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The Short Path to Enlightenment: Instructions for Immediate Awakening
“Paul Brunton gives voice to the profound teachings of immediate spiritual awakening that have the power to short circuit the seeker in us and reveal the true nature of reality here and now.” —Adyashanti
People who enjoy Eckhart Tolle (The Power of Now, A New Earth), Michael A. Singer (The Untethered Soul), or Adyashanti (Emptiness Dancing) will enjoy and benefit greatly from The Short Path to Enlightenment.
These accessible teachings distill the essence of Advaita Vedanta, Zen, Sufism, Dzogchen—Brunton calls them “Short Path” teachings. A simple recognition, a brief moment of grace, can make what seemed like a far-off spiritual goal actual here and now. But we need reliable pointers for how and where to look. This compilation of gems distills the essence and effective practices of this path in direct, jargon-free language useful to followers of any or no particular tradition.
“The true gift of this wonderful book,” says Adyashanti, “is in how nuanced and subtle Paul Brunton understood these profound and transformational teachings and how directly he conveys them. Read this book as you would a scripture or a sutra and let it open your eyes to eternity.”
• How to move from the Long Path of spiritual disciplines to the Short Path of direct insight
• Short Path exercises
• Experiences that may occur
• Warnings
• Stages of realization
• The nature of lasting enlightenment
People who enjoy Eckhart Tolle (The Power of Now, A New Earth), Michael A. Singer (The Untethered Soul), or Adyashanti (Emptiness Dancing) will enjoy and benefit greatly from The Short Path to Enlightenment.
These accessible teachings distill the essence of Advaita Vedanta, Zen, Sufism, Dzogchen—Brunton calls them “Short Path” teachings. A simple recognition, a brief moment of grace, can make what seemed like a far-off spiritual goal actual here and now. But we need reliable pointers for how and where to look. This compilation of gems distills the essence and effective practices of this path in direct, jargon-free language useful to followers of any or no particular tradition.
“The true gift of this wonderful book,” says Adyashanti, “is in how nuanced and subtle Paul Brunton understood these profound and transformational teachings and how directly he conveys them. Read this book as you would a scripture or a sutra and let it open your eyes to eternity.”
• How to move from the Long Path of spiritual disciplines to the Short Path of direct insight
• Short Path exercises
• Experiences that may occur
• Warnings
• Stages of realization
• The nature of lasting enlightenment
160 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2014
88 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Paul Brunton
82 books201 followersPaul Brunton was a British philosopher, researcher, mystic, and adventurer. He left a journalistic career to live among yogis, mystics, and holy men, and studied a wide variety of Eastern and Western esoteric teachings. With his entire life dedicated to the spiritual quest, Brunton felt charged with the task of communicating his knowledge and experiences in layperson's terms. He was one of the first persons to write accounts of what he learned about spirituality in the East, and his works have had a major influence on the spread of Eastern philosophy and mysticism to the West. Paul Brunton continued to write after his final publication in 1952, and a significant portion of his large archive of original writings was posthumously published by Larson Publications as "The Notebooks of Paul Brunton" (in 16 volumes). The entire archive will soon be housed at a university (2017) and available to read online (2019).
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 6, 2015
Never would I imagine purchasing a book with such a presumptuous title, but I stumbled across a Facebook post with the picture of the book cover and I noticed the endorsement by Adyashanti.
Curious, I immediately purchased THE SHORT PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT.
After reading the Forward, I realized the book is actually just a compilation of notes written by Paul Burton so I don’t even know if he would have published his notes, and if so, whether he would have chosen such a title.
But none of this mattered in the end because it was such a powerful read.
The book is clear and to the point. It knocked my socks off and resonated deeply with me in a unique manner and like no other book I’ve ever read on the subject.
Some ideas I’d heard many times before, others were completely fresh, but the presentation comes in an utterly new and at times painfully bright light.
THE SHORT PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT is an advanced spiritual book, one that I’d only recommend to people who have been seeking for years and years and finally want to end the search.
Curious, I immediately purchased THE SHORT PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT.
After reading the Forward, I realized the book is actually just a compilation of notes written by Paul Burton so I don’t even know if he would have published his notes, and if so, whether he would have chosen such a title.
But none of this mattered in the end because it was such a powerful read.
The book is clear and to the point. It knocked my socks off and resonated deeply with me in a unique manner and like no other book I’ve ever read on the subject.
Some ideas I’d heard many times before, others were completely fresh, but the presentation comes in an utterly new and at times painfully bright light.
THE SHORT PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT is an advanced spiritual book, one that I’d only recommend to people who have been seeking for years and years and finally want to end the search.
