2-The World as Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
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Transcript of 2-The World as Mental - Notebooks of Paul Brunton
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PaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundationhomepage>NotebooksofPaulBrunton>Category21:Mentalism>Chapter2:TheWorldAsMental
TheWorldAsMental
Mind,theprojector
1Wecanfindnodirectconnectionorimmediateoperationbetweenathoughtandathing.Weinstinctivelyrebelatthenotionthattherecouldbeone.Andrightlyso.Fortherearenothingsapartfromthethoughtsofthem.
2ItwasPlatowhorightlypointedoutthatexperienceisreallyamedleyofchangingopinionsandconflictingbeliefs,therebyofferingcontrastwiththeorderlinessandconsistencyofreasonedknowledge.Thisiswhywehavetobeginintellectualanalysisoftheworldbyseparatingtherealmofsenseperceptionfromtherealmofreasonedperception,asthoughtheywereentirelydifferent.Butwemustnotendwithsuchanartificialseparation.Forinthehigherstagesweclimbtotheviewpointwhichreunitesthemagain.TheThoughtisthentheThing.TheAppearanceisthenalsotheReal!
3Thefalsityoftheviewthattherealworldisoutsideconsciousnessandthatthementalcopyofitaloneisinsideconsciousness,becomesknownonlyafterthoroughlydeeppenetrativethought.Thereisnoworldapartandseparatetobecopied,fortheideaistheworld.
4Wedonothaveadirectacquaintancewithanexternal,materialobjectwehaveadirectacquaintancewithourownperceptiononly,therestbeingaprocessofunconsciousinference.Wedonotarriveatthenotionofthemanasawholeuntilwehaveexperiencedacompoundofsensationssuchashisheight,form,colour,andfeel.Aperceptisthediscriminationandcombinationofsensations,towhichisaddedtheassumptionofextramental,separate,independentexistenceofthethingperceived.Thatamanisstandingtwofeetawayfromourbodyinthedomainofobjectivityisaninferencewhichwedrawunconsciously,fortheonlyexperiencewhichwehaveofhimarethesehappeningsintheeyeandearthatis,happeningswhichareultimatelywithinmind.Itisonlyattheendofthiswholeprocessthatweassumetheobjectisinanindependent,outsideworld.Fromthesepersonalimpressionsourmindgetstoworkandmakesadeductionthatanoutermanisthere.Whatwereallyseeissomethingmental,theexistenceofthematerialmanbeingdeducedfromthatofthementalexperience.Wedonotimmediatelyseeanyseparate,independent,external,materialman.
5Thingsthatcanbeseenandhandledarenotthelessseenandhandledmentally.
6Thefirstquestionwhichneedstobeaskedandcorrectlyansweredis:Inwhatrelationdoesourthoughtofathingstandtothethingitself?
7Ifathingreallystoodalooffromconsciousness,wecouldneverobtainknowledgeofit.
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Somerelationmustsubsistbetweenthetwo.Todenythis,toassertthatconsciousnessmerelylightsuptheobject'sseparateexistenceforus,isunconsciouslytoassumeandtakeforgrantedastrueatheorythatstillremainstobeproved.
8Whenwebelievethatweareexperiencingtheworldoutside,wearereallyexperiencingtheselfinside.
9Thecommonbeliefisthatthecorrectorderis:firsttheworldofthingsexistsforus,andsecondweformanideaoftheworldafterwards.
10Weallfirmlybelieveintheexistenceofthismaterialworldandweallappealtocommonsenseandcommonexperienceinsupportofourbelief.Idealismretorts:Thataworldofwhichweareconsciousexistsisundeniablebutthatthisworldismaterialinnatureisdisputable.
11Onlywhenanobjectisregisteredinconsciousnessisitreallyseenatall.Notevenallthephysicaldetailsofvisionconstitutetherealexperienceofseeingit,fortheawarenessofitisnotaphysicalexperienceatall.
12Whatwefirstbecomeacquaintedwitharethoughtsandsensations,feelingsandpercepts,memoriesandanticipationsthatis,withmentalthings.
13Theminddealsdirectlywithitsobjectsandnotthroughtheintermediaryworkingofideasfortheideasareitsonlyobjects.
14Suchisthemakeupofourhabitualoutlookthatwetakeitunquestioninglyandimmediatelyforgrantedthatthepresenceofasensationinourfieldofawarenessindicatesthepresenceofanexternalmaterialthing.
15Allexperienceisthoughtexperience.Whatweknowastheworldisaseriesofthoughts,notanumberofmaterialthingsplusanumberofmentalthoughts.Consciousnessrunsthroughallofthemastheircommonelement:theyoriginatefromit,existinit,leaveitbehindwhentheyvanish.
16Thethoughtofathinginvariablyfollowsattentiontoathing,butthealmostinstantaneousrapiditywithwhichitdoesso,togetherwiththemomentarycharacterofboth,producestheillusionofasingleconsciousactandweremainignorantofthesuccession.
17Wehavenowbeenabletodiscoverthatourordinarysenseofselfisamuddledone,confusingthoughtandthing,mindandbody.Itmaybethoughtthatthestatementofmentalismcontradictsournaturalbeliefinthesolidityofthematerialworld.Butasamatteroffactitdoesnotreallycontradicteitheroftheaforementionedbeliefsitmerelycorrectsthem.Foritdoesnotdenythattheworldisexternaltothebody,anditdoesnotdenythatalltangiblethingsaresolidtothetouch.Whatitdoessayisthattheworldisinternaltothemindandthatitssolidityislikewisepresentinthemindalone.
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18Thefountainpen,beingamentalappearance,andone'sawarenessofit,beingamentalactivity,arethereforeseparatedonlywithintheworldofmindandpossessitastheircommonfactor.
19Allwecanrightlysayisthattheideaoftheworldispresentinourconsciousness.Themomentweassertthattherealworldcorrespondingtoitisoutside,independent,andapartfromus,weassertasupposition.
20Weformanideaofatableandunconsciouslyassumethereisaseparateobjectwithoutuswhichcorrespondstotheimageformed,butactuallytheexistenceoftheexternaltableisanassumption,forweknowandhaveonlyknownthementaltable.
21Doestheworldexistoutsideofandseparatelyfromthemindthatknowsit?Thisisquiteadifferentquestionfromthatwhichdealswithitsrelationtothebody.Nobodycoulddisputeitsoutsidenessandseparatenessthen.Butthequestionwearereallyaskingisnotsosimple.Forthelightbornimageoftheworldwhichformsitselfontheretinaoftheeye,theawarenessofthingstouched,smelled,ortasted,isallthatthemindactuallyknows.Itcannotspeakandhasnorighttospeakofanyworldwhichpossiblyliesbeyonditsfrontiers.
