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Chapter3:ItsRequirements
ItsRequirements
Basicqualifications
1
Tobecomeaseekerinintentionisadmirableasthefirststepbutitisonlythefirstone.
Toqualifyasaseekerinfactisthesecond.Whataretherequiredqualifications?
2
Philosophyexpectsnothingfromitsvotariesthatisbeyondtheirpowertogive.Henceit
makesdifferentdemandsondifferentpeople,graduatingitsethicandinstruction,its
injunctionsandduties,itspreceptsandcounsels,totheirstrengthscapacitiesand
circumstances.Butneverthelessitsacrificesnothingofenduringvalue,foratthesame
timeitremindsthemnottoforgetthefinalideal,theultimateendtowardwhichalltheir
lessereffortsaremoving.Thusitaccommodatesitselftothosewhowantaneasierand
longerroute,makingitselfaccessibletoordinarypeople,yetitdoesnotseparateitself
fromtherarersoulswhoaresocircumstancedandsoformedbynatureastogladlygive
themselvestotheshortestandhardestroute.
3
Justasaphysicallyimmaturebabycouldnottakeahalfmilewalk,howevermuchit
wishedorevenwilledtodoso,soaspirituallyimmaturemancouldnottakeinthehigher
philosophy,howevermuchhewishedorwilledit.Theintuitionandintelligence,the
characterandcapacityneededforthislatterpurposemustbepresentinhim,andused,
beforetheteachingscanreallyreachhim.
4
Ifphilosophyhidesitstruthfrommentalunreadinessanditsvotariesfromsocial
persecution,itis,nevertheless,alwaysreadywhenitisneededbyanysincereseekerwho
hasevolvedtotherequisitedegree.Ifhehasgotenoughreligiousprejudiceandmystical
superstitionoutofhismindtobefreetothinkforhimself,ifhehasliftedhischaracter
somewhatabovethecommonweaknesses,ifhissenseofvaluesissuchthattheTruth
appearsdesirableaboveallthings,thenphilosophyistheonlythingtowhichhecanturn
forguidanceandenlightenmentandphilosophywillsurelywelcomehim.
5
TolearnistoreceiveknowledgebuthewhoseekstolearnthisTruthwhichisboth
behindandbeyondallothertruthsmustcomewithhismind,hisheart,hisbody,andhis
will.Withhismindbecausehisthoughtmustbepushedtoitsdeepestmeasure.Withhis
heartbecausehisloveisdemandedmorethanhenowknows.Withhisbodybecauseitis
tobethetempleoftheholyspirit.Andwithhiswillbecausehemaynotstopthis
enterpriseuntilheisthrough.
6
Hehastolearndiscriminationifhewishestobecomeaphilosopher.Thisisnotmerely
thatmoralqualitywhichseparatesrightfromwrongforthereligiousman,butthat
psychologicalactwhichseparatestheperceiverfromtheobjectsofhisperception,the
experiencerfromtheobjectsofhisexperience,initselementaryoperation.Althoughit
willhavetoreunitethemagaininitslateroperationonahigherplane,asthe
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unenlightenedmanunitesthemonalowerone,thatplanecannotbereachedabidinglyby
jumping,onlybyclimbing.
7
Theacceptanceofsuchateachingasphilosophyimpliesanunusualdegreeof
intelligencewhichisnotthesameaseducationorevenintellect,althoughitmayinclude
thesethings.Fortherecognitionthatthereisaworldofbeingbeyondthatregisteredby
thefivesenses,aworldofconsciousnessnotlimitedtothatreportedbythethinkingego,
adivinesoulhiddenwithinthategoitself,asuperiorpowerinvolvingusallinitscosmic
ordersucharecognitioncancomeonlytothosewithunusualintelligence.Faithisgood
butnotenough,foronedayitmaychangethroughcircumstancesorbeconfusedthrough
lackofknowledge.Suchintelligenceisbestforitincludesandguidesfaithbutgoes
fartherthanit.
8
Philosophicalintelligencecombinestheintellectualfacultywiththeintuitive.
9
Withoutpurephilosophy,thereisnopossibilityofascendingthehigherpeaksoftruth.In
thehighestesotericschoolofAsianooneisadmittedbeforefirsthavingbeentaken
throughacourseoftheessentialsofthissubject.Inthisschoolthereisnoprogress
withoutthefulluseofintelligenceandsharpenedreason.Thelackofthisqualityhas
helpedtocontributetothedownfalloforganizedmysticalmovementsknowntousall.
10
Thestudyofphilosophyeducatesthemindindeepthinking.Itmustbeapproachedinthe
spiritofscientificdetachment.
11
Somethingoftheimpersonalityanddetachmentofthemathematicianarenecessarytothe
beginningphilosopher.
12
Heistobeconcernedsolelywiththereality,withthatwhichIs,andnotwiththe
presentationofitwhichothershaveinvented.
13
Atthisstageheisfinishedwithcompromises:hecanacceptnothinglessandwants
nothingelsethanthepureTruth.
14
Unlessmenpossesstherightintuitionalcalibre,theycannotgraspthisteaching,forit
standsatanaltitudebeyondthereachofthegrossandthematerialistic.
15
Thecouragetobecomeindependentofhisownpastbeliefsisneeded.Thestrengthtoset
asidethepatternsofthoughtimposedonhismindbylonghabitisrequired.These
qualitiesmaynotnecessarilyhavetocomeintoactionbuttheymustbethere.
16
Thehysteric,theneurotic,ortheparanoicisunreadyforphilosophy'sguidance,unfitfor
mysticism'smeditation.Itisuselessforsuchaonetoapplyasacandidateforinitiation.
Lethimgetridofhisselfcenteredmaniafirst.
17
Philosophydemandsthepurityandexperienceofasage,notthepurityandignoranceofa
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child.
18
Philosophydoesnotcompetewithanyreligion,anymysticalormetaphysicalsystem,for
itdoesnotconsideritselfasexistingonthesamelevelasanyofthem.Itcanonlybe
graspedbythosewhobringthenecessaryintuitive,mystical,intellectual,moral,and
devotionalqualificationstoit,anditcanonlybeappreciatedbythosewhocangraspit.
19
Philosophyisforthosewhodemandtheultimate,whoaresatisfiedwithnothinglessand
whohaveenoughdiscernmenttodiscriminatebetweenitanditsmanysubstitutes.
20
Thoseonlywillappreciatethispointofviewwhohaveawakenedtotheneedof
penetratingthroughillusiontorealityandwhounderstandhowimportantthisisto
humanity'sfuture.
21
Philosophycallsforsomeleisuretostudyitandforsomecapacitytounderstandwhatis
beingstudied.Itisnotenoughtobeanamateurinphilosophy:onemustbecomean
expert.
22
Thefirstlessonsofthehigherphilosophycannotbeusefullytaughttothosewhohavenot
learnedthelastlessonsofreligion.Butforthosewhohavegonealittlewayinto
mysticismormetaphysics,suchinstructionneednotbedeferred.
23
Peopleofallreligiousfaithscancometothestudyofphilosophy.Theywillnotbeableto
keeptheirfaithaftersuchstudy,however,withoutprofoundlydeepeningit.Norwillthey
beabletokeepwithittheenthusiasticarroganceorintolerantignorancewhich
accompaniessomuchsectarianism.
24
Orientalwisdomenjoinsingeneralwithholdingtruthfromtheunready,andinparticular
fromthosewhodonotwantorseekit,frominebriatedoragitatedpersons,fromthosein
whomlustorgreed,wrathorimpatiencepredominates,and,understandably,from
lunatics.
25
Philosophygainsrecruitsonlyfromthosewhosevaluesaresoloftythattheyregardthe
findingoftruthasatisfyingendinitself,andwhosemindsaresotolerantthattheymake
theirsearchforitinthewidespreadfieldofcomparativeanduniversalcultures.
26
Theindependentmind,whichseeksallthefactsandnotmerelysomeofthem,which
doesitsownthinkingaboutthosefacts,isnaturallybettersuitedtophilosophythanthe
dependentmind,whichacceptswithoutdemurinheritedcreedsandestablishedsects.
27
Hisintellectualintegritymustbesuchthatevenifhissearchfortruthendsinideaswhich
upsetmuchofwhathehashithertoaccepted,hewillnotflinchfrommakingthechange.
28
Swedenborg:"WithouttheutmostdevotiontotheSupremeBeing,theOriginofall
things,noonecanbeacompleteandtrulyeruditephilosopher.VenerationfortheInfinite
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Beingcanneverbeseparatedfromphilosophy."
29
Philosophyisforthosewhocanthinkcloselyandwhoarewillingtoabidebytheresults
oftheirthinking.Itisnotforthosewhosettleeverythingbytheevidenceoftheirsenses.
Thatiswhyithasneverbeenanecessitytothosewhomustseerealitywiththeireyesand
touchitwiththeirhands,asithasbeentothosewhowerecontenttoknowwiththeir
minds.
30
Inthestudyofmodernscience,inalllaboratoryanalysisorexaminationofnatural
phenomena,greatstressislaiduponthenecessityforstrictimpersonalityandfreedom
fromeverytraceofwishfulthinking,personalemotion,andprejudice.Thisisofequal
necessitytothestudentofphilosophy.
31
Heisreadytolearnphilosophywhenheisreadytostriphimselfofallprejudice,orat
leasttoallowphilosophyitselftodothistohim.
32
Uninformedseekershavetolearnvariouslessonsbeforetheyfindtheirwaytothispath,
tophilosophy.Theyareattractedtoancientideasandoutworkedmethodsofwhichonlya
portionreallysuittoday'shumanity.Whathashappenedtotheracesandtotheglobeon
whichtheydwellhasaffectedtheircharacterandmind,theirtendencies,capacities,and
faculties.Thosewholookbacknostalgicallytoteachingsandtexts,landsandnamesso
honouredandquiteworthilytoodonotknoworunderstandthis.Thefactthatthereare
certainbasiceternaltruthsiscertainlyirrefragable.ThatMindalwayswas,is,andwillbe,
isoneofthem.Thatthehumansoulislinkedwithit(throughtheWorldMind)is
another.Butthemethodsbywhichthislinkmaybevivifiedandthemenwhoaretouse
themandthecircumstancesunderwhichtheylivehaveallbeenmodified.
33
Afterhehashadthecourage,freedom,intelligence,aspiration,anddiscriminationto
workthroughallthecultsespeciallythepersonalityworshipcultsandcreeds,
persistently,calmly,andsurvivedthetemptationofidolatry,hemaybefittertoreverethe
nobleimpersonalGodhead.
34
IfyouwishtoknowtheTruth,youmustacceptitsdisconcertingrevelationsalongwith
thepleasantones.Youmustbewillingtopractiseinnerdetachmentfromeverythingand
everyoneaswellastoenjoythebeautifulmomentsofrapture.
35
Ifpeoplecometomysticismwithunbalancedordiseasedminds,asanumbercertainly
do,andiftheypermeatetheirmysticalacquisitionswiththeirowndefects,theycannotdo
thesametophilosophy.Fortheendresultwouldbeeitherthattheyfleefromitondeeper
acquaintanceorthatitsdemandsanddisciplineswouldbegintopermeatethem.Thisin
turnwouldequilibrateorhealtheirminds.
36
Thosewhobelongbynaturalaffinitytothisteachingstaywithit.Allotherseventually
findtheirproperlevelelsewhere.
37
ItookthetroubleoflookingupthemeaninggiventotheSanskritwordshraddha,which
isoneofthesixsubsidiaryqualificationsrequiredoftheaspiranttotheknowledgeof
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higherVedanticphilosophy.Herearetheresults:(1)MonierWilliams'massiveSanskrit
dictionarylaconicallydefinesitastohave"trust"(2)Govindananda,inhisworkthe
RatnaPrabha,definesitasmeaning"arespectfultrustinallhigherthings"(3)
Venkatramiah,inhisversionoftheAitareyopanishad,saysitmeans"faithinthe
Vedanticveritiesasinculcatedbythepreceptor"(4)Vasudeva,theascetic,givesits
significanceas"thestrongfaithinthewordsofone'steacher,"inhisMeditations(5)
ProfessorGirindraN.Mallik,M.A.,definesitas"faithinthecontentsofthescriptures."
Butwhatistheesotericandthereforethetruestmeaningofshraddha?Myown
interpretationis:"thatfaithintheexistenceoftruth,thatdeterminationtogetattruth,
comewhatmay,whichwouldmakeoneaheroeveninthefaceofGod'swrath."
38
Hewhowouldbecomeaphilosophermustkeepawayfrompartisanship,mustcultivate
anindependentstateofmindsoastobefreetoreceiveideasfromanysource.Inthisway
hecanreallylearnwhatothershavethoughtorfoundlongagoorinhisownepoch,
whethertheylivedintheEastorWest.Suchdetachmentisnoteasytoacquireorto
maintainwithoutselfdiscipline.
39
Hisattitudeshouldbe:"Takethetruth,whetherornotitbeusefultopracticallife.Takeit
foritsownsake,disinterestedlyandenthusiastically,whetheritbeclosetopersonal
needsorfarfromthem."
40
Itneedsforitsstudyanenlargedoutlookandgivesinreturnastilllargerone.Thisistrue
philosophy,universal,widehorizoned,inclusive,andreconciliatory.
41
Itneedssomecouragetofacefactsastheyareandtheworldasitreallyis,butthisis
betterthanharbouringillusionswhicharegoingtoberelentlesslyandpainfullydispelled.
42
Thereisanothersidetothisdemandthatanaspirantbeatthestagewherehehasbeen
preparedfor,andisreadytoimbibe,thehighertruth.Thedemandmustnotbepushedto
theextentthatthosewhohavenothadanyopportunityforsuchpriorpreparationwillbe
shutoutaltogether.Somethingcanandoughttobegiventhemtotheutmostpossible
degree.
43
Fewpersonsareattherequiredleveloffullintellectual,intuitive,moral,and
metaphysicaldevelopmentforphilosophybutmanypersonsarecapableofbenefittingby
itspracticalapplications.
44
Ifsomeofitstenetsareadmittedlyunfamiliarandprovocative,thisisnottosaythatthey
areoutsidethereachofanyonewithmoderatecapacitywhowillapproachthemwitha
willtounderstand.
45
Themindwhichhasnotyetbeenproperlypreparedbythephilosophicaldisciplineto
receivetruthdirectlythroughintuition,mustmeanwhilereceiveitindirectlythroughfaith
andreason.
46
Philosophyisnotforhimwhosemindissoriddledwithraceprejudiceastothinknothing
goodcancomeoutofAsia,orwhoseownattitudeissosteepedinviolentbiasastojudge
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peoplesolelybytheirappearance,orwhoseideasarelitonlybyhisownlittleguttering
candleoflimitedexperience.
47
Itdoesnotadmitthepopulardelusionthateverymemberofthehumanraceisfittopass
properjudgementonanyissuemerelybyconsultinghisopinionorfeelingaboutitmuch
lessaboutreligionandmysticism.
48
Thehiddenteachingisonlyforthosewhoprefertotravelfreelyonaroadratherthan
crawlslavishlyinarut.Onlythestrongcansubmittothismentalisolation.
49
Itiscomfortingonlytothefewwhoarepreparedtopartwiththeiregoism,theirpride,
theirsensuality,andtheirinertiaforthesakeoftruth.
50
Errorwillcreepintohisfiniteapprehensionoftheinfinitetruthifhehasnotpreviously
madehimselfready,pure,balanced,andmature.
51
Ifonlybecausephilosophywasnotthereforanyonetopickupcasuallyifhewished,but
onlythereforanyonewhocouldthinkandintuit,itspossibleadherentswerewelllimited
innumber.Suchamanwouldinevitablythinkandintuithimselfmoreandmoreintoits
greatteachingstothedegreethathewishedtoseektruthandwasabletoabandonego.
52
Philosophyisprimarilyforthefairlyadvancedmentalityforthepersonwhoisfamiliar
withthechiefspiritualconceptionsandpracticesfortheaspirantwhoisexperiencedand
mature.
53
Onlyonewhohasspenthislifeinreligious,mystical,andphilosophicinvestigationscan
appreciatetheuniversal,thetimeless,andtheplacelesscharacterofthisteaching.
54
Nomanwhohastotallyfailedtousehisintuitionalfacultywillhavethecapacityto
receivephilosophy.
55
Everychildmustpassthroughapropertraininginelementaryandintermediate
mathematicsbeforetheprinciplesofhighercalculuscanbeexplainedtoit.Sothosewho
wishtograsptheadvancedportionofphilosophymustlikewisepreparethemindand
heart,thewillandcharacter.
