About the author
Paul Brunton is the pen name and later the real name of Hyman Raphael Hurst (21 October 1898 – 27 July 1981), a British philosopher, author of spiritual books, journalist and traveler. He is best known as one of the early popularizers of Neo-Hindu spiritualism in western esotericism, notably via his bestselling A Search in Secret India (1934) which has been translated into over 20 languages. Brunton was a proponent of a doctrine of Mentalism, or Oriental Mentalism to distinguish it from subjective idealism of the western tradition. Brunton expounds his doctrine of Mentalism in The Hidden Teaching Beyond Yoga (1941, new ed. 2015 North Atlantic Books), The Wisdom of the Overself (1943, new ed. 2015 North Atlantic Books) and in the posthumous publication of The Notebooks of Paul Brunton in 16 volumes (Larson Publications, 1984–88). == Biography == Hurst was born in London in 1898 to a family of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, and his original birth name was Hyman Abraham Isaacs. He grew up in the Cockney section of London. His mother died when he was thirteen and his father (occupation shoemaker) remarried.
📖 Where to start with Paul Brunton
💬 What our editors say about Paul Brunton's books
“Brunton’s revised edition provides a rigorous map for the inner journey, focusing on self-purification and authentic connection rather than fleeting mystical experiences. However, readers seeking quick fixes, dogmatic religious…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Instructions for Spiritual Living (Edition, Revised of Essays on the Quest)
“Brunton’s text is a masterful interweaving of Gospel and Gita wisdom, offering a compelling vision of singular divine truth. It succeeds in constructing a robust bridge between disparate mystical traditions, urging a personal…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Inner Reality: Jesus, Krishna, and the Way of Awakening
“Brunton offers a compelling narrative of spiritual questing, yet it demands patience from readers accustomed to fast-paced adventure or dry academic history. Those seeking concrete magical techniques or sensationalist occult…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on A Search in Secret Egypt
📋 Editions by Paul Brunton in the catalog
| Edition | Year | Publisher | Pages | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instructions for Spiritual Living (Edition, Revised of Essays on | 2019 | Inner Traditions Internati | 256 | 9781620558041 |
| The Inner Reality: Jesus, Krishna, and the Way of Awakening | 2016 | North Atlantic Books | 256 | 9781623170165 |
| A Search in Secret Egypt | 2015 | North Atlantic Books | 380 | 9781583949818 |
| The Hidden Teaching Beyond Yoga: The Path to Self-Realization an | — | North Atlantic Books | 400 | 9781583949108 |
| The Wisdom of the Overself: The Path to Self-Realization and Phi | 2015 | North Atlantic Books | 456 | 9781583949146 |
