14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

PaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundationhomepage>NotebooksofPaulBrunton>Category7:TheIntellect>Chapter6:
Science

Science
Influenceofscience
1

Themodernattitude,whichhasprovedsosignificantinscience,issafer.Theeraof
mysterymongeringispast.Knowledgewhichisnotverifiablecannotbereceivedwith
certitude.Overmuchprofessionofthepossessionofsecretpowersopensthedoorsto
imposture.Hewhoisunabletoofferadequateevidencehadbetternotseekthepublicear.
Itisonlythesupersessionofhumanreasonthathasmadeitpossibletosupporterrorfor
somanycenturies.
2

TheWesthasbeentrainingitselffortwocenturiesormorealongthelinesofphysical
inquiry,andthefruitfulnessofachievementhasordainedthatphysicalresults,tangible
andvisibleresults,arethethingswhichinterestusmost.
3

Thescientificoutlookisitsownsatisfaction.Thepracticalrewardswhichattach
themselvestoitpossesstheirvalue,buttheconsciousnessofbeingabletoappraiselife
correctly,whereverandwhateverbeone'senvironment,isimmeasurablyworthwhile.
4

Philosophymustbuildherstructurewithunimpeachablefactswhichmeansthatshemust
builditwithscientificallyverifiedfacts.
5

Howoftenhasmankindbeenofferedconceptsandconclusions,ideasandimaginations
alongwiththevehementassertionthattheyaredirectlyobservedfacts!
6

Thereisacertainmeasureofsafetyinthedeliberatecultivationofrationalthoughtbased
onobservedfactasaguidetoaction.Thisisthewaythatsciencehastravelledwiththe
discoveriesof,andprofitsby,naturallaw.Thisisthewaythatindustryandcommerce
havetravelled,withsolidresultsforalltosee.Itsvalue,whenappliedtomethodsof
achievement,isaprovedone.
7

Thesciencesareusefultomanandneednotbecursedfortheevilresultsoftheirabuse
byman.Heneedsrathertolearnhowtomakeabetter,moreprudent,andwiseruseof
them.
8

Thespiritofsciencewhichhappenstobethespiritofthisagehasrationalizedus,and
wearenaturallyimpatientofallmisguidedpersonswhoappearirrational.
9

Thescientificmethodhasbeensufficientlyusedandsufficientlypopularizedtobring
aboutaradicalchangeintheoutlookofeducatedmen.Revelationsarenolongerblindly
accepted.Thespiritofenquiryisawake,andtheserevelationscannolongerbesavedby
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

1/18

14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

placingtheminwatertightcompartments,bysettingupbarricadesbeyondwhichthe
questingspiritofscienceisnotallowedtoproceed.Criticalmethodsofexaminationmust
beeverywhereapplied.Thatwhichseekstoescapebyhoistingasacrosanctflag,is
dishonesttoitselfandtoothers.
10

TheareaofEuropeanknowledgehasextendedfarbeyondthatofoldRome.Sciencehas
penetratedeverycornerofourlives.Ithascometostay.Wemustwelcomethewisdom
oftheancientsbutitsformulationshouldberemoldedinthelightofpresentday
knowledge.
11

Astheintellectualchangeofattitudeispromotedbythediscoveriesofscienceandthe
reflectionsofscientists,religious,moral,educational,metaphysical,andsocialchanges
willfollowasalogicalconsequence.
12

Notloosebutexact,notdilettantebutmethodical,notcredulousbutcritical,notinhaste
tojumpatconclusionsbutpatienttogetallthefactsfirstsuchisthescientificattitude
whichmustbeembracedbythemanwhowouldbeaphilosopher.
13

Electricitynotonlylightsupthevillagestreetitalsolightsupthevillagemind.Forthe
intrusionofsciencestimulatesthinkingandscarifiessuperstition.
14

Bothreasonandscience,whichstandinthepathofthemystic,assistthefurtherprogress
ofthephilosopher.
15

Ourchemicalmagicianswavetheirwandsoveraheapoftarandlo!itistransformedinto
fragrantperfumes,brilliantdyes,andvaluabledrugs.
16

Thescientificknowledgeaccumulatedinasingleyearnowadaysexceedstheentirestock
ofknowledgeofancientGreece.
17

Modernmanmustbepresentedwithamoderntechniqueofspiritualunfoldment.He
demandsascientificapproachtowardstruthandthereisnorealreasonwhyhisdemand
shouldnotbesatisfied.Hedemandsasimplifiedyetinclusivetechnique,andonethat
willbeatthesametimeprecisepracticalandimmediatelyapplicable.
18

Themysticsmayscornscience,butitissciencewhichhasforcedthedifferentpeoplesof
thisearthtorecognizetheirinterdependenceandtoadmittheneedofbrotherhood.
19

Inanageofscience,thisstubbornrefusaltorelatecausalfactstoconsequentialones,this
blinddeterminationtoascribeallhappeningstoGod'swillandnonetoman'sdoing,
becomeschildish.
20

ScienceisbasedupontheexaminationofNaturesocalledsystemsofphilosophyaretoo
oftensystemsofdiscussiononlyorofabstractthoughtwithoutanyreferenceto,ortest
by,thefactsofNature.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

2/18

14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

21

Bothforgoodandill,sciencehasimposedadictatorshipovertheotherwaysofknowing
andtheotherwaysandresultsofexperience.Ithasadmittedlyearneditspositionbythe
immensevalueandutilityofitspracticalapplication,sovisibleallaroundus,aswellas
respectforthequalityofitsthinkingusuallyexact,factual,andaccurate.
22

