DR. PAUL BRUNTON A SEARCH IN SECRET INDIA $12.95 A SEARCH IN SECRET INDIA This is the famous classic that has sold more than a quarter million copies. It is the story of this celebrated writer's spiritual odyssey, his journey up and down India to seek out and interview holy people. We meet such fascinating figures as Meher Baba - the silent Messiah; Shri Shankara - the spiritual Head of South India; the Master Mahasaya; Sahabji Maharaj: Hazrat Babajan - a woman fakir; Vishudhananda - the Magician; and many others. The reader will especially relish the account of how Paul Brunton met his own guru, Shri Ramana Maharshi, the sage of Arunachala. Because of this book, Ramana became well known within India and throughout the West. Today there are Ramanashrams all over the world. The London Times said of A Search in Secret India, "His work is excellent. It has life, color, movement. Readers will find their interest unflagging from the first page to the last." Students on any spiritual path will en­ joy sharing this experience with Paul Brunton. SAMUEL WEISER, INC. Box 612 York Beach, Maine 03910 Cover design by Alden Cole The works of Dr Brunton In chronological order A SEARCH IN SECRET INDIA THE SECRET PATH A SEARCH IN SECRET EGYPT A MESSAGE FROM ARUNACHALA A HERMIT IN THE HIMALAYAS THE QUEST OF THE OVERSELF DISCOVER YOURSELF INDIAN PHILOSOPHY AND MODERN CULTURE THE HIDDEN TEACHING BEYOND YOGA THE WISDOM OF THE OVERSELF THE SPIRITUAL CRISIS OF MAN A SEARCH IN SECRET INDIA DR. PAUL BRUNTON SAMUEL WEISER, INC. York Beach, Maine First American paperback published in 1970 by Samuel Weiser, Inc. Box 612 York Beach, Maine 03910-0612 Revised edition, 1985 Reprinted, 1994 Copyright © 1985 Kenneth Thurston Hurst All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, without permission in writing from Samuel Weiser, Inc. Reviewers may quote brief passages. First published in England in 1934 by Rider & Co., London First American edition published in 1935 by E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc., New York. Copyright © 1935 E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc. Copyright © 1962 renewed by Paul Brunton. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 83-50400 ISBN 0-87728-602-7 MG Cover art is a reproduction of the painting Remember, by Nicholas Roerich. Copyright © 1985 Nicholas Roerich Museum. Reproduced by permission. Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.48-1984. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 3 A PERSONAL NOTE 5 FOREWORD TO THE REVISED EDITION 7 FOREWORD TO THE FIRST EDITION 9 PREFACE 11 I. WHEREIN I Bow TO THE READER 13 II. A PRELUDE TO THE QUEST 21 III. A MAGICIAN OUT OF EGYPT 35 IV. I MEET A MESSIAH 46 V. THE ANCHORITE OF THE ADYAR RIVER 66 VI. THE YOGA WHICH CONQUERS DEATH 86 VII. THE SAGE WHO NEVER SPEAKS 104 VIII. WITH THE SPIRITUAL HEAD OF SOUTH INDIA 117 IX. THE HILL OF THE HOLY BEACON 134 X. AMONG THE MAGICIANS AND HOLY MEN 164 XI. THE WONDER-WORKER OF BENARES 189 XII. WRITTEN IN THE STARS! 205 XIII. THE GARDEN OF THE LORD 226 XIV. AT THE PARSEE MESSIAH'S HEADQUARTERS 253 XV. A STRANGE ENCOUNTER 263 XVI. IN A JUNGLE HERMITAGE 277 XVII. TABLETS OF FORGOTTEN TRUTH 295 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS The following illustrations will be found between pages 116 and 117. THE GREAT TEMPLE OF ARUNACHALA AND THE HILL OF THE HOLY BEACON YOGIS' CAVES HEWN OUT OF SOLID MOUNTAIN ROCK THE CAVE HOME OF SHRI SADGURU MEHER BABA THE "NEW MESSIAH" HAZRAT BABAJAN, THE WOMAN FAQUEER UPASANI MAHARAJ BRAMA SITTING IN HIS FAVOURITE YOGA POSTURE THE ANCHORITE OF THE ADYAR RIVER SHRI SHANKARA, THE SPIRITUAL HEAD OF SOUTH INDIA INTERIOR OF DILWARA TEMPLE IN THE MUHAMMEDAN MOSQUE THE MASTER MAYASAYA SARADA DEVI, "THE HOLY MOTHER" BADREENATH SATHU EESWARA SWAMI WANDERING SNAKE CHARMERS COMMON FAQUEERS OF AN INFERIOR ORDER AT BENARES THE RIVER BANK AT BENARES VISHUDHANANDA THE MAGICIAN TWILIGHT OVER THE JUMNA SAHABJI MAHARAJ THE GATEWAY TO JEHANGIR'S PALACE, AGRA YOUNG RAMANA, THE FUTURE MAHARISHEE THE MAHARISHEE OR GREAT SAGE YOGI RAMIAH RAMIAH'S QUAINT ABODE A PERSONAL NOTE Dr. Paul Brunton died July 27, 1981, in Vevey, Switzerland. Born in London in 1898, he authored thirteen books from "A Search in Secret India" published in 1934 to "The Spiritual Crisis of Man" in 1952. Dr. Brunton is generally recognized as having introduced yoga and meditation to the West, and for presenting their philosophical background in non-technical language. His mode of writing was to jot