A Hermit in the Himalayas: The Classic Work of Mystical Quest

by Paul Brunton

'The introductory account of Mr. Brunton's pony-back journey up the mountainside has real charm. One of his most interesting chapters gives a practical-minded consideration to the probable future of Tibet.' New York TimesPaul Brunton was one of a very small number of his generation to travel in India and Tibet so extensively at a time when very few were doing so with such insight and discernment. His journalistic skills produced magnificent descriptions of the snowy peaks and high-desert landscapes of the Himalayan region, but it was the lessons he learned from the holy men he met on his journey that transformed him into one of the great interpreters of the East. In this magnificent spirituality classic, he explains that we all need 'oases of calm in a world of storm', no matter what era we are living in, and that to retreat from our everyday lives for a while is not weakness but strength. By taking the trouble to discover the deep silence within us we will find the benefits of being linked to an 'infinite power, an infinite wisdom, an infinite goodness'. A Hermit In The Himalayas is a fascinating blend of travel writing and profound spiritual experience. As we accompany the author on his journey through the vast Himalayas ranges towards Mount Kailas in Tibet, he also shows us an even more remarkable - and timeless - inner path which will help us cope with the ups and downs of our contemporary world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Travel, Biography, Travelogue, Philosophy, History

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1937

About the author

Paul 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).

Reviews

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly absorbing, beautiful little book that takes you into the very heart of the tranquility of the Himalayas at a time before the conquest of Everest.

This is Paul Brunton's journel of his time in search of stillness; the inner silence of a higher state meditation. It is a book full of insight and wisdom as he pens his daily musings on life and Nature with beautiful, vivid descriptions of a time spent surrounded by breathtaking beauty.
He is a philospher talking of many things, travel, politics, religion, a chapter in which he replies to his correspondence and, in answer to a man on the brink of suicide, a letter so uplifting and full of compassion that it touched my heart. Another on silent movies and Charlie Chaplin, that lovable funny character of the silent era.

I loved this little book, only 192 pages - but it has a very big heart!

[Renuka Govind · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the most spiritually enlightening book that I have come across. If I would have read it even a year back, I don't think I would have been able to grasp its message. As it is, reading it once was not enough. I want to re-read it.

It is a journey of a man in a quest for spiritual peace which he quite successfully achieves. The best part about this book is its language. Paul Brunton has set the standard so high that I worry if any other author will be able to compete with him.

[Peter Clement · Rating 3 out of 5]

The reflections in the book on solitude, nature, meditation, and the role of seclusion in self discovery were all welcome.

This book was written at a fascinating time -- amid the Chinese revolution, between World Wars, at the end of British Colonialism, and importantly, before the conquest and desecration of the Tibetan nation and temples.

The authors' views of race, class, and imperialism are quite dated, and language used throughout is highly problematic by today's standards.

This book is a product of its time, with the insights and the drawback that this brings. This leads to interesting questions about our own assumptions of the best paths (personal and societal) forward.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma ode à natureza. Uma viagem espiritual que nos mostra que solidão não é solitude. Que podemos estar sozinhos e ainda assim acompanhados por nós próprios, sempre.

[Therese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. His descriptive writing lets one feel as if they are there with him.

[SivaAnanth Muthuveeranan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paul Brunton's spiritual desire reflects in this book.

I quiet enjoyed his description about Tibet and it's secluded notions. Not sure why my thoughts go frenzy when i read about Tibet. Being still is his motive and that leads him to withdraw from the society for a while.

Mention about Thiruvannamalai, Bodhidharman during 1850 gives me goose bumps, that too by a westerner. He acknowledges the fact the men with real power does exist with no signficance in the society and that's their prerogative. They never wish to show-off.

Just like Sanga tamil sends me roundabouts, feel the same way while reading this book sometimes.

His travelogue is exhaustive to my brain sometimes :)....

[Veera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written live in the old Himalayan landscape. Its simple language, words and tone are easy to understand, however, the book is way ahead of what the writer communicating through the book. If someone has a love for spirituality, or seeking calmness or have a love for traveling and Himalayas, this book is a must. Beautifully description of his days and encounters be it with humans or animals or nature. The writings sparks a light inside the reader to explore himself. (and even the mighty Himalayas.)

[Dennison Berwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paul Brunton was born in London in 1898 and died in Switzerland as recently as 1981. This book is part travelogue through what is still a fairly remore region of the world and part spiritual experience. The book was originally published in 1938, at a time when few outsiders ventured as far as Mount Kailas.