56
Ahighlevelofgeneraleducationisadistinctadvantageforthosewhowouldtakeup
suchastudy,butitisnotanabsoluteessential.
57
Itisforallclasses,alltypesofmind,andallkindsofcharacter.Itisforthesimpleaswell
astheastute,thesinfulaswellasthegood.Butalas!personalhistoriesshowthatitisthe
astuteandthegoodwhomostlyacceptphilosophy.Theotherswhoneeditbecausethey
tooarehumanbeingsacceptitlessfrequently.
58
Thosewhopreferthepleasanttothetruewillnaturallyfeartoenterthekingdomof
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philosophy.
59
Onlythosewhocanfollowphilosophywhereveritleadsthemandpracticeitstenetswith
unflinchingcouragewilleverbecomephilosophers.Itisnotenoughtoaffirmprinciples
theymustalsobeappliedandgiventangibleform.
60
Thosewhoarecultivated,educated,andintelligentenoughtoappreciatewhatphilosophy
offersthemmayyetbeblindedbyprejudiceorselfishnessorbetoostupefiedfrom
gorgingthepassionstodoso.
61
Sensitiveandintrospectivemindswillmorequicklyfindtheirwaytothesetruthsthan
dullandextrovertedones.
62
Ifheistoreachthispurewelloftruth,itswateruntaintedbybiasorprejudice,hewilldo
bestbykeepingindependent.
63
Bothaproperlydisciplinedbodyandaphilosophicallystrengthenedmindshouldbeour
reliance.
64
OneshouldseekforknowledgeoftheHigherLawsgoverninglife,fortruepurityof
character,andforhumilityifhewishestoreachtheHighestTruth.
65
Seekerswhoarenotsatisfiedwithconventionaldoctrinesormysticalexperiencesmust
bewillingtodosomedifficultbutprofitablereasoning.
66
Thetruthcannotbefoundbythosewhocannotprotectthemselvesagainstdeception,and
especiallyselfdeception.
67
Philosophycarriesgoodtidingstothehumanrace,buttheywillberegardedas"good"
onlybythosemembersoftheracewhoareableandwillingtotakeanimpersonaland
impartialviewofthings.
68
Noteveryoneisreadyforthetruthwhenitcomestohim.
69
Thekindofmindwhichlikestokeepeverythingneatlylabelled(goodorbad)and
everyoneneatlyclassified(atheist,believer,Christian,Hindu)willbesomewhatpuzzled,
slightlyuneasy,andpartlyderisorywhenconfrontedbyphilosophyorphilosophers.
70
Onewhoisripetoreceivetruthwillrespondtoitspresentationatonce,convincedthatit
mustbeso.
71
Onewhoisreadywillfeelthepowerinthesewrittentruthsandwillfollowtheir
injunctionsobediently.
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72
Thateveryoneandanyoneshouldbetaughtphilosophyisanunreasonabledemand.Only
thosewhoconsciouslyseektruthanddeliberatelypractiseselfdisciplineareentitledto
suchteaching.
Philosophicdiscipline
73
Truthisamanysidedunity.Itcannotbefoundbyanarrowsingletrackmind.Totakea
fragmentoftruthandcallitallofthetruth,tostandononepointofviewandignoreall
otherpointsentirely,iseasierforlazyminds.Butthisisnotphilosophical.Thisiswhy
somekindofpreparatoryselftrainingtobroadenanddeepenoneselfmentallyisrequired
byphilosophyandwhyitcannotbehandedoveronaplate.
74
Thatsomerestraintanddisciplineareneededisimpliedbytheverynotionofaquestfor
highergoals.Thatsomeportionmustbesetbytheteachingitselfbutanothermustbe
selfimposedarisesoutofthebalanced,sensiblenatureofphilosophy.Ithasnoplacefor
fanaticismortyranny.
75
Withoutrequiringtheambitionforsainthood,itdoesrequirethecapacitytorecognizethe
needofadisciplineandthewillingnesstoundergoit.
76
Truthalreadyexistswithinman.Hehastobringitfromthecentretothecircumference
ofhisconsciousness.Ifitishiddenfromhisview,thatisonlybecausehehasnotlooked
deepenoughorhasnotclearedawaytheobstructionstohisview.Thoseobstructionsare
entirelywithinhislowerself,andmayberemovedbypracticeofthephilosophic
discipline.
77
Hehasfirsttofindoutwhatitisthatkeepshimfromthehigherself.And,thisknown,he
willseetheneedandvalueofthephilosophicdisciplineasameansofeliminatingthese
obstacles.
78
Philosophyrequireseveryacolytetosubmittoaselfimposeddiscipline.Thatheshallnot
knowinglycherishanuntruthinhisfeelingisthefirstandeasierrequirementthathe
shallnotunknowinglycherishanuntruthinhisthinkingisthesecondandharder.
79
Thispathisamasterstroke.Thismethodofdestroyingtheillusionoftheselfbymeans
oftheintellectualfunctionwhichisitsprimaryactivitystandssupremeandalmostalone.
Thatveryfunctionautomaticallyceaseswhendirecteduponitselfinthewaythatis
hereintaught.Andwithitscessation,theselfisdissolved,appropriatedbytheUniversal.
80
Themoststrikingpointinthissimpletechniqueisthatheusestheveryegoitselfforso
longindicatedbyallmysticsasthegreatestenemyonthePathasthemeansofdivine
attainment.Thesewordsmaysoundlikepureparadox,buttheyhappentobetrue.The
strengthofhisenemyisdrawnuponforhishelp,whilethatwhichwasthesupreme
hindrancetransformsintoapathwaytothegoal.
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81
Theabilitytodiscriminatebetweenappearanceandreality,betweenthefalse"I"andthe
true"I,"isdevelopedbysubjectingthereportsofthesensestothecriticismofthe
intellect,bycheckingemotionwithreason,bystandingasidefromallofthesefaculties
withtheintuition,andbydivingdeeperanddeeperintoone'sessenceinmeditation.
82
Theenigmaticquestionswhichhavelonghauntedthehumanmindandwilllongcontinue
tohauntitandwhichwillriseinsistentinthemindoftheaspirantare:Whatisheto
seek?Howishetogaintheobjectsofhissearch?Whataretheprospectsofthefulfilment
ofsuchanaspirationandthehindranceslikelytoattendit?Theanswerstothemarea
gradualrevealingwhichfollowsontheheelsofthecultivationofcertainattitudestotruth
andtopersonsandthings.
"Whatishetoseek?"Heshouldseekrealityandtheknowledgeofitwhichistruth.This
istheidealwhichissetbeforehim.Thisistorealizehisspiritualnatureandthusachieve
hishigherdestiny.Becausetruthissosubtleandsohardtofind,hissearchafteritshould
bewellguided,hisknowledgeofitproperlytested,andhisadventuresinmeditation
morallyandintellectuallysafeguarded.Truerideasareneedednoblerstandardsare
calledfor.Suchideals,truthfullyformed,deeplyheld,andwholeheartedlyapplied,can
onlybenefitmanandnothurthim.HewhohasbeengivenaglimpseoftheIdealwillnot
beabletoliealwaysasleepinthesensual.Thefinerpartofhisnaturewillrevoltagainst
itagainandagain.
TheIdealservesmorethanoneusefulpurpose.Itisnotonlyapeaktowhosesummithe
triestoraisehimselfbyslowdegrees.Itisalsoafocusformeditationexercises,aguide
forpracticalconductincertainsituations,andacompasstogivegeneraldirectiontohis
trendofthought,feeling,anddoing.Itcausestheaspiranttofeelthathehasbeenled
throughvaryingeventstothenewpathwhichnowopensupbeforehim,thataspiritual
meaningmustbegiventotheperiodofhislifejustclosed.Thesequenceofeventsand
theaccumulationofexperiencewillforcehimtofacehisproblemsintheend.Ifhecan
dothishonestly,analysethemintelligently,andintuitthemadequately,hemayacquirea
valuablenewpointofview.
"Howishetogaintheobjectsofhissearch?"Thetruthseekerwillbegintoturninward
inquestofunitywithhisownsoulandoutwardinquestofunitywithmankind.Lifeis
theguidethatisbringinghimhometohimselfandtokindlierrelationtohisfellows.Life
itselfteachesanddisciplinestowardsthesegreatends.Thefollowingoftheintegral
philosophicquest,withlifeastheguideandteacher,willinvolvethereeducationof
moralcharacterwhichisdoneinpartbyconstantreflectionandspecialmeditationson
theonehandanddisciplineofthesensesontheother,andinpartbyprayer,aspiration,
andworship.Inaddition,ifamancultivatesthehabitofbarringentrancetonegative
thoughtsandofinstantlythrowingweakeningonesoutofhismind,hischaracterwill
strengthenitselfmorequickly.Theoutcomewillbecertainrelationshipstooneself,to
others,andtosituationsandthings.
Theascenttowardtruthproceedsbysteps.Ifatfirstthemeritsofaparticularteachingor
teacherimpresstheemotionsunduly,itisalsolikelythatamorecriticalstudyoftheone
andamorethoroughexperienceoftheotherwillshowupunsuspecteddefects.The
philosophicstudenttriestoavoidundergoingtheseunpleasantchangesbygettinga
balancedviewoftheprosandconsfromthestart.Heoughtnottobesosweptoffhisfeet
bythegreatadmirationfeltforageniusoradoctrinethathehasnoclearperceptionof
theformer'sdefectsorthelatter'sfaults.Hemustmaintainbalancenotonlyinthefaceof
loweremotionsbutalsoofnoblerones.
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83
Allhumanknowledgeisconditionedbythefactofhumanrelativity.Humannature,
humanintellect,andhumanegoismimposetheirlimitationsnotonlyinmaterial
experiencebutalsoinmysticalexperience.Statementsofdivinetruthmadebymortal
menshouldbereadinthelightofthefactthattheyaresubjecttosuchrelativity.Noneis
infallible,noneeternallyauthoritative.Suchseemstobetheunhopefulsituation.Isthere
thennowayofdisengagingthehumanagencyfromthedivinemessagewhichmanifests
throughit?Theansweristhatthiswaydoesexistandthatitsmethodisanintellectualas
wellasemotionalpurification,amoralandpracticaldiscipline,anintuitionaland
mysticalpreparation,andaboveallaneliminationofthepersonalreferencecarriedon
incessantlythroughalongperiod.
84
Philosophycanbeunderstoodonlybytheactualprocessofphilosophizing,bypassing
throughthewholecourseofemotionalandmentaldisciplinewhichphilosophyinvolves.
85
Thestudentshouldseekclearideasandwarmfeelingsinhisspiritualstudiesand
devotionalaspirations.
86
Thepurerevelationcomesonlytothosewhocanbringthemselvesatthebiddingoftruth
tosacrificeruthlesslytheirpreviousbeliefs,ifnecessary.Allothersgetapartialormixed
revelation.
87
Thegoalistoobtainahigherconsciousnesswhichflashesacrossthemindwithblinding
light.Allhiseffort,allhistrainingisreallyforthis.
88
Thephilosophictrainingwillshowitsresultinhiscapacitytoseparatetheactual
operationoftheOverselfinhimfromanyadmixturebyhisownpersonalthoughts,
feelings,andexpectations.
89
Thethingthatpassesforilluminationwithmostmysticsisgenerallyamixtureofgenuine
mysticalexperiencewithaninterpretationofitfurnishedbytheintellect,theemotions,
tradition,education,teachers,suggestion,andsoon.Themediumthroughwhichthe
experienceisbroughtdownintoconsciouscommunicationorunderstandingoften
interfereswithitandreshapesit.Thephilosophicdiscipline,withitsselfcriticizing,keen
rationalityanditsegosubordination,purification,andillumination,isintendedtoprevent
thisinterferencefromhappening.
90
Theadvancedsectionofthephilosophicdisciplinerepresentsanendeavourtoreducethe
numberandthicknessofthesecolouredwindowsthroughwhichthemysticreceives
revelationsanddeliversmessages.Butthisisonlyitsfirstendeavour.Intheend,itstrives
toforcehimfromthemaltogether,torescuehisilluminationfromeverythingthatmight
limititspuretransparentuniversality.
91
Isitnotpossibletofreemysticalreceptionfromtheseegoisticinterferences,
misrepresentations,exaggerations,distortions,andfalsifications?Yes,itispossible.With
thephilosophicdisciplinethemysticmaydisciplinehisego,trainhisfeelings,guidehis
intellect,andcheckhisintuitionsothatthetruthbreaksintospaceandtimethroughhis
humanpersonalityinfaultlesspurity.
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92
Man'simperfectnaturemustberenderedutterlypassive,itsdistortinginterferenceutterly
eliminated,beforethedivinetruthcanmanifestitselfinallitsauthoritativepurity.
93
Hewilltrainhimselftodistinguishbetweenthefanciesoftheegoandthecertaintiesof
theSoul.Anditisonepurposeofthephilosophicdisciplinetoassisthimtodoso.Forthe
resthemustdependonselfcriticalobservationandcarefulcheckingofresults.
94
Theknowledgeofselfwhichphilosophycangiveisunique.Butitcanbegotonlyby
turningthewholeofthepsyche'sforceinwardsinsteadypenetrationandsustained
meditation.Thehiddendoorsofourmentalbeingmustbeopened,thedelicatesourcesof
ouremotionalbeingmustbetraced,thegossamerthreadofourdeepestconsciousness
mustbefollowed.Allthiscallsfortheexerciseofwill,theeffortofconcentration,the
refinementofattention,andsurrendertopatience.
95
Itisimpossibleforanyaspiranttoattainthefullandequilibratedilluminationifhedoes
nothavethispreliminarypreparationofthephilosophicdiscipline.Hecangetresults,he
cangetstrikingexperiences,butthesupremeresultisbeyondhisownpowersof
receptivity.
96
Philosophyimposesaseverementaldisciplineuponthosewhowouldpursueitstruths.
97
Hewhoknowsandfeelsthedivinepowerinhisinmostbeingwillbesetfreeinthemost
literalsenseofthewordfromanxietiesandcares.Hewhohasnotyetarrivedatthisstage
butisonthewaytoitcanapproachthesamedesirableresultbytheintensityofhisfaith
inthatbeing.Butsuchaonemustreallyhavethefaithandnotmerelysayso.Theproof
thathepossessesitwouldlieinthemeasurewithwhichherefusestoacceptnegative
thoughts,fearfulthoughts,despondentthoughts.Inthemeasurethathedoesnotfailinhis
faithandhenceinhisthinking,inthatmeasure,thehigherpowerwillnotfailtosupport
himinhishourofneed.ThisiswhyJesustoldhisdisciples,"Takenoanxiousthoughtfor
themorrow."Inthecaseoftheadept,havinggivenuptheego,thereisnoonelefttotake
careofhim,sothehigherSelfdoessoforhim.Inthecaseofthebeliever,althoughhe
hasnotyetgivenuptheego,nevertheless,heistryingtodoso,andhisunfalteringtrust
inthehigherSelfisrewardedproportionatelyinthesameway.Inbothcasesthebiblical
phrase,"TheLordwillprovide,"isnotmerelyapioushopebutapracticalfact.
98
Thephilosophicdisciplineshowsushowwearetotreatourselves.Thephilosophic
moralityteachesushowwearetotreatothers.Itprovidesbothabstractprinciplefor
theoryandconcreterulesforconduct.
99
Hemaymakeuseofadverseperiodstotesttheworthofphilosophyandthemeritofits
teaching,insteadoflettingthembecomeasourceofdepression.
100
Theinexperiencedandtheunbalancedmaymeasurespiritualprogressintermsof
emotionalecstasyormeditationalvision,butthematureandwisewillmeasureitinterms
ofcharacteritsnobility,itsroundeddevelopment,anditspurity.
101
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Thephilosophictrainingwillhelphimtostopinsertingtheegointohisexperienceandto
ceaseimposingitsbiasonhisreadingofit.
102
Philosophybeginsitsinstructiontotheneophytebythestartlingassertionthatneitherhe
noranyothercandidateisreadyorqualifiedtoreceivetruth.Itdeclaresthatthis
qualification,thisreadiness,mustfirstbedevelopedinthecandidatehimself.Thiswork
ofdevelopmentiscalledthephilosophicdiscipline.Heshouldstudyhimselfandexamine
hisexperiencesinthemostcriticallight.Alibis,pretenses,andexcusesshouldbe
mercilesslyrejected.Thediceofdoubtfulcasesshouldbeloadedagainstit,andheshould
beginwiththepremisethatheiseitherfaultyinjudgementorguiltyinconduct.
103
Thosewhowantphilosophywithoutacceptingitsdisciplinegetonlyafragmentofit.