22Weareeasilydeludedbythesolidityofthingsintoabeliefin"matter."Thesolidityiscertainlythere,itisrealenough,butthe"matter"isnot.
23Thefactiswehaveneverseenmorethanourideaoftheexternalworld,neverknownitsphysicalnature,thelatterbeingourownimaginationormentalprojection.
24Whatistheuseofmaintainingthattheuniversehasanexistenceofitsown,entirelyseparateandapartfromthatwhichourmindsgiveit,whenwehaveneverbeenabletoknowitandobviouslycanneverknowitexceptthroughourminds?Anysuchstatementisamereassumptionforwhichwehavenogroundsatall.
25Theworldistobesoughtwithinconsciousness,notoutsideit.
26Theobjectionismadethateveniftheworlddoesnotexistforuswhenwedonotthinkit,itstillexistsforalltheotherhumanbeings.Theanswertothisis:Howdoesitexistforeachofthismultitudeofpersons?Itisinhisthoughtjustasmuchasinours.
27TheChineseChanjanwrote,asfarbackasthetwelfthcentury:"Noobjectsexistapartfromthemind."
28TheantiqueIndiandivisionofmanifestationintoselfandnotselfandthelabellingofthelatterasmayabecauseitwearsamisleadinggarbisquiteunderstandableonamentalisticbasis.Foriftheuniverseisreallyourthoughtofit,itsseemingseparatenessandapparentexternalitydonotmakeit,asathought,anylessapartofourownself.
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LaoTzu'sdefinitionofintelligenceastheabilitytoseethingsinthegermisexcellent,buttheabilitytoseethingsasideasisevenbetter.
30Philosophyisnondualisticinitsviewofmindandmatter.Theyarenottwoseparatethings,itsays,butone.
31Thenotionthatthereisaninnerrepresentationwithintheconsciousnessofanotherworld,amentalexistenceofthisworldcorrespondingtoaphysicalone,isnotadmissible.
32Thestatementthatwecanknowonlyourownsensationsandthatwedonotexperiencetheworlddirectlyconstitutestheverybeginningofthedoctrineofmentalism.
33Thephysicalsensesdonotprovideapictureoftheobjecttothemindforthesimplereasonthatallobjects,includingthesensesthemselves,areheldinthemind.Thisispossible,thiscouldonlybepossible,becausetheindividualmindisnotseparatefromtheuniversalmind.AstheHindussay:AtmanandBrahmanareone.Butthatiscarryingthediscussiontoalevelthatmustbedeferredforlaterstudy.
34Ourthoughtscannotbeseparatedfromourworld.Thetwocomeintobeingtogether.
35Thereisnodifferencewhateverbetweenthethingsofhisexperienceandthethoughtswherebythesethingsareknowntohim.Infactthethingsarethethoughtsandviceversa.
36Therecannotbeanycontactwithaworldoutsideconsciousness.Thisisatenetfundamentaltomentalism.
37Wearenotaskedtodoubttheactualityofthegroundbeneathourfeetorthemusicinourears,buttounderstandthattheyhavereachedourconsciousnessbecausewehavethoughtthem.
38What,beyondacontinuouslyflowingstreamofmomentsofsensation,dowereallyknowasourselves?
39Theviewwhichcriticalreflectiongivesofanobjectdoesnotcoincidewiththeviewwhichcommonsensegivesofit.Thefirstturnsitintoanideawhereasthelatterretainsitassomethingmaterial.
40Noonecancontestthattheideaoftheworldsurroundingusisinthemind.Butthatthereissomethingelsebeyondtheideaitselfiscontestable.
41ThewallwhichIseeisseenassomethingseparateasapartfrommybody.Thisistheexternalaspectofperception.Thecolour,thesize,andtheformofthewallaresensationswhichareexperiencedmentallyandthereforewithinme.Thisistheinternalaspectofperception.ThatawalliswithoutmeIknowonlybysomethingthathappenswithinme.ThismayseemparadoxicalbutthetruthisIdonotknowtheexternalityofthewallbut
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inferit.Itisnownecessarytoattendcloselytoanexaminationofthemechanismofwhatfollows.ForhavingsurmisedtheseparateandexternalexistenceofawallIhavereallyprojectedpartofmymentalexperienceintotheworldoutside.Ihaveobjectifiedanidea.
42Consciousnesspresentsitsownproductstoitself,fabricatinganentireworldintheprocess.Mindmakesandseesthepicture.
43Themindhasthepowertoexternalizetheverythingitperceives.
44Theworldisapparentlysuspendedintimeandspacebutactuallyallthreearesuspendedinthemind.
45Adistinguishedmusicianoncesaidtomethattheeffectivepowerandrealityofmusiclaynotinthesensoryimpressionsitcauses,butratherinthementalones,notinthesoundsthatentertheearbutinthethoughtsprovokedbythosesounds.Headdedthatitsessentialfeaturesoftimeandnumberaremathematicalonesthatis,mentalones.
46Mindconstructsitsownconceptsanditsownspacewhereintosetthemup,andfinallyviewsthemasdifferentfromitselfandexternaltoitself.Yetbothdifferencesandexternalityareillusions.
47HerbertSpenceradmittedthetruthofmentalisminhisPrinciplesofPsychology(Vol.2,Part7).Headmittedthattheworldweknowismentallyconstructedandmentallyexistent.Havinggotsofar,hethenfellintoerror,forhesaidthatourexperienceoftheresistancewhichobjectsintheworldofferusprovesthattheyalsoexistindependentlyofandoutsidethemind.WhatwasSpencer'smistake"ofalloftheobjectiveidealists"?Itwasthefailuretopenetratesufficientlyfarintothemeaningofthesetwowords:"independent"and"outside."Howcantheworldhaveanindependentexistencewhenithasnosignificanceforusbeforeweactuallyexperienceit?Itmusttouchourbodyoraffectoursensesbeforeitsexistencecomestohaveanymeaningatallforus.Whenthishappenswehavethefeelingsorthoughtswhichsciencecallssensations.Whethertheyarefeelingsofhardness,resistance,orweight,thoughtsofredness,fragrance,ornoise,theyarestillnothingelsethanourfeelingsandthoughts.Whereistheindependencehere?Theobjectsintheworldareonlyobjectsofourconsciousness.Theymaybeindependentinrelationtoourbodybuttheyarenotindependentinrelationtooursensesandhencetoourmind.Thesensationsofresistanceandhardnessarenolessmentalultimatelythanareanyoftheothersensations.Again,whereistheoutsidenesshere?Doestheworldreallystandoutsidethemindthatknowsit?Itisonlyatthecostofselfcontradictionthatwecananswerthatitdoessostand.Forwhateverisinconsciousness,whateverismental,canbeexplainedbythemindalone.Itisthemind'sownactivitywhichmakesresistanceasitmakessmells,sounds,andsights.Furthermoreitisthissameactivitywhichcreatesthespacerelationshipsbetweenobjectsandhencethethoughtoftheiroutsideness.
