Perspectives: The Timeless Ways of Wisdom, the Notebooks of Paul Brunton

From back cover: "Perspectives" is a representative survey of the most important section of the voluminous (17,000+ pages) personal notebooks of Paul Brunton (1898-1981) -- the pioneering British author who introduced the teachings of the great sage Ramana Maharishi to the world at large with 'A Search in Secret India' in 1934 and became one of the most influential exponents of East-West culture in this century." ****** Contents: * Editors' Introduction I - The Quest * Its Choice * Independent path * Organized groups * Self-development * Student/teacher 2 - Practices of the Quest * Ant's Long Path * Work on oneself 3 - Relax and Retreat * Intermittent pauses * Tension and Pressures * Relax body, breath, and mind * Retreat centers * Solitude * Nature appreciation * Sunset contemplation 4 - Elementary Meditation * Place and conditions * Wandering Thoughts * Practice * concentrated attention * meditative thinking * visualized images * Mantrams * Symbols * Affirmations and suggestions 5 - The Body * Hygiene and cleansings * Food * Exercises and postures * Breathings * Sex: Importance, influence, effects 6 - Emotions and Ethics * Uplift character * Re-educate feelings * Discipline emotions * Purify passions * Refinement and courtesy * Avoid fanaticism 7 - The Intellect * Nature * Services * Development * Semantic training * Science * Metaphysics * Abstract thinking 8 - The Ego * What am I? * The I-thought * The psyche 9 - From Birth to Rebirth * Experience of dying * After death * Rebirth * Past tendencies * Destiny * Freedom * Astrology 10 - Healing to the Self * Karma, connection with health * Life-force in health and sickness * Drugs and drinks in mind-body relationship * Etheric and astral bodies in health and sickness * Mental disorders * Psychology and psychoanalysis 11 - The Negatives * Nature * Roots in ego * Presence in the world * In thoughts, feelings, and violent passions * Their visible and invisible harm 12 - Reflections 13 - Human Experience * Situation * Events * Lessons * World crisis * Reflections in old age * Reflections on Youth 14 - The Arts in Culture * Appreciation * Creativity * Genius * Art experience and mysticism * Reflections on pictures, sculpture, literature, poetry, music 15 - The Orient * Meetings with the Occident * Oriental people, places, practices * Sayings of philosophers * School of philosophy 16 - The Sensitives * Psychic and auric experiences * Intuitions * Sects and cults 17 - The Religious Urge * Origin * Recognition * Manifestations * Traditional and less known religions * Connections with philosophy 18 - The Reverential Life * Prayer * Devotion * Worship * Humility * Surrender * Grace: real and imagined 19 - The Reign of Relativity * Consciousness is relative * Dream, sleep, and wakefulness * Time as past, present, and future * Space * Twofold standpoint * Void as metaphysical fact 20 - What is Philosophy? * Defini

I've never encountered such an amazing collection of wisdom. Each sentence has a delicate balance of intellectual clarity and heartfelt insight. It's hard to find any instance in my life that isn't addressed within the covers of this book. A real treasure!

Perspectives provides excerpts from Paul Brunton's 7,000 pages of notebooks, giving the fruits of his mature thinking. You will find guidance to spirituality, health, metaphysics, yoga, and insights into quieter, more meaningful living. Don't plan to read the book all at once. It's best digested a few pages at a time, so that you can think and ponder the words you've read.