104
Thephilosopher'sresearchisadisinterestedone.Thereisnoparticularbodyofdoctrines
whichhesetsouttosupport,noreligiousinstitutionwhosepowerorprestigeheseeksto
increase.Hedeliberatelycontrolshispredilections,trainshisthoughts,anddisciplineshis
feelingssoastomakehimselfcapableofthatintellectualdetachmentwhichisa
necessaryprerequisitetogettingatthetruth.
105
Thephilosophicdisciplineaimstoshocktheaspirantoutofthecomplacencywithwhich
heviewshimselfintoamorecriticalview.Hemayfeelchagrinandmortificationatwhat
hesees.
106
Philosophiclifeinoursenseisnotamatterofreadingpracticalmaxims.Itisgiving
assentinactionandofferingwholeheartedbeliefinfeelingtothebestvalues,goals,and
purposes.
107
Thephilosopherdevelopstheprincipalsidesofhishumannature,thatis,hisintelligence
byreasoning,hisknowledgebystudy,hispietybydevotions,hismysticalintuitiveness
bymeditation,andhiswisdombyassociationwiththosemoreevolvedthanhimself.
108
ThefirstaimthereforeistoknowTruthasitisandnotmerelyasitistous.
109
Itsaimistoproduceamanwhoshallbehumanlymatureandspirituallysecure,who
shallbefleshandmindputtotheserviceofspirit.
110
Thestudyofphilosophymustbenodesultorypursuititmustfollowaconsecutiveand
sequentialcourseifitsprinciplesaretobemasteredanditsproblemssolved.
111
Thought,feeling,andwillarethethreesidesofahumanbeingwhichmustfindtheir
respectivefunctionsinthisquest.Thoughtmustbedirectedtothediscriminationoftruth
fromerror,realityfromappearance.Feelingmustbeelevatedinlovingdevotiontowards
theOverself.Willmustbeturnedtowardswiseactionandaltruisticservice.Andallthree
mustmoveineffectiveunisonandmutualbalance.
112
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Heshouldalwaysrememberthatthemerereadingaboutphilosophywillnotmakehima
philosopher.Norwilleventhethinkingaboutphilosophyitselftransformhimintoone.
Boththeseactivitiesarecertainlynecessarybuttheyneedonemoretocompletethem.
Andthatisthepracticeofphilosophyinconduct,theexpressionofitindailyliving.
113
Meditation,rightlydone,isindispensabletothephilosophicquest,butitmustbe
accompaniedbyotherpracticesorendeavourswhicharenotlessindispensabletothe
successofthisquest.
114
Meditationmustpredominateinthebeginner'sstage.Itisthemostimportanteffortthen
requiredofhim.Buttheotherrequirementsneednotthereforebeneglected.Itwillnot
onlybegreatlytohisadvantagetodevelopmetaphysicalreasoningandwiseaction,but
thecombinationofallthreewillyieldresultsfarinadvanceofthosewhichtheirseparate
andsubsequentdevelopmentcouldpossiblyyield.
115
Onlyhewholivesfrommomenttomomentbytheclearlightofitsteaching,bythe
deepestfaithinitstenets,andbytheardentfeelingofitsworthisatruediscipleof
philosophy.
116
Threetasksarerequiredofhimforthisintegralculture.Thefourelementsofthepsyche
aretobepurified,developed,andbalanced.
117
Everyoneinsomeway,blindlyorconsciously,slavishlyorindependently,wronglyor
correctly,necessarilyandalwaysbelievesinaparticulardeciphermentoftheenigmaof
life.Butonlyhewhohasbroughtthebestmentalequipmenttobearuponitislikelyto
makethebestdecipherment.Andonlythephilosophicaldisciplinegivesthis.
118
Thecravingsofthesensesaretobebroughtundercontrol.Thesoulistobetheirmaster
themindisnolongertobetheirslave.
119
Anexternalasceticismofasensiblekindisalsocalledfor.If,onthespeciousadviceof
thosewhosayrepressionisworse,heyieldstosexualpassioneverytimeitsolicitshim,
hemakeshardertheinternalbattleagainstit.Fortemptationisnotremovedbyyielding
toitiftheremovalismerelytemporary,andtherecurrenceiscertainandswift.
120
Hehastorejecttheappealofsensuousthingsforatimeandretreatfromtheirpursuit.
Thisisintendedtofreehimfromtheirtyrannyoverhim.
121
Thedisinclinationtostartpractisingmeditationandtheinabilitytosustainitforlong
whenstartedaredueinparttothemind'sstronghabitofbeingpreoccupiedwithworldly
mattersorbeingattachedtopersonaldesires.Thisiswhythestudyofwhollyabstract
metaphysicalandimpersonaltopicsispartofthePhilosophicPath.
122
Asenseofsacrednessshouldenterhisphilosophicalstudiesiftheyaretobearmorefruit.
123
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Someessentialsare:purificationofcharacter,disciplineofemotion,ennoblementof
motive,practiceofmeditation,studyofthemetaphysicsoftruth,elevationofconduct,
andaconstantheartfeltaspirationtowardstheDivine.Prayer,too,oftherightkind,is
helpfulbecauseegohumbling.Andtherightkindisthephilosophickind.
124
Thevariousbranchesofphilosophicalstudyandpracticeincludethepreparatorystages
oftheasceticlifeandthenthefurtherfullerstagesofbeing,thinking,feeling,meditating,
intuiting,anddiscriminating.Therearetwolevelsofreference:theAbsoluteandthe
Relative,equivalenttotheMetaphysicalandthePhysicalPractical,theRealityandthe
Appearance.
125
Inone'ssearchfortheHigherSelf,itisnecessarytocultivateimpersonalityand
objectivityalongwithreason,emotion,andbalance.Theseshouldalwaysbepresentin
one'sanalysesofexperiences,sinceinaccurateconclusionswouldbereachedwithout
them.
126
Thestrivingforimpersonalityisuncommonhoweverapprovedintheory,actualpractice
isunpleasantandunwilling.
127
Theearnestseekerwhohasalreadyachievedacertaindegreeofawarenessand
understandinghasthebeginningsofwhatmaybeasplendidopportunitytomake
phenomenalprogressinhispresentincarnation.Buteverythinginthisworldmustbepaid
forthegreatesttreasuresareattainedonlyatthegreatestcost.Theaspirantmustnow
embarkonadoordieendeavourtolifthischaracterontoahigherplanealtogetherto
purifyhismotivesandtobepreparedtosacrificeallworldlyobjectsfirstinwardlyand,
finally,outwardlyifcalledupontodoso.Thespiritualreturnsarecorrespondingly
great,however.Theyare:serenity,understanding,liberation,satisfaction,andthedelight
ofperpetualcommunionwiththedivineOverselfwhilebeingalwaysinItsblissful
Presence.
Theremustalsobethededicationtoservice.Here,moreoftenthannot,thespiritual
returnsareaterriblesadnesswhichmustbebornealoneandunshared.
Suchisthephilosophiclifetheonlyconceivablewayoflifeformany,now,andfor
manymore,lateronforevermotivatedandsustainedbytheunchanginglivingReality,
Mind.
128
Thementaltendencieswhichhehasbroughtoverfrompreviousbirths,theeffectsof
physicalheredityandenvironment,theinfluenceofsociety,andthesuggestionsof
educationallofthesehavetobedisciplinedandpurified,ifheistoacquiretruthwithout
unconsciouslydeformingit.
129
Thisdisciplinefreeshismentalityfromthetendencytoplacemerelytemporaryandlocal
influencesabovethetrulyuniversalandeternalelements.Thus,itclearsapathwayfor
therealrevelations.
130
Anotherofthepracticalapplicationsofphilosophyistheinjunctiontowastenothing.The
usefulnessofanythingisentirelyamatterofrelativity.Thatwhichisuselesstoyouina
certainconnectionmaybecomeusefulinadifferentconnectionoratalatertime.Again,
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itmaystillbeuselessevenwhenconsideredunderthesetwoaspectsbutyetitmaybe
mostusefultoanotherperson.Thereforeifthereissomethingyoudon'twanttokeep,
giveitawaytosomeonewhoneedsit.Don'tthrowitawayanddestroyit.Youareonlya
steward.Ifyoutakeapurelypersonalstandpointorifyoulivemerelyforthepresent
moment,suchcounselmaymakenoappealtoyou.If,however,youhaverisentothe
philosophicanduniversalstandpointandconsidereverythingnotmerelyrelativetoyour
ownegobutalsototheAll,thenyouwillseeyourresponsibilityinthismatter.Thisdoes
notmeanyouaretobecomemiserly.Onthecontraryyouaretobecomegenerous.Forin
thelastcountingeverythingbelongstoMotherNature.Weareonlyherstewardsandour
taskistouseherpossessionswiselyandcooperatively.
131
Philosophytellsusthatitisthebusinessofeverybody,nationsaswellasindividuals,to
lookbehindtheirsufferingsandthusascertainthecausesofwhichthesesufferingsare
merelyeffects.Ifmenwishtostartabetterandhappierlife,itisneedfulthattheyshould
understandthelessonsoftheirownpast.Ifthishappierexistenceistobeareality,it
cannotcomeaboutunlesstheybreakinwardlyandoutwardlywiththispast.
132
Afullyripenedmindcomesmoreeasilyandmorenaturallyintothetruth.Thelaboursof
reflectivethoughtjoinedtothestillnessofsuspendedthought,theemotionofreverential
worshipbalancedbytheindependenceofselfreliance,areonlydifferentaspectsofthe
processofripening:thereareothers.Thelargeoutlookwhichfollowsminimizestheego
andpushesoutblocks.SlowlyorsuddenlytheSpiritisletin,fills,andtakesover.
Consciousnessliterallycomesintoitsownitself.
133
Abraveinsistenceonfacinghisinarguableprejudgementswillberequiredofhim.
134
Thephilosophicethicsmustbeappliednotonlyinhiswellstudiedunderstandingbut
alsointhedepthsofhispersonalrelations.
135
Theoldideawasthataspirituallymindedpersonshouldsportalongbeard,indulgein
asceticselfdenials,andbeportentouslysolemn.Thenewideaisthatheshouldkeephis
spiritualmindednessbutbemorehuman,morelikeoneofourselves.
136
Philosophictrainingtriestoproduceinitsvotariesaloftypersonalcharacterandawide
socialoutlook.Itshamesnarrowattitudesandreleasesbeneficentfeelings.
137
Wemustseethingsintheirproperproportions.Thisiswhythephilosophicstudentmust
considerallavailableaspectsofasituation,allsidesofaquestion,andboththepast
causesandfutureoutcomeofanevent.
138
Thereisadangertohispilgrimagetowardstruthifheletsafixedandfinalizedstatement
ofitbecomedominant.Itisthedangerofarrestedgrowth,orspiritualconstriction.
139
Theconflictwithhimself,withillwillandevilwill,withfalsethoughtandmistaken
thought,canendonlywhenthequestitselfends.
140
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Sincemostpeoplecometothesamesubjectwithpersonalpreconceptions,theyleave
withdifferentconclusions!Onlythosewhohaveundergonethepurifyingdisciplineof
philosophyarelikelytohavethesameconclusions.
141
Thisfurtherimpliestheeliminatingofallprejudicesandthepurgingofall
preconceptionsfromone'soutlook.Themindmustbeopen,notattachedundulyto
anything,notthevictimofcontemporaryexternalinfluences,buteverreadytoenquire.
142
Hemustnotbeafraidtodisparagehisownpastthoughtandwork,valuesandtechniques,
ifneedbe.
143
"TheBuddhistdisciplineorexercise(yoga)asistoldbytheBuddhaconsistsoftwoparts,
philosophicalandpractical.Thephilosophicaldisciplineistotrainthemindtoabsolute
idealismandseethattheworldisMind,andthatthereisinrealitynobecomingsuchas
birthanddeath,andthatnoexternalthingsreallyexistwhilethepracticalsideistoattain
aninnerperceptionbymeansofsupremewisdom.Tobegreatintheexercisethatmakes
upBodhisattvahood(mahayagayogin)onehastobeanexpertinfourthings(threeof
whichareintellectualandthelastonepractical):1)toperceiveclearlythatthisvisible
worldisnomorethanMinditself2)toabandonthenotionthatbirth,abiding,and
passingawayreallytookplace3)tolookintothenatureofthingsexternalandrealize
thattheyhavenoreality(abhava)4)totrainoneselftowardstherealizationofthetruth
intheinmostconsciousnessbymeansofsupremewisdom."Suzuki'sLankavataraSutra
Studies
144
Therearetruthsinthephilosophicdoctrinewhichman'sheartcannoteasily,oratfirst,
accept.Thisisbecausetheyaredistasteful.Onlyaftersufficienteducationbyteacher,
study,life,orreflectioncanhebringhimselftobelievewhathedoesnotlike.
145
Thehistoryofreligiousandmysticalideasshouldbeinvestigatedandstudiedfroman
impartialindependentstandpoint,withoutbiasfor,orprejudiceagainst,withenough
criticalabilitytosiftfactsfromopinionyetwithenoughsympatheticinterestinthe
subjecttocollectmaterialswidelyfromtimeandplace.Thisisnotworkforadriedup
pedanticscholarwithoutinnerexperienceofhisown,norforagullibleexcitable
enthusiast,norforaselflimitedcommittedscientist,norforatraditionbound,
excessivelypastworshipping,antimodern,religioscholarmystic.Withthisworkshould
beconjoinedacomparativestudyofthoseideas,whichrequiresnotonlyhistoricaltalent
andlearningbutdeeperinnerknowledge,advancedandpersonalexperience,andskillin
communicatingthehigheryieldsofintellect,feeling,mysticalintuitioninshort,some
philosophicalequipment.Therewouldbenoplaceinsuchteachingforrigiddogma,no
divisioninto"official"monopolizedtruthandunenlightenedunblessedinvention,
certainlynodenunciationofheresy.
146
Ignoramusesandblockheadsfinditeasyandpleasanttocriticizethebackwardnessand
darknessoftheMiddleAgesandtheperiodsofantiquity.Suchcriticismgivesthemthe
feelingofbeingonasuperiorplanealtogether,ofhavingtruthwheretheseearlier,and
consequentlyunluckier,forebearshaderror.
Ipersonallydonottakesuchasillyattitude.Icriticizethepastwithoutdenyingits
possessionofspiritualtreasures.Themodernstudentshouldreveretheteachersandstudy
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theteachingsofantiquity.HewillhonourthelivesandtreasurethewordsofJesusand
Buddha,KrishnaandConfucius,Muhammed,Plato,andPlotinusalike.Butheshouldnot
confinehimselftoanysingleoneofthemalonenorlimithimselfwithinanysingle
traditionalfold.Hemustalsolifthimselfoutofthepastintothepresent.Hemustreserve
hisprincipalthought,time,andstrengthforlivingteachersandcontemporaryteaching.
147
Tobeunattachedisalsotobeunattachedintellectually,totakeupnointellectualposition
asagainstalltheothersandtorefusepartisanship,sectarianism,groupjoining,one
sidedness,andexclusionofallotherideasandteachings.Byrefusingtojoinasectthe
candidateforphilosophyrefusestoputhimselfinthepositionwhichregardsallthose
outsidethesectasbeingtheunchosenrace.
148
Dr.Johnsonunderstoodthephilosophicalattituderightlywhenhesaidthatwehaveboth
toenjoylifeandtoendurelife.
149
Thegreatsacrificewhicheveryaspirantiscalledontomakeisthesacrificeofthat
ignorancewhichseparateshimfromhisDivineSource.Thisignorancecannotbe
removedbytheintellectalone,however,orbyYogaalone.
150
Thepleasantandpainfulvicissitudesofhumanlifearecommontoall,butacorrect
viewpointregardingthemisnot.Sothephilosophicaldisciplineaimstoprovideit.
151
Hemustcomeonthisquestnotforafewyearsbutforallhislife.
152
Itisnecessaryforthestudenttomakeacombinedeffortofwill,analyticreflection,
prayer,andstudytounderstandanddissolvetheobstaclescreatedbytheego.
153
Itisvitaltoseeclearlythedifferencebetweenteachingsthatspringfromandserveonly
theego,andthosethatspringfromandleadtotheOverself.
154
Therearenoinitiatoryrites,nodisciplinaryrulesandvows.
155
Ifyouaskwhatrealityis,inphilosophy'sview,theanswermustbeconsciousness.Ifyou
furtheraskwhatman'sworkinthislifeis,theanswermustbetobecomeconsciousof
consciousnessassuch.Butbecause,ordinarily,consciousnessneverdisclosesitselfto
himbutonlyitsvaryingstates,hecanaccomplishthisworkonlybyadopting
extraordinarymeans.Hewillhavetosteelhisfeelingsandstillhismind.Inshort,hewill
havetodenyhimself.