Whenweplacescienceasanessentialpreliminaryandintegralpartofthiscourse,we
mustmakeclearthatwhatisprimarilymeantbythetermhereisscientificeducationof
theunderstandingandnotthecommunicationofscientificknowledge.Botharenecessary
ineverycurriculum,butwhereastheformerimpliesadevelopmentofintelligence,the
latterisanaccumulationoffacts.Wevaluetheculturalaspectsofscience,itspowerto
trainthemindincorrectthinkingandproperenquiry,asbeingmoreimportantforthe
purposesofthisquestthanitspracticalaspects,whichdealwithphysicaltechniquesand
materialbehaviours.Weesteemthecautious,sceptical,andkeenlyenquiringmethodof
approachwhichthescientistusestheutilitarianresultsofsuchamethodarenotour
specialconcern.Themeaningofthisdifferencebecomesclearerwhenitisstatedthatthe
collegeshaveproducedmanysciencegraduateswhopossessmuchscientificknowledge,
butlittlescientifictraining.Theyhaveassimilatedafairamountofscientificknowledge
throughtheuseofmemoryandotherfaculties,buttheyhavenotorganizedtheirreason
andsharpenedtheirintelligencebytheassimilationofscientificprinciples.Thestudyof
philosophydemandsacertainmentalequipment,apreliminaryexpansionofthe
intellectualfaculties,beforeitcanbecomereallyfruitfulandactuallyeffective.The
knowledgeofanumberoffactscontainedinanumberofbooksisnotsufficienttomake
ascientistsuchaknowledgeissterilefromtheviewpointofthisquest,howevervaluable
itbefromtheviewpointofcommercialandindustrialdevelopment.
23

Wearenotlikelytogiveupvoluntarilythecivilizedcomfortswhichsciencehasgiven
us,northemachineswithwhichitservesus.Areturntotribalism,medievalism,and
primitivityisunlikely.
24

Sciencebringsmaterialcomfortsinitshandsasitsofferingtous.Thesethingsarenotto
bedespised,buttheyarealsonottobeworshipped.Takethem,Oman,foryouneed
thembutlearntobecomelessabsorbedinthem.
25

ThereisnothingwronginseekingtomakeNature'senergiesandmaterialsservethe
needsofmankind.Technologyisnotallevil,asbeginningescapeesfromamaterialistic
societysooftenbelieve.EvenOrientalpeasantshaveasimpletechnology.
26

ThankstoscienceIcanlookatmywatchandthusdeterminewithaprecisionthat
Copernicusneverknewatwhatpointofitsrotationtheearthis.
27

ThiscenturyhasseenrevolutionsinconventionalthoughtlikenonAristoteliansystems,
nonNewtonianmechanics,multivaluedlogics,whichhavedestroyedancientsacrosanct
errors.
28

Thevalueoftruthasanintellectualidealhasgreatlyincreased.Wehaveusedourbrains
duringthelasttwoorthreecenturiesasneverbefore.Sciencehasmadegiantstrides,and
thepronouncementsofthescientistarehighlyvaluedmerelybecausewebelievethathe
speaksimpartiallyandimpersonallyasatruthseeker.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

3/18

14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

29

Onlyalittleoverthreehundredyearsagodidscientistsbegintounderstandthelanguage
ofthestory.Sincethattime,theageofGalileoandNewton,readinghasproceeded
rapidly.Techniquesofinvestigation,systematicmethodsoffindingandfollowingclues,
havebeendeveloped.ThediscoveryanduseofscientificreasoningbyGalileowasoneof
themostimportantachievementsinthehistoryofhumanthoughtandmarksthereal
beginningofphysics.Thisdiscoverytaughtusthatintuitiveconclusionsbasedon
immediateobservationarenotalwaystobetrusted,fortheysometimesleadtothewrong
clues.
30

Theupshotofthisstatementisthatalthoughitisafactfromthepracticalstandpointthat
yourtypewriterstillrestsonthetable,itisequallyafactfromcontemporaryknowledge
thatis,theultrascientificstandpointofdeeperenquirythattheseriesofenergywaves
whichconstitutedyourtypewriter,theseriesofeventswhichwereoriginallypresentin
thespacetimecontinuum,areperpetuallyvanishing.Whatthenisthemeaningofthis
"fact"?
31

Science,keepingclosetofacts,restrictsthementalactivitieswhereasfancy,willingto
disregardthem,lendsthemwings.
32

Itisagreatmeritofsciencethatitsmethodproducesresultsthataredefinite,reliable,and
predictable.Weknowthatiftheneededconditionsareproperlyfulfilled,theresultwill
notvaryfrompreviousresults.
33

Thereisstillamysteryatthecoreoftheatom.Humilityisasbefittingbeforeittodayas
itwasahundredyearsago.
34

Thescientificmodeofthoughtisnolongerlimitedtoafewscientists.Ithasbegunto
permeatetheeducatedworldgenerally.
35

Thereligiouswaywastosuppressawkwardquestionsbutthescientificwayistoseekout
theanswers.
36

Modernphysics,mathematics,andmetaphysicsarebridgestowardseachother.
37

Itmayproperlybecalledascientificmethodonlyifitsresultscanbecheckedby
observersanywhereintheworld.
38

Itoughttoberememberedthatanumberofthosewhohaveespousedmaterialismhave
beenledintoitbytheirloyaltytotruth,bytheirintellectualhonesty,ratherthanbyan
evilnature.
39

Scienceisreallyorentirelyanaffairoftheintellectbecauseitdealswithmanifestforces
andvisibleanddiscoverablefacts.
40

(a)"ThevulgarbeliefthatSciencehas"explainedeverything"isahopeless
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

4/18

14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

misunderstanding.Asweshallafterwardsfind,itwouldbenearerthetruthtosaythat
Sciencehasexplainednothing.(b)Sciencedoesnoteventrytoreferfactsofexperience
toanyultimatereality.Thatisnotitsbusiness.(c)InalimitedsenseScienceexplains
things,namely,byreducingthemtosimplerterms,bydiscoveringtheconditionsoftheir
occurrence,andbydisclosingtheirhistory.WhatdowemeanwhenwesaythatPhysics
hasaccountedforthetidesorthatPhysiologyhasmadesomefunctionofthebodymuch
moreintelligiblethanitusedtobe?Whatismeantisthatwehavegainedageneral
conceptionofthenatureofthefactsinquestion,andthatweareabletorelatethemto
somegeneralformula.InthissenseonlydoesScienceexplainthings,anditdoesnot
reallygetbeyondadescription."Thomson,IntroductiontoScience.
41

Earlierscientistshadtostruggletoomuchtofreetheirknowledgeanddiscoveryfromthe
dogmasorpersecutionsofreligionnottobeantagonistictowardit.Andtheyhadalsoto
struggleagainsttheimaginativespeculationsimposedonthembymetaphysicsnottobe
friendlywithit.

