“Paul Brunton (1898-1981) is probably most widely known as the author of the 1934 best-seller, A Search in Secret India, his first book, in which he helped introduce the terms ‘yoga’ and ‘meditation’ to the general public in the West. Brunton’s story of his visits with yogis, mystics, and realized masters such as Ramana Maharshi is indeed a tale of high spiritual adventure. Before it became popular to do so, he sought out and learned from the most credible representatives of all major religions and philosophies throughout the world. In this book, his son, Kenneth Thurston Hurst, provides a first-person account of a unique father-son relationship. Of particular interest is a previously unpublished account by Brunton of his own ‘illumination.’”—Yoga Journal, Mar.-April, 1991
Amazon reader review for Paul Brunton: A Personal View (US)
“From this book I got a glimpse into the mind of a spiritual master. Written by his son (from an unsuccessful marriage), this is an account of some of the great sage’s daily-and sometimes mundane-activities. I liked the fact that this great master was not a monastic recluse that hid away in a Himalayan forest or behind the walls of some ashram. Brunton was one of us, ordinary people, in everything but his superlative state of divine realization. He had no need of any title such as “swami,” or “minister,” or “master,” or anything of the sort. In fact he abhorred such titles and classifications. He preferred anonymity as it helped to make him feel freer, so much so, that at his transition he opted for no elaborate funeral. In fact there was none, just a few moments of silence after his body’s cremation and that was all. While reading about his personal life I was gratified by the fact that I could relate so easily with his life. For instance, while he lived in an apartment in Switzerland, he had to contend with noisy neighbors—one of the typical plagues of my own new york life. Brunton showed that one can live in a busy western city and still gain spiritual liberation, without the need of a secluded forest or ashram.”