156
Plutarchpointedoutthatifanybodycouldeasilyfulfiltheinjunction"Knowthyself,"it
wouldnothavebeenconsideredadivineprecept.
157
Itssearchingandsearingtruthwilldrawoutallhisvanityandleavehimfeelingquite
hollowinside.
158
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Thesecriticsofphilosophyshouldcloselyquestionthemselveswhethertherealreason
fortheirdislikeofitisthatithumiliatesthemintosecretlyacknowledgingtheirlackof
thecouragetofollowthephilosophicQuest.
159
Nosinglepathwillsuffice.Allmustintertwinewitheachother,helpeachother,balance
andregulateeachother.Itisthetotalizedandequalizedeffortwhichcountsmost.
160
Lifeasksfromhimsomethingmorethanspiritualaspiration,morethanprayer,morethan
meditation.Heneedstoofferallthese,buthemustalsobeintelligentandpractical,kind,
andcontrolled.
161
Wisdomliesincombiningthethreechiefyogas,notinseparatingthem.Forinstance,low
vitalitydoesnotpromotehighintelligencebutratherhindersit,hencesomephysical
disciplinesareasneedfulasmentalones.Thethreeyogagroupsarenotonlynot
antagonistictoeachotherbutactuallycomplementary.Whoeverignoresanysingleone
canmakeonlyonesidedprogress.
162
Apathwhichrequiressomuchfromthetravellerwillinevitablybeaslowerpaththanthe
religiousandmysticalways.Butitwillalsobeasurerone.
163
Ifhemakesworshipapreparationformeditation,andifheaccompaniesinvestigationof
theinspiredtextsbyapplicationoftheknowledgegleanedifhejoinspurificationofhis
bodytopurificationofhismindhemayexpecttogainabalancedstateofilluminationin
returnforthisbalancedapproach.
164
Hisspecialneedistouniteintellectualbreadthandemotionalbalancewiththisinner
attainment.
165
WehavedeeplyfelttheforceofEpictetus'outcry:"Showmeamanmodelledafterthe
doctrinesthatareeveruponhislips.Sohelpme,HeavenIlongtoseeoneStoic!"Itis
notlesseasytopreachthantopractiseinourowntime.Buthereistheacidtestwhich
willrevealwhatisandwhatisnotpuregold.Onthebasisofsuchatest,mankindseems
tocryinvainforasingleIlluminate.
166
Itispossiblebydepthofthoughtorbyperseveringovertheyearstosoimpregnatethe
mindwiththeseimplacabletruthsthatitautomaticallyreactsphilosophicallytoitsvaried
experiencesandsituations.
167
Thesetruthsmustbecomesovividinhismindthathecannothelpactinguponthem.
168
Thepromisesofreligionaremildeffortstoconsoleweakerpeople,buttherewardsof
philosophyaretruthsthathavetobeheroicallyborne.
169
Thebasisofthisphilosophicdisciplineisawelldevelopedreason,asoundcharacter,and
acultivatedmysticalintuition.
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170
Notbyharshoutragesonthebodybutbythesimplegrowthofhighervaluethrough
deeperpenetrationofthetruth,isthephilosophicway."Thepuritywhichcomethfrom
knowledgeisthebest."saystheMahabharata.
171
Intheendheshouldseektogainconfirmationoftheteachingandpracticalknowledgeof
itsworkingbyfirsthandpersonalexperience.Thisachievementispossible,butatthecost
oflivingoutinactionwhathelearnsinthought.
172
Thepracticeofphilosophyisnoteasy,butitistheonlywaytogainitsadvantages.When
ittakesfirmrootindaytodaylife,experience,behaviour,andactivity,itstruthistested
andsurvives,solidlyconfirmed.
173
Wemustexaminecurrentconceptsoftheworldwiththegreatestcare,andthenhavethe
couragetoacceptalltheconsequencesofsuchexamination.Wemustquestionlifeinthe
profoundestpossiblemanner,neverhesitatingtoprobedeeperanddeeper,andtruthwill
comewhentheanswercomes.
174
Thequadrangleofreligiousdevotion,metaphysicalstudy,mysticalmeditation,and
inspiredactionmakesthetoolforphilosophicwork.
175
Hisisnonarrowonesidedquest.Allthroughlifehewillbeseekingwisdomforhis
mind,goodwillforhisheart,andhealthforhisbody.
176
AlthoughitisnecessarytodifferentiatetheselinesofapproachtotheOverselfinthe
studystageofgrowth,itwouldbewrongatanytimetoregardthemasbeingmutually
exclusive.Actuallymetaphysicsandmysticismmust,atthelast,meetandintermingle.
Fromthefirstthesensiblestudentwillperceivethisanduseeach,inturnaswellas
together,tobroadenhisoutlookandbalanceandunderstanding.
177
Philosophyattendstoeachsideofthisfivesidedcreaturemanandthusgiveshima
trainingthatisbroadenoughtomeetlife'sdemand.
178
Hehastotakethesubtlethoughtsofphilosophy,thedeepemotionsofreligion,the
sensiblepracticalityofmodernism,andthewhisperingsofhisownintuitiontoforma
compositesystematiccredo.
179
Ifheistotakeonthelabelofphilosopher,hewilltrytobearhistroubleswithfortitude
andendeavourtokeepholdofthegreateternaltruthsinsupportofit.
180
Thewayislongandhard.Itinvolvesdevelopingallthedifferentsidesofthepersonality.
Prayerandmeditationleadtothecultivationofintuitionandaspirationandthese,atthe
sametime,mustbeaccompaniedbythestrengtheningofwill,plusstudyandreflection.
Alleffortsshouldbemadesidebyside,sotospeak,toleadtoabalancedpsychethe
philosophicideal.
181
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Thephilosophicapproachtoaproblemisfirsttolookatitandthentolookawayfromit.
182
Intheturmoilofdailyeventsitiseasytolosephilosophicperspective.Heshouldnotlet
thishappenbutinsteadstriveconstantlytogainsuchaperspective.
183
Withoutthisdisciplinetheywillbeunabletodistinguishtheauthenticcommunionwith
aninspiringsourcefromtheirownpersonalthoughtsandfeelings.
184
Theegoissoboundupwiththethoughtshismindproducesandhisintuitionyields,with
theexperiencehismeditationpracticeandprayerfulworshipinvoke,thatitismost
essentialforhimtoundergoacourseofpurificatorydisciplinetoobtainegofreeresults.
185
Howsuccessfullyheperceivesthetruthwilldependpartlyonhowsuccessfullyhe
overcomesthelimitationsandescapestheassociationsofhisownpersonality.
186
Itis,inasense,onelongexperienceofbecomingimpervioustodesires,ambitions,and,
lastofall,eventoaspirationsforgrowth.Itisadyingtothelesser,personalselfasone
awakensandsurrenderstothegreaterOverSelf.
187
Hedividesintotwopersons,theonlookerandtheplayer,afeatbeyondordinarycapacity
andpossibleonlywhenthephilosophicquesthastrainedmindandreeducatedfeeling.
188
If,assomethink,thephilosophicwayoflifeisahardone,itstillremainstherightone.
Allotherwaysaremerecompromises,justconcessionstohumanweakness.
189
Thephilosophicallymindedstudentthinksclearlyinadvanceoftheprobable
consequencesbothgoodandbadofacontemplatedlineofaction.Forhedoesnotwant
towalkblindlyornegligentlyorrashly.
190
Theslowgradualenlightenmentofviewswillfinishhisdevelopment.
191
Firsthebelievesinitvaguely,thenheunderstandsitprecisely,nexthepractisesitdaily,
andintheendhebecomesonewithitutterly.
192
Atimecomeswhentheseekerissothoroughlypenetratedwithphilosophicidealsthat
thehigherlifewillbecometheeverydaylife.
193
Theinitiationintowisdomifitistobelastingisnotsuddenlygivenbyanymasteritis
slowlygrownbytheexperiencesandreflectionoflife.Thoughtisgraduallyconverted
intohabit,andhabitisgraduallymergedintohighcharacter.Thephilosophicattitude,if
itistobegenuine,willpassintothestudent'snervesandmovehismuscles.
194
Ifhecannotbyhisnaturalpowerachievethis,hecanatleastpreparehimselfforitand
awaitthegrantofgrace.
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Wholeness,completeness,integrality
195
Whentheprincipleoftruedevelopmentisunderstood,itwillbeseenthatnosideof
humannatureisreallyhostiletoanyoftheothersandthatallsidesarecomplementary
partners.
196
Thephilosophicgoalistobespirituallyawareinallpartsofthepsyche,withthe
completelifeasthefinalresult.Togiveone'slifeaphilosophicalbasisistogiveitthe
qualityofimpregnablestability.Togiveone'sknowledgeaphilosophicalfoundationisto
giveitthequalityofintellectualsoundness.Toconfineattentionexclusivelytosome
particularaspectoftruth,ignoringtheotheraspectswhichbalanceorcompleteit,can
onlyleadtoamisleadingresult.Thattheapproachisdifferentbutthegoalisthesame
maybequitetrueofallordinarysystemsofreligionandmysticism.Itisnotquitetrueof
philosophy.Heretheapproachismanysidedwhilethegoalisintegral.
197
Itisnotenoughtocleartheegoistic,passional,andemotionalcolouringsfromthe
psyche.Ifheseesthetruthfromaverylimitedpointofview,hewillstillfailtoreceive
ortransmititrightly.Thereforethepsyche'sdifferentsidesmustbefullydeveloped:his
thinkingcapacity,intuitionalreceptivity,emotionalsensitivity,andactivewillmust
themselvesbebroughttoanadequatedegreebeforehisviewoftruthwillbeadequate
enough.
198
Eachpartofthehumanpsychefulfilsaseparateandnecessaryfunction.Noneisa
substitutefororarivaltoanyoftheothersitdoesnotdisplacebutonlycomplements
them.Eachhasitsownspecialworkwhichcouldnotbedonebythem.Afullviewof
truthcallsforafulltechnique.Onlyphilosophyprovidesforit.
199
Forhehastoregeneratethewholeofhisnature,andnotmerelyonesideofit,ifheisnot
onlytoperceivethewholetruthbutalsotoperceiveitunspoiledandundisturbed.
200
Thepathisfourfoldandnotthreefold.Foritconsistsof(1)thedevelopmentof
intelligencethroughbothconcreteandabstractreasoning,(2)thedevelopmentof
mysticalconsciousnessthroughcultivationofintuitionandpracticeofmeditation,(3)the
reeducationofmoralcharacter,(4)practicalservice.
201
Thefourfoldpathcallsforaction,intuition,devotion,andknowledge.
202
Heshouldseektodeveloponallfoursidesofhisnaturetheintellectual,theemotional,
thepractical,andtheintuitional.Theentireendeavourshouldbedirectedtowards
discoveringhisweaknessesofcharacterandremedyingthem,strengtheninghiscapacity
tothinkabstractlyandmetaphysically,refiningandennoblinghisfeelings,disciplining
andunderstandinghispassions,cultivatingandrespondingtohisintuitions.Thusthe
philosophicquestisanintegralone.Itaimsatatotalilluminationofthemindand
transformationofthecharacter.
203
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Philosophydemandssocompleteatrainingonlybecauseitofferssoperfectagoal.
204
Thesmoothlyroundedsymmetryofthisfourfolddevelopmentmakesnotonlyforthe
fullestacceptanceoftruthbutalsoforthematurestkindofliving.Becausephilosophy
considersandimprovesthehumanpersonalityasawhole,itisnothinglessthaninspired
practicality.Thereisindeednonewsituationwhichitcannotmeetandnegotiateforthe
best,nooldoneforwhichithasfailedtoofferguidanceandinwhichithasfailedtogive
support.
205
Inleadingmentowardahigherlifeandatruerworldview,itisasjustifiabletocajole
theirfeelingsasitistoconvincetheirreasonitisasrighttostimulateinthemthewarm
aspirationofamysticaldevoteeasitistohardenthecoldprecisionofametaphysical
scholaritisasneedfultoinspirethemtocompassionateserviceasitistoexalttheir
moraloutlook.Alltheseareneededforanadequateresult.Allthesequalitiesarea
necessityforafullerandbetterpoisedlife.Eachsupplementstheothersandsupplies
whatthey,byreasonoftheirownnatureandlimitations,cannotsupply.Allthese
separatethingscantakeanaspirantsomewayalongthequest,butnonewilltakehimall
theway.Mosteffortsareaimedonlyatoneortheother,fortheyoftencontradicteach
other,whereasphilosophynotonlyaimsatalltogetherbutalsoseekstoachieve
somethingmore.Forontheonehanditseekstounfoldthetranscendentfacultyofinsight
andontheotheritseekstotestallitsteachingsagainsttheoppositionofactual
experienceintheactiveworld.
206
Ifthechangeincharacterandoutlook,understandingandconductistobeadeepand
lastingone,thenitwillhavetoproceedoutofallsidesofaman'snature,outofhis
thinkingandfeeling,experienceandintuition,studyandbeliefwhichmeansthatitmust
proceedoutoftheknowledgeandpracticeofphilosophy.Hischangemustbebasedon
rationalideasaswellasemotionalmovements,onpracticalresultsaswellastheoretical
formulations,ontheexperiencesofothermenaswellashisown.
207
Wehavetobringthecosmicexperiencetothelivinghumanorganismasawhole,not
merelytojustapartofit.Formanisaunityandcanfulfilhishigherpurposeonlyashe
doessowithallhisbeinganddoesnottrytoseparateitintoparts.
208
Itmaysurprisepeopletolearnthatwholenessisaspiritualquality,thatallpartsofthe
manmustreceiveandshareinthelight.
209
Henotonlyhastoreceivethisilluminationinallthepartsofhisbeingratherthanany
onepart,butalsotoreceiveitequally.Itistheobstructionarisingintheundevelopedor
unpurifiedpartswhichisthefurthercauseofhisinabilitytosustaintheillumination.
210
Wemustbringourwholepersonalitytothisquestandnotmerelyapartofit.Allsides
arevaluabletoeachother,henceallareneededbyourselvesandallmustbeembraced.
Therichfullnessofphilosophiclifeappreciatesbeauty,aspirestoknowledge,activates
thewill,issuffusedbyfeeling,andcultivatesintuition.Alltheseactivitiesemotional,
mental,physical,mystical,metaphysical,andethicalaretobeinseparablyconsolidated
inoneandthesamecharacter.Theremustbeatotalresponseofourtotalnaturetothis
callfromtheOverself.Foritisnotsomethingwhichcanpenetrateourreasoningalone,
forexample,andleavetherestofourbeingcold.Thequestcannotbelimitedtoany
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singlewayalone.Itmustbewideenoughandcomprehensiveenoughtoenableusto
throwalltheforcesofourbeingintosuchasupremeenterprise.Howfaristhisgenerous
idealfromthenarrowidealofasceticism!
211
Thatmanistrulycivilizedwhohasunfoldedthepossibilitiesofhisphysicalnatureand
hisspiritualnatureboth,whohasrefinedhisfeelingsandtastesanddevelopedhis
thoughtandintelligence,whorejectsthesterilityofasceticlivingstandardsbasedon
povertybutwelcomesthoseofaestheticandfunctionalvaluebasedonbeautyand
comfort.
212
Thatthegoalisnothingshortofcompletenessiswhatsofewunderstandorwant,forit
demandsmorefromthemthanthegoalofmerelyexperiencingpleasantfeelings.It
demandsthewholeman.
213
Makewholenessathemeforyourthoughtsandmeditations,afocusforyourstudiesand
aspirations.
214
Whenallpartsofhispsycheconcurinanattitude,wheneachfunctionorfacultyis
coordinatedwiththeothersinthereceptionanddeliveranceoftruth,thentherewillbe
harmonyandunitywithinhisinnerbeingandouterlife.
215
Yes,weneedtoknowthetruth,todiscoverwhatisintheworldaroundusandinlife
withinus,butwealsoneedtofeelandintuititbyexperience.Thiscomingtogether
makesforitsrealization.
216
Thefoursidesofthepyramidofbeingthinking,feeling,doing,andintuitingmustbe
drawntogether,properlydeveloped,andheldtogetherinproperbalance.Theinclination
tofragmenttheselfistheinclinationtofollowtheeasiestpath,nottheneededpath.The
wholepersonneedsbothdevelopingandbalancingpartofitcannotbeleftsafelyin
neglectwhiletheotherpartisintensivelycultivated.