Whensciencestandsalone
42

Therightuseofscienceisthephysicalreleaseofman.Theworshipofscienceleadstoits
wronguseandfromtheretothedownfallofman.
43

Thescientificmind,cautioustoacceptnothingmorethantheevidencejustifies,
scrupuloustoachieveaccuracyinobservation,possessesthedefectsofitsvirtues.Forit
shutsoutthecompleteviewofathing,sincethatrequirestheuseofotherfacultiesas
wellastheintellectituses,facultiessuchasimaginationandemotion.
44

Metaphysicsmustteachustothinkandsciencemustprovideuswiththenecessaryfacts
uponwhichtoexerciseourthinking.Butifitomitsmysticalfactsitisincomplete
science.
45

Theintellectuals,includingthescientists,havesubstitutedfaithinintellectualprocesses
forfaithinreligiousones.Inthelastcaseitisopenbeliefinthefirstone,itismasked,
hidden,coveredup,butstillfaith.
46

Allofthosewhousethedataofsciencetosupporttheirbeliefinintellectualmaterialism
andtojustifytheirscornforreligionandmysticism,denytheverysourcefromwhich
theyultimatelydrawtheirintellectualcapacitytomaketheircriticism.Andtotheextent
thatitletsthemuseitso,scienceitselfbecomessuperstition.
47

Thephilosopherfullyappreciatesthehighworthofthepointofviewofscienceand
applaudsitsmethod,butherefusestolimithimselftothem.Forheknowsthatonecannot
takealltruthasone'sterritoryunlessoneappliesallsidesofhisbeingtotheenterprise.
48

Instrivingtomastertheirearthlysurroundings,theydonothingwrong.Noristhis
statementchangediftheycallonthescientificintellecttohelpthemdoso.Materialism
beginsandgrowswhenthemoral,themetaphysicalintuitive,andthereligiouspointsof
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

5/18

14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

viewaresubmergedandlostintheprocess.
49

Aftertheintellecthasfinishedanalysingthisexperience,judgingitbyscience'slightand
withscience'scriticalrigour,thesubtleessenceislost.
50

Withallourscientificknowledgeandtechnicalskills,weknowlittleofoursubconscious
self,lessofourspiritualself,andweareunabletocontrolthoughtsandevenlessableto
concentrateattention.
51

Thereisnoteachinghoweverscientificwhichwillnotbefound,onsimpleorsevere
analysis,tomakesomecallonfaith.
52

Thethousandsofscientistswhothrongthehallsofculturetodaycantellussomuch
aboutthethousandsofdetailsexistentinNatureorfabricatedbymanyetstillcannottell
uswhytheentirecosmosispresenthereinspacetimeatall.Theyhavearichwealthof
knowledgeandcandescribewellwhatishappeningbutwhatitisallforcompletely
eludesthem.
53

Thescientistcangiveusfactsofwhichhehasmadecertain,butwhytheyshouldhappen
tobeastheyare,hecannotsay.
54

Ifscientificprogresshasfreedmanfrommanydrudgeries,ithasenslavedhimwithmany
illusions.Oneoftheseisthebeliefthatitisitselfsufficienttoguideandguardhim.
55

Stupendousarethepossibilitieswhentheatomicforceswillbetoilingforus,slavingfor
usbutstilltheyareonlymaterialpossibilities.
56

Thosewhobelievethatsciencewillremoveallthetroublesofmanandalltheflawsin
man,havebadlytakentheirmeasureofNature.
57

Althoughtheeducationaltrendhasstimulatedinterestinscienceaboveanyothersubject,
atimewillcomewhentheeducatedpersonwillfindthathecannotlivebysciencealone.
Theartswilldemandandreceivetheirdue.Thespiritwillputinitsgentlecall.Inother
words,culturewillhavetocompleteitself.
58

Thewheelrevolved.Timecircledaroundtheglobe.Andmencasttheirfaithfromthem.
Anewstarhadarisen,Science!
59

Sciencetreatsmanasahigheranimal,andhasnobetterviewofhim.Thisisincomplete
tothepointoffalsity,dangeroustothepointofselfdestruction.
60

Thescientistboastsofhistriumphs.ButhowgreatafterallishistriumphoverNatureif
heisstillunabletomakeevenatinyinsect?
61
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

6/18

14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

Ifknowledgefailstoreconcilesciencewithreligionandphilosophy,thencivilizationwill
becomethevictimofapoliticallydirectedmaterialisticscientificknowledge,andendby
destroyingitself.
62

Arethephysiciansandsurgeonsnotalreadyworthytobecalleddeadwhoknowsolittle
oftheirownselves,andsomuchofthebodiesinwhichtheyarelodged?
63

Sciencehasseduceduscompletely,socompletelythatweareabletoliveunaffectedby
thewisdomoftheancientsandofthepastasthoughithadneverbeen.Sciencehas
becomeitsgraveyard.Wedonotunderstandthattherealmoftruthintowhichthese
ancientspenetratedstillexists.
64

Whenscienceleadsmantodenyhissacredsourceandtodecryallpersonaltestimonies
toexperienceofitsexistence,scienceisnolongerservingmanbutseriouslycrippling
him.
65

Scienceisnotthesamethingasscientism.Thelatterinvolvesacult,theformeravalid
attitude.Thevictimsofthemodernhighereducationtoooftenandtoounwittinglyare
initiatedandpressedintothiscult,whileallthetimebelievingthattheyarebeingtrained
intheformer.
66

Thecoldanalysisbyascientistmayfindnothingpresentinmanthatwillfittheterm
"Overself,"nothingsacred,mystic,andegoless.Butinmakingthisanalysishisprincipal
instrumentwastheintellect,andthisatoncelimitedhisresult.
67

Theyproclaimtherelativityofallintellectualstandpoints,allspiritualdoctrines,butfail
toseethattheirownstandpointanddoctrinearealsostampedwithsuchrelativity.
68

Whatclergymenpreachedtothem,scientiststaughtthemtodoubt.
69

Thesetoughmindedpeoplecannotseethatastateofconsciousnesscanberealifthey
cannotbringitwithintheirlimitedimagination.
70

ScientifictruthacquiredfromwithoutisutterlydifferentfromSpiritualtruthrevealed
fromwithin.
71

Theyderivetheirownmindsandallotherminds,alongwiththeirbodies,fromthe
primevalmud.Thusconsciousness,thepitifullyslenderandfragmentaryechoofanecho
whichisallweordinarilypossess,isdegradedandfalsified,sothatitsultimatelydivine
originisutterlylost.
72

