminationaperceptionofmetaphysicaltruthisannouncedastotalillumination.
287Whatmostmodernseekersneedistoattainequilibriuminthemselvesandtoachieveharmonyintheirlives.Fromthefirst,theywillbeabletoenjoyinnerpeacefromthesecond,outerpeace.
288Therearetwopolesinallactivity.Togetatruepictureoflifebothmustberecognized,andneitherdenied.Butsincethesepolesareoppositeextremes,itisanunfortunatehumantendencypreciselytodenyoneortheother.
289Toavoidthisimbalance,lookforbothpolesineachcaseandestablishthem.Donotbesatisfiedwithaonesidedviewwhichexcludesallothers,norwithsectariansmugnesswhichknowsonlyonewaytoliverightlyitsown.
290Littlemindsaredismayedorbaffledbythistruth.Theywouldliketheuniversetobearasingleface,andlifetohaveasingledirection.Butthenthegrowthforwhichtheyareherewouldnotbepossible.Largermindsaregivenenoughvisiontoreconcilethecontradictionsandtowritetheopposites.Theyseelifewhole,notinfragments.
291Thefanatics,theextremists,theexclusivists,andtheintolerantneverfindtruth.Thisisinpartbecausetheypersistentlyrejectthepolewhichopposestheoneonwhichtheyhavetakentheirstand.Theyrefusetoseethatitisneededtodojustice,tocompletethepicture,andtoexplainthetensionbetweenboth.Itisneededtogiveadeeperandclearerviewoftheirownexperience.Thisiswhyphilosophyteachestheneedandvalueofachievingbalancebetweenopposites.
292Howshallapersonbalancehimself?Thewordmeansalotmorethanitsseemingsimplicitysuggests.Hecanstartbynotlettinganyonepartofhimselfcarrythewholepersonaway,offhisfeet.Butbalanceisnotonlyamatterofmakingnatureandcharacter,activityandliving,betterproportioned.Itisalsoamatterofmentalcalm,bywhoselightpropervaluesmaybeseenandeachthingputwhereitoughttobe.Thephilosopher'sbodyconsciousness,forinstance,ispartofhiswholeconsciousnessandnownolongerfillsallthespace.Itiswhereitbelongs,initsownplace.
293Heshouldcultivatethoseaspectsofhispsychewhichneedfurtherstatureandheshoulddeliberatelyneglectthosewhichhavealreadybeenovercultivated.Inthiswayhewillbringaboutabetterequilibrium,asounderharmonywithinhisownbeing.
294ThevirtueofthisbalancedapproachshowsitselfineverydepartmentoftheQuest.Forinstance,intherelationshipbetweendiscipleandmaster,hewillavoidtheonesidedemphasisuponthelatter'spersonalitywhichcertaincirclesintheOrientandOccidentfosterthroughtheirownimmaturity.
295Oneofthechiefsymbolsofthislawofbalanceisthecross.
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296Amanisabletobalanceapairofscalesifheholdsthemattheircentre.Heisabletobalancethevarioushumanfunctionsifhefindshistruecentre.Fromthatpointhecanseewhereonehasbeenneglectedandwhereanotherhasbeenoverused.Fromthatsourcehecangetthestrengthandguidancetomakethenecessaryadjustments.
297Heoughtnottobecomesosaturatedwithhismetaphysicalstudiesorsostrainedbyhismysticalcontemplationsthateverythingelse,andespeciallyeverythinghuman,haslostinterestforhim.Whenthishappens,whenheisnolongercapableofenjoyinghimself,orrelaxing,hismentalequilibriumisupset.
298Wisdomrequiresbalanceandhencethewisemanrejectsextremesandreconcilesopposites.
299Thephilosopherseekstoattainaproperequilibriumwhichwillenablehimtomovewithintheworldofturmoil,conflict,egocentricmen,andmaterialisticaimsandyetkeepincontinuouscontactwiththeconsciousnessofhisOverself.
300Inthesenseofproportion,balance,andmeasurewefindagiftfromphilosophy,asalsoapathtophilosophy.
301Ifaseekerlackssufficientpracticalexperience,hemustlearnto"do"moreandto"dream"lessifheishighlyintuitiveandidealistic,hemustlearnalsotobephysicallyactiveandconstructiveinadowntoearthfashion.
302Ihaveofteninsistedontheneedofkeepingthepersonalitytoawellbalancedform.Thisinsistencearisesprincipallyoutofthenatureoftruephilosophyitself.Itmustbelived.Butitalsoarisesoutoftheneedforselfprotectionagainsttheperilswhichopposethequest:internally,thewanderingsoffancyintohallucinationandtheselfengrossmentwhichbreedsneuroticismexternally,thenegativepassionsandblindmaterialismofadeterioratingsociety.
303Ametaphysicaltruthoughtnotbetreatedinadryaridmannerasifitstoodquitealone,apartfromitsconnectionswiththerestofphilosophy.Ifthedevotional,theactive,andtheaestheticsidesareleftoutfromthewholeness,theunionwiththeseotheraspects,metaphysicscaneasilybecomelifelessandmonotonous.Philosophylivesintheheartnolessthaninthehead,initsgloriousbeautynolessthaninitssturdysupportforthelifeofaction.