Thephilosophicgoalistobespirituallyawareinallpartsofthepsyche,withthe
completelifeasthefinalresult.Theaspirantmustengagethewholeofhispersoninthe
workofselfillumination,andnotmerelyapartofit.Ifonlyapieceofitisactiveinthis
work,onlyapiececangetilluminedorinspired.Evenmeditationitselfsoimportantfor
theawakeningofintuitionisonlyapart,andalimitedpart,oftheQuest.Wholeness
mustbetheideal,ifthewholeoftheOverself'slightistobebroughtforthandshone
downintoeveryday'sliving,thinking,feeling,andbeing.Anythinglessyieldsalesser
result.Andifthewholeisnotheldproperly,isunbalanced,ityieldsadistortedresult.
217
TheteachingthattheQuestcannotandshouldnotbeseparatedfromlifeintheworldisa
soundone.Therefore,itispartofphilosophyandisnotsomeeccentricenterprisetobe
undertakenbythosewhowishtoescapefromtheworld,orwho,beingunabletoescape,
considerthemselvesasbelongingtoaclassapartfromothersintheirenvironment
superiortothem,differentfromthem,andholierthanthem.Theyalsocometoconsider
theQuestasanartificialsystemofliving,devoidofspontaneityandnaturalness
somethingtobelabouredatbymakingthemselvesabnormalandinhuman.Oneofthe
consequencesofthisattitudeisthattheytendtooverlooktheireverydayresponsibilities
andthusgetintodifficulties.Philosophyhasconsistentlyopposedthistendency.
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Unfortunately,inthereactionfromit,therehasarisenafreshconfusioninthemindsof
anothergroupofstudentswhodonotunderstandthebeautifulandadequatebalance
whichtruephilosophyadvocates.Thesestudents,swayedbysuchteachersas
Krishnamurti,becomesoenthusedbythenotionofmakingspiritualprogressthrough
learningfromexperiencesandactionalonethattheyfollowKrishnamurti'sadviceand
throwawayprayer,meditation,andmoralstriving,aswellasstudyunderpersonal
teachers.Thislimitsthemtoaonesidedprogressandthereforeanunbalancedone.Total
truthcanonlybegotbyatotalapproachasLightonthePathpointsout,eachofthese
formsofapproachisbutoneofthestepsandallstepsareneededtoreachthegoal.
Thewholeofhisbeingmustbeinvolvedintheeffortifthewholeoftruthistobefound.
Otherwisetheresultwillbeemotionalalone,orintellectualalone,oradulteratedwith
egoisticideasandfeelings.
218
Itisnotenoughtobeaphilosopherbecausethemindseestheteachingistruetheheart
alsomustbeengagedinthematterandloveit.Norarethesetwoenough.Thewhole
personmustbeliftedupalsointoitandhimselfexperiencethetruth.
219
Itentersintothefullnessofphilosophyonlywhenitisfeltintheheart,understoodinthe
mind,intuitedinthesoul,absorbedbythestillness,andactualizedintheworld.
220
Bodyandminddependupononeanother,actupononeanother.Thedualismwhich
wouldseparatethementirely,whichwouldevenputthemagainsteachotheras
antagonists,iserroneous.Thebiologicalviewofman,thepsychologicalview,andthe
spiritualviewofmanarecomplementary.
221
Itisnotenoughtobeagoodperson.Onemustalsobeawiseperson.Itisinsufficientto
beselfdisciplined.Oneshouldalsobeselfillumined.
222
Wemustbeabletoreasonremorselesslywithoutbecomingimprisonedinreason,
becausewemustdojusticetoeverypartofourbeingbutonlyasapartofthewhole
mustwedojusticetotheintellect.
223
Thosewhoassertthatinnerspiritualchangecancomeonlyfromouterphysicalchange
andthosewhoasserttheoppositearebothalikeextremistsandfanatics.Thetwo
proceduresareneededtogetherandshouldaccompanyeachother.
224
HewillbeabletomanifestmoreoftheDivinewhenheisdevelopedtothepointofbeing
completeinhimselfthanwhenheisnot.
225
Thereisnootherwayformantogrowinhisfullnessthanthewaywhichcoversthe
wholeofhumanlifeandusesthewholeofhumanfaculty.Thereisnootherwaytomake
himselffitforthenextstageofevolution,whichwillmakehimmorethanman.
226
Thefoolishmanactsatrandomtheintellectualmanplaysoffhisreasonsagainsteach
otherandsomayfindhispowertodecideparalysedtheemotionalmanrejectsevery
guideexceptpersonalfeelingthephilosophicmanusesreason,feeling,andintuition
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alike.
227
Allsidesofthepsychearesointertwinedthatonlyanintegraldevelopmentwillbe
enough.Abalancedmindcannotbegotunlesstheethicofrenunciationhasbeen
accepted,forinstance,forthevicissitudesoffortunebringdisturbingemotionsintheir
wake.
228
Notaonesided,notevenamanysided,butonlyanallsidedprogresswillsuit
philosophy.
229
Whenthelightoftruthentersitwillthenshineintoallpartsofhisbeing,notintothe
intellectalone.Itthusbecomesalivingpower,notmerelysomethingtobetalkedor
writtenabout.
230
Theextraordinarycompletenessofphilosophy,thefusionandequilibriumofbeingand
doing,thinkingandfeeling,introvertedstillnessandextrovertedliving,egolessnessand
egoity,makeitrareandprecious.
231
Thus,strivingandstudying,prayingandwilling,meditatingandaspiring,heusesallthe
selftoreachtotheAllSelf.
232
Thelogicalmindcantakehimonlypartoftheway.Theimaginativemindcantakehim
wheretheothercannot.Ifheleavesouteitherthefirstorthesecond,hewillsufferloss.
233
Ifwearetocometotruthatall,wemustcometoitwithallourbeing,notwithahalfora
quarterofourbeing.
234
Ifheistobemadewhole,hiseverydaypersonalitymustputitselfintoperfectharmony
with,andundertheruleof,hissuperpersonalOverself.
235
Itmaynotbepossibleformanypersonstoachievesuchwholenessaltogether,butasfar
asitispossibleitshouldcertainlybesought.
236
Specializationinthesearchafterknowledgeleadsinevitablytoanunbalancedpictureof
thewhole.Theexpertusuallyknowsmoreaboutonesinglethingbutlessabout
everythingelse.Helosestheartofputtingallthesebitsofknowledgetogetherinajust
andundistortedway.
237
ReligionadoresGodfromadistance,mysticismfeelsGod'sraywithinitself,metaphysics
knowsthecertitudeofGod'sexistenceonlyintheintellect.Philosophyalonemakesa
manysidedapproachtoGod.
238
Anidealismwhichissincerebutnaveandadetachmentwhichisearnestbutfrigidare
notenough.
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239
Hismindcannoteasilytakeholdofthemanysidednessoftruthinitsentirety.Yetonly
bysodoingcanhebringitsseemingcontradictionstogetherandreconcilethem.
240
Thewholeselfmustseektruthifthewholetruthistobefound.
241
Noonefacultyofhumannatureisthewholeofit.Thebody'swills,theheart'sfeeling,
theintellect'sreasoning,andthesoul'sintuitingmustallbeconsideredandbroughtinto
play.
242
Iftheinnerlifeiscultivatedinpartofone'sbeingonly,theilluminationwhenitcomes
willlightthatpartonly.Butiftheintellectworshipsaswellasthinksandiftheemotions
movewithit,bothdeveloptogetherinwholeness.
243
Atotalefforttopurifyallareasisneededifthereistobeatotalremovaloftheblockages,
thecompulsions,thedistortionsandthesuperstitionsratherthanatemporarysuppression
ofthem.
244
Thesatisfactionofonepartofhisnaturemaybesufficientforhimbutitisnotsufficient
forLife.Soonerorlaterinthisorinanotherbirth,hewillhavetonurturewhathasbeen
neglected.
245
Philosophyisnotlimitedtoworkinmeditation,althoughthatisperhapsitsmostnotable
dramaticform.Itisalsoappliedintheareaofeverydaylivingroutinesandrelationships.
Itisalsoactiveinworkoncharacter,emotions,andattitudes.Ittakesinthebodyandits
diet.
246
Torecognizethatthepathsdownwhichtheegohasledhimareillusoryisadmirableand
necessary,butitisonlyafirststep.Itwillnotstophimfromcontinuingtogodownthem
unlesshehasacquiredsomethingmorethanhismerelyintellectualknowledge.Other
thingsareequallyindispensabletocompletehisapproach.
247
WhattheChinesevividlycall"walkingonbothlegs"thatis,joiningandusingtwoor
moreofourfacultiesinsteadofasingleoneavoidsnarrowmindednessandleadsto
betterresults.
248
Ifthetruthissoughtforwitheveryfacultyofaman'sbeing,itsilluminationwhenfound
willentereveryfacultytoo.
249
IfhebringsonlyapartofhisegointotheQuest,thenonlyapartofitwillbecome
enlightenedandonlyapartofhisactivitieswillshowtheeffectsofenlightenment.
250
Ifactiveintelligencewillstophimfrommakingonekindofblunder,activeintuitionwill
savehimfromadifferentkind.Hecannotaffordtoneglectanypartofhispsyche.There
mustbeanintegralandtotaldevelopmentofit.
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251
Wemustfindtruthwithourintellectandfeelitwithouremotion,surrendertoitwithour
intuitionandapplyitwithourwill.
252
Iftheilluminationistocompleteitself,itmustbepassedthroughtheintellectaswellas
theemotions,thewillaswellastheimagination,untilitlivesineverypartofhisbeing.
253
Somanyseekersfindalittlecalmfromtheirmeditation,butquitesoonwhentheyare
backintheworld'sturmoiltheyloseitagain.Thisisinevitableiftheydependonthe
shortmeditationsalone,whichisasmuchasmostWesternerscanperform.If,however,
theywouldsupporttheseattemptswiththecultivationofthehigherknowledgewhich
philosophyofferstheywouldbelesslikelytolosethosecalmmoods.
254
OnemustnotbeprematureindemandingfinalunionwiththeOverself.Thatcomesonly
afteryearsofallrounddevelopment.Onemustfirstpreparehimselfinwardlytoreceive
itonlythenmayheexpecttheultimateunion.Thispreparationaffectsthewhole
personalityintellect,emotion,will,andintuition.
255
Becausehiswholenatureisinvolvedinthesearchfortruth,itishiswholenaturethatin
theendfindsandreceivesit.Consequentlyhegainsacertitude,asuretythatiscomplete,
unshakeable,andstable.
256
Plato'steachingthatthethreegreatidealsoftruthvirtueandbeautyarereflecteddownto
andthroughalllevelsofexistencehoweverobscuredanddiminishedandfeeblerthey
becomewitheachdescentisoneofthegrandestofferingsoftheWesternworld.
257
Whendevotionstandsonknowledge,itstandsonarockwhichnothingandnobodycan
move,norhardshipsweaken.
258
Wemayyieldintellectualassentandyetremainemotionallyunconvinced,justaswemay
yieldemotionalassentandyetremainintellectuallyunconvinced.Philosophyharmonizes
boththesesidesofournatureandthusdissolvesthedisharmony.
259
Theardourofhisdevotionandthefervourofhisaspirationwillnotbelessenedbecause
hehasbeguntogetridofhismetaphysicalpovertyandsocialsterility.Onthecontrary,
theywillbesupportedbytheoneeffortandconfirmedbytheother.
260
Faithmaycarryamanthroughcrisesbutfaithplusknowledgewillcarryhimallthe
better.
261
Hisloyaltytotheteachingmustpenetratethroughallthelevelsofthoughtandfeeling
andfaith.
262
Theworkofselfintegrationisthetakingupofthewholephysicalandemotionaland
intellectualnatureintotheintuitivehigherone.
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263
Theproperwaytosolvehisproblemsistobringtobearuponthemnotonlyallthathis
ownexperienceandreasonandotherpersons'counselandknowledgecancommand,but
alsoalltheintuitiveleadinghecanobtainfromanegofreedheartandathoughtquieted
mind.Thisisthetotalapproachtothem.
264
Abalanceddevelopmentwillnotstimulatetheintellectandstarvethefeelings,nordothe
opposite.Itwillgivetheintuitionthehighestplace,makingittherulerofreason,the
checkonemotion.
265
Thethinking,feelingandwillingfacultiesofhumannaturehavetobedevelopedand
refinedbeforetheycangivesomemeasureofthehighersatisfactionandhappinessbut
bythemselvesandlefttotheircompetingselvestheycannotgivethefullmeasureand
perfectqualityofthesetwinrewards.Theyneedtobeintegratedtobebrought
harmoniouslytogether,putintheirproperplaceandruledbyanotherfacultyoperatingon
alevelabovethem.Suchaoneistheintuition.
266
Itisneedfulonthephilosophicpaththatheunderstandaswellasfeel.Butifnowhe
beginstotrytounderstandthiswonderfulconsciousnesswithhisthinkingintellectalone,
hewillnecessarilylimitit.Theefforttocomprehendwhichheiscalledupontomake
mustthereforebemuchmoreanintuitiveone.
267
Thus,andthusalone,canamanbecomeentireandintegrated,usingallhisnatureandall
hisbeingforthemostdesiredanddesirableend.
268
Toisolatesomedetailandmakeitawholeuntoitselfisalwaysimprudentbutitwouldbe
muchlesssointhiscaseifitweretheintuition.
Balance
269
Theprincipleofbalanceisoneofthemostimportantofphilosophicprinciples.
270
Balancehasauniqueplace,foritisnotonlyneededasaqualificationtobecultivatedbut
alsoasaregulatorofalltheotherqualifications.Thisisbecauseitisaneffectofwhich
theactivityofintuitionisacause.Thoughts,feelings,andactionswhichareinalignment
withintuitivedirectionarebalancedinnature,whereasthosewhicharenotare
unbalancedones.Intheuniversewefindbalancepresentwiththesameuniqueness
attachedtoit.FornotonlydoesitappearthereastheLawofRecompensetobalanceall
actionswithreactionsbutalsoastheMoralLawinthehumanentitytobalancehisright
deedswithsatisfyingresultsandhiswrongoneswithpainfulresults.
271
Thephilosophiclifeisessentiallyabalancedone.Thereforeitiscondemnedbyextreme
Westernmaterialists,whowouldextroverthumanenergiesforsensuousends,andby
extremeEasternmystics,whowouldintrovertthemforsupersensuousends.Itdoesnot
arriveatitsbalancebycompromisingthesetwoviewsbutbycombiningthem.
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272
Allthatisneedfultoaman'shappinessmustcomefromboththesesourcesthespiritual
andthephysicalfromtheabilitytorestinthestillcentre,inthedevelopedintellectual
andaestheticnatures,inthegoodhealthandvigourofthebody.
273
Intheworldoftodaytherearesignsofmentaldisorderandemotionalupseteverywhere.
Intheworldofmysticandoccultstudiestherearesimilarsigns,althoughofadifferent
kind.Inthepostbagofawriterwhosesubjectbordersthefringeofthesesubjectsthereis
alsoampleevidencefortheexistenceofsuchmaladies.Peopleshouldfirstfree
themselvestoasufficientextentandrecovertheirsanitybeforetheygetimmersedin
ideaswhichwillonlyaggravatethismalady.Whenwecometotheworldofstudentsof
philosophy,insanitydisappearsbecauseitisasubjectwhichregardsthesage,thefully
developedphilosopher,asthesanestofmenbecauseheisthebestbalancedofmen.We
mayperhapsfindapercentageofdreamersamongthem,asthemetaphysicalflightsand
subtleanalyseswhichitcallsformayliftthemalittletoohighabovepracticalconcerns
butphilosophyisautomaticallyselfadjustingandsoonbringsthemdownagaintothese
concerns,whereastheothersubjects,themysticandtheoccult,leavethemuptherein
hazycloudswhere,iftheyarenotcareful,theymaylosetheirbearings.
274
Thequestdoesnotstopwithyoga.Wehavealsotoachieveawisebalancebetween
feelingforinnerpeaceandthinkingforultimatetruth.Reasonmustbecultivatedbecause
wehavenotonlytofeelthepresenceofGodbutalsotodiscerntruefromfalsegodsthat
is,truefromfalseideasofGod.
275
Clearthinkinghasnothingtofearfromawarmheart,solongasthetwocooperatebut
donotmeltintooneanother,solongastheywalkhandinhandanddonottumbleover
eachother,forsolongcanwecallupontheirhelpwithequalfreedom.Ourpersonal
problemscannotbesolvedbyslushysentimentsalonebutneithercantheybe
satisfactorilyadjustedbysteelylogicaloneweneedabalancedwisdomindealingwith
them.Onlysuchawisdomcanbestexplaintheseproblemsandexplodeourdelusions
aboutthem.