Einsteinhasdemonstratedonceandforallhowexperimentalsciencecanonlyreach
relativetruthandhowabsolutenessisunapproachable.Andeveninmathematics,too,
whereweimaginethatexactnessreplacesapproximationweshallfindthatabsolute
quantitiesareunattainable.Itisimpossibletomarkwithprecisionthefractionofa
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

7/18

14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

fractionofafractionofasecondwhichactuallyelapsesbeforeorafteranygiventime
dimensionwhichisreadoffthedialofawatchandthusfalsifiesourreading.Itisequally
impossibletomeasurewithrigidcertitudeanydimensiononthescalewhichshallnotbe
afractionofafractionofafractionofaninchshorterorlongerthanoursupposed
measurement.Norhasanyscientificexperimentyetarrivedatanabsolutezeroin
actualitybuthasmerelyapproximatedit.
73

Themystic,whoknowsmoreabouttheinternalworldthanthescientist,isentitledtoa
hearingnotlessrespectfulthanthattowhichthescientistisentitledbecauseheknows
moreabouttheexternalworld.
74

Arethecomputer,theauto,andthetelevisionenoughtosupportamanwhenhigher
supportsarelostorlacking?
75

Thereisnoneedtodenythebeautyofaflower,apicture,oralandscapeinorder
scientificallytoaffirmitschemicalcomposition.Thereisroomforbothviews.
76

Itisthetragedyofonewhoknowstoomuchtobelievethattheuniverseisanaccidental
conjunctionofatomsbuttoolittletobelievethatmanhimselfisdivineinessence,in
origin,andindestiny.
77

Thereisinmanaknowingprinciple.Duringhisexistenceheappliesittoparticularand
separateobjects,creatures,theworldoutside,Nature.Andnowtospace!Thisspiritof
inquiryhasenabledhimtobringthemoonintohispathoftravel.ButtheKnoweritself
remainsneglected,unknown.
78

Thescientificapproachisinsistentindemandingproofandrequiringevidence.
79

Sciencehasitsbigotriesnolessthanreligion.
80

Incautiouslytryingtoshutoutfromitsexaminationsandunderstandingoffactsthe
humanfactorswhichfalsifythem,themodernscientistshutoutalsothosewhichareall
importantintheexaminationandunderstandingofhimself.
81

Theyarestilltryingtoknowbytouchofthehandorsightoftheeyewhatonlystilled
concentrationofmindcanreveal.
82

Thesameeducationwhichfreesamanfromsuperstitionmaycausehimtomissthe
subtlerknowledgeofhisrealinnerbeing,sothathismindwronglybelievesitselftobea
productofthebody.
83

Scienceexaminestheuniverseandreadsfromitthelawsofexistence.Thescientist
cannotgobeyondtheunseenenergyfromwhichtheatomisderived.Butthe
metaphysician,usingpureintelligencealone,canpursuethequestion:Whatis
fundamentallyrealinallthis?
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

8/18

14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

84

Thescientificattitudeshouldhavebeenusedtokeepsuperstitionandimposture,
fanaticismandfancy,confusionanduntruthoutofreligion.Insteaditwasusedtodestroy
religioninmanyminds.
85

Scientificknowledgecanbeextendedindefinitelybutitwillnotbeabletodomorethan
helpbodyand,toalesserextent,mind:salvationitcannotgiveus.
86

Thoseintellectualswholimitedthemselvesonlytotheknowledgeofpresentdayscience
andtothemethodsofpresentdayresearchhaveonlythemselvestoblamefortheworld
widemenaceofselfdestructionatwhichtheynowshudder.
87

Thedisintegrationoftheatomwhichsciencehassoamazinglyachievedisanimmense
symbolofthedisintegrationofmanwhichthescientisthasbroughtabout.Theresultsof
botharenotonlyequallydisastrousbutalsointimatelyrelated.
88

Theconsciousnesswhichhasgoneintotheseremarkableinventionsofthenineteenthand
twentiethcenturiescanbetracedbacktotheprimaryconsciousnessofman,andthatis
thedivinepartofhisbeing,theOverself.Butalltheseinventionsserveamaterial
purpose,andman'suseofthemcouldhavebeenforeseen,fortheyhavebeenusedonlyto
drawhimdeeperdownintomaterialismandfartherawayfromthehighergoalwhichhas
beensetforhimbytheWorldIdea.Scienceisneutral.Whathehasdonetoapplyits
discoveriesshowsthekindofthoughtwhichisuppermostinhismind,andthattheuseof
theseinventionsisforselfish,exaggeratedlyselfish,purposesbyindividualsandby
nations.Thenegativepurposeshavepredominatedoverthepositiveusemadeofthem.
Itisclearenoughthatwiththeterribleweaponsnowinthehandsofthehumanrace,and
withthelowmoralidealswhichitholds,soonerorlatertheywillbeusedtodestroythe
greaterpartofthepopulationoftheplanet.
89

TheatomicbombcouldnothavefallenonHiroshimaifthescienceofmathematicshad
notbeenformulatedbydevelopedhumanintellect.Thathumanethicsfailedtodevelop
sofarandwasevenrejectedbysciencewasafailurewhichturnedwhitemagicinto
blackmagic.
90

Yes,sciencehasprogressed,andcarriedusallalongwithit.Butwherehasitprogressed,
ledus?Wearefacednotonlywiththenuclearwarasafuturepossibilitybutalsowiththe
dangersanddevastationsofexperimentalatomfissionasapresentactuality.Thegrave
changesinclimatewiththeirseriousresultsforagriculture,animals,andlifeofman
himselfaswellastheincreasingpermeationofwaterreservoirs,riversandlakesandseas
withdestructiveradiation,aredefinitelyharmingustoday.Iamnotsuggestingarevolt
againstsciencebutofferingawarning.
91

Wemustpitythemillionswhohavebecometheshuteyed,mesmerizedcreaturesoftheir
period,whoarecarriedawaytoofarfromtheshoresofsafetybythetriumphsofscience
tounderstandwhattheterribleendofitallmaybe.
92

Science,whichwastohaveservedmanfaithfully,hasbecomeatrap.Themoreheuses
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

