Brunton - The inner reality: Jesus, Krishna, and the way of awakening

Prophets and teachers, sages and saints have come among us in all times to speak of that inner life and inner reality which they have found.

Paul Brunton

IN THE FEW YEARS following the publication of his very popular introductions to the spirituality of India and Egypt, Paul Brunton wrote a number of books for people eager to practice and benefit from the wisdom teachings of the East and West. Because of Bruntons inner development, acute understanding, and extraordinary access to living masters, he was able to re-create for modern readers those core teachings that are essential to spiritual realization.

In The Inner Reality, Brunton reveals the mystical meaning of the teachings of Jesus and Krishna. The Sermon on the Mount and the Gospel According to John in particular have inspired much of Christian thought and practice. Krishnas teaching in the Bhagavad Gita is undoubtedly the most revered source for understanding the different yogas of Indian spirituality. The heart teachings of these great beings speak directly to people hungry for the spirit, who are primarily seeking inner rather than outer sustenance. This is the essence of the mystic path, to aspire and meditate to awaken to ones own divinitythe Overself within each and every one of us. As Brunton says:

He who has the courage to put first things first, to seek the inner reality, which is changeless and enduring, finds with it an ever-satisfying happiness from which nothing can dislodge him. This got, it will not prevent him seeking and finding the lesser earthly happinesses. Only he will put them in a subordinate and secondary place because they are necessarily imperfect, liable to change, and even to go altogether. And then if he fails to find them or if he loses them

Paul Bruntons son, Kenneth Hurst, served on the board of the Paul Brunton Philosophic Foundation, which is responsible for publishing and preserving the extensive archive of Bruntons writings. Reminiscing on his father, he wrote, P.B., as he is known to his followers, was a gentle man. An aura of kindliness emanated from him. His scholarly learning was forged in the crucible of life. His spirituality shone forth like a beacon. But he discouraged attempts to form a cult around him. P.B. encouraged those he met to find their inner guru:

Even in the case of those who take the guidance of a guru, it should not be forgotten that if development advances sufficiently the pupil must start somewhere to be his own teacher, must start looking for, and finding, the inner guruhis own soul. A sincere competent guru would demand this.

In preparing this new, updated, and definitive edition of The Inner Reality, a team of editors compared the earlier British and US editions and incorporated Bruntons final corrections. It should be noted that Paul Brunton wrote in the mid twentieth century when the literary convention was to use he rather than he or she, but certainly he intended these teachings for all those drawn to study them.

The Paul Brunton Philosophic Foundation, 2016

www.PaulBrunton.org