The Inner Reality: Jesus, Krishna and The Way of Awakening

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A provocative and compelling work, The Inner Reality is an essential guide for spiritual seekers. First published in the 193os, this remarkable book interweaves the teachings of two great religious figures: Jesus and Krishna. Identifying a common current running through Christianity and Hinduism, Paul Brinton argues that an "inner reality" or "kingdom of heaven" can be found within each of us. Defining religion as simply the practice of binding oneself with divinity, he encourages readers to embark on the quest for self-knowledge and spiritual communion through a commitment to the contemplative path. With his profound interpretations of the world's sacred texts, from the Gospel of St. John to the Bhagavad Gita, Brunton bridges East and West to guide the reader into the living heart of these ancient traditions.

This new edition has been updated to incorporate the author's final revisions and includes a foreword by the Paul Brunton Philosophic Foundation.

"Paul Brunton was surely one of the finest mystical flowers to grow on the wasteland of our secular civilization. What he has to say is important to us all."

Paul Brunton is one of the twentieth century’s brilliant spiritual writers. He is generally recognized as a pioneer in bringing yoga and meditation to the West, and for presenting their philosophic background in nontechnical language. Born in London in 1898, he authored eleven books, beginning with the very successful A Search in Secret India (1934) and ending with The Spiritual Crisis of Man (195z). To date, his books have sold over two million copies in seventeen languages.

He was the most popular and authoritative source of information on Eastern philosophies, gurus, and meditation systems from the mid-193os to the 196os. In the 195os, he withdrew from public life and continued writing the material that was posthumously published as The Notebooks of Paul Brunton-a truly East-West spiritual philosophy. His books are written with the passion of an authentic pioneer and the thoughtfulness of a seasoned practitioner, and are reemerging as a beacon for all contemporary seekers.

"PB," as he referred to himself, was a quiet and gentle man. An aura of kindliness and peace emanated from him. Although his spirituality was evident, he refused to become the center of an organization. Instead he encouraged seekers to follow the independent path to discover their own inner reality.

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

IS THE FEW YEARS following the publication of his very popular intro-dictions 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 Brinton’s inner development, acute under-Kanding, 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. Krishna’s teaching in the Bhagavad Gita is undoubtedly the most revered source for understanding the different yogis 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 one's own divinity-the 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 after having found them, he will still remain inwardly unaffected because he will still remain in his peace-fraught Overself.'

Paul Brunton's son, Kenneth Hurst, served on the board of the Paul Brunton Philosophic Foundation, which is responsible for publishing and preserving the extensive archive of Brunton's 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 discour-aged 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 some-where to be his own teacher, must start looking for, and finding, the inner guru-his 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 incorpo-rated Brunton's 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.

after having found them, he will still remain inwardly unaffected because he will still remain in his peace-fraught Overself.'

Paul Brunton's son, Kenneth Hurst, served on the board of the Paul Brunton Philosophic Foundation, which is responsible for publishing and preserving the extensive archive of Brunton's 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 discour-aged 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 some-where to be his own teacher, must start looking for, and finding, the inner guru-his 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 incorpo-rated Brunton's 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.

Contents and Sample Pages