9/18

14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

it,themoredangerouslyishetrapped.Butalas!hedoesnotwanttoseehowprecariousis
hissituation,sotheprophetmustremainmuteandobscure:waitingandwatchingthe
higherforceswhicharethemselveswatchingfortheinevitableresultthatwillarrestthis
evil.
93

Greatinventionshavenotgivenmoreaspirationsbuttheyhaveenlargedhispowerto
communicatewithothersaboutthemandhavemadeiteasiertoservesomeofthem.But
unfortunatelyforhim,theyhavealsoenlargedhispowertocommunicateevilideasand
madeiteasiertoserveevildesires.
94

Wherescienceisbalancedbytheintuitiveheartforcesitbringswellbeingtomanbut
whereitiscontrolledbythecoldselfishheadforcesaloneitbringshimtoblackmagic
anddestroyshim.
95

Sciencewhich,withitsearlypromiseofutopianprogress,wastobringcheertotheheart,
hasactuallybroughtfeartothemind.
96

Philosophyrespectsscience,butnottheabusesofscience.Whentheyoccur,theycreate
materialisminmetaphysicalthought,pollutioninindustrialapplication,andunbalancein
religiouscriticism.
97

Scientificprogresshasgivenususefulgadgets,butterriblepoisons.Insteadofthe
paradisetowhichtheenthusiastsofthelastcenturyasserteditwasgoingtoleadus,we
nowlookforwardwithmuchanxiety,foritisbeginningtolookmorelikeahellupon
earth.
98

Whenmanextendedthesimpletoolswhichheusedintotheearlysimplermachines,the
developmentwasaninevitableconsequenceofhisdevelopingmind.Thechangewasa
usefuloneandbroughthimconveniencesorcomfortsunavailabletothemonarchsand
millionairesofpreviouscenturies.Butwhenthiswaspushedfartherandfarther,faster
andfaster,itsinherentdangersappeared,humansafetywasimperilled,humanhealth
ignored,andhumansensitivitycrushed.Technologygrewintoamonster.
99

Itisproperformantousetheworld,toexploitscience,onlyaslongashedoesnot
permitthemtoenslavehim.
100

Theknowledgegotthroughtheeyesandearsmay,whenunitedtoreason,leadonlyto
selfishcunningandcausedestructivesufferingtoothers.Butwhenitisunitedtoboth
reasonandintuition,itcanleadonlytowisdomandbringgoodtoothers.Theworld
todayisundergoingthisdangerandignoringthisremedy.Consequently,themore
sciencediscoversabouttheatom,theworsewillbehumanity'ssuffering.

Scienceandmetaphysics
101

Ifandwhenthescientistwhoobservesphenomenaandtabulatesfactstriestosinkashaft
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

10/18

14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

deepdownthroughthem,hewillstrikethestratumofmetaphysics.Hemaydespiseit,he
maywithdrawindisgust,butifhecontinuestopushhisshafthewillnotbeableto
escapehavingtoinvestigatehisphenomenaandfactsinthewaythatthemetaphysician
investigatesthem.Norwillhebeabletostopeventhere.Iffirstthoughtmakesacommon
manintoascientist,andsecondthoughtintoametaphysician,thirdthoughtwillmake
himintoaphilosopher.
102

FewpeopleoutsidetheRoyalSocietyknowthatSirIsaacNewton,whosebook,The
Principia,changedsciencetoitsfoundations,wasnotonlyoneofEngland'sgreatestmen
ofsciencebutalsooneofhermostardentstudentsofmysticism.Thereisalargemass,
estimatedatonemillionwords,ofunprintedpaperswhichheleftbehindinaboxat
Cambridgepaperswhichmustsurelyhavebeenwellknowntohisbewildered
biographersbutwhichhaveneverbeenpublishedoutoffearofharmingNewton's
reputationbythemererevelationofthisinterestinasubjectwhichwasforsolongtaboo
inscientificcircles.AfterNewton'sdeathBishopHorsleyinspectedtheboxwithaview
topublication,butonseeingsomeofthecontentsheslammedthelidwithhorror.The
existenceofthesepapersiswellknownto,andhasbeentestifiedby,SirRobert
Robinson,PresidentoftheRoyalSociety,who,askinghowNewtoncouldbebotha
mathematicianandamystic,himselfansweredthatitwasbecausehe"perceiveda
mysterybeyondanddidhisbesttopenetrateit."AlsoitiswellknowntothelateLord
Keynes,thefamouseconomist,whowasmovedbythemtoexclaimthatNewton's
"deepestinstinctswereoccult,"andthat"thecluetohismindistobefoundinhisunusual
powersofcontinuousconcentratedintrospection."
InalecturegiventoasmallprivateaudienceattheRoyalSocietyClubin1942,Lord
KeynessaidthisaboutNewton:"WhydoIcallhimamagician?Becausehelookedon
thewholeuniverseandallthatisinitasariddle,asasecretwhichcouldbereadby
applyingpurethoughttocertainevidence,certainmysticclueswhichGodhadlaidabout
theworldtoallowasortofphilosopher'streasurehunttotheesotericbrotherhood....He
believedthatthesecluesweretobefoundpartlyincertainpapersandtraditionshanded
downbythebrethreninanunbrokenchainbacktotheoriginalcrypticrevelationin
Babylonia....Allwouldberevealedtohimifonlyhecouldperseveretotheend,
uninterrupted,byhimself....Allhisunpublishedworksonesotericandtheological
mattersaremarkedbycarefullearningandextremesobrietyofstatement.Theyarejust
assaneasthePrincipia."
Alargesectionofthesepapersseekstodeducesecrettruthsoftheuniversefrom
apocalypticwritingsanotherexaminesthetruthofChurchtraditionsathirddealswith
alchemy,thephilosopher'sstone,theelixiroflife,andthetransmutationofmetalsa
fourthconsistsofcopiesofancientmysticmanuscriptsortranslationsofthem.
There,intheUniversityLibraryatCambridge,abouthalfofthesesilentmemorialsofSir
IsaacNewton'ssecretstudiesstillresttoday,whiletheotherhalfweresoldbyauction
anddispersedinprivatehandsin1936.
Newton'slibraryhadsuchtitlesinitasAgrippa'sDeOccultaPhilosophia,Fameand
ConfessionoftheRosieCross,Geber'sThePhilosopher'sStone,severalofRaymond
Lully'sworks,andfourofParacelsus'.Hisownpersonalannotationsappearinmostof
thevolumes.HestudiedJacobBoehmeverycloselyandcopiedlongpiecesfromhis
works.
EvensuchahardheadedscientistasProfessorE.N.daC.Andradewasforcedtoconfess,
attheTercentenaryCelebrationsin1946,"IfeelthatNewtonderivedhisknowledgeby
somethingmorelikedirectcontactwiththeunknownsourcesthatsurroundus,withthe
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