For more reviews, essays and stories, please visit my website:
Serendipities of a Writer's Life www.dennisonberwick.info

[chaity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Takes a while to read and assimilate, dwell and grasp the fragrance of this work of Brunton.
One of his amazing works ...indeed

[Lalitha Sarma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loneliness to longing...

[V.Shanmugam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Takes you to the olden days of Himalaya and Gurus lived there.

[DropOfOcean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compared to Brunton’s books about India and Egypt this book left me bit cold. I had high expectations as the book implied him going to live hermit life in Himalayas. Well PB was really far from real hermit life (which he sort of acknowledges in the book) as he lived first in a comfortable hut and then in a big house. He had servant, lots of luggage, people who carried it, horse, typewriter, guests, mail deliveries and newspapers.

The storytelling is bit weak compared to books I mentioned earlier. At times there comes out of nowhere revelations about life on Sirius or how he made some valuable prophecy to someone important in Iraq. Those times I feel PB is at his worst. There’s also that noteworthy thing, which he writes in book’s preface, that he wrote the book much earlier and then when it was published later on larger scale he changed ”the way things are observed to match inner growth gained during the years” - I would have been much interested to read how he saw things at the time he was in Himalayas instead of later modified version depending how his views had changed.

Despite all that critic it’s not a bad book and there is still good content & stuff to enjoy about.

[Bogdan Haidu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite reflective and meditative.
It activates some internal thoughts about the soul and it can be a motivating book for people who want to enjoy the serenity of the mountain landscapes and go hiking.
He has some interesting premonition about Tibet.
The only thing which might come a bit difficult is to feel and accept some of his ideas, which then again is quite normal :) .

[Ashwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author adopts a critical tone on Hinduism and India at some places in this book. But, this tone is not reflected in his religion. Found this book very biased.
Moreover, he keeps defining mountains, forests, rivers, and animals - there is hardly any spiritual or philosophical element in this book. This sounded more like the author's travelogue.
Didn't enjoy reading this.

[Grant]

I was mystified by this mystical treaties on the path to awakening

Complex phrasing and sentences beautifully and brilliantly flowing from the pen of Paul B. made for a picturesque telling of the man's journey into himself via a stint with solitude in the mountains of India while on a quest to connect with self.

[Berkan Sesen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be very disappointing due to i. lack of interesting and relevant content, ii. the self importance that the author exhibits involuntarily. It is a collection of random ramblings of a man who evidently considers himself a gift to the planet.

[Sinimalism · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meditative evening reading

[cdpc44 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um livro sem espinhas.
Um pequeno exagero (parece-me) do autor em querer defender-se dos críticos.

perspectivas interessantes nas pags 35, 52, 64 (pequena incursão na teoria apresentada no livro "Fórmula de Deus") 79, 83, 100, 102, 127 ("Os homens dizem que o tempo passa; o tempo diz que os homens passam"), 132, 149 (calor interno semelhante às teorias da medicina chinesa), 153-154, 162, 168, 169 (pormenor interessante do sistema de castas), 188 (basti - prática antiga de yogis que me parece ser utilizada para curar), 200 ("Um nepalês não tem consciência de qualquer antagonismo entre as duas crenças e com frequência rezará num templo hindu num dia e num templo budista no dia seguinte.", 210 (frase de que discordo totalmente "Não poderia e não adoraria a Lua, essa esfera fria e fantasmagórica" - Paul tu não sabes o que dizes...), 211 (flor de lotus e seu significado e comparação com o sol), 225 ("(...) casca de coco, esse estranho sucedâneo indiano do tabaco"), 249 ("a derradeira mensagem dos Himalaias é SILÊNCIO, esse silêncio que carrega consigo o sopro de Deus")

Não sei se tenho maturidade espiritual suficiente para perceber a totalidade deste livro. Outros poderão ler nele muito mais do que eu não consegui, sem dúvida.

[Guida · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A vacuidade espiritual da nossa época e a pobreza dos nossos recursos interiores expressam-se de modo suficiente claro no caos, na angústia que vemos por toda a parte e na dolorosa subserviência dada a ideais indignos e homens indignos".

Dificilmente não gostaria de um livro sobre ioga, meditação e espiritualidade. É uma obra que vale a pena ler, pois não se aproxima dos livros inóspitos de auto-ajuda. De qualquer forma julgo que poderia ser mais completa e abrangente. Fiquei com curiosidade de ler mais livros do mesmo autor.

[Ashutosh Chouksey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul has very beautifully described the immense beauty and grandeur of the Himalayas. One feels like packing his bags right away and make to the Himalayas when reading this masterpiece of a sojourn journal.

[Moitreyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

the himalayas... only place of serenity and peace..