down paragraphs as inspira­ tion occurred. Often these were penned on the backs of envelopes or along margins of newspapers as he strolled amid the flower gardens bordering Lac Leman. They later were typed and classified by subject. He then would edit and meld these paragraphs into a coherent narrative. Paul Brunton had lived in Switzerland for twenty years. He liked the mild climate and majestic mountain scenery. Visitors and correspondence came from all over the world. He played an important role in the lives of many. "P.B.", as he is known to his followers, was a gentle man. An aura of kindliness emanated from him. His scholarly learning was forged in the crucible of life. His spirituality shone forth like a beacon. But he discouraged attempts to form a cult around him: "You must find your own P.B. within yourselves," he used to say. KTH FOREWORD TO THE REVISED EDITION Search in Secret India was an instant success when published in 1934. It continues to be popular after many reprintings, A and has been translated into several languages. Written at the age of thirty-five, it was my father's first book. To mark the occasion, he adopted the pen name of Paul Brunton. This is the story of his personal odyssey, his search for holy men to guide him on his quest. To this task he brought all his professional journalistic skills coupled with an extensive background in spiritual research. My father was a pathfinder. In this book he introduced the terms yoga and meditation to the Western world. He travelled the length and breadth of the sub-continent interviewing yogis, fakirs, and mystics, exploring a side of India previously unknown to foreigners. His story became a tale of high spiritual adventure. Fifty years later I retraced my father's steps and journeyed around India giving "in memoriam" lectures in his honor. I learned that his name is still held in highest esteem. Many Indians told me they discovered their country's spiritual dimension from this very book. I made a pilgrimage to the same ashram he discovered and offered my obeisance in the meditation hall where Ramana Maharshi had lived. I saw the small bungalow my father had inhabited, and I gazed up at towering Arunachala. The highlight of my trip was my encounter with His Holiness Shri Shankara Acharya, the Spiritual Head of South India, whom my father describes in Chapter VIII. I had no prior intention of meeting him, but upon leaving the Ramanashram, decided to seek him out. After driving along country roads for three hours and locating the village where he was staying, history seemed to repeat itself as I was told there was no chance of my being 8 A SEARCH IN SECRET INDIA granted an audience with him. However, a friendly disciple agreed to submit my card and returned with the news that His Holiness would received me at the rear of the temple, to avoid the crowds milling in front. His slight figure, clad in a saffron robe, reflected his ninety-one years. I told him I was the son of Paul Brunton. He replied briefly. The interpreter informed me, "He knows!" His Holiness spoke again. "He has been waiting for you! He has been expecting you," said the interpreter. But how did he even know of me? How did he know I was in India, I wondered to myself? I held out a copy of this book and showed him his photograph, taken when he was thirty-eight. "I know!" was his comment. At this point I had hoped to elicit his views on the world situation as had my father previously. But suddenly all questions melted, as I felt an onrush of peace and love. All I could do was prostrate myself in the time-honored tradition at the feet of His Holiness as he gave me his blessing. He then put around my neck a sacred mala, a garland fashioned from fragrant sandalwood. I wear it daily. Thus the wheel came full circle half a century later. Kenneth Thurston Hurst August, 1985 FOREWORD TO THE FIRST EDITION by SIR FRANCIS YOUNGHUSBAND, K.C.I.E., K.C.S.I., CLE. "SACRED INDIA" would be as apt a title for this book. For it is a quest for that India which is only secret because it is so sacred. The holiest things in life are not bruited abroad in public. The sure instinct of the human soul is to keep them withdrawn in the inmost recesses accessible to few - perhaps to none. Certainly only to those who care for spiritual things. And with a country as with an individual. The most sacred things a country keeps secret. It would not be easy for a stranger to discover what England holds most sacred. And it is the same with India.