March 31, 2016
"The Short Path to Enlightenment Instructions for Immediate Awakenings" is a compilation of the "Notes" written by Paul Brunton and edited by Mark Scorelle and Jeff Cox who were students of Brunton. The author's views very closely parallel that of Advaita Vedenta Philosophy as passed down by Ramana Maharashi. The main focus of this book is that man is already eternal, as immortal, as divine as he will ever be but he is not aware of this. The author outlines the methods of the Long and Short Paths but there is no clear and concise accounting of when and how specifically to use these methods and the decision is basically left to the subjectivity of the aspirant. Instead, I would highly recommend another book, entitled "The Secret Path" which is a much clearer and concise synopsis of the "Short Path" or more appropriately defined as "Self Enquiry
September 19, 2023
Its title is so lofty seeming I hesitated to even record it here but I like this genre of thinking, exploring, writing. I like learning others’ ideas and experiences of religious and spiritual paths..
August 2, 2014
Easy to read and understand, this book puts the sudden awakening teachings within the readers grasp. Unlike many other books on the subject, there's not a bunch of mumbo-jumbo to wade through. The author got right to the good stuff. And the fact that Paul Brunton was totally immersed in what he taught comes across as the teachings in the book flow naturally, almost like sitting down with the author and discussing these ideas face to face.
Best of all, the exercises in the book work, and they work fast.
Time richly spent.
*FTC Disclosure: I received an advanced copy of this book free from the Publisher in exchange for my honest review, and the opinions in this review are my own.
April 29, 2022
Excellent read.
May 26, 2016
This is a compilation of quotes and material from the longer set of Paul Brunton's "Notebooks". The selected quotes (arranged in order by the editors) relate to the concept of 'The Short Path' or direct path of nondual awareness and direct 'knowing'. This is contrasts with the 'long' path of spiritual progress, purification, training and result. Most of the information seems to tally with sources that Paul Brunton would have touched upon, such as Advaita Vedanta, Chan Buddhism, nondual Shaivism, etc. along with teachers that he met on travels in India and the Middle East.
The first half of the book is excellent, practical, clearly written and has a lot of useful pointers and enquiry notes which could well serve anyone interested in the topic and practice of 'direct' approaches. There are some notes on the practice of self-inquiry, self-observation, modes of indirect approach to the 'Overself' etc. Brunton also gives some worthy advise on the practice of both long and short paths giving the most stable result in this respect.
The second half of the book deals more with possible experiences, and is rather more vague in its expression. Some seems to be Brunton's own imaginings (unless he IS actually speaking from first hand experience at having attained 'the end' or sahaja samadhi- which is unlikely). I found the second half of the book to drag on a little with Brunton's notes on spiritual experiences, 'the dark night', attempts to compare various spiritual paths, and PB's own idea as to what the 'stages of realization' would entail, what the 'void' is, what a philosopher/sage is and how they would act, how a sage should be etc. etc. *yawn*
A couple of gems in the first half of the book probably make it worth keeping.
Overall, a good summary read for some differences that direct paths entail vs longer traditional progressive paths.
The first half of the book is excellent, practical, clearly written and has a lot of useful pointers and enquiry notes which could well serve anyone interested in the topic and practice of 'direct' approaches. There are some notes on the practice of self-inquiry, self-observation, modes of indirect approach to the 'Overself' etc. Brunton also gives some worthy advise on the practice of both long and short paths giving the most stable result in this respect.
The second half of the book deals more with possible experiences, and is rather more vague in its expression. Some seems to be Brunton's own imaginings (unless he IS actually speaking from first hand experience at having attained 'the end' or sahaja samadhi- which is unlikely). I found the second half of the book to drag on a little with Brunton's notes on spiritual experiences, 'the dark night', attempts to compare various spiritual paths, and PB's own idea as to what the 'stages of realization' would entail, what the 'void' is, what a philosopher/sage is and how they would act, how a sage should be etc. etc. *yawn*
A couple of gems in the first half of the book probably make it worth keeping.
Overall, a good summary read for some differences that direct paths entail vs longer traditional progressive paths.
January 1, 2015
not for me. Found this very difficult to read, and all theory, without any concrete instructions. After the first couple chapters I skimmed, so I might have missed the instructions, it was just all theory, theory, theory.
July 11, 2025
This is an selective extraction from the published and unpublished works of Paul Brunton (alias for Rapheal Hurst b 1898 d 1981) by the foundation to preserve his works.
The selections have been meaningfully organized according to themes laid out in the TOC. The most useful chapter is 8, Practices for the Short Path and in chapter 9, Experiences along the Way, the subsection, Sahaja, was the most insightful.
In his age, Brunton (Hurst) was one of the first Westerners to bring eastern mysticism to the western world. He found birds-of-a-feather in the philosophical perspective of mentalism. This follows the first hermetic principle that All is Mind. This is aligned with current quantum physics postulating that a form of universal consciousness is more fundamental than energy.
All this is an important step along the enlightened path. What I believe is missing is love. If consciousness is the charge then love is conductive medium.