276
Thereasonedthoughtsofmanmustbeconfrontedbythedelicatefeelingsofman,
balancedandmingledtoproduceabetterpersonthaneitheralonewouldproduce.
277
Evenourunderstandingofbalancehastobecorrected.Itisnot,forphilosophicpurposes,
themeanpointbetweentwoextremesbutthecompensatoryunionoftwoqualitiesor
elementsthatneedoneanother.
278
Therequiredconditionofbalanceasthepriceofilluminationrefersalsotocorrectingthe
lopsidednessoflettingtheconsciousegodirectthewholemanwhileresistingthesuper
consciousspiritualforces.Inotherwords,balanceisdemandedbetweentheintellect
whichseeksdeliberatecontrolofthepsycheandtheintuitionwhichmustbeinvitedby
passivityandallowedtomanifestinspontaneity.Whenamanhastrainedhimselftoturn
equallyfromthedesiretopossesstotheaspirationtobeingpossessed,whenhecanpass
fromthesolelypersonalattitudetotheonebeyondit,whenthewilltomanagehisbeing
andhislifeforhimselfandbyhimselfiscompensatedbythewillingnesstolethimself
andhislifebequiescent,thenhisbeingandhislifeareworkeduponbyhigherforces.
Thisisthekindofbalanceandcompletenesswhichthephilosophicdisciplinemustlead
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tosothatthephilosophicilluminationmaygivehimhissecondbirth.
279
Thebasisoftheuniverseisitsequilibrium.Onlysocantheplanetsrevolveinharmony
andwithoutcollision.ThemanwhowouldlikewiseputhimselfintunewithNature,God,
mustestablishequilibriumasthebasisofhisownnature.
280
Itismostimportanttogetridofanunbalancedcondition.Mostpeopleareinsucha
conditionalthoughfewknowit.Forexample,intellectualitywithoutspiritualityishuman
paralysis.Spiritualitywithoutintellectualityismentalparalysis.Nomanshouldsubmitto
suchsuicidalconditions.Allmenshouldseekandachieveintegrality.Tobewrappedup
inasinglesideoflifeortobeoveractiveinasingledirectionendsbymakingaman
mildlyinsaneinthetrueandnottechnicalsenseofthisword.Theremedyistotonedown
hereandbuildupthere,tocultivatetheneglectedsides,andespeciallytocultivatethe
oppositeside.Admittedly,itisextremelydifficultformostofus,circumstancedaswe
usuallyare,toachieveaperfectdevelopmentandequalbalanceofallthesides.Butthis
isnoexcuseforacceptingconditionscompletelyastheyareandmakingnoeffortatallto
remedythem.Thedifficultyformanyaspirantsinattainingsuchanadmirablybalanced
characterliesintheirtendencytobeobsessedbyaparticulartechniquewhichthey
followedinformerbirthsbutwhichcannotbyitselfmeettheverydifferentconditionsof
today.Wemustcounterbalancethehabitoflivingonlyinapartofourbeing.Whenwe
havebecomeharmoniouslybalancedinthephilosophicsense,heartandheadwillwork
togethertoanswerthesamequestion,theunhurryingsenseofeternityandthepressing
urgeofthehourwillcombinetomakedecisionsaswiseastheyarepractical,andthe
transcendentalintuitionswillsuggestorconfirmtheworkingsofreason.Inthis
completedintegrallife,thoughtandaction,devotionandknowledgedonotwrestle
againsteachotherbutbecomeone.Suchisthetriunequestofintelligence,aspiration,and
action.
281
Itisnotonlybalanceinsidetheegoitselfthatistobesought,notonlybetweenreason
andemotion,thoughtandaction,butalsoandmuchmoreimportant,outsidetheego:
betweenitandtheOverself.
282
Butitisnotenoughthatallthesevariedelementsofhisbeingshouldbeharmonizedand
balanced.Itisalsoneedfulthattheyshouldbebalanceduponaspiritualcentreofgravity.
283
Awellbalancedpersonisnotnecessarilyonewhotakesthemeasuredmidpointbetween
twoextremesbutonewholetshimselfbetakenoverbytheinnercalm.Theneeded
adjustmentisthenmadebyitself.Althoughthisavoidshisfallingintolopsidedactsor
exaggeratedviews,amerelymoderatecharacterisnotthebestresult.Moreimportantis
thesurrendertothehigherpowerwhichisimplicitinthewholeprocessofbecoming
trulybalanced.
284
Balanceistheperfectcontrolandmutualharmonyofthought,feeling,andaction.
285
Sanctityneedsthebalanceofsanity.
286
Greece'sgreatestcontributiontothequestwastheideaofBalance.Thosewholackit,
lackthepropercapacitytoreceivetruthasitis.Andamongthemthosewhoarenarrow
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andfanatical,whomakeaspecialclaimtosupremacyfortheirway,cult,ordoctrine,end
bybecomingthevictimsoftheirownexaggeration.Asingleglimpseisannouncedasa
permanentilluminationaperceptionofmetaphysicaltruthisannouncedastotal
illumination.
287
Whatmostmodernseekersneedistoattainequilibriuminthemselvesandtoachieve
harmonyintheirlives.Fromthefirst,theywillbeabletoenjoyinnerpeacefromthe
second,outerpeace.
288
Therearetwopolesinallactivity.Togetatruepictureoflifebothmustberecognized,
andneitherdenied.Butsincethesepolesareoppositeextremes,itisanunfortunate
humantendencypreciselytodenyoneortheother.
289
Toavoidthisimbalance,lookforbothpolesineachcaseandestablishthem.Donotbe
satisfiedwithaonesidedviewwhichexcludesallothers,norwithsectariansmugness
whichknowsonlyonewaytoliverightlyitsown.
290
Littlemindsaredismayedorbaffledbythistruth.Theywouldliketheuniversetobeara
singleface,andlifetohaveasingledirection.Butthenthegrowthforwhichtheyare
herewouldnotbepossible.Largermindsaregivenenoughvisiontoreconcilethe
contradictionsandtowritetheopposites.Theyseelifewhole,notinfragments.
291
Thefanatics,theextremists,theexclusivists,andtheintolerantneverfindtruth.Thisisin
partbecausetheypersistentlyrejectthepolewhichopposestheoneonwhichtheyhave
takentheirstand.Theyrefusetoseethatitisneededtodojustice,tocompletethepicture,
andtoexplainthetensionbetweenboth.Itisneededtogiveadeeperandclearerviewof
theirownexperience.Thisiswhyphilosophyteachestheneedandvalueofachieving
balancebetweenopposites.
292
Howshallapersonbalancehimself?Thewordmeansalotmorethanitsseeming
simplicitysuggests.Hecanstartbynotlettinganyonepartofhimselfcarrythewhole
personaway,offhisfeet.Butbalanceisnotonlyamatterofmakingnatureandcharacter,
activityandliving,betterproportioned.Itisalsoamatterofmentalcalm,bywhoselight
propervaluesmaybeseenandeachthingputwhereitoughttobe.Thephilosopher's
bodyconsciousness,forinstance,ispartofhiswholeconsciousnessandnownolonger
fillsallthespace.Itiswhereitbelongs,initsownplace.
293
Heshouldcultivatethoseaspectsofhispsychewhichneedfurtherstatureandheshould
deliberatelyneglectthosewhichhavealreadybeenovercultivated.Inthiswayhewill
bringaboutabetterequilibrium,asounderharmonywithinhisownbeing.
294
ThevirtueofthisbalancedapproachshowsitselfineverydepartmentoftheQuest.For
instance,intherelationshipbetweendiscipleandmaster,hewillavoidtheonesided
emphasisuponthelatter'spersonalitywhichcertaincirclesintheOrientandOccident
fosterthroughtheirownimmaturity.
295
Oneofthechiefsymbolsofthislawofbalanceisthecross.
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296
Amanisabletobalanceapairofscalesifheholdsthemattheircentre.Heisableto
balancethevarioushumanfunctionsifhefindshistruecentre.Fromthatpointhecansee
whereonehasbeenneglectedandwhereanotherhasbeenoverused.Fromthatsourcehe
cangetthestrengthandguidancetomakethenecessaryadjustments.
297
Heoughtnottobecomesosaturatedwithhismetaphysicalstudiesorsostrainedbyhis
mysticalcontemplationsthateverythingelse,andespeciallyeverythinghuman,haslost
interestforhim.Whenthishappens,whenheisnolongercapableofenjoyinghimself,or
relaxing,hismentalequilibriumisupset.
298
Wisdomrequiresbalanceandhencethewisemanrejectsextremesandreconciles
opposites.
299
Thephilosopherseekstoattainaproperequilibriumwhichwillenablehimtomove
withintheworldofturmoil,conflict,egocentricmen,andmaterialisticaimsandyetkeep
incontinuouscontactwiththeconsciousnessofhisOverself.
300
Inthesenseofproportion,balance,andmeasurewefindagiftfromphilosophy,asalsoa
pathtophilosophy.
301
Ifaseekerlackssufficientpracticalexperience,hemustlearnto"do"moreandto
"dream"lessifheishighlyintuitiveandidealistic,hemustlearnalsotobephysically
activeandconstructiveinadowntoearthfashion.
302
Ihaveofteninsistedontheneedofkeepingthepersonalitytoawellbalancedform.This
insistencearisesprincipallyoutofthenatureoftruephilosophyitself.Itmustbelived.
Butitalsoarisesoutoftheneedforselfprotectionagainsttheperilswhichopposethe
quest:internally,thewanderingsoffancyintohallucinationandtheselfengrossment
whichbreedsneuroticismexternally,thenegativepassionsandblindmaterialismofa
deterioratingsociety.
303
Ametaphysicaltruthoughtnotbetreatedinadryaridmannerasifitstoodquitealone,
apartfromitsconnectionswiththerestofphilosophy.Ifthedevotional,theactive,and
theaestheticsidesareleftoutfromthewholeness,theunionwiththeseotheraspects,
metaphysicscaneasilybecomelifelessandmonotonous.Philosophylivesintheheartno
lessthaninthehead,initsgloriousbeautynolessthaninitssturdysupportforthelifeof
action.
304
Buddhismisareligionfoundedondisillusionmentwithlife.Butphilosophy,beingmore
thanareligion,cannotrestsolidlybalancedonsuchaslenderfoundation.Ifwith
Buddhismitseestheugliness,thetransiency,andthesufferinginlife,italsoseesthe
beautyinNatureandart,theEternalbehindlifeandthesatisfactioninit.Whyshould
philosophypretendtoseenobrightplacesbecauseitcanseethedarkones?Whyshould
itdenythethrillofmusicinhumanexistencebecauseitcanhearthewailofmisery?This
iswhyitisasquietlyhappyasitisgravelyresigned.
305
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Itiscommonenoughtoseeaspirantsbecomeonesidedand,tothisextent,unbalanced.
Becausetheyareattractedorhelpedbysomeparticularwayaspecialmethod,attribute,
teaching,ordoctrinethisisnoreasontoignorealltheothersortomakeitthecentral
pivotonwhichthewholeofliferests.Lightoughttobroadenhisoutlook,notnarrowit.
306
Halfright,halfwrong,manytheoriesandjudgementsneedtobepairedinorderto
compensateandbalanceoneanother.
307
IntheMasonryofancienttimes,theinitiatewasgiventhesymboloftwopillarsinhis
courseofinstruction.Themeaningwasthatatruebalanceshouldsustainhisprogress.
308
Anotherreasonforthegreatimportanceofachievingabalancedpersonalityisthatthe
dangersofneuroticism,inertia,fantasy,andpsychismaretherebyavoided.
309
Itisraretofindamanwhosemindisevenlybalanced,rarerstilltofindonewhosemind
andlifeareso.
310
Inawiselybalancedlife,neithercontemplationnoractivitywillbeauxiliarytotheother.
Eachwillbeuseful,evennecessary,totheother.
311
Itislaudabletopractiseoptimismtoajustifiabledegree,butitisreprehensibletopractise
ittoanabsurddegree.Balanceisneeded.
312
Theunbalancedgeniusisnottobeadmiredforhisunbalancebutinspiteofit.
313
ItisnaturalthattheendeavourtofollowthisidealofBalancewillspilloverintohis
judgementsandopinions.Hewillwanttoseeallsidesofamatter,andespeciallyallthe
weaknessesinhisownviews,allthesoundpointsinopponent'sviews.
314
Balancerequiresthebusinessmantoliveforsomethingmorethathisoffice.Itrequires
theartisttoliveforsomethingmorethanhisstudio.Bothmaybegivingausefulservice
tomanypeople.Stillthisisnotenough.Theyneedalsotoservetheidealoftheirown
higherintegration.
315
Toachieveproperbalanceitmaybenecessarytooveremphasizesomeparticular
attribute,quality,orcapacity.
316
Abalancemaybeestablishedbetweenoppositesorbetweencomplements.
317
Mannotonlyneedsintelligencetofindhiswaytothetruth,heneedsbalanced
intelligence.
318
Toattainbalanceisgoodbutnotenoughtosustainitisalsocalledfor.
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319
ThisprincipleofBalanceoperatesthroughouttheuniverse.Thegrowthofplantand
animalformsisbalancedbytheirdecay,theirlifebytheirdeath.Ifthisprinciplefailedto
operateforonlyfiftyyears,theseaswouldbepackedwithfishtosuchanextentthattheir
waterswouldspilloverandfloodmostlands,submergingtheircities.
320
Fewhavesymmetricalfacesfewstandequallyuponbothfeet.
321
Togainbetterbalanceheneedsalsothevirtuesoppositetohisownvirtues.
322
Whentheimbalancedpersonbecomesanonconformist,hebecomesanextreme
nonconformist.Ifhedoestherightthing,heusuallydoesitinthewrongway.
323
Itisnoteasytocultivatesensitivitywithoutcultivatingsoftnessatthesametime.
324
Balanceisalwaysneeded.Agoodstretchedtoofarmaybecomeanevil,virtuegrown
unbalancedmaybecomeavice,atruthpushedtoextremesmaybecomeagrotesque
parodyofitself.
325
Awellbalanced,welldevelopedmanwillhabituallyfunctioninallpartsofhisbeing,
regularlydrawonallhisresources,andliveinharmonywithhiswholepsyche.
326
Inourtimeevenmorethaninothertimes,worldhistoryhasproducedpolitical,religious,
racial,economic,andotherkindsoffanatics,someofthemquitefrenziedones.Butno
philosophicfanatichasbeenproduced.Forhowcouldthebalance,thediscipline,the
intelligence,andtheimpartialitysooftenandsorightlyinculcatedbyphilosophyeverlet
thathappen?
327
Humourcanbeusedtorestorealostsenseofproportionortoshowupadeplorablelapse
fromsanity.
328
Somehavebeenpushedoffbalancebycertainhappeningsintheirlivesbutmostwere
bornwiththetendency,whichwaseitherlatent,andneededtimetoshowitself,orpatent,
andwasdisplayedfromchildhood.
329
Thebody'ssenses,ifunexamined,unanalysed,andleftuncontrolled,leadhimintoan
animalizedexistence.Butunderstoodandruledbyreasonwithaspiration,theyservehim.
330
Thepleasuresoflifemaybetakenheneednotbecomemoroseandgloomybutbalance
anddisciplineareneededtotakethemwisely.
331
Whenthereisnocollisionbetweenintellectandemotion,orbetweenintuitionand
egoism,orbetweenimaginationandwill,itmaybesaidthatone'sinnerharmonyhas
beenfullyattained.
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332
Hemaywellstudyindifferentschoolsofthoughtandexperimentwithdifferentviewsof
life.Butthisisadvisableonlyifhetakescaretodosowithabalancedapproach,
temperingenthusiasmswithanalysis,acceptanceswithdiscrimination,acclamationswith
criticisms.
333
Letuswelcometheofferingsofartandculture,ofappliedintellectandcivilizedliving,
withouthostilityorbelittlement,evenwhilerememberingthemockingfutilityofan
existencewhichdoesnotgobeyondthemtothedeepervaluesoftheOverself.
334
ThecasesofKrishnamurtiandD.H.Lawrenceareveryillustrativeoftheneedandvalue
ofbalance.Herearetwomenofunquestionedgeniusandindependentthoughtwhohave
influencedthecurrentsoftheirtime.Krishnamurtiarousedpeopletothefactthatthey
werereallycaptivesandinvitedthemtoleavetheircages.Lawrencedeniedthe
conventionaldenialofsex.Whatboththesemenhadtosaywasimportant,andneededto
besaid.ButKrishnamurtiwassorigidlyuncompromisingandLawrencesopassionately
rebelliousthattheirverynecessarycontributionshavethemselvesbecomefreshsources
ofmisunderstanding.Whatissoundintheirteachingisapartofphilosophy,andquite
acceptable:buttheexaggerationandoveremphasiswhichaccompanyitarenot.Theyare
theconsequencesoftheteachers'temperamentalimbalance.Againandagainseekers
aftertruthhavebeencounselledtopractisetheartofbringingtogetherandbalancingthe
differentelementsoftheirnature,thedifferentfactorsofthequest,thedifferentdemands
ofeverydayliving.Philosophyisabletogiveuspeacebecauseitincorporatesthisart.