48Itisthestartingpointofallerrortoassumethatatsomepointintimeifnotinspacethemindsuddenlymadeitsappearanceintheuniverse.Thisistheinitialerrorofallmaterialismwhetheritbescientificortheologicalormetaphysical.Mindissupposedbyalltheseviewstostartfunctioningaftermatterhashadalonginningonthecricketfieldofthecosmos.Insolubleproblemsflownaturallyoutofthiserror.
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49Allformsofthepasthaveexistedintimeandplacebutmanyofthemarenowexistingonlyinmemory,thatis,inthought.Mentalismsays,"Theywerealwaysinthoughtonly."
50Allourexperienceisordinarilyconfinedtowhatthefivesensespresentusthatis,tothesoundstouchessmellstastesandcolourswhicharetheirobjects.Allthesemayconvenientlybecalledour"sensations."Thesearewhatwereallyknow,theyareoursindividually,andanythingwhichwebelieveweknowbeyondthemsuchasseparateandindependentlyexistentmaterialobjectsaremeresuppositionsandinferences.Therefore,theremustbesomethinginuswhichprojectsthemsoastoappearoutsideorinterpretsthemascausedbysomethingoutsidewhichamountstothesamething.Bothprojectionandinterpretationaregovernedbyconditionsofspaceandtime.Theobscurityinwhichalltheseoperationsarecarriedondoesnotcancelouttheoperationsthemselves.Theworlddoesnotexistoutsideofourmind.
51Theexistenceoftheworldisnotatestimonytotheexistenceofadivinecreator,buttotheconstructivecapacityofthemind.
52Stereoscopyoffersanexcellentillustrationtohelpusrealizethatspaceisanillusioncreatedbeforeourveryeyes.Iftwophotographsofthesameobjectaretakenfromdifferentangles,placedinasimplestereoscopicapparatus,andlookedatthroughitslittlewindow,theresultingpictureisnolongeraflattwodimensionalthingbutabulkythreedimensionalone.Therehasbeenaddedtotheheightandwidthofanordinaryphotographthenewelementofdepth,whichmakestheobjectstandoutinrelief.Whatseemstobeatangiblespacehasbeencreatedbehindandinfrontoftheobject.Theconsequenceisthattheimageistransformedinastartlingmannerfromalifelessrepresentationtosomethingthatseemsvividlyreal.Whensuchanapparatussoobviouslycreatesspaceforusweoughtnottoregarditasfantasticwhenmentalismtellsusthatthehumanmindsubconsciouslycreatesitsownformsandprojectsthemintoafanciedspace.
53Allthisvastandwonderfuluniverseisintheendonlytheplayofmind.Weareimprisonedinourowninvoluntarycreation.
54Thenecessaryactionofhumanreasonwhenatitsbestandsharpest,andwhendirectedinwardsuponitself,leadsittothisirresistibleconclusionthatthewholeexperienceofthisworldisbuttheendproductofaprocessofthehumanmind.
55Itisnottheclockorthesunwhichreallymeasurestimeforusbutthemind,byfeelingsandmoods.Time,space,cause,andformareallofsubjectiveorigin.
56Isitpossiblethatthemereoperationofthoughtsufficestoproducethisvastandwonderfuluniverseinourfieldofawareness?Wehaveonlytostudycarefully,bywayofillustration,theexperiencesofthedreamer,thenovelist,andthehypnoticsubjecttounderstandthattheanswermaybeintheaffirmative.
57"Themind,generatedbythyignorance,imaginestheentireuniverse,"saysanoldSanskrittext,SankshepaSarirake,bySarvajnatmaMuni.
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58Themoldsoftimeandplace,egoanditsextensions,whichshapehumanmentalism,theformsofthought,belongtothismaya,thisalchemicallytransformingpowerofmind.
59Howcanyouhavemovementwithoutspace?Butifspaceisinthemind,somustmovementbetheretoo.
60Hisdifficultymaybeselfcreatedbecausehemaythinkofthespiritualworldassomethingstillonaspacetimelevel,onlyfarfinerthanthephysicalworldsomethingoutsidehimselfawaitinghisentry.Butlikeallthedreamworlds,itisinseparablefromhismindonlyitisfreefromthespacetimecharacteristicsinherentinthepresentlevelofmentalexperience.
61WhatIexperienceinmymindisprojectedoutinspace,buttheordinarypersoninhisignorancebelievestheveryreverseishappening.
62Theworldthatyouhaveiscreatedbyyourmind.Thisappliestotheafterdeathstateandtothepresentstate.Ideasmanifestthemselvesinthisworld.Thusanarchitect'sideasmanifestasapalace.
63Weexperiencetheworldasoutsideusnotbecausewechoosetodosobutbecauseweareobligedtodoso.
64Theworldseemstobe"outthereatadistance"butitisactuallyherewithintheconsciousness.
65Theseemingrealityofphysicalmovementisnotlessyetnotmorethantheseemingrealityofmentalawareness.Movementimpliestheexistenceofspaceinwhichithappens.Whereisthisspace?Itisinus,inourmind.Allmotionofthebodyisanitemofthemind'sawareness.
66Ifthepastisamemoryandthefutureadream,thenbotharethoughts.Andifthepastwasoncethepresentandthefuturewillonedaybethepresent,whatelsebutathoughttoocantoday'spresentbe?
67Allquestionsabouttheuniverse'screationpresupposethepreviousexistenceoftimeandspacesincetheyunwittinglylookforitsbeginninginaparticularplaceataparticularmomentwhich,inturn,suggestsapreviousone,andsooninanendlessseries.Thesequestionsdefeatthemselves:unaskableandunanswerable.Everyexperienceoftheworldinvolvesthoughtsofit:thisremainstruewhengoingbackwardintoitspastorforwardintoitsfuture.Thoughtsrise,orappear,inConsciousness.Theuniverseisinseparablefromthisconsciousnessofit.This,isolatedfromeverything,shouldbethesubjectofourquestions.
