Paul Brunton Philosophic Foundation homepage > Notebooks of Paul Brunton



We perceive things because we distinguish the form, colour, etc., of a particular one from others. After having done this, we affix a name to the thing so distinguished. The fact that we have perceived, distinguished, and named the thing makes us sit complacently back with the feeling that we have understood it. We deceive ourselves when we utter this word that is a name. For we have perceived only an appearance, namely, only as much as the five senses can comprehend. The reality behind this appearance has escaped us.

-- Notebooks Category 7: The Intellect > Chapter 5 : Semantics > # 33