11/18

14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

worldofmystery,thanhasbeenvouchsafedtoanyothermanofscience.Amixtureof
mysticismandnaturalscienceisnotunexampledSwedenborghasimportant
achievementsingeology,physiologyandengineeringtohiscredit."
ArchbishopTenisonsaidtoNewton:"Youknowmoredivinitythanallofusput
together."
103

ThemomentitcomestoconsiderthelifeforceinNatureandthemindinentities,science
cangetatthefinaltruthaboutthemonlybyhandingoverthetasktometaphysicsand
mysticismonlybycallinginconceptsthatarenolongerscientificintheorthodoxsense.
104

Sciencehaspassedthroughitsshortlivedmaterialisticphaseandisplungedinthemidst
ofarevisionofallitsnineteenthcenturycategories.
105

Itisnousedenouncingscienceforthehorrorsofwar,themiseriesofindustrialism,and
theunbeliefofmaterialism.Thewaytoconquertheevilsarisingfromtheunethicalabuse
ofscienceistogorightinsideitscampandwinitovertophilosophy.
106

Thereisthisvitaldifference,thatwhereasthescientistcanonlyobservetheobjectinto
whichheisinvestigating,themysticcanparticipateintheoneuponwhichheis
meditating.Inthefirstcase,thereisaknowinginseparationfromitinthesecond,a
knowinginunionwithit.
107

Nuclearresearchhasshownthattheatomconsistsofenergyalone.Itisbutan
aggregationofenergies.Ithasshownthatthereisnothing,no"thing"attheworld'sroot.
Butonlyfreemindsanddiscerningeyesamongscientistsseeclearlythatthisestablishes
theexistenceofSpirit,whichisnoformedthing,andoverthrowsthedoctrineof
materialism.
108

Wearemovingtowardthedaywhenscience,insteadofnegatingreligiousfaith,will
actuallynourishit.
109

Man'sbodyisformedofchemicalcompoundsyetmanhimselfwithhisflightsofsacred
aspirationandintellectualspeculation,hisadventuresinartisticcreationand
appreciationhaslittleresemblancetoachemicalcompound.
110

Wemaydevelopthescientificintellectuntilitsvisibleachievementsandresultsastound
usevenmore,buttheywillalwaysberelativetotimeandplace,alwayssubjecttohuman
limitations.Butthereisanotherlinewecouldtakefordevelopment,onethatworkswith
themetaphysicalintellect.Thisneednotsetupanoppositiontoscience,foritisnot
concernedwithempiricalwork.Itisafacultyofabstractthinking,seekingthelarge
generalizedarchetypalideas.Whenitsucceedsinfindingthem,theirverificationistobe
gotbylettingtheintellectlapseandlettingthepureknowingelementrevealitself.Inthis
wayconsciousnessmovestoahigherlevel.
111

Thepropermethodofovercomingtheevilsofamaterialisticintellectualismisnotto
escapebackintoapreintellectualattitudebuttoletitgrowsidebysideandinproper
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

12/18

14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

balancewiththespiritualattitude,nottorefusetolookattheproblemsitraisesbuttotry
tosolvethemthroughsuchanintegralendeavour.
112

Metaphysics,startingfromoneendofthepath,musteventuallymeetsciencewhenithas
advancedsufficientlyfartotestallitshypothesesbyphysicalexperience.Science,
startingfromtheotherendofthesamepathwithphysicalresearch,musteventuallymeet
andhanditsproblemsovertometaphysicswhenitseekstoarriveatalargegeneralview
ofallitsaccumulateddata.ThemetaphysicalIdea,mustverifyitselfbythescientific
Thing.ThescientificThingmustunderstanditselftobethemetaphysicalIdea.
113

IfGodisnottheinnerrealityofthisuniverse,thenMatterisbothitsinnerandouter
reality.Therewillthenbenoroominthethinkingmindforanybeliefotherthan
materialism,nopleaforreligion,noadmittancetoaspiritualmetaphysics.
114

Solongastheychoosetolookatthephenomenaoftheuniverseonlywithinthe
perspectiveoftheirownlimitedassumptionsandrefusetolookatanyevidenceoutside
them,solongwillthosescientistswhostillrejecteverythingnonmaterialremainthe
victimsoftheirownprejudicedandbiasedjudgement.Buttheothersandtheyare
increasingwhogenuinelypractisethescientificmethodofinvestigationandtherefore
comewithanopen,patient,andexperimentalmind,aremovingforwardtothe
formulationandverificationofreliabletruths,laws,andprinciples.
115

Philosophydoesnotattempttoexplainwhatitisthebusinessofsciencetoexplain.
Henceitdoesnotopposetheaimsofsciencenordoesitfearthefurtherprogressof
science.Onthecontrary,itsregardforfactmakesitsteachingsconsistentwiththoseof
science.Itsimplyleavestosciencethefillinginofthedetailsoftheworld'spicture,itself
supplyingtheoutline.
116

Itisimpossibleforthescientisttoconcludehisthinkingabouttheobservationswhichhe
hasmadeofNatureandthefactswhichhehasamassedinthelaboratorywithout
venturingintometaphysics.Ifheisafraidtomakesuchaventurethenhemustleavehis
thinkinginconclusivelysuspendedinmidair.
117

Wethusseethatphilosophyistheintegraldevelopmentofscience,acontinuityofthe
sameausterepointofview.Butwhereassciencedealswithparticulargroupsofconcrete
perceptions,philosophydealswithabstractgenericconcepts.
118

Sciencewhichfirstmadematerialismseemthemostplausibleexplanationoflife,
throughthecarefulobservationoffactsandclosereasoninguponthosefacts,hassince
refuteditself.Itisenablingphilosophytoputthehiddenteachinguponfirmandrational
foundations.
119

ThescientistsassuchcannotsetfootinaregionlikethatofpureMind.Theymustrise
abovetheirscientificlimitationsandconvertthemselvesintomysticalphilosophersfirst.
120