Mind,theimagemaker
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68Thedifferencebetweenthechairthoughtandthetablethought,theredthoughtandthegreenthought,theinnumerablerelationshipsamongideas,areallexplicablebythefactthatthemind'sprimarypowerisimagemaking.Thisisapowerwhich,inhumanbeings,canbecalledintoplaydeliberatelyandvoluntarily,asweoftendoduringwakefulness,orspontaneouslyandinvoluntarily,asweinvariablydoduringdreams.Themomentmindemergesfromdeepsleepandbecomesactive,itbeginstoimaginethewakefulworld.WhathappenswithmenonasmallscalehappensalsowiththeUniversalMind(God,ifyoulike)onacosmicscale.Itsfirstactivityisimagining.
69Themindexistsanddevelopsonitsownlatentresourcesandneedsnothingfromoutside.Thereisnothingoutside.Nevertheless,itsimaginativeandcreativepowercallsintoplayanenvironmentwhichseemstobeoutsideandwhichelicitsthoseresources.
70Twopersonsseeingthesamefountainpenwillexperiencetwodistinctsetsofsensationsandthereforewhattheyactuallyseemustinevitablydiffer.Foreachpersonperceiveshisownmentalconstruction,despitetheapparentreferencebeingthesame.
71TohaveseenHimalaya'ssnowsturnpinkatsunsetandtheTajMahal'smarbleturnphosphorescentinmoonlight,istohaveseenbeautyindeed.Yetafterallitisnottheplaceorthehandiworkthatreallymatterswhenwehavegone,buttheemotionevoked,thememoryetched,andthetasterefined.Allthesearementalthings.Wefindatsuchhighmomentsofappreciation,ofaestheticuplift,thattheveryessenceofbeautyisalreadypresentwithinourselves,isaninternalfact,mademomentarilyvividbyanexternalstimulus.
72Themindformsitsideasandimages.Hence"mentalformation"wouldbeacorrecttermtoreplace"mentalconstruction."
73IliveinaworldofMind.ThematerialformswhichIseeonlyappearasiftheywerenonmental.
74IfMatterhasanyexistenceatall,itisastheexternalizingpowerofthemind.
75Whenwepiercethroughtheillusionofmatterwediscoverthathisenvironmentisasmentalasthemanhimself.
76Theego,theconsciousnessofthepersonalandphysical"I,"isthatofwhichwearemostvividlyaware.Andthisessenceisthemental,notbodily,partofus.Butweareapartoftheuniverse.Thereforetheuniverse'sownessenceisalsomental,notthephysicalpartwhichweseeandexperienceallaroundus.
77Matterismerelysomethingweimagine.Causationismerelysuccessionandcoexistence.
78Itisnotpossibletoexplainintellectuallyhowsensationsofthephysicalworldareconvertedintoideas,howtheleapoverfromnervousvibrationsintoconsciousness
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occurs,andhowaneurosisbecomesapsychosis.Noonehaseverexplainedthis,norwillanyscientisteversucceedindoingso.Truthalonecandisposeofthisposerbypointingoutthatsensationsneverreallyoccur,butthattheSelfmerelyprojectsideasofthemjustasamanseesamirageandmistakesitforrealwatermerelybyhismentalprojection,sopeopleregardtheworldasrealwhentheyaremerelytransferringtheirownmentalideastotheworld.
79Hismindismuchmoreaman'sownthananythingelsecouldpossiblybe.
80Allotherpeoplethroughouttheworldmayapparentlybesharingthesameexperienceofitsexistenceasourownbutitisneverreallyso.Eachone'siswhollyindividualtohimselfandislivedonlywithinhimself,hisconsciousness.
81Wemustfirmlygraspthisprinciple,thattheonlyobjectsweknow,theonlyworldofourexperience,havenoexistenceapartfromthemind.Theydonotandcannotsubsistexternallybythemselves.Thatwhichprojectsthemintospaceismind,andasspaceitselfiswithinthemind,theirindependentexistenceissheerillusion,orMayaasIndianscallit.Wemustlookbehindtheirillusoryindependenceintothemindfromwhichtheyspring.
82Analyseyourawarenessofthephysicalworldand,ifyouranalysisisdeepenough,youwillbeunabletoavoidtheconclusionthatitisreallyaseriesofchanges,oragroupofstates,ofyourconsciousness.Inotherwords,matterissomethingpresentedinmyconsciousness,whetheritbenow,atsometimepast,orinthefuture,eventhoughitgivestheimpressionofoutsideness.
83Iseesomething,itmaybeapostoritmaybeaman.ThenbythesenseofagencyoneoutofthesepossibilitiesisassociatedwithahamkaraandIthenknowIknowIseeapost.
84"Thouartonlythought,"saidthephilosophicyogiwhomAlexandertheGreatinterviewed.Hethenproceededtoprovehisstatementbymesmerizingthekingintobelievinghimselftobeapoormanstrugglingagainstdestitution.IdonotknowifthisanecdoteexistsamongsttheGreekrecordsofAlexander'sadventures,butIfounditamongsttheIndiantraditionsabouthim.
85Ifwedosomeactwithoutattendingtoitbut,onthecontrary,withourthoughtsengrossedonanentirelydifferentsubjectwhichperhapsfillsuswithanxietyorjoy,weareoftenlaterquiteunabletorememberwhetherwehavedoneitornot.Hereisanindicationthatif,asmentalismdeclares,itisnotman'ssurfacemindnorhiseverydayconsciousnesswhichpresentstheuniversetohimasanoutsideappearancethen,infact,hehasadeeperunconsciousmindwhichdoesit.
86Iftheworldisanidea,theegowhichperceivesitisitselfanideatoo.
87Thefirststeptowardceasingsuchwrongselfidentificationistorecognizethebodytobebutastateofconsciousness,andtheegotobebutanidea.
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88Thelifewhichiseverywhereapparent,theformsinwhichitisconstantlyembodyingitselfaretheeffectsofthemysteriousmovementwhichisthekineticaspectoftheOverself.
89Mentalismtellsusnotonlythatmatterisanunrealshowbutalsothatmotionisjustthesame.Theeventsandmovementsonacinemafilmarenotaffectingormovingthewhitebacksheetatall.Yetwithdrawmatterandmotionandthewholeuniversewillbecomenothingmoresubstantialthanacosmiccinemapicture.
90Thesensationsofseeing,hearing,touching,smelling,andtastingthingscombinetomakeupourknowledgeoftheworldaroundusinspaceandtime.Thisknowledgedependsthereforeonegocentricpersonalexperience.Thisisveryeasilyprovenbycontrastingthestatementsmadebyahypnotizedsubjectaboutanobject,andthosemadeaboutitbyapersoninnormalcondition.
91Everypresentedthingwhichisseensmelled,heard,felt,ortasted,nolessthaneveryrepresentativethought,idea,name,orimage,isentirelymental.Thestreetsofbusytownsandtheforestsoflonelymountainsareall,withoutexception,mereconstructsoftheimaginingfaculty.
92Hewhodoubtsthepowerofmindtofashionitsownworldshouldconsidersuchauthenticinstancesofthispowerasthoseprovidedbythehypnotist'sart.Thishasturnedwaterintowineforitsvictim,chillingcoldintoheat,andvolitionintoparalysis.Thetransformationsareallimaginaryonesyetarenotbereftoftheirrealityforhimbecauseofthat.
93Themindcreatestheseimagesbyitsownpowerandtheirtotalityconstitutestheuniverseofitsexperience.
94Hisownpast,oncesointenselyreal,sovividlyactual,hasbecomeonlyafadedandbrokenpanoramaofmentalpictures.The"matter"ofwhichitwasmadeisnownothingmorethan"thoughtstuff."
95Thechairwhichweseeataninstantaneousandsimpleglancewasreallybuiltupinthemindoutofseveralseparateelements.
96Themoodssucceedeachothersometimesbright,sometimesdarkbutwhoistheexperiencerofthem?Itistheego.Thefirststageofphilosophyistolearnthesecretofmentalism.Lookuponeverymoodasabunchofthoughts.Thesecondstageistolookupontheexperiencerasanobjectofthosethoughts.
97Thisisknowledgeofthehighestorder,thateverythingaroundusandwithinus,everybitofNatureandcreature,theexperienceoflifewithaphysicalbodyandofdeathwithoutitallarebutformsofconsciousness.
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Myexperienceofathingisreceivedfromthebody'ssenses.Sight:theeyestellmeitsshapeandcolour.Touch:theskintellsmeitshardnessorsoftness,solidityorliquidity.Smellandtastemaygivemoreinformation.Theseperceptionsmakeupthethingforme.Buttheywouldbenonexistentiftheyfailedtoreachconsciousnessasthoughts.Itexistsbecausemyconsciousnessexists.Ifthisconsciousnessdidnotexistbyitselfalonebeforethethoughtmyexperiencewouldbeimpossible.Itisprimary.Itwillcontinuetoexistevenbetweentwothoughts,and,evenmoreimportant,betweentwosensorialthoughtssightandtouchconnectedwiththephysicalbody.Butthebrainispartofthebody.Somindisnotthesamethingbutexistsasanindependententity,howeverclosetheirworkingconnectionmaybe.Thismindhasnoshapeorcolour,whereasthebrainhas.Itbeingformless,noonecanseeortakeholdofit,yetitisthere.Nowdropthetermmind,thetermconsciousness,andletthetermspirittaketheirplace.Herepsychologicalanalysisofexperienceseemstocrosstheborderintoreligion.Formindisarealthing,notanothing.Itexistsinitsownright.More,allexperienceisanuninterruptedspiritualexperience,whatevermanhasdonetodegradeit.
Everymanknowsthatheisawareofhimself,others,theworld.Butthatawarenessexistsalsoinanunlimiteduninterruptedwayhedoesnotknow.YettotheextentthathehasthislimitedkindofconsciousnesshederivesfromIt,sharesthespirit,ispartofit.
99Itwouldbeabsurdforhimtodenytheactuality,thelivingpresence,ofallthatishappeningtohimineverymomentoftheday.Theyarethereandtheyarerealasexperiencesandhewouldbeafoolindeedtodenythem.Nordoesmentalismaskhimtodoso.Whatitdoessayisthatifheanalysestheactualityofalltheseexperiences,ifhetriestotraceouttheirbeginningandend,theirexistenceandcontinuity,hewilldiscoverthatconsciousnessistheirseat,thatthisconsciousnesscanbyprofoundthoughtbeseparatedfromitsprojectionsthethoughts,thescenes,theobjectsandevents,thepeopleandtheworldinshort,thateverythingincludinghimselfisinthemind.
100Itisnotmerelyapersonalspeculationbutacommonplacefactofscience,anitemoftheacceptedphysiologyofthesenses,aknownresultofanatomicalresearch,thattheconsciousnessofwhatweseeandfeeliswhatwereallyexperience,notthethingsthemselves.Intheendallourfactsarementalones,alloursurroundingsareknownonlyasourownthoughts.
101Thementalnessofallexistenceisnotatheorynorabelief.Itisanincontrovertibleactuality.
102Iftheworldwerenotinthemindtostartwith,wewouldneverknowthattherewasworldatall.
103Justastheelectriccurrentmustmeetasecondthing,resistance,beforeitcanappearaslight,sound,heat,ormagnetism,somindmustmeetwithanideabeforeitcanappearasconsciousness,inthewaywehumansknowthelatter.Untilthenitmustrestintheblanknessofsleep,orthelatencyofsubconsciousness.
104Itisnotpossibleforsincere,scrupulousthinkingtoadmit,andneverpossibletoprove,theexistenceofaworldoutsideof,andseparatefrom,itsconsciousness.Thefaithbywhichweallconventionallygrantsuchexistenceismeresuperstition.
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105Theworldisneverreallygiventousbyexperiencenoractuallyknownbythemind.Whatisgivenisidea,whatisknownisidea,tobetranscendedonlywhenprofoundanalysistransformstheIdeaintotheReality.
106Wecannothelptakingobjectsintoourconsciousnesssolongaswetaketheegointoit.
107Itisnotbecauseathingisexistentthatyouthinkitbutbecauseyouthinkit,evenifinvoluntarily,thatitisexistent.Andthisthoughtofitisapartofyourownconsciousness,notoutsideyou.
108Itisabsurdeventosuggestthatthereisanexternalworldwhollyoutsideofone'sconsciousnessandwhollyindependentofit.Oneknowsonlycertainchangesofmentalawareness,neverofexternals.Themindcanonlyknowitschangesofindividualconsciousness.Allitsobservations,eachofitsinferences,everythingitknowstheselieenclosedwithinthatconsciousnessandareneverbeyondit.
One'sknowledgeofanythingwhatsoeverissimplyone'sthoughtofit.Thisisnottobeconfusedwithone'srightthoughtofit.Itisaconsciousmentalstate,andevenotherpersonsarebutappearanceswithinthisstate,creaturesinthecosmicdream.Tofollowthislineofreflectiontoitsinevitableenddemandscourageandcandourofthehighestkind,foritdemandsasultimateconclusiontheprinciplethatknowledgebeingbutideasinthemind,thewholeuniverseisnothingbutanimmenseideawithinone'sownmind.Fortheverynatureofknowledgeisthusinternal,andhencetheindividualmindcannotknowanyrealityexternaltoitself.Itbelievesthatitobservesaworldwithoutwhenitonlyobservesitsownmentalpicturesofthatworld.
109Itisagenerativeidea.Hereisawholephilosophycongealedintoasinglephrase:theworldisanidea.
110Unlessweareinpersonaltouchwiththeworld,itisnotpresentforus.Therelationendsthemomentouregoiswithdrawn.Withoutit,withoutaviewingsubject,theworldasobjectsimplydoesnotexist.Andnobodylivingintheegoconsciousnesshasanywayofknowingwhattheworldisinandbyitself.
111Allexperienceisexperienceintheworldofconsciousness.Thereisnoother.
112Sofarasitappearsinanycreature'sexperience,theworldisonlyathoughtinthatcreature'smind.Allcreaturesmaybanishthethoughtbysleepbutonlyahumancreaturemaybanishitbyyoga.
113Theonlyworldweknow,theonlyonewecaneverknow,istheonewithinourmind.Thefirstproofofthisisthatwhenitleavesthemindindeepsleep,ithasnoexistenceforusatallthesecondproofisthatwhenitreentersthemindonawakening,thesenseperceptionswhichtellusofitsexistencereenteritalso.
114Thehillorthestarisaperceptioninyourmind.Youcannotnowsayexactlywhenyour
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mindbegantoexistorwhenitwillceasetodoso,butonlyconjectureaboutit.
115Suchisthemetaphysicalimportanceofmemorythatitgivesusthekeytoexistence.Forwhatistheoncesorealseemingworldofthenowshadowingpastwhenrecalledagainintobeingbyitsmagicalpowerbutaprocessionandcollectionofmentalimagesofliketexturetoadream?Diditnotthenexistlikeacommondreamonlyintheconsciousnessofallitscreatures?Anddonottheplacesandthingsandpersonstakeonacuriouslydreamlikecharacterwhenwebringitbackintoremembrance?Thuswehavetostepoutofthepast,whichmeanstostepoutofthechainsoftime,beforewecandiscovertheessentialmentalnessofallourexperience.
116Allthatisrealinhumanexperienceisthemind'sexperienceallthatisreceivedintothemindareideasalleventsofwhateverkindaremental,thatis,ideas.
117MentalkofthesolidityoftheirmaterialexistenceyetawholecontinentAtlantisvanishedinaday.
118Whatisexperiencedisnothingotherthanyourself,foritisnothingotherthanyourthoughtandyourperception.
119Whenwegiveourselvesuptoadesireoranattachment,whydowereallydoso?Itisbecauseweseekthestateofhappyconsciousnesswhichthethingobtainedorthesituationrealizedwould,webelieve,leadto.Whatwereallydesireisinthemind.
120Thedoctrineofmentalismbeginsandendswiththeboldpronouncementthatallexperienceandevenallbeingisinthemind.
121Howcanathoughtexistapartfromitsthinker?Onecanimaginethis,butphilosophydoesnotdealwithimagination,onlywithknownfacts.Thenotionthatthoughtsaresetoutintospaceandthatotherstuneintothemisbasedontheillusionthatmindisinthebodyorbrain,whereasthereverseistrue.Hasanyoneevermeasuredthemindandshownwhereitstartedandended?Theverynotionoftheworldiswithinone'smind.Thisshowsthathecannotsaythatthoughtsareoutsidethemindmerelybecausehebelievestheytouchsomebodywhoishundredsofmilesaway.Thereisnomoreseparationbetweenthoughtsandthinkerthanbetweendreamsandthedreamer.
122Wehavenoothercontactthanwithourownthoughtsoftheworld,yetthosethoughtsareastrulyandactuallyourexperiencesofitasanythingelsecouldeverbe.
123Itisutterlyimpossibletoexplainthematerialworldsatisfactorilywithoutreferencetomind,andthisreferencemustcomefirst,notlast,becauseitisthemindthattellsthattheworldexists.
124WhentheNaqshabandiDervishMullah(expounderandexplaineroftheteaching)saystoacrowdaroundhim,"Youareherebecauseofme!"hismeaningcancomealiveonlyinamentalisticsense.
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125Weareabletothinkoursurroundingsonlybecauseultimatelytheyareasmentalinsubstanceasourcommonlyacceptedthinking.
126Whatfactismorecertain,whatpartofhumanlifemoreinescapable,thanthatofconsciousness?Whatwouldbecomeofourexperienceoftheworldwithouttheawarenesswhichisbasictoit?
127Mindisthefoundationofallourexistence.Itisalwaysthereevenwhen,asindeepsleep,wearenotpersonallyconsciousthatitisthere.Anymaterialisticdenialofitsselfexistencecanbemadeonlybecausemindispresenttomakeit.
Mind,theknower
128WhatisMind?Itisthatinuswhichthinks,whichisaware,andwhichknows.
129Thereisonenaturalcapacitywhichiscommontoeveryhumanbeingandtoeveryanimalbeingacapacitywhichistheveryessenceofitsselfhood.Itisconsciousness.Themostimportantofallstatesofconsciousnessisknowledge.
130Theonlyrealexistenceisthemind's.Butweordinarilyknowonlyitsprojectionsandretractions,itsphasesandstates,itsconsciousnessesandlapses.
131Mindisthatqualityorcapacityinmanwhichenableshimtobeawareofbothhimselfandhissurroundings.
132Weareconsciousofaworldoutsidethroughtheknowingfaculty,themind.Thevariousideaswhichweformoftheworldaresimplystatesofthemind.Theseideasarenotseparatefromtheminditselfandcouldnotbe.Iftheywere,thenwewouldhavetobecomeconsciousofthem,asweareoftheworld,throughotherideas,throughotherstatesofthemind.
133Thereisaregionofmindwhichliesbeyondtheintellect'simmediatereach.Becauseitholdssomanylowerbutrepresseddesires,somepsychologistshavecalleditthesubconscious.Becauseitholdssomanylaudablebutvagueaspirations,mostreligionistshavecalledittheSoul.Becauseitisnotordinarilyinthefocusofawareness,otherpsychologistshavecalledittheunconsciousmind.Allthreegroupsareright,buteachislimitedinwhatitseesandwhatitunderstands,asifgropingforknowledgeinthedusk.
134Itisnotthattherearedifferentmindsinman,butdifferentqualitiesofoneandthesamemindineach.
135Whatweareiswhatweareconsciousof.Themindmakesitsownreality.Consciousnessisking.