304Buddhismisareligionfoundedondisillusionmentwithlife.Butphilosophy,beingmorethanareligion,cannotrestsolidlybalancedonsuchaslenderfoundation.IfwithBuddhismitseestheugliness,thetransiency,andthesufferinginlife,italsoseesthebeautyinNatureandart,theEternalbehindlifeandthesatisfactioninit.Whyshouldphilosophypretendtoseenobrightplacesbecauseitcanseethedarkones?Whyshoulditdenythethrillofmusicinhumanexistencebecauseitcanhearthewailofmisery?Thisiswhyitisasquietlyhappyasitisgravelyresigned.
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Itiscommonenoughtoseeaspirantsbecomeonesidedand,tothisextent,unbalanced.Becausetheyareattractedorhelpedbysomeparticularwayaspecialmethod,attribute,teaching,ordoctrinethisisnoreasontoignorealltheothersortomakeitthecentralpivotonwhichthewholeofliferests.Lightoughttobroadenhisoutlook,notnarrowit.
306Halfright,halfwrong,manytheoriesandjudgementsneedtobepairedinordertocompensateandbalanceoneanother.
307IntheMasonryofancienttimes,theinitiatewasgiventhesymboloftwopillarsinhiscourseofinstruction.Themeaningwasthatatruebalanceshouldsustainhisprogress.
308Anotherreasonforthegreatimportanceofachievingabalancedpersonalityisthatthedangersofneuroticism,inertia,fantasy,andpsychismaretherebyavoided.
309Itisraretofindamanwhosemindisevenlybalanced,rarerstilltofindonewhosemindandlifeareso.
310Inawiselybalancedlife,neithercontemplationnoractivitywillbeauxiliarytotheother.Eachwillbeuseful,evennecessary,totheother.
311Itislaudabletopractiseoptimismtoajustifiabledegree,butitisreprehensibletopractiseittoanabsurddegree.Balanceisneeded.
312Theunbalancedgeniusisnottobeadmiredforhisunbalancebutinspiteofit.
313ItisnaturalthattheendeavourtofollowthisidealofBalancewillspilloverintohisjudgementsandopinions.Hewillwanttoseeallsidesofamatter,andespeciallyalltheweaknessesinhisownviews,allthesoundpointsinopponent'sviews.
314Balancerequiresthebusinessmantoliveforsomethingmorethathisoffice.Itrequirestheartisttoliveforsomethingmorethanhisstudio.Bothmaybegivingausefulservicetomanypeople.Stillthisisnotenough.Theyneedalsotoservetheidealoftheirownhigherintegration.
315Toachieveproperbalanceitmaybenecessarytooveremphasizesomeparticularattribute,quality,orcapacity.
316Abalancemaybeestablishedbetweenoppositesorbetweencomplements.
317Mannotonlyneedsintelligencetofindhiswaytothetruth,heneedsbalancedintelligence.
318Toattainbalanceisgoodbutnotenoughtosustainitisalsocalledfor.
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319ThisprincipleofBalanceoperatesthroughouttheuniverse.Thegrowthofplantandanimalformsisbalancedbytheirdecay,theirlifebytheirdeath.Ifthisprinciplefailedtooperateforonlyfiftyyears,theseaswouldbepackedwithfishtosuchanextentthattheirwaterswouldspilloverandfloodmostlands,submergingtheircities.
320Fewhavesymmetricalfacesfewstandequallyuponbothfeet.
321Togainbetterbalanceheneedsalsothevirtuesoppositetohisownvirtues.
322Whentheimbalancedpersonbecomesanonconformist,hebecomesanextremenonconformist.Ifhedoestherightthing,heusuallydoesitinthewrongway.
323Itisnoteasytocultivatesensitivitywithoutcultivatingsoftnessatthesametime.
324Balanceisalwaysneeded.Agoodstretchedtoofarmaybecomeanevil,virtuegrownunbalancedmaybecomeavice,atruthpushedtoextremesmaybecomeagrotesqueparodyofitself.
325Awellbalanced,welldevelopedmanwillhabituallyfunctioninallpartsofhisbeing,regularlydrawonallhisresources,andliveinharmonywithhiswholepsyche.
326Inourtimeevenmorethaninothertimes,worldhistoryhasproducedpolitical,religious,racial,economic,andotherkindsoffanatics,someofthemquitefrenziedones.Butnophilosophicfanatichasbeenproduced.Forhowcouldthebalance,thediscipline,theintelligence,andtheimpartialitysooftenandsorightlyinculcatedbyphilosophyeverletthathappen?
327Humourcanbeusedtorestorealostsenseofproportionortoshowupadeplorablelapsefromsanity.
328Somehavebeenpushedoffbalancebycertainhappeningsintheirlivesbutmostwerebornwiththetendency,whichwaseitherlatent,andneededtimetoshowitself,orpatent,andwasdisplayedfromchildhood.