Thescientistshavereachedaregionofinvestigationwhereeachturnofthepageofthe
worldproblemrevealsanotherpagewhichisevenhardertoread.Thenewerproblems
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

13/18

14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

aremetaphysicalones.Therefore,whenscienceceasestobesuchandbecomes
metaphysics,itfulfilsitshighestpurpose.
121

Tomovefromphysicstometaphysicsistomovefartherfromtouchablethingstomore
abstractconceptions,frompicturedimagestocomprehendedideas,fromconcreteforms
tomindheldabstractions.Thefirstleadstomaterialism,iftheresearchstopsthereand
goesnofurther.If,however,hepursuestheenterpriseandlooksfororigins,sources,and
primarycauses,hemustendupasamentalist.
122

Science,usingthemethodofanalysistofindthetruthaboutthings,mustafterwardsadd
themethodofsynthesisoritwillgetonlyahalftruth.Thisneednotmeansurrendering
themindtospeculation,imagination,theorizing,fantasy,orsocalledmetaphysics,but
ratherusingitscreativefacultyanditspowerofunderstandinginshort,using
intelligencewhichisderivedfromintuitivefeelingandcorrectthinking.
123

Solongassciencedoesnotpausetoreflectadequatelyuponitsownself,itsown
characteranditsownfoundations,solongisitnecessarilymaterialistic.Butafterithas
takenthetroubletodoso,whichmeansafterithasfulfilleditshigherpurposebyturning
metaphysical,itcannothelprenouncingitsmaterialism.
124

Thescientistremainsloyaltohisselfsetgoal.Hewillsoonerorlaterbecompelledby
thelogicofhisdiscoveriesasmuchasbythelogicofhisreflectionstoturnhimselfintoa
philosopherandcontinuehisquestinthestillhighersphereofphilosophy.
125

Inthelastonehundredyearseventhesciences,particularlythefieldsofnuclearphysics
andbiology,havemovedsofaraheadthattheyhaveopenedthewayforprinciplesand
teachings,theknowledgeandpracticesoftruephilosophy.
126

Lifewillbebetterguidedwhenscientificknowledgeletsitselfbejoinedtospiritual
consciousness.
127

Thespeculativemetaphysicianstartsbypostulatingtheexistenceofsomeselfsustaining
eternalprinciple,whereasthescientificmetaphysicianendswithsuchaprinciple.
128

Thosewhoquestionthesoundnessoftheseideasarenearlyalwaysthosewhoarestill
mesmerizedbymaterialisticsuperstitions.Itisimpossibleforthemtocopewithlife's
higherrequirementsbecausetheypersistinthinkingsensately.
129

Becausethespiritofmanisneitherscientificallymeasurablenorimmediately
experienceable,theeducatedmodernmindtoooftenrejecteditsrealityanddeniedits
utility.
130

Heshouldfeelnotlessreverentandnotlessworshipfuleventhoughheisexpunging
superstitionandworkingwithscience.Doesthissurpriseanyone?Canhestillbecomea
philosopherwithoutanyintellectualembarrassments,selfbetrayals?Yeshecanand
assuredlyamoreeffectiveone.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

14/18

14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

131

Thesamesciencewhichformerlyseparatedhiminbeliefandunderstandingfromthe
divineMind,later,byitsconfirmationoftheuniversallawsandpowers,drawshim
nearertoit.
132

Inviewofthespiritofthetimes,theattitudeandfindingsofmodernsciencemustbe
respectedandharmonizedwiththemystic's.BothBlavatskyandSteinersawthisand
triedtoaccommodatescienceintheirpresentations.However,sincetheirdaytherehas
beenarevolutioninscientifictheorywhichhasmadethisworkeasier,mucheasier.
133

Sciencehascarrieditselftothebroadestpossibledimensions.Nowitmustcarryitselfto
thedeepest.
134

Thefearofyieldingtopersonalfeelinginhisthoughtabouttheworldbecameso
exaggeratedinthescientistthatitshutoutthepleadingandrejectedtheservicesof
impersonalfeeling,whichmanifestsitselfthroughintuition.Thisiswhyhecametothe
denialofmysticaldoctrineandscornofmysticalexperience.Butsuchundueone
sidednesscouldnotlastindefinitely.Itsendiswithinsight.
135

Thehopeofeducatedmenwhounderstandandappreciatetheservicesofsciencebutwho
deploreitsdangersandrecognizeitslimitations,liesintheinvestigationanddevelopment
ofconsciousness.
136

Whenmenawakentoamoreemotionalrealizationofwhatsciencehasdonetothemas
opposedtowhatithasdoneforthemtherewillbeanurgentdemandfora
reinterpretationofscienceitself.Theoldinterpretationwillbediscardedasdangerous.
137

Whenthescientistrecovershislostqualityofreverencenotnecessarilyexpressed
throughsomeestablishedreligionforsomemysteriousGreatnesspresentinthecosmos
heinvestigates,somethingwhichescapesanalysisordescriptionbutarousesfeelingand
wonder,hisworkwillnotsufferbutbecomefullerandhisunderstandingbecomemore
satisfying.
138

ItisameaningfulhistoricfactthatFrancisBaconwrotethefirstnotablebookinthe
EnglishlanguageofaphilosophicalbywhichIdonotmeantheologicalkindandthe
firstnotablebookofascientifickindinthesamelanguage.HewasaCreator,aPioneer,a
Pathfinder.
139

Faithinscienceisnolongerthealternativetofaithinreligionexceptforonesided,
narrowedmindsineithercamp.Ratheraretherenowcomplementaryfaiths.
140

Thescientistwhoseekstolearntheorigin,history,nature,andlawsofthephysical
universeandthepsychologistwhoprobesintotheworkingofthehumanmindboth
mustatsomepointoftheirinvestigationconsiderthequestions"WhoAmI?"sidebyside
with"WhatIstheWorld?"NexttheycannotaffordtoignorethemysteryoftheDeity.
Finallyitwillbefoundatsomepointontheirwaythattheyneedtoimposeaself
disciplineandanethicalcodeuponthemselves.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

15/18

14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

141

Havingemptiedhumanlifeofitsspiritualmeaning,turningitintoa"fortuitous
conjunctionofatoms,"scienceisnownearingthepointwhereitwillhavenoother
coursethantorestorethemeaning,butinarationalintelligentway.
142