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136Whyisitthatsomanypeoplearesounawareoftheirownhigherexistence?Theansweristhattheirfacultyofawarenessitselfisthatspiritualexistence.Whatevertheyknow,peopleknowthroughtheconsciousnesswithinthem.Thatinthemwhichknowsanythingistheirdivineelement.Thepowerofknowingwhetheritbeathoughtthatisknown,acomplexofthoughtssuchasmemories,athingsuchasalandscapeisadivinepowerforitderivesfromthehigherselfwhichtheypossess.
137Themindinterpretsitsownexperienceinaparticularwaybecause,owingtoitsstructure,itcouldnotdosoinanotherway.Buttheselimitationsarenoteternalandabsolute.When,asindream,yoga,death,orhallucination,theyareabruptlyloosened,thenexperienceisinterpretedinanewanddifferentway.
138Tofeelandtoknowareattributesofconsciousness,notofbrutematter.
139Weknowonlybyinferenceoranalogythatthemindsofindividualsexist,notbydirectperception.Oursociallifeisbaseduponthisknowledgeand,actingonit,wefinditlargelytrue.
140Justaswefirstfindwatertobealiquidandlatertobeagaseouscombination,sowefirstfindinvisionthatalltheworldislight,andlater,inknowledge,thatitisMind.
141Thinkingisanactdonementallyand,likeallacts,pointstotheexistenceofsomeonewhoalreadyexistsortosomethingindependentofit.
142ThewriterGeorgeMoorewasnotparticularlyinterestedinmetaphysicsandusuallyleftthesubjectalone.Yethalfofasentencehewroteuponwritingitselfcontainedthemostimportantandsignificantmetaphysicalprinciple.Itwas:"Myownmindaloneisknowntome."
143Therecanbenothoughtwithoutathinker,andwhenwebegintosearchforthatwhichthinks,webegintofollowatrailwhichleadstotheSoul.
144"Isee"and"Iknow"aretwoveryordinaryphrases.Butwhattremendousmetaphysicalmeaningsarehiddenbehindthem!
145Whenmanturnstoobservehimselfintheefforttoknowhimself,whathefirstnoticesisnotatallwhathewillhavetonoticelaterintheend:thatisConsciousness.
146Bythelightofmind,manisabletoknow,think,reflect,andfeel.
147Ifthehumanbeingfindsthathehasthecapacitytothink,toproduceideas,todiscoverthewordsorpicturesinwhichhecanclothetheseideas,heshouldrememberthatallthisbecomespossibleonlybecauseoftheprimacyofthemindthatis,mindconsciousnessalreadyexisted,andhencetheyareabletoexist.Withoutitspriorexistencetheycouldnotcometobirth.
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148Thisdeepunknownbasisofminddeterminesitssurfacelifeandisthekeytoitsconscioustrendsthereforeitshouldbecomeourchiefobjectofstudy.
149Thatwhichenablesustoknowtheworldoutsideandtobeawareoftheselfinside,isMind.
150Ismannothingmorethannervestuff,flesh,andbone?Thoughtasksthisquestion.Thoughtalonecananswerit.Nobutchershop,howevercrammedwithnervestuff,flesh,andbone,willeveranswerit.Onlythethinkingprincipleinman,whichisanemanationofhissoul,canexplainitself.
151Itismindwhichmakesthoughtsintelligible,thingsexperienceable,andthethinker(theexperiencer)selfconsciousMind!themysteriousunknownbackgroundofourlife.
152Wedonotknowtheselfdirectlybutonlythroughthethoughtsitproduces.Itisimpossibleintellectuallytoexamineitandequallyimpossibletoexcludeitfromourexaminations.
153Thingsexistonlyinthecharacterofknownthings.Iftheyareabsentfromoursensestheyarepresentinourthoughts.Iftheyareabsentfromourconsciousnesstheymustbepresenttotheuniversalconsciousness.Whateverischaracterizedassomethingknown,cannotbetheknowingprincipleitself.
154Thinkingispossibleonlywherethereexistsanobjectaboutwhichtothink,whetheritbeamaterialthingoramereidea.Wecannotthinkunlesswehavesomethinginmind.Thismeansineveryactofthoughttherearetwoelements:thethinkingitselfandtheobjectorideathoughtabout.Thesearesocoupledtogetherbythepsychologicalconstitutionofmanthatthefirstcannotexistwithoutthesecond.
Thisisequallytrueoftheactofseeing.Wecannotseeanythingunlessthereissomeobject,somethingtobeseen.Hencesightdependsuponbothseeingitselfandtheobjectseen.Botharesointerrelatedthattheformercouldnotexistiftherewerenottheother.
Thesestatementsmaybemoreeasilyunderstoodafterduereflection,butitwillbemuchmoredifficulttounderstandthatthecontraryoneslikewiseholdtrue.Thatistosay,noobjectorideacanexistwithoutbeingthoughtof,andnothingperceptiblecanexistwithoutsomethingorsomeonetoseeit.Inshort,thefactorswhichhavebeencoupledtogetherherearemutuallydependent.
Itisimpossibleforathinkableobjectorideatoexistinastatewherethoughtitselfisimpossible.Itisimpossibleforaseeablethingtoexistinastatewheresightisimpossible,asindeepsleep.And,sinceeverythingmaterialiseitherthinkableorseeableorboth,itfollowsthattheentirematerialuniversehasitsbeinginbeingthoughtoforperceived.Itisonlyanappearancewithinthemindofthethinkerordependentupontheperceiver.Noidea,noobject,couldhaveanyconceivableexistenceiftheperceiverhimselfneverhadany.Somethinglivingandconsciousthatcanthinkandbecomeawareofthemmustfirstexistthroughtheirrelationtoit.Theycannotpossiblyexistindisconnectionfromaconsciousmind.
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Ifweimagineauniversalstatewhereintherewasnobodypresent,nomindthatcouldthinkofanything,perceiveit,orbeconsciousofit,thenwearequiteunabletoputanyideaorobjectorsoundorcolourintothisstate.
Thisistruewhetherweapplyittomereideasortohardandheavythingswhichweseeandfeel,suchashousesandtrees.Thepointcannotbegraspedbytheunderstandingwithoutpreviousreflectionandmeditation,foritappearstobecontrarytocommonexperienceandcommonsense.Inshort,matterisamentalsensationandnotthecauseofamentalsensation.
155Whateverthought,idea,image,orremembrancecomestousisnotseparatefromourmindandconsequentlyfromus.Andbecauseeveryobject,thing,orcreatureintheworldaroundusisonlyathought,idea,image,orremembrancetous,itislikewisenotseparatefromus.