329Thebody'ssenses,ifunexamined,unanalysed,andleftuncontrolled,leadhimintoananimalizedexistence.Butunderstoodandruledbyreasonwithaspiration,theyservehim.
330Thepleasuresoflifemaybetakenheneednotbecomemoroseandgloomybutbalanceanddisciplineareneededtotakethemwisely.
331Whenthereisnocollisionbetweenintellectandemotion,orbetweenintuitionandegoism,orbetweenimaginationandwill,itmaybesaidthatone'sinnerharmonyhasbeenfullyattained.
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332Hemaywellstudyindifferentschoolsofthoughtandexperimentwithdifferentviewsoflife.Butthisisadvisableonlyifhetakescaretodosowithabalancedapproach,temperingenthusiasmswithanalysis,acceptanceswithdiscrimination,acclamationswithcriticisms.
333Letuswelcometheofferingsofartandculture,ofappliedintellectandcivilizedliving,withouthostilityorbelittlement,evenwhilerememberingthemockingfutilityofanexistencewhichdoesnotgobeyondthemtothedeepervaluesoftheOverself.
334ThecasesofKrishnamurtiandD.H.Lawrenceareveryillustrativeoftheneedandvalueofbalance.Herearetwomenofunquestionedgeniusandindependentthoughtwhohaveinfluencedthecurrentsoftheirtime.Krishnamurtiarousedpeopletothefactthattheywerereallycaptivesandinvitedthemtoleavetheircages.Lawrencedeniedtheconventionaldenialofsex.Whatboththesemenhadtosaywasimportant,andneededtobesaid.ButKrishnamurtiwassorigidlyuncompromisingandLawrencesopassionatelyrebelliousthattheirverynecessarycontributionshavethemselvesbecomefreshsourcesofmisunderstanding.Whatissoundintheirteachingisapartofphilosophy,andquiteacceptable:buttheexaggerationandoveremphasiswhichaccompanyitarenot.Theyaretheconsequencesoftheteachers'temperamentalimbalance.Againandagainseekersaftertruthhavebeencounselledtopractisetheartofbringingtogetherandbalancingthedifferentelementsoftheirnature,thedifferentfactorsofthequest,thedifferentdemandsofeverydayliving.Philosophyisabletogiveuspeacebecauseitincorporatesthisart.
335Wheneverreligionbecomesandremainsanobsessionalactivity,itistimetocallahalt.TheneedofkeepingmentalequilibriumissupremewiththephilosophyoftruthasitwaswiththephilosophyofGreece.
336Awellbalancedmancannotbethrowndown.Hemaybepushedaboutbycircumstancesbuthewillalwayskeep,orreturnto,hiscentre.
337ThebestGreekmindsrejectedsuperstitionandrefusedtogivemetaphysicsandreligionandscienceanyplacebeyondthatwhichwastheirdue.TheyavoidedtheexcessivereligiosityoftheIndianminds,whichBuddhatriedtocorrect.
338TheDelphiTempleinscriptioncarvedonthewallwasnotonly,"KnowThyself,"butcontinued,"Nothinginexcess."
339Ourschoolsteachmanysubjectstotheyoungtopreparethemforlife,totrainthemforacareer,toshowthemhowtodisciplinethemind,ormerelytoinstillinformation.Butnoneteachesthemthemuchneededsubjectofbalance.Wherethereistoomuchofonething,ortoolittleofit,thereisunbalance.Wherecertainattributespreponderateandothersaredeficient,thereisthesameresult.Itisnotonlyextremistsandfanaticswhosufferfromthistrouble,butmillionswhopassasordinarycitizens,forittakeswidelydifferentforms.
340Withthisbeautifulidealofbalanceeverbeforehim,hewillbeabletoavoidfallingintoanarchy'sabyss,ononeside,orbecomingamerecopyofhisteacher,ontheother.
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341TheIdealBalancemaybeimpossibletoattainbutwecangetnearertoitandestablishausefulworkingbalance.
342Ifitbeaskedwhyallthisbothertoequilibratetheego,whyallthistalkaboutthenecessityofbalance,theansweristhatwhattheBhagavadGitacalls"evennessofmind"isaninescapablepreconditiontotheaccuratereceptionofthephilosophicenlightenment.
343AllofRudyardKipling'sfamouspoemIfisapreachmentuponthevirtuesofbalance.
344Whenthoughtandfeelinggrowpurertogether,whenknowledgeandaspirationwaxstrongersidebyside,whenideaandactionprogressmutually,hewillcometoknowthistruthaboutthevirtuesandvaluesofbalancebyhisownselfexperience.
345Impulsivenesscanbeahelptowardmovingmorequicklytothegoal,butbyitself,withoutthecheckandbalanceofintuitiveandrationaldevelopment,itbecomesfanaticismandisharmful.
346Enthusiasmisahelpfulemotionwhennewideashavetobeputforwardagainstinertiaoropposition.Butwhenitlosesitsinnerbalanceandpropermeasure,becomesincautiousandexaggerated,thenitrendersadisservicetoitsowncause.
347Heshouldrealize