Prefatory - 'The Wisdom of the Overself' (Part 1}

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

Herewith, a new book: 'The Wisdom of the Overself' by Dr. Paul Brunton. The

blurb explains this book in a nutshell:

 

" What is non-attachment? Does it mean a preference for hunger over nourishment?

Sitting in an uncomfortable chair rather than one we enjoy? Must we live in

poverty to develop spiritually? Renounce family, friends and society? 'Wisdom of

the Overself' clarifies the Eastern concept of non-attachment for Western minds.

Dr. Paul Brunton proposes an acceptance of the transiency of all things rather

than rejecting material comforts and possession. Toward this goal, Dr. Brunton

discusses the development of the Overself, the spiritual value of sleep and the

origin of dreams, the nature and function of personality in the process of

evolution, and God and the universal mind. There are also significant

contributions to the subject of meditation and its practical applications in

today's world. Knowing that we don't own the day, we can learn to enjoy it. "

 

Back Cover - The Wisdom of the Overself, Dr. Paul Brunton.

 

 

A Personal Note

 

Dr. Paul Brunton died July 27, 1981, in Vevey, Switzerland. Born in London in

1898, he authored thirteen books from " A Search in Secret India " published in

1935 to " The Spiritual Crisis of Man " in 1952. Dr. Brunton is generally

recognized as having introduced yoga and meditation to the West, and for

presenting their philosophical background in non-technical language.

 

His mode of writing was to jot down paragraphs as inspiration occurred. Often

these were penned on the backs of envelopes or along margins of newspapers as he

strolled amid the flower gardens bordering Lac Leman. They later were typed and

classified by subject. He then would edit and meld these paragraphs into a

coherent narrative.

 

Paul Brunton had lived in Switzerland for twenty years. He liked the mild

climate and majestic mountain scenery. Visitors and correspondence came from all

over the world. He played an important role in the lives of many.

 

" P.B. " , as he is known to his followers, was a gentle man. An aura of kindliness

emanated from him. His scholarly learning was forged in the crucible of life.

His spirituality shone forth like a beacon. But he discouraged attempts to form

a cult around him: " You must find your own P.B. within yourselves, " he used to

say.

 

KTH

 

The Wisdom of the Overself - (Front of Book, just before 'Contents').

 

 

Here now, is Part 1 of Chapter 1.

 

One interesting point is that, as we know, we have the lower self and the Higher

Self. Dr. Paul Brunton seems to refer to the Higher Self as the " Overself " ,

which i think is also a very apt description. i am sure we will find many gems

in this book!

 

love to all,

 

violet

 

 

 

 

Prefatory - Part 1

 

(p.11) This book was written in fulfilment of the promise made in 'The Hidden

Teaching Beyond Yoga' which, indeed, was really an attempt to clear an

intellectual pathway for its abstruse and abstract tenets.

 

The Indian villager who has hoarded his money, coins, gold or jewels (for he has

not yet acquired the banking or investment habit) proceeds to bury his most

valuable treasure in the deepest ground, to be dug up only by the hardest

labour. I too, have placed my best-regarded truths deep in the work which has

been offered last to an audience drawn from the four corners of the civilized

world. Consequently some plain hints were scattered here and there in the first

volume that until the reader had the whole teaching put into his hands, he could

not judge it aright and was indeed liable to form misconceptions.

 

It was as natural that hasty criticisms should arise upon the appearance of 'The

Hidden Teaching Beyond Yoga', as it was natural that it should offend readers

who looked for pleasing pages rather than truthful ones. Nevertheless if I gave

offence it was only because I sought to save mysticism from its worst foes, who

are not outside its frontiers but within them.

 

Narrow, small and intolerant minds can never comprehend the double

interpretative and creative nature of the task here undertaken. Therefore I can

extend to my critics--and especially to those who have been so prolific in

ill-informed snap judgement--an intellectual sympathy and humble good will. We

shall understand each other well enough one day. But it will not be in this

world where everything--as well as everyone--is judged by appearances. I am

quite content to wait.

 

The two volumes now lay before readers a teaching which constitutes an endeavour

to acquaint this epoch with the fundamental meaning of existence and which, in

such explicit fullness, is for the first time written down in a Western

language. An exposition in such an ultra-modern form was until now quite

non-existent. (p.12) Readers who bore patiently with the first volume until they

could receive the total impression, the integral statement of the hidden

teaching instead of complaining that they were confused because they could not

see to what end it was all leading, who refused to detect contradictions where

none really exist, may now find that they have not gone unrewarded.

 

They may begin to understand better why the earlier volume had to clear up the

intellectual foreground and leave hidden in the background the real goal of all

this effort, the Overself. They may perceive why it had first to prepare their

minds for the teaching which is here specifically set forth and why it had to

provide the aspirant with mental glasses to help him see through the ideological

mist that so often surrounds him, so that he need no longer sway like a pendulum

of pitiful credulity between conflicting doctrines and contending beliefs. They

may also begin to appreciate why the serum of mentalism had to be heavily

injected to counteract the poison of materialism, which generally infects not

only most rational thinking but also, if more subtly, much religious and some

mystical thinking. What mentalism seeks to get home to people is the difference

between mind and brain, between an untouchable essence and a touchable thing,

between an invisible principle and a visible lump of bone-covered flesh. If they

grudge the amount of space given to this subject, we must plead the grave

necessity not only of proving such a little-known and hard-to-believe truth in a

manner acceptable to educated modern minds, but also of impressing the seeker

after the Overself with the overwhelming importance of comprehending this bold

tenet.

 

All this work was not only preliminary but in a different sense primary. For

whilst it cleared a path for the still subtler revelations of the present volume

it also established a view of the universe which may be radically new for most

readers. And even those who had neither the time nor taste for the intellectual

strenuousness of metaphysical matters could at least profit by noting the

findings of someone who had both.

 

It may well be that these pages will appeal only to those who have the

perseverance to get over their first fright at unfamiliar forms of thought and

who are prepared to force their way, however slowly, through a subtle metaphysic

to the subtler truth about this God-dreamed universe which it seeks to express.

(p.13) For the intellectual study of the way to what transcends intellectual

experience cannot be an easy activity. But if any cannot comprehend this

teaching in all its completeness, let not this fact depress them. Its

profundities and difficulties exist and are admitted but its surfaces and

simplicities also exist and are within their grasp. Let them take the latter

therefore and leave the rest unworriedly for future personal growth, whether it

be within the present incarnation or a later one. Even their faith and interest

will alone suffice to bear good fruit. And even those who feel they have neither

the external conditions nor the internal inclination to undertake such a quest

may feel heartened merely to know that the Overself 'is', that life is

significant, that the world makes a rational whole and that righteous conduct is

worth while.

 

The Wisdom of the Overself, Chapter 1, p.11-13

Dr. Paul Brunton

Samuel Weiser, Inc., York Beach, Maine

ISBN 0-87728-591-8

Library of Congress Catalog No. 83-60833