Paul Brunton Philosophic Foundation homepage > Notebooks of Paul Brunton > Category 16: The Sensitives

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The Sensitives

We should distinguish the theories and doctrines woven round the mystic's experience from the significant features of the experience itself. And those features are: the awareness of another and deeper life, a sacred presence within the heart, the certitude of having found the Real, the gladness and freshness which follow the sense of this discovery.

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The real is more miraculous than the illusory psychic, more occult than the so-called occult world, more fascinating than the fantastic.

1. Mystical Life in The Modern World
   • Development
   • Continuing the tradition
   • Purpose
   • The scientific and the superstitious
2. Phases of Mystical Development
   • The transience of mystical emotions
   • From personal vision to impersonal being
   • From inner peace to inner reality
   • Moral re-education
   • At home in two worlds
   • Philosophy and mysticism
   • Rational mysticism
   • The power of rational faith
   • The goal of truth
   • The path beyond yoga
   • The completion in knowledge
3. Philosophy, Mysticism, and The Occult
   • A criticism of the mystic
   • The extremes of mysticism
   • Philosophy attracts the few
   • Distinguishing the spiritual and psychic
   • The lure of occultism
4. Those Who Seek
   • The wanderers
   • The innocents
   • The dreamers
   • The unbalanced
5. Pseudo and Imperfect Teachers
   • The prevalence of charlatans
   • Test the teacher
   • Domination and narrowness
   • Incomplete teachers
   • The ego's ambition
6. Delusions and Painful Awakenings
   • The illusion of perfection
   • Superstition, imagination, and self-deception
   • Penalties of delusion
   • The value of disillusionment
7. The Path of Individuality
   • Dangers of dependence
   • Independence
   • Be responsible
   • Use your judgement
   • Be discriminating
8. Christian Science, Other Spiritual Movements
   • Virtues and faults
   • The hidden materialism
9. Inspiration and Confusion
   • Conflicting tenets, contradictory ``revelations''
   • Interpreting mystical experience
   • Admixture of ego
10. The Is Is Not an Ism
    • Limitations of dogma
    • Misuse of mystery
11. Fanaticism, Money, Powers, Drugs
    • Fanaticism
    • Deluded guides, gullible followers
    • Money
    • The abuse of power
    • Drugs
12. The Intermediate Zone
    • Tests, ordeals, temptations
    • Danger signals, protective measures
13. The Occult
    • A choice of directions
    • The seductive shadow-world
    • Occultists and psychics
    • Occult practices
    • Hypnotism
    • Mediumship, channeling
14. The Sensitive Mind
    • Psychic sensitivity, personal sensitivity
    • Telepathy, mental influences
    • Clairvoyance
    • Evaluating intuitions and ``messages''
15. Illuminations
    • Properties of imagination
    • Spiritual reality, mental imagery
    • Conditioning factors
    • The true Word of revelation