Paul Brunton Philosophic Foundation homepage > Notebooks of Paul Brunton

---

The mass of mankind, whether high or low in station, caste, status, needs identifiers, labels, titles, and uniforms--something which can be seen, heard, or read to separate one class of person from the others. If he is a minister of the church, he must wear appropriate robes so that he may be treated with the respect or reverence due to a titular symbol of the divine being. But who is to separate the philosopher if he refuses to show, wear, give, or use any outward signs of his inward condition? Who is to distinguish this man who is quite content to be inconspicuous, but independent, who takes his ideal from a Chinaman who lived 2,500 years ago, a certain Lao Tzu?

-- Notebooks Category 12: Reflections > Chapter 4 : Reflections On Truth > # 94