WhoeveradorestheHighestBeauty,whetherthroughNature'ssceneryorart's
fabrication,throughprayerormeditation,songorpoem,feelinglyandsincerely,isnot
wastinghistime,whatevermaterialistsmaysay.Eventheintellectualmathematicianor
astronomercontemplatingoninfinityorspace,canusethisapproachasworship.
143

Scienceseeksanexplanationoftheuniversebasedonthefacts.Itsattitudeiscorrect,of
course,butfromanotherstandpoint,incomplete.Foritsapproachstartsfromoutsideand
triestostaythere.Metaphysicsstartsfrominsideandsupplieswhatislacking.Butunless
itpenetratestothedeepestfactatthestart,itgetsmixedwithspeculation,theology,or
guesswork.Whatisthisfact?Consciousness!Onedaythetwoscienceandmetaphysics
mustmeet.
144

ItisoneofthegreateryetsadderironiesofthemodernworldthatBacon,whois
consideredoneofthefoundersofitsscience,isusedonlytopointthewaytomaterialism.
Hehimselfsaysinoneofhis"Essays"that"alittlephilosophybringethmen'smindsto
atheism,butdepthinphilosophybringethmen'smindsabouttoreligion."
145

Thereisnoneedtobedismayedatthenegativeattitudeofscientiststowardsthis
philosophy.Hehasonlytocomparetheirpresentdayoutlookwiththatofthreequarters
ofacenturyagotorealizethatgreatprogresshasbeenmade.
146

Therecentfindingsofphysicalscientistsarestrikinglyrevolutionarywhencompared
withtheconclusionsofthosewhoworkedinDarwin'sday.Butwhatismostastonishing
isthattheysupportthediscoveriesmadebyAsiaticthinkerswholivedlongbefore
modernscienceappeared.
147

Everythoughtfulscientistnowknowsthatjustasmatterhasturnedouttobea
manifestationofforce,soforcewilleventuallyturnouttobeamanifestationof
somethinghigherheperceivesthatmatterisreallyanappearancebehindwhichstands
therealityforcesoanultimaterealitymustbereckonedasstandingbehindforce.In
otherwords,thereisbutONERealityandvariousformsunderwhichitappears.
148

Atomicscienceneededmathematicalformulaeandequationstocarryonitswork.They
are,afterall,symbolsandabstractions,thatis,pureconcepts.Sotoophysicalscience
nowneedsmetaphysicalconceptstocarryitsworkfurther.Therefusaltodosoonthe
objectionthatmetaphysicsisnotphysicsleavesthescientistpowerlesstoanswerhisown
ultimatequestions.
149

Thelastgreatdiscoveryawaitingscienceisthescientisthimself.BythisIdonotmean
theacquisitionofmoreandmoreinformationabouthim,northeexplorationofthe
variouskindsofthoughtsandemotionsbelongingtohim.Irefertoasustainedstubborn
concentrationpenetratinghisconsciousnessindepth.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

16/18

14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

150

Itispathetictohearmenreasoninsoshallowawaythattheyfindnothingmorethan
merechanceinthecomingtogetherofnuclearforcestomakeaworld.Itissaddeningto
observethemslipintosogreatamistakewithsolittleresistanceandsolargean
insensitivity,foritshowsthatinthismattertheythinkandfeelinaonesidedandill
balancedway.Butjustasmaterialismcameasanoppositiontosuperstition
masqueradingasreligion,asacorrectivegonetoofar,sotherearelittlesignsof
beginningsofnewdawns.
151

Thematerialistwhoseesonlytheanimalsideofmanisusuallybrutalorsensual,whereas
thematerialistwhoseesalsotheintellectualsideisimmeasurablymoreevolved.Butboth
misstheintuitiveside.
152

Asciencedevoidofthelifegivingpowerofintuitivefeelingleadstoitsownself
destructionintheend.
153

Sciencemustpassfromconcreteobservationtoabstractthoughtifitwouldpassfrom
merefacttotheultimatemeaningofitsfact.
154

Whensciencebeginstostammeritistimeforittoturnforhelptophilosophy.
155

ThesciencesuffusedWesternmindcanfollowthisthreadofthoughtintothesubjective
spherewithoutunduedifficulty.
156

JeansseesintheuniversalorderlinessanevidenceofGod'sdesign.Eddingtonseesinit
anevidenceofwhatthehumanmindcancontributetoitsownexperience.
157

SomeoftheJapanesenuclearphysicistshavepickeduptheclueaffordedbytheir
laboratoryworkandfoundinBuddhism'shighestmetaphysicsasatisfactoryworldview.
158

Thefactsofphilosophicmysticismcannotbeprovedbeyonddoubtsoeasilyasthoseof
physics.Theycannotbeclassifiedandorganizedandutilizedinthesameway.Yetthisis
nottosaythatthescientificmethodisinapplicablehere.
159

Thenineteenthcenturyscience,whichdepressedthinkerswiththeviewthatmatterwas
theonlyrealityandmantheproductofblindchemicalandmechanicalforces,beganto
gooutforciblywiththenineteenthcenturyideasofwarfarewhentheatomicbomb
explodedoverHiroshima.
160

Thosewhoseekescapefromourpresenttroublesbyturningbacktoarevivalof
medievalismhavesomewhatmuddledtheirthinking.Scienceadmittedlytookthewrong
turningwhenitentirelyseparateditselffromthetruthsofreligion,mysticism,and
metaphysics,butittooktherightturningwhenitseparateditselffromtheirfantasies.So
whatwehavetodotodayistogobacktothepreRenaissanceandpreReformationtimes
andrelearnabstractthinking,mysticalpractices,andreligiousnotions,butatthesame
timerecasttheminmodernformandrefusethesuperstitionswhichwerethenentangled
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

17/18

14/5/2015

Science - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

inthem.Butthiswillbeequivalenttoaspiritualrecreationitcanhardlybecalleda
merereturn.Thereismoreoveroneprimeobjectiontofollowingthewayofthe
medievalswhicheffectuallybarsitforourliberatedera.Theirmindswerefetteredtothe
wallsofvestedinterestsanddarednotgooutsidethem.Nogenuineprogressispossible
undersuchconditions.
TheNotebooksarecopyright19841989,ThePaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundation.

http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/7/6

18/18