335
Wheneverreligionbecomesandremainsanobsessionalactivity,itistimetocallahalt.
Theneedofkeepingmentalequilibriumissupremewiththephilosophyoftruthasitwas
withthephilosophyofGreece.
336
Awellbalancedmancannotbethrowndown.Hemaybepushedaboutbycircumstances
buthewillalwayskeep,orreturnto,hiscentre.
337
ThebestGreekmindsrejectedsuperstitionandrefusedtogivemetaphysicsandreligion
andscienceanyplacebeyondthatwhichwastheirdue.Theyavoidedtheexcessive
religiosityoftheIndianminds,whichBuddhatriedtocorrect.
338
TheDelphiTempleinscriptioncarvedonthewallwasnotonly,"KnowThyself,"but
continued,"Nothinginexcess."
339
Ourschoolsteachmanysubjectstotheyoungtopreparethemforlife,totrainthemfora
career,toshowthemhowtodisciplinethemind,ormerelytoinstillinformation.But
noneteachesthemthemuchneededsubjectofbalance.Wherethereistoomuchofone
thing,ortoolittleofit,thereisunbalance.Wherecertainattributespreponderateand
othersaredeficient,thereisthesameresult.Itisnotonlyextremistsandfanaticswho
sufferfromthistrouble,butmillionswhopassasordinarycitizens,forittakeswidely
differentforms.
340
Withthisbeautifulidealofbalanceeverbeforehim,hewillbeabletoavoidfallinginto
anarchy'sabyss,ononeside,orbecomingamerecopyofhisteacher,ontheother.
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341
TheIdealBalancemaybeimpossibletoattainbutwecangetnearertoitandestablisha
usefulworkingbalance.
342
Ifitbeaskedwhyallthisbothertoequilibratetheego,whyallthistalkaboutthe
necessityofbalance,theansweristhatwhattheBhagavadGitacalls"evennessofmind"
isaninescapablepreconditiontotheaccuratereceptionofthephilosophicenlightenment.
343
AllofRudyardKipling'sfamouspoemIfisapreachmentuponthevirtuesofbalance.
344
Whenthoughtandfeelinggrowpurertogether,whenknowledgeandaspirationwax
strongersidebyside,whenideaandactionprogressmutually,hewillcometoknowthis
truthaboutthevirtuesandvaluesofbalancebyhisownselfexperience.
345
Impulsivenesscanbeahelptowardmovingmorequicklytothegoal,butbyitself,
withoutthecheckandbalanceofintuitiveandrationaldevelopment,itbecomes
fanaticismandisharmful.
346
Enthusiasmisahelpfulemotionwhennewideashavetobeputforwardagainstinertiaor
opposition.Butwhenitlosesitsinnerbalanceandpropermeasure,becomesincautious
andexaggerated,thenitrendersadisservicetoitsowncause.
347
Heshouldrealizethewisdomofsettingupforhimselftheidealofabalanced,integral
development.Ifheneedstodevelopalongotherlinesinordertobalanceup,the
abstentionfrommeditationforperiodswilldohimnoharm.
348
Theheartmustfeelthetruththeheadmustknowitbothactivitiesmustunitein
equilibrium.Withoutsucharesultthereisonlybubblingenthusiasmordrystudiousness
butnotphilosophy.
349
Itisalsoamatterofbringingtheselfintoequilibrium,firstwithinitsownlittlerangeand
secondwiththelargerexistenceoftheuniversalbeing.
350
Itisimportanttobringaboutameasureofbalancewithinhisownperson:otherwisehe
findsonlyanincompleteorfanaticordistortedtruth.Toavoidthefirsthemustsupply
whatislacking.Toremedythesecondhemustwithdrawintoequipoise.Tocorrectthe
thirdhemustgetknowledgefromareliablesource,beitmanorbook.
351
Periclesclaimed,intheFuneralOration,thatAthenshadfoundagoldenmean,asober
balance,initsinstitutions.AndingoldenletterswasinscribedonthetempleatDelphi:
"Nothingtoomuch.ThemodestMeanisbest."AlthoughthedictionarydefinestheMean
as"midwaybetweenextremes"andalthoughagoodprinciplemaydefeatitsownpurpose
ifcarriedtoofar,thephilosophicMeanisonlysometimesthemidpointatothertimesit
isnot.Forwherethereisadeficiencyononeside,oranoveremphasisontheother,it
maybenecessarytomovethepointnearerorfarther,accordingtothesituation.
352
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Itisanerrortobelievethatfindingabalancebetweentwoextremes,Confucius'Golden
Mean,isanotherformofcompromisingwithtruth.Ratherisitgivingbothunitsinthe
inescapablepairsofoppositeswhichconstitutelife,universe,andbeing,theirproperdue
asdeterminedbytheparticularcircumstancesandtime.Theresultisaninterweavingof
thetworatherthanaforcedunnaturaldivisionofthem.Buttheirproportionswill
naturallyvaryineachcase,ineverysituation,andnotatallnecessarilybeequal.
353
Theproportionofdevelopmentneededbyeachpartofhisbeingwilldifferwithevery
individual.Onlyacorrectratiowillleadtoacorrectbalanceofalltheparts.
354
Thephilosopherseekstomakeabalancebetweentheinnerandouterlife.Butitwouldbe
amistaketobelievethismeansfiftyfiftymeasure.Eachindividualmustfindhisown
measure.
355
Philosophicbalanceisnottobedefinedasthemiddlepointbetweentwoextremes,noras
thecompromiseofthem.Itisdeterminedonahigherlevelaltogether,sinceitis
determinedandregulatedbytheintuition.
356
Aristotleusedtheword"proportionate"whenadvocatingcorrectbalance(hisdoctrineof
themean),bywhichhemadeclearthatbalanceis"relativetous":itisavariable
dependingoneachindividual.
357
Suchbalancingdoesnotmeananequalmeasureofeachelementitmeansthenecessary
andsufficientmeasure.
358
Whatisoftenoverlookedisthatthemiddleway,thepointbetweenextremes,variesin
positionwitheachperson.Itisnotthesameforall.
359
Balancedoesnotmeanachievingequalitybetweenpullsfromdifferentforcesorbetween
theactivitiesofdifferentfaculties.
360
Thisisnottobemistakenforthestaticbalanceofalowerlevel,ofaneutral,middle
groundposition.Itisadynamicbalance.
361
Balanceisnotreachedbychoosingapointhalfwaybetweentwooppositeconditions,
butbychoosingonethatisjustright,thataccordstoeachconditionjustwhatthe
individualparticularlyneedsforhiswellbeinganddevelopment.
362
Tothequestion"Whatistherelativeimportanceoftheconstituentsofthethreefold
path?"therecanbenostereotypedanswer.Eachmanwillfindthatonetobemost
importanttohimwhichhemostlacks.Whoever,forexample,haspractisedlittle
meditationinthepastwillprobablyfeelwithinhimselfandfeelrightlythatmeditation
isthemostimportantmemberofthetribe.Butthiswillbetrueonlyforhimselfandnot
necessarilyforothers.Theimprovementofconcentrationandthetranquillizationofa
troubledmindareessential.Hemusthaveexperienceinyogabeforehecanhave
expertnessinphilosophy,butifhewantstooverdoit,ifhebecomesexcessively
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preoccupiedwiththissinglefacetoflife,thenheistothatextentunbalanced.Theaim
mustalwaysbetobringeachelementnotonlytomaturity,butalsointobalancewiththe
otherelements.Whateverisneedfultoachievetheseaimsbecomesimportanttoan
individual.Hemustnotletonememberoftheselfwalktoofaraheadoftheothers
withoutsteppingbacktobringthemuptoo.Hemusttreadamiddlepathandkeepaway
fromextremes.
Thephilosophercannotaffordtotakeonlyaselfishorsectionalviewhemusttakea
balancedallembracingone,ifonlybecauseheknowsthathisdutytowardstruthcallsfor
it.Thisiswhythemanwhohasnophilosophicaiminlifecannotachievebalanceinlife.
363
Balancecannotbereachedifcompletenesshasnotpreviouslybeenreached.
364
Thebalancedlifemustbeabalanceoffullness,notemptiness.Theaspirant'sdayshould
containearnestselfhumblingprayerandwarmheartfeltdevotionaswellascalm
contemplationandstudiousreflection.Theoneshouldexpressthetearfulanguishof
unsatisfiedaspirationsastheothershouldexpressthedeterminedexerciseofamind
intentupontruthandreality.
365
Allthedifferentsidesofhisnaturehavetofindtheirequilibriuminthisultimate
condition.Everypartofhimhastofinishitsgrowthbeforethatcanfullyhappen.
366
Notonlyishetointegrateallhishumanfunctionsbutheisalsotodothisonthehighest
leveloftheirdevelopment.Norishetostopthere.Hemustequilibrateaswellas
integrate.
367
Theinnerequilibriumwhich,theGitasays,isyoga'sgoalisnotonlyastateofeven
mindednessbutalsoastateofequalizeddevelopment.Itisadelicatestateandcannotbe
retainediftheyogiisdeficientincertainsidesofhisbeing.
368
Aswetraversedifferentrangesofexperiencesoweacquiredifferentqualities,capacities,
perceptions,andideas,whichallcontributetowardtheultimateendofbalance,of
perfectingourcharacteranddevelopingourmentality.
369
Itisaparadoxicaldemand:thatweenrichourindividualityatthesametimethatwe
purifyit.
370
Thestudent'staskdoesnotendandcannotendwithmetaphysicalstudyalone,norwith
ultramysticalcontemplationalone.Actionisalsoneeded.Indeed,theilluminationthus
gainedwillofitselfeventuallycompelhimtoaddthisfactorspontaneouslybyaninward
compulsion,ifhehasnotalreadybeguntodosobyanexternalinstruction.Thisistrueof
allthequalificationswhichphilosophydemandsoftheaspirant:mysticalfeeling,
metaphysicalthinking,andaltruisticaction.Eachofthetrio,whenacertainripedegree
ofitsowndevelopmenthasbeenreached,willspontaneouslyimpelhimtoseekafter
whicheveroftheothershehasneglected.Forhimselfthismeansthathecanclaimto
understandatruthwhenhefeelsandknowsitsoprofoundlyandactsuptoitsofaithfully
thatithasbecomeapartofhimselfnotbefore.Thereisthennotmerelyunderstanding
alone,notmerelymysticexperiencealone,butalsoatransformationofcontemplation
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intoaction.Lifethereafterisnotmerelythoughtoutinthetruestwaybutalsolivedoutin
theloftiestway.
371
Nobalanceotherthananillusoryonecanbeestablishedintheindividualifdevelopment
hasnotbeencompletedintheindividual.
372
Itisbetter,lesshazardous,andmoregratifyingtounfoldthespiritualsideofthepsyche's
differentpartssimultaneouslyratherthansuccessively.
373
Withknowledge,wisdom,andunderstandingdevelopinginhimalongwithdevotion,
aspiration,andreverence,andwiththetwotrendsculminatinginappropriateaction,his
questwillbeproperlybalanced,sane,andproductive.
374
Thebalancewillestablishitselfautomaticallywhentheseelementsarefullydeveloped
andthesequalitiesarebroughttogetherinourownconsciousness.
375
Theidealisnottoachievethisinnerbalancewithscantymaterialsbuttoachieveitwith
theamplestones.
376
Aproperbalancebetweentwoneedsmustbefoundbysatisfyingboth,notbyonly
partiallysatisfyingeachofthem.
377
Onlyagreatnaturecantakeagreatilluminationandnotbecomeunbalancedbyit.Thatis
whythefullcultivation,allarounddevelopment,andhealthyequilibriumofthemanis
requiredinPhilosophy.
378
Itseekstogivehimapersonalitywhichisrichlydevelopedandnotasceticallystarved,
whichissensiblybalancedandnotfantasticallylopsided.
379
Toholdthebalancebetweenthesevariousfaculties,andnottoexaggerateoneatthecost
oftheothers,isasdifficultasitisdesirable.
380
TheadmirablebalanceofChinesetemperamentenabledit,untilunsettledbytherecent
madness,toadmireindividuality,originality,andatthesametimetorespectpastgenius
andtheachievementoftradition.
381
Thelinesofevolutionwillnotbefullyworkedoutbyapartialentryintotruth.Manmust
bringthefullmeasureofhiswholenessintoit.Inthiswayhewillnotonlycompletely
realizehimselfasaspiritualentity,butwillalsoachieveharmonyandbalancewithinthe
realizationitself.Nothinglesswillsatisfyhisprofoundestneeds.
382
Philosophyseeksharmony.Itbringsthinkingandfeelingnotonlyintoaworking
relationshipwitheachother,butalsointoonethathelps,corrects,andcompletestheduty
oftheother.
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383
Itisofgreatimportancetodevelopbalance,reason,andemotionalawareness
simultaneously.Exercisesshouldincludeintellectualanalysisofoneselfandone's
experiences,increasedeffortsinselfcontrolandoutwardexpression,andanintensified
attitudeofloveandloyalty.
384
Hemaykeepouttheego'sinterferenceandyetnotreachthepuretruthbecausehecannot
keepouthisevolutionaryinsufficiency.
385
Thosewhotalkorwritetruth,butdonotliveitbecausetheycannot,haveglimpsedits
meaningbutnotrealizeditspower.Theyhavenotthedynamicbalancewhichfollows
whenthewillisraisedtotheleveloftheintellectandthefeelings.Itisthisbalancewhich
spontaneouslyignitesmysticforceswithinus,andproducesthestatecalled"bornagain."
Thisisthesecondbirth,whichtakesplaceinourconsciousnessasourfirsttookplacein
ourflesh.
386
Thedangerofalopsidedcharacterisseenwhenhumilityreverenceandpietyarelargely
absentwhilstcriticismlogicalityandrealismarelargelypresent.Theintellectthen
becomesimperiouslyproud,arrogantlyselfassured,andharshlyintolerant.The
consequenceisthatitspowertogleansubtlertruthsratherthanmerelyexternaldatais
largelylost.
387
Thestudentmustholdthepictureofhispersonallifeasawhole.Hemustnotseeitonly
asitisatsomeparticularmomentorperiod.Ifhecansucceedindoingthis,hewillalso
succeedinbanishingtheconstantoscillationbetweenoverdepressionononesideand
overelationontheother,betweenbeingsubjugatedbythepainoftodayandbythe
pleasureoftomorrow.Hewillhaveattainedpeace.
388
Solongasheislivingexclusivelyinonesideofhisbeing,solongasthereisnobalance
inhim,whatelsecanhisviewoflifebebutanunbalancedone?Norwillthecomingof
illuminationcompletelysetrightandrestorehisbalance.Itwillcertainlyinitiatea
movementwhichwillultimatelydothis,buttheintervalbetweenitsinitiationandits
consummationmaybeawholelifetime.
389
Thepreliminaryrequisitestoalastingilluminationaredevelopmentandbalance.Ifpart
ofhisnatureisstillundevelopedinrelationtothefinishedgoalandifallpartsareoff
balanceinrelationtooneanother,theilluminationwillgosoonafteritcomes.This
balanceofmindandlifeareessential.
390
Ifhedoesnotunderstandthatbalancebetweeninnerbeingandouternaturemustbe
soughtandfound,hemayfindthatmeditationorevenabstractreflectionmayleavehim
inaptfortheordinaryaffairsofmenwhohavetoliveinactivitiesofearningtheir
livelihoodorwhohavetodischargetheirresponsibilitiestoself,family,andcommunity.
391
Withoutbalanceintherecipienttherecanbenopropertransmissionorperfectreception
oftruth.Thedifferentpartsofhisbeingwillabsorband,inconsequence,expressit
unequally.But,grantedthatthedevelopmentofthesepartsissufficient,where
equilibriumisaccomplished,therewillbethebestconditionsfortheexperienceof
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enlightenmenttobereallywhatitshouldbe.
