Paul Brunton Philosophic Foundation homepage > Notebooks of Paul Brunton

---

If we want to understand why so many men have pursued ascetic ideals in a large part of the world and since before the Christian era, we have only to glance at those who have not pursued these ideals but rather the very opposite ones. What have ambition, wealth, power, pleasure and fame done to the character of those who placed the highest possible value upon them? How often have they weakened finer feelings, strengthened ignoble selfishness, or kept the mind on shallower levels?

-- Notebooks Category 2: Overview of Practices Involved > Chapter 7 : Discipline Desires > # 116