The selections have been meaningfully organized according to themes laid out in the TOC. The most useful chapter is 8, Practices for the Short Path and in chapter 9, Experiences along the Way, the subsection, Sahaja, was the most insightful.
In his age, Brunton (Hurst) was one of the first Westerners to bring eastern mysticism to the western world. He found birds-of-a-feather in the philosophical perspective of mentalism. This follows the first hermetic principle that All is Mind. This is aligned with current quantum physics postulating that a form of universal consciousness is more fundamental than energy.
All this is an important step along the enlightened path. What I believe is missing is love. If consciousness is the charge then love is conductive medium.
January 11, 2017
Summary of Spiritual Progression
This was a well written synopsis of the spiritual journey by a man who has obviously realized much of what he writes.
This was a well written synopsis of the spiritual journey by a man who has obviously realized much of what he writes.
October 27, 2025
Paul Brunton speaks of a direct realization—the awakening to the ever-present truth of our essential nature. Rather than slowly refining the ego through discipline and practice, the Short Path invites us to leap into Being, recognizing that what we seek has never been absent.
In our PlayfulProcess terms:
................(Being)
......................|
......................|
.....................\/
................Feelings
................../......\
................/.........\
............../..Just-..\
............/...Right....\
........../....................\
...Behavior___Thoughts
The triangle—Feelings, Thoughts, Behaviors—represents the Long Path, the traditional route of purification, discipline, and healing of our personalities, or ego. Working within the triangle, we balance and transform the personality, aiming for a “Just-Right” integration. This work is noble. It prepares us to become clearer instruments of service, less reactive, more whole.
But hovering above is the sun of Being—radiant, changeless, always now. The Short Path is the recognition of being as something that always was and always will be in the eternal now. The Short Path is not a denial of the triangle, or of the moral duty towards self-improvement; it is a shift in identity. You realize that you are not the triangle. You are the light that sees it. The sun doesn't need to be earned. It doesn't shine more brightly when your thoughts are aligned or your feelings purified. It is here. Always.
Brunton reminds us that what you are looking for is what is looking. Ultimately, as Tillich says in "The Courage to Be" we have to come to terms with the anxiety of non-being and our imperfections and courageously accept the fact that we and everything surrounding us just are. Only by doing that can Joy be bestowed on us.
The invitation, then, is twofold:
- On the Long Path, we shape the triangle in service to others and the world.
- On the Short Path, we rest as the sun—Being itself—free, present, eternal.
Both are part of the journey. But sometimes, we forget the light was already on.
In our PlayfulProcess terms:
................(Being)
......................|
......................|
.....................\/
................Feelings
................../......\
................/.........\
............../..Just-..\
............/...Right....\
........../....................\
...Behavior___Thoughts
The triangle—Feelings, Thoughts, Behaviors—represents the Long Path, the traditional route of purification, discipline, and healing of our personalities, or ego. Working within the triangle, we balance and transform the personality, aiming for a “Just-Right” integration. This work is noble. It prepares us to become clearer instruments of service, less reactive, more whole.
But hovering above is the sun of Being—radiant, changeless, always now. The Short Path is the recognition of being as something that always was and always will be in the eternal now. The Short Path is not a denial of the triangle, or of the moral duty towards self-improvement; it is a shift in identity. You realize that you are not the triangle. You are the light that sees it. The sun doesn't need to be earned. It doesn't shine more brightly when your thoughts are aligned or your feelings purified. It is here. Always.
Brunton reminds us that what you are looking for is what is looking. Ultimately, as Tillich says in "The Courage to Be" we have to come to terms with the anxiety of non-being and our imperfections and courageously accept the fact that we and everything surrounding us just are. Only by doing that can Joy be bestowed on us.
The invitation, then, is twofold:
- On the Long Path, we shape the triangle in service to others and the world.
- On the Short Path, we rest as the sun—Being itself—free, present, eternal.
Both are part of the journey. But sometimes, we forget the light was already on.
September 3, 2014
I received an ARC from the Publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This is such an interesting and well written non-fiction self-help type book. The author is very straight-forward in his presentation and makes it very readable and enlightening.
I have personally used several of the techniques and was pleasantly surprised by the results. I feel more in tune with my inner self.
This is such an interesting and well written non-fiction self-help type book. The author is very straight-forward in his presentation and makes it very readable and enlightening.
I have personally used several of the techniques and was pleasantly surprised by the results. I feel more in tune with my inner self.
August 24, 2014
Absolutely loved this book, full of spiritual techniques to spiritual awakening, it gives you an insight into reality, about mind stilling, a 3 fold experience of truth, strength and trust and searching for the oneself, present and understanding. Its one of those books you really have to read, a journey of enlightenment.
July 4, 2025
Excelente livro. Ensina o despertar, a iluminação, o viver no agora e na presença. Nos ensina a reconhecer nosso Eu Maior.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews