Paul Brunton

Paul Brunton – Life, Philosophy, and Spiritual Legacy

Explore the life and teachings of Paul Brunton (1898–1981), the British mystic-philosopher who bridged Eastern spirituality and Western seekers. Learn about his journey, doctrines, influence, and key quotes.

Introduction

Paul Brunton (born Hyman Raphael Hurst on October 21, 1898 — died July 27, 1981) was a British philosopher, mystic, traveler, and prolific author of spiritual and comparative philosophy texts.

Often credited with introducing Indian spiritual insights—especially those of Ramana Maharshi and Advaita Vedanta—to Western audiences, Brunton’s writings spanned travel memoirs, metaphysical treatises, and extensive unpublished notebooks.

While less known today than some contemporaries, his teachings continue to resonate among spiritual seekers who value his insistence on inner experience, contemplation, and the integration of mysticism with rational inquiry.

In what follows, we explore his life, philosophical approach, major works, legacy, and memorable insights.

Early Life & Background

Birth, Name, and Early Years

• Brunton’s birth name was Hyman Raphael Hurst (sometimes given as Hyman Abraham Isaacs) in London.

• His birthdate is often cited as October 21, 1898.

• In later years, Brunton used the name “Paul Brunton” as his pen name and legally adopted it.

• His early life included a Jewish immigrant family background, and he grew up in the Cockney section of London.

• He was educated at Central Foundation School, London, and later attended St. George’s College Central (London) for secretarial and civil service training.

• During World War I, he served in a tank division.

Entry into Journalism & Occult Interests

• After the war, Brunton worked as a journalist, bookseller, and publisher, operating under various pseudonyms (e.g. Raphael Meriden, Raphael Delmonte) and engaging with mystical and occult circles.

• He was involved with The Atlantis Bookshop in Bloomsbury, London—a known hub for esoteric and occult literature.

• In his earlier years, he joined the Theosophical Society and contributed to the Occult Review, reflecting his interest in spiritual and esoteric topics from a Western perspective.

Thus, Brunton’s intellectual and spiritual journey began with a blend of rational, literary, and mystical influences.

Spiritual Journey & Oriental Exploration

Travel to India & Meeting Ramana Maharshi

• In the early 1930s, Brunton traveled to India with the purpose of encountering yogis, sages, and spiritual traditions at first hand.

• In 1931, he visited Tiruvannamalai and met Sri Ramana Maharshi, a Tamil sage whose teachings deeply influenced him.

• Their meeting is often described as pivotal: it shifted Brunton’s orientation from external search to contemplative inquiry (notably the self-inquiry “Who am I?”).

• In his writings, Brunton is credited with introducing Ramana Maharshi’s philosophy to the West.

Later Travels & Mystical Themes

• Beyond India, Brunton traveled in Egypt, often writing about hidden spiritual meanings in Egyptian symbolism and sacred geography (e.g. A Search in Secret Egypt).

• Over time, his writings moved from travel narrative toward more philosophical and metaphysical works—treatises on the Overself, the inner path, and mentalism.

• He composed a vast amount of private writings (notes, reflections) which were later published posthumously as The Notebooks of Paul Brunton (16 volumes).

These phases of external journeying and internal deepening shaped Brunton’s unique voice as a bridge between East and West.

Philosophical Ideas & Teachings

Mentalism & Oriental Mentalism

• Brunton espoused a doctrine called Mentalism, or sometimes Oriental Mentalism, which posits that the ultimate reality is mental or consciousness-based—not in the Western subjective idealist sense, but as a primary ground of being.

• He distinguished this from both materialism and the Western idealist traditions. His version emphasizes that the world is a play or manifestation of a deeper mental or spiritual reality.

The Overself & Inner Path

• A central concept in Brunton’s philosophy is the Overself (or higher Self)—a transcendent identity behind the personal ego, which one can gradually realize through inward methods.

• His works such as The Quest of the Overself, The Hidden Teaching Beyond Yoga, and The Wisdom of the Overself explore how to awaken to this higher identity.

• Brunton stressed meditative introspection, self-inquiry, and detachment from mental and sensory distractions as essential practices to access the Overself.

Integration of East & West

• One of Brunton’s ambitions was to reinterpret Eastern wisdom in a form intelligible to Western readers—preserving depth while using rational clarity.

• He believed philosophy should be “a way of spiritual realization”, not merely speculative thought.

• His late notebooks reflect attempts to synthesize perennial wisdom traditions, reconcile apparent dualities, and outline universal principles for spiritual living.

Retreat from Public Life

• After the publication of The Spiritual Crisis of Man (1952), Brunton largely withdrew from public publishing.

• Nevertheless, he continued writing prolifically in private, accumulating tens of thousands of pages of philosophical meditations.

• His notebooks were organized and published posthumously between 1984 and 1988 by Larson Publications and others.

Brunton thus represents a path of inward focus: letting the written works recede, while inner revelation and careful transcriptions remained his late legacy.

Major Works

Here is a selection of his significant published writings:

• A Search in Secret India (1934) — his first major book, blending travelogue with spiritual encounters.

• The Secret Path (1935)

• A Search in Secret Egypt

• A Hermit in the Himalayas

• The Quest of the Overself (1937)

• Indian Philosophy and Modern Culture (1939)

• The Inner Reality (1939) [published also as Discover Yourself in the U.S.]

• The Hidden Teaching Beyond Yoga (1941)

• The Wisdom of the Overself (1943)

• The Spiritual Crisis of Man (1952) — his last major public book

• The Notebooks of Paul Brunton (16 volumes, published posthumously 1984–1988)

Although his 1952 book marked an apparent end of his public teaching, the notebooks and his earlier works continue to serve seekers.

Legacy and Influence

• Brunton is seen by many as a bridge figure who helped introduce Hindu mysticism (especially Advaita Vedanta) to Western spiritual audiences.

• His book A Search in Secret India was influential and sold well; it is often cited among early Western works on yoga and Eastern spirituality.

• The Paul Brunton Philosophic Foundation preserves his archives and continues to publish his works and teachings.

• In spiritual and Advaita circles, Brunton is respected for his balanced approach: skeptical, non-sectarian, and focused on direct inner experience rather than dogma.

• Some critics and biographers (e.g. Jeffrey Masson, in My Father’s Guru) have scrutinized his relationships with followers and his portrayals of spiritual authority.

While not always in the mainstream, Brunton’s works continue to find readership among those drawn to spiritual philosophy with depth and nuance.

Memorable Quotes & Reflections

Here are a few notable lines attributed to or inspired by Brunton:

• “You are not a body. You have a body. Your essential nature is not bodily, but spiritual.”

• “Self-inquiry is the supreme method.”

• “The purpose of philosophy is realization, not demonstration.”

• “Seekers may approach philosophy as a path, rather than as a compartment of learning.”

• “There is only one quest — that of the true Self.”

These capture his emphasis on interiority, inquiry, and the living dimension of philosophical insight.