392
Theseparatistspiritwhichwoulderectthepedimentoftruthonthesinglepillarofyoga
aloneorofmetaphysicsaloneendsalwaysinfailureor,worse,indisaster.Wheneach
sphereofactivitywhoseintegralunionisneededforthesuccessfulcompletionofthe
structureassertsitsselfsufficiency,itbeginstosufferwhatintheindividualhumanbeing
iscalledanenlargedego.Thestudentofmetaphysicswhodespisesmysticismandthe
studentofmysticismwhodespisesmetaphysicswillpaythepenaltyofneurosisforthis
unhealthyandunbalancedstateofhismentallife.
393
Withoutthisbalanceofcharacterhemaylosehiswisdomwhileengagedinthevery
enterpriseofdesperatelyseekingtoimproveit!
394
Thosewho,likeKrishnamurti,willrecognizenonebutthehighestlevelandhavenouse
evenforthestepsleadinguptoitbecomeextremistsandfanatics.
395
Hewhohasheavilyoverbalancedhispsyche,whosecapacityforcriticalthinkinghas
beengorgedwithfoodwhilehiscapacityforreverentialworshiphasbeenstarvedto
death,istobepitied.Fortheunhealthierhisconditionbecomes,thehealthierheactually
believeshimselftobe!
396
Whenaparticularpartofaman'sbeingisthrownoutofbalance,itisnotonlythatpart
whichisaffectedbutthewholemanhimself.
397
Thevalueofachievingthisdelicatebalanceoffaithandreason,offactandimagination,
isshownbywhathappenstothosewho,lackingit,putalltheirtrustinpredictionsand
makehopesforthefuturedependwhollyonthem.Theyfindthemselvesbetrayed.
398
Ifhiswholeapproachtotruthislopsided,hisdiscoveryoftruthwillbedisfigured.
399
Whenasingleaspectoftruthisallowedtoobscureorcover,displaceorswallowallthe
otheraspectsofit,thenitsbalanceoneofthemostpreciousofitsfeaturesislost.
400
Anattitudeofstudiedindifferencetothelessermattersoflifesimplybecauseonetakes
thephilosophicgoalasbeingofhighimportancemayleadtoseriousneglectofpractical
affairsandeverydayliving.Theresultscouldwellbedeplorable.Suchanattitudeisnot
acceptablephilosophically.
401
Whoeverreachesthispointandfailstoestablishagoodequilibriumbetweenheavenand
earth,willhavetohangsuspendedbetweenthem,nolongeronearthbutnotatallnear
heaven.
402
Smallmindsornarrowonesgivenovalidityorlittleimportancetoanysideoflifeor
culturewhichdoesnotinterestthem.Thustheyunbalancethemselves.
403
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Eventhoughhemayseetheneedofcorrectinghisimbalance,hemaynotbeabletosee
howtoachieveit.Forthefullandcorrectrecognitionofhisdeficienciesmayneed
outsidehelp.
404
Toolittleintuitingandtoomuchintellectualizingcreateanunsymmetricalpersonality.
Toolittlethinkingandtoomuchfeelingprovideadisequilibratedequipmentfortruth
seeking.Inbothcases,themanfindshalftruths,onesidedtruths,butnotthegrand,great
truth.
405
Unbalanceleadstounsoundjudgementsandextremistdecisions.
406
Whoevergetstoomuchtakenupwithasingleaspectofasubjectisliabletoexaggerate
itsimportanceandupsethisbalanceofmindaboutit.
407
Withanimproperbalanceofthesesidesofhisbeing,theresultofhiseffortsto
communicatehisrevelationmaybeanotherofthoseinspiredinsanitieswhichmake
mysticalliteratureanobjectofseverecriticism.
408
Onlybyacceptingtheexistenceof"thepairsofopposites"inallphasesoflife,andhence
inhisspirituallifetoo,andbyestablishingthisconnectioninhisthoughts,canhedevelop
spirituallyinahealthysafeandsuccessfulway.
409
Whenweattainbalance,itforcesustonotethepresenceofinterconnectedoppositesin
everycase.Itisonlytheunbalancedwhoignore,deny,neglect,orseektoescapefrom
oneoranotheroftheseopposites.Properconsiderationwilltrytobringthemtogether,
acceptingthetensionbetweenthemasanecessarypartoftruthaboutthesubject,the
person,thesituation,ortheevent.
410
Thebalanceneededbyfaithisunderstandingbypeacefulness,energybyintuition,
reasonbyfeeling,intellectbyaspiration,humilityandbyzeal,discretion.
411
NeithertheBuddhisticemphasisonsufferingnorthehedonisticemphasisonjoyis
propertoatrulyphilosophicaloutlook.Bothhavetobeunderstoodandaccepted,since
lifecompelsustoexperienceboth.
412
Innerbalanceisnotestablishedbysettingtwopolaroppositesagainsteachother,as
miserlinessagainstextravagance,butbycombiningtwonecessaryqualitiestogethersuch
asbraverywithcaution.
413
Manmustseekandfindthefemininesideofhisdualnaturewomanmustseekandfind
themasculine.Inthiswayabalancedrelationwillbeestablished,althoughthephysical
bodywillnaturallyestablishthedominantside.
414
Bybringingintoafusionthemasculineandfemininetemperamentswithinhimself,he
alsofusesknowledgeandfeeling,wisdomandreverence.
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415
Oneofthefirstrequisitesistocultivateasenseofbalance,ahealthypoisebetween
thinkinganddoing,believinganddoubting,feelingandreasoning,betweentheidealand
theactual.
416
Whenthesetwothepositiveandnegativecurrentscometogether,theelectriclamp
lightsupofitsownaccord.Whenthesetwointellectandfeelingareproperly
coordinated,andthecharacterisbothproperlydevelopedandpurified,theOverselfina
personbeginstoshineofitsownaccord.
417
Lethimrememberthattherearedangersinbothoptimismandpessimism,thattheproper
courseistotrytoseethingsjustastheyare,andthatnothinginlifeisallblackshadowed
orallrosyhued.
418
Ifweseektobecomephilosophicalitisnotatallnecessarytolosepracticalityandignore
actuality.Weoughttobecomesufficientlyequilibratedtocreateconditions,makethings,
anddevisearrangementswhicharevisiblehereandserviceablenow.Thisshouldnotstop
usfrommentallytrainingourselvestofollowabstractideasormetaphysicalsystemsby
whichloftylevelsareattained.
419
Thepracticalwisdomofkeepinganchoredtoearthmustbalancethespiritualwisdomof
seekingflightsaboveit.
420
Theidealistshouldlistentothemoreresponsiblecautiousvoiceofpracticalexperience,
justasthepracticalmanshouldtakesomeoftherisksofidealism.
421
Anindependentresearchwillnecessarilybeacriticalone,butthecriticismmustbe
balancedbysympathyoritwillfailindoingjusticeandjudgingaccurately.
422
Itisnotenoughforanyonetobeasuccessinintegrityifheisafailureinjudgement.
423
Herefaithandknowledgecounterbalanceoneanother,hereasolidpracticalityindealing
withtheworldisredeemedbyanoblemorality,herethesecretsofmeditationaremade
lucidwhilethequestionsofintellectaresatisfied.
424
Whymustheopposethepleasurablefeelingsofthebodytothepleasurablefeelingsof
themind,asiftheymustalwaysbeenemies?Isitnotsanertoreconciletheminhappy
combination,tobalancetheminreasonableproportion,toestablishaChinese"golden
mean"betweenthem?
425
Suchabalancerequireswarmthintheheartaswellascoolnessinthehead.
426
Reasonmustwalksidebysidewithemotion,sciencewithmysticism,compassionwith
selfinterest,actionwiththought.Thisbalancedlifeandnootheristhetrulyphilosophic
one.
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427
Thinkingandfeelingmustfirstbalanceoneanotherandthenonlymaythey,andshould
they,blendwithoneanother.
428
Theyhaveamutualservicetorender.Devotionshouldguidereasonandreasonshould
guidedevotion.
429
Thusreasonandemotionnolongerwrestlewitheachotherandnolongeropposeone
anotherasantinomies,butfindabruptlyapointofcommonfulfilment.
430
Suchistheallrounddevelopmentofthehumanpsycheofferedbyphilosophy.It
balancesmysticalintuitingbylogicalthinking,religiousbeliefbycriticalreflection,
idealisticdevotionbypracticalservice.
431
TheBalancerequiredprecedingenlightenmentisnotonlybetweenintellectandemotion,
thoughtandwill,butalsoandmainlybetweenthelowerandthehigherwills,between
ego'sdesiresandOverself'sselfcontentment.
432
Whenthetwowills,higherandlower,arebroughtintobalanceandperpetuallyheld
there,hehassecuredthenecessaryconditionsforenlightenment.
433
Ourneedistoachieveabalancebetweenthesetwodemandsofhumannature,between
usefulactivityandmentalserenity.
434
Hewhowantssocietyallthetimeisasunbalancedashewhowantssolitudeallthetime.
435
Hehastobecomeexpertinkeepingbothfeetfirmlyonhardgroundwhilekeepinghis
headinthisloftypureatmosphere.Thisiswhatsoundbalancemeans.
436
Hewhohasgonedeeplyintohimselfwithoutabandoninghisholdonexternalrealityhas
keptthebalanceofhismind.
437
Theneedtodayisforharmoniousbalancebetweentheinnerandtheouterbeing,between
divinespiritandearthlybody,sothattheonefaithfullyreflectstheother.
438
Whenheestablishesanequilibriumbetweenthetwopolesoflife,hisinnerexperience
fitsintotheouter,operateswithit,anddoesnotcontradictit.
439
Thisisthestrengthofphilosophy,thatifitisanalyticalorcriticalononeside,itis
syntheticalorreconciliatoryontheotherifitisoccupiedwiththehighestpossible
metaphysicalflights,itisgroundedonthemostsolidscientificfactsandattentivetothe
mostpracticalofdetailsifintellectandfeelingareinit,soareintuitionandinspiration.
440
Aproperbalancehasnoroomeitherforstubbornconservatismorforuncurbed
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iconoclasmalthough,ifcircumstancesareextreme,itmayusetheonetooffsettheother.
441
Hewhocanuniteselfeffortwithdependenceongraceinaconstantbalanceisableto
gainpeace.Thekeytosuccessliesinmaintainingbalance.
442
Justasinpracticallifeweharmonizeandbalancetwoopposingfactstoarriveatadequate
decisions,as,forinstance,betweentheneedofprudenceandtheneedofenterprise,so
tooinspirituallifeitisessentialtoreconcileapparentincompatibles.
443
Imaginativevisionistobecheckedbyrespectforfacts,balancedbymeticulous
reasoning.
444
Whenthewisdomofexperienceismarriedtothedriveofyouth,temperingitbutnot
paralysingitwhendreamsarefulfilledinactionsandidealsarereflectedinemotions
whenintuitionreignsoverintellectandguideswill,manhasachievedaworthybalance.
445
Theactivesideofhispersonalitymustbeproperlybalancedbythepassiveside.
446
Whentheyareatthepointofjustripeningintomiddleage,thetwoopposingforcesin
manorintheuniverseachieveperfectbalanceoftheirpolarities.
447
Weneedthisstatebalancedbetweenmerefaithandprudentscrutiny.
448
Whatphilosophyseeksandwhatmost"systems"donotisanallaroundunderstanding
anddevelopment,andanequilibriumbetweenthebodyandthehigherindividuality.
449
Externalactivitymaybelikenedtolifeatthecircumferenceofawheelinternal
meditationmaybelikenedtolifeatthecentreofthewheel.
450
StillnessattheCentre,activityonthecircumferencethisisequilibriumthatissetby
Nature(God)asthehumanideal.
451
WefindthatevensosereneandenlightenedamindasEmerson'swasliabletofallinto
errorlikeanyothermystic's,exceptthatsincehismindwasunusuallyperspicuousand
intelligentborderingonthephilosophicthisliabilitywasmuchsmallerwithhim.He
sufferedfromanexcessofoptimism,whichtothatextentthrewhimoutofbalanceat
times.AsingleyetstrikinginstanceoccursinhisLectureonWar."Trade,asallmen
know,istheantagonistofwar,"hesaid.Yetitwasthegreedtosecurealargershareof
theworld'sgrowingtradewhichledinthelasthundredandfiftyyearstoseveralwars.
"Historyistherecordofthemitigationanddeclineofwar,"hecontinued.Howlittleits
horrorhasbeenmitigatedsinceEmersondeliveredthatsentenceintheyear1853,the
slaincivilianvictimsofmassairraids(30,000inRotterdamalone)silentlyinformus.
"Theartofwar,whatwithgunpowderandtactics,hasmadebattleslessmurderous,"he
concluded.Theenormousdestructivenessofmodernweapons,andespeciallythefiendish
murderousnessofatombombs,flatlyandfullycontradictthisstatement.Howcouldso
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honestathinker,solovableamanasEmersonfailsogrievouslyinjudgement?Itwas
becausehisbalancewasnotadequatelyandcorrectlyestablished.
452
Whatwehavetodoistotakeonlysomuchofeachimportantfactorinlifeasisreally
necessaryforabalancedlife.Wemustbewareoftakingtoolittleortoomuch.Thusa
manmayhavedinnereverydaybutshouldnotlivesolelyfortheeatingofdinners.Sohe
maypractisemysticismbutneednotmakeitthesoleelementofhisexistence.Heshould
livenotformysticismalonebutforthewholeoflifeitself.Hemaybeapractisingmystic
butshouldnotstopwiththat.
453
Ifallowedtoabsorbtoomuchofhisattention,thefascinationwhichmysticalteachings
andmeditationhaveforthestudentwillrenderitverydifficultforhimtocopewiththe
strugglesofcommonplaceexistence.Ifthishappens,heshoulddeliberatelydrophis
studyofabstractteachings,togetherwithmeditationexercises,andconcentrateallofhis
attentiononpersonalmattersatleastuntilheregainsbalance.
454
Hewhoshutshimselfupwithinthenarrowconfinesofreligionalone,ormysticism
alone,ormetaphysicsalone,shutshimselfofffromthegreatstreamofLife.Theway
mustembracemanyapparentlyantitheticalthingsyetitisreallyone.Hencethewiseman
willfirstevokewithintheselfthosediverseelementswhicharenexttobecoordinated
intotheroundedentiretyofasplendidharmony.Hencetooitisfoolishnessforthe
imprudentmystictoabandonhiscriticalfacultiesonthethresholdofhisquestandto
scorntheguidanceofreasonedknowledgehewandershaphazardalongapathnot
withoutitsdangersforitskirtsattimestheveryedgeoftheprecipicesofmadness,
delirium,deception,anderror.Forsuchscientificandmetaphysicalknowledgeactsas
bothpilotforthejourneyandcheckagainstitsdangers.Withoutitamangropesalone
andblindfoldedthroughtheworlddarkness.Hedoesnotknowthepropermeaning,
place,andpurposeofhismultiformexperiences.Hedoesnotunderstandthatthe
ecstasies,thevisions,andthedevotionswhichhaveconsumedhisheartmustlatergive
placetothecalm,formless,andabstractinsightofphilosophy.Anditwasbecause
Ramakrishnawasdivinelyled,inthedeepestsenseoftheterm,thatheeventually
acceptedthisfactandsubmittedtothephilosophicalinitiationatthehandsofTotaPuri
andthussetouttomaketheascentfrombeingavisionarytobecomingasage.Thelesson
ofthisisthatman,likeallelse,mustbeviewedinhisentirety.PerhapsHegel'sgreatest
contributionwashisdiscoveryoftheDialecticalPrinciple.Foritshowedtheimperative
needofsurveyingallaroundamatterandofunderstandingitinthefullnessofitsentire
beingratherthaninthenarrownessofasinglefacet.Ignoranceofthisimportantprinciple
isoneoftheseveralfactorsresponsibleforthebirthoffanaticalfads,crankishcults,and
futilerevolutions.Intheapplicationofthisprinciple,reasonrisestoitshighest.
455
Wisdomliesinlookingintoandrecognizingtheproperlimitsofbothmetaphysicsand
yogaandcoordinatingthemharmoniously.Eachisessentialandadmirablewithincertain
limitseachbecomesadangerousdrugbeyondthem,forthenitsstrengthbecomesa
weakness.Wemustwelcomeitsolongasitremainswhereitbelongswemustjudgeit
harshlyassoonasitusurpsanother'splace.
456
Toobtainabalancedresultitisnecessarytomakeabalancedapproachandnottorelyon
asinglekindofeffortonly.Themoralcharactermustbecomeinvolvedinthequestof
upliftmenttheintellectualfacultymustworkatthestudy,aswellasreflectuponthe
lessonsof,lifeitselftheintuitionmustbeunfoldedbypersistentdailypracticeof
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meditationandtheeverydaypracticallifemusttrytoexpresstheidealslearned.
TheNotebooksarecopyright19841989,ThePaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundation.
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