Inspiration and the Overself: Notebooks

As an artist, writer and musician, this volume of The Notebooks of Paul Brunton is one of my favorites. Here Brunton discusses true Intuition and how to distinguish it from false promptings from our own egos, i.e. how to bring intuition to its highest level. In this volume Brunton also covers Mystical Glimpses and how to prepare for them and encourage them, as well as how to retain them. Perhaps most useful are the paragraphs discussing factors that can block these treasured Mystical Glimpses. The final chapter of this volume is entitled "Glimpses and Permanent Illumination". In this section Brunton gives us the hope and the assurance that even brief mystical Glimpses one day can become an abiding state of being. As in his other volumes, Brunton uses the term "Overself", a term he himself coined, meaning our true Selves, i.e. the soul as opposed to the ego. At times, the term "Overself" in his writings could also be interpreted as the Divine Consciousness or God. As in his other volumes, Paul Brunton's writing is unpretentious and clear, easy to both read and understand. In my opinion, Brunton is one of the greatest spiritual Teachers of the last century - and we are very fortunate to have his published writings available to us. Personally, I would recommend all of Brunton's Notebooks to any serious spiritual seeker.