156Anyonewhoisabletoimagineorfeelarealseparationbetweenthoughtandbeing,hasdonewhatIamquiteunabletodo.Onthecontrary,Ifindmyselfalwaysconstrainedtoimagineorfeelthatanessentialandinevitablerelationexistsbetweenthem.
157Weneverknowthingsbyandinthemselvesbutonlybyandinthemind.
158Mindcanknowonlythatwhichisofthesamenatureasitself,namely,thought.
159Iftheobjectofmyexperiencehadnothingincommonwithmyideaofit,itcouldnotevenstandinthisallegedrelationofcauseandeffect.Ifitdoessostand,thenwhatisthecommonthingbetweenthem?Thereisnoanswertothisquestionexceptthementalistone.
160Spaceissimplythewayinwhichourmindsseetheworldthatis,itispurelymentalandnotreallyoutsideus.Thecorollarytothisisthatasallthingshavetheirbeinginspace,theymustlikewisehavetheirbeinginthemind.Butmindalonecanonlyentertainmentalvisitorsitistoosubtletoreceivenonmentalmaterials.Mindcannotreceivethatwhichiswhollydissimilartoit.Thereforeallthingsmustenteritasideasonly.
161Themindcanhavedealingsonlywithkindredobjectsformedfromitsownsubstance,thatis,withthoughts,ideas.Thereforewhenitknowsmaterialobjectstheymustreallybeideas.
162Mindandmatterareincommensurables.Mindcanenterintorelationsonlywithsomethingalliedtoitsownsubtlernature,notwithsomethingwhollydissimilar,asmatterissaidtobe.ThatwhichthemindknowsmustberelevantinrelationtotheMinditself.Theremustbeacommunityofkindbetweenthetwo,acommonidentityofsubstance.Theworldasknowncannotpossiblybeextramentalinnature.Hencethecharacteristicsofwhatthemindknowsmustbementalthatis,theyconstituteourideas.
163Thehumanmindcanenterintorelationwiththatis,becomeawareofthatwhichisofthesamenatureasitself,thatwhichiscorrelatedtoit,thatwhichisalsomental.Itis
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impossibleformaterialthingstoenterdirectlyintotheimmaterialconsciousnessofman.
164Wereourconsciousnessoftheworldandtheworlditselfsoessentiallydifferentafterall,thennorealcontactbetweenthemcouldeverbepossible.Butcontactdoeshappen.Anditdoeshappenbecausetheworldisnothinglessthanthemind'sidea.
165Ifamanwouldbewillingtothinkdeeplyenough,hewouldbeobligedtoagreewiththeassertionthathecanknowonlytheideaofathing,andnotthethinginitself.
166Twothingswhicharetotallydifferentfromoneanother,quiteunrelated,cannotworktogetheroraffecteachother.Thisismentalism'scase.
167Thehumanmindisforeverdealingwithhumanconceptionsofthingsunderthebeliefthatitisdealingwiththethingsthemselves.
168Twolipsutterasingleword.Theexperiencerandtheexperiencedobjectareasinglestuff.
169Mindistheknowingagentandmindistheobjectknown.Inthefirstcaseitassumestheinternalformofselfconsciousness,inthesecondcase,theexternalformofexperiencedworld.
170Whenweanalysetheexperienceofhumanexperienceitself,wefindthatitreducesdowntotheknowerandtheknown,themindanditsthought.Allattemptstoseparatethephysicalobjectfromsensedataandthesefrommentalperceptionsendinartificiality.
171Mindcannotprojectitselfoutsideitselftoobservewhatitis.Onlythroughwhatitknowsordoesordesires,onlyasitsexistenceisexpressedinanygivensituation,canitperceiveitself.
172Theobjectseen,theeyewhichseesit,andtheactofseeingareallpartofamentallycreatedsceneallareidea.
173ThephilosophicalmeaningofEinstein'sdiscoveriesthatthenatureoftheworlddependsonthenatureofitsrelationtotheonewhoseesit,thatwecannottrulyspeakaboutanyobjectindependentlyoftheobserver,andthattimeisthehallmarkofthisrelativityisinperfectaccordancewithourowndoctrine.Whateverisseen,isseenbythemind.Apartfromthemindweknownothingofitsexistenceandapartfromthemindthethoughtoftimecouldnotariseforus.Inshort,everyexistentobjectiswhollyrelativetothesubjectMind.
174Experienceisaunityandcannotbebrokenintomindandmatter.Wecannotpossiblyseparatetheworldfromthemindthatknowsit.Thetwoarealwaysrelated.Toobjectthatsucharelationneednotexistoutsidetheactofknowingtheworld,eventhoughitmustexistinsideit,istoutterwordswhichdissolveawayassoonastheirmeaningisanalysed.
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Fortheonlyworldwhichhumanbeingscaneverdiscussisonewhichtheycanthinkaboutandwhichisthereforeanideafortheirminds.
175BecauseIamaconsciousbeingIamawareofphysicalsensationsandmentalthoughtsbuttheconsciousnesswhichenablessuchawarenesstoexistitselfexistedbeforesensationandbeforethought,andthisisastrueofnewbornbabiesasitisofdyingmen.Thisiswhatthematerialisticanatomistdissectingthebodyfailstoperceive.ThisistheforgottenselfofthefabledtenpersonscrossingariverinIndianmythology,andthisisthegreatsecretwhichmentalismunveilsforus.
176ThetenthmanintheHindustory,whofailedtocounthimselfwhencheckingifallthepartywhowadedacrossariverweresafetheHebrewrabbiwhosaidonhisdeathbed,"Ifthereprovestobenofuturelife,howIshalllaugh!"andthescientistwhodeniedtheexistenceofmindbecausebrainfleshproducesconsciousnessallthreeshowhoweasyitistoforgetthesubjectwhenlookingattheobject.
177Theobjectwhichthesensesdirectlyestablishcontactwithisregardedasonethingthementalimpressiontheyhavewhenthinkingofthatobjectisregardedasanotherandtotallydifferentthing.Thisisaverysimpleandapparentlyveryobviousviewofthematter.Totheordinarymind,bywhichImeanthemetaphysicallyunreflectivemind,thestatementisunarguableanditsimplieddivisionofNatureintomentalandmaterial,uncontestable.Butifyouanalysethewayyouperceiveobjectsyouwillfindthatboththeperceiverandtheperceivedareinseparableintheactofperception.Youcannotshowadualityofideaandthingbutonlyaunityofthem.
TheNotebooksarecopyright19841989,ThePaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundation.