The Short Path to Enlightenment: Instructions for Immediate Awakening

This book initially caught my attention due to its forward by Adyashanti, who I have found to be an impeccable and authentically Awake modern-day teacher. After reading the iBook (Apple) version, I was so impressed that I have purchased several hard copies of the book for friends. This collection of “sutras” as Adya describes the passages, is full of clear, succinct, and accurate pointers to the portion of the spiritual journey spectrum known as “The Short (or, Direct) Path.” These are sometimes inaccurately described and/or perceived as being “better” than The Long (or, Indirect) Path, as most people in the world today conflate “shorter” with “better.” However, as everything in and as consciousness is awakening from the place that it is, there is clearly no better or worse on the evolutionary journey but rather, only what works and doesn’t work in that moment. We are called to what resonates within us and as all true spiritual practices have some inherent value, so too do all rivers (inevitably!) reach the sea. We can’t end up anywhere else, as that is What We Already Are — The Ocean of Infinite Conscious Energy — Awareness Itself. The book describes the differences between the short and long paths in many ways. Here are two passages for each: “The Short Path uses (a) thinking: metaphysical study of the Nature of Reality; (b) practice: constant remembrance of Reality during everyday life in the world; (c) meditation: surrender to the thought of Reality in stillness. You will observe that in all these three activities there is no reference to the personal ego. There is no thinking of, remembering, or meditating upon oneself, as there is with the Long Path.” “The average spiritual aspirant is unduly self-centered. This is because he is so preoccupied with his own development, his own self-correction, and his own spiritual needs that he tends to forget a vitally important truth. This is that the last battle to be fought on the Quest—the battle which brings the ego finally and fully under the Overself’s rule—is reflected to a lesser extent in the earlier battles of the Quest. This battle cannot possibly be won by the aspirant himself for the very good and sufficient reason that the ego is not willing to commit suicide, or to put it in another way, is unable to lift itself onto a plane of non-existence. Final victory can only come by the bestowal of Grace from the Overself, which alone can effect this seeming miracle. To attract this Grace the seeker needs to turn away from his self-centeredness to what is its utter opposite—preoccupation with the Overself. He is to think of the Divine alone, of the infinitude and eternity of the Higher Power, and to forget all about his personal growth for a while.” *** “IF THE GRACE of the Overself is to take hold of the man, no part of his ego ought to offer resistance. This is why a preparation for the event is needed, a process of taking out of him those things which are certain to instigate such resistance. In other words, the activity of the Long Path is necessary to the successful treading of the Short Path.” “The man on the Long Path reaches a point where he tends to overdo its requirements or to do them in an unbalanced way. He is then too self-conscious, too much ridden by guilt, oscillating between indulgence and remorse. Only when his efforts seem to be futile and his mind to be baffled, only when he gives up in exhaustion does he give up the tension which causes it. Then, relaxed, spontaneity released, the gate is at last open for grace to enter. In its light he may see that in one sense he had been running around in circles because he had been running around inside his own ego.” I was deeply impressed with this work and its clear and direct teachings. My only quibble is the subtitle. There is no short list of instructions that we can check off and then become enlightened. If it were only that easy! However, that’s not on Brunton, as this was compiled long after he dropped his body. I’ve chalked it up to the publisher’s marketing team and while their job is to sell books, unfortunately the subtitle may confuse some potential readers and, after getting the book, leave them wondering why they’re not immediately Awakened! That aside, as I have shared this work with a number of my friends who are all sincere seekers of Awakening, I unhesitatingly recommend this book to anyone who feels called to it.

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.

After retirement, I took an 8 week class on mindfulness meditation, thinking it might be good for me. Mindfulness meditation is related to Buddhist and Hindu meditation except its basis has been established in western medicine as effective for treating several physical and mental ailments. In addition to that, who doesn't want to be happy and at peace? In that course we used a meditation mantra that translates as "I am that". I wanted to know what "that" was supposed to mean and read that this book was one source for the use of that phrase. So I read this westerners book, "The Short Path" to learn more. Brunton writes clearly and eloquently about his quest to understand ultimate reality through meditation, mysticism and in a later book, "philosophical discernment." Whether or not you come away from his books accepting what he found as the answer to your questions about the meaning of life and your relationship to the universe, if this subject interests you, his books will help you with your own quest for truth.

The title sounds a bit commercial and snake-oil sales pitch, yet the book is very profound and well written.

Still reading it, Long and very interesting and inspiring. Reader will need some background in Spirituality and New age.

Everyone should read this book. It’s easy to understand and it’s a quick read. It’s not a long book. It’s short but impactful.

Actually, the title is a bit of a misnomer because we do use long path practices too. However, the focus is entirely different. I've found this book to be a profound, blessed relief, as I have with all of PBs works. I also applaud the editors for how they put these books together in such a clear manner. If you're tired of todays questionable airy-fairy, new thought spiritual techniques that only lead to an enlightened ego, you will find this book a breathe of fresh air. I also highly recommend his book on meditation even if you've been meditating a long time. The wisdom of overself, and the ego one are also superb. All the books dovetail perfectly with adviata vendanta and self inquiry as taught by Ramana Maharashi and modern masters like Mooji.

This superb book is an informed posthumous selection from Paul Brunton's "notebooks." The central theme of this selection is understanding and doing the short path to enlightenment. The book is full of profound gems of Paul Brunton's insights. If you are already a Seeker, it will help you clarify and guide you progress. It can help whatever your spirititual allegiance though it is more attuned to theistic belief systems. If you are new to Seeking, some to a lot of what is said will mystify you and you will need to keep exploring till it makes sense - and it will make sense eventually. Reading his Notebooks will clarify what is extracted in this book. You can do this online if you go to the website dedicated to Paul Brunton's work and there is also a Facebook Paul Brunton group.

Es una forma de escritura antigua, casi en verso, como los pasajes de la Biblia pero yendo a una parte muy desconocida en occidente, nuestro "ser superior"...que todos llevamos dentro....

One of the most excellent books I've read (and I've read many on this subject :-) Inspirational, clear, concise, uncompromising, and profound.

In a world so full of intellectual teachers of spirituality, all understanding and no experience, Hurst speaks from that rare place of authority. Contrary to the title, this book is about both the Short Path and the Long Path, and argues for the necessity of both in a complimentary approach to seeking Enlightenment. Contains all the work and struggle that the commercial 'tik tok gurus' leave out. If you're serious about the search, this book should take a place in your collection. It is vital. It is scripture.

If one has some sense of what the author means by the "Overself" this book is both clear and helpful in putting the multitude of spiritual messages the seeker is assailed with into perspective. Along with Stephen Bodian's works, I found this particularly helpful in weighing and balancing the messages and teachings of various disciplines (esp Dzogchen, Ramana Maharshi etc) with elements of 'my' own experience.

- In first place, the price for sure was too high. I bought it only because I thought there were some informations I needed in it. - In this book we can read precious thoughts about the first stages of what is generally called "enlightenment". Brunton explains many details about what one feels like when achieving that state (even if it is a glimpse), so it might be useful, to people that never experienced that, to at least start to figure out what they are going to achieve with their practices. - There are also a few techniques that can be used to progress towards a higher state of consciousness (intended as "enlightenment"). One of them is to try to remember how it feels like to be in that state, all the time. And the other, for people that never experienced it, even for a moment (but not only for them), there is an exercise where one tries to feel alredy a Realized man, until this finally comes true. - Do they work? They might and they might not. It depends, as results vary not only from individual to individual, but also from their actual situation etc. In conclusion: I think that this is a good accessory work, that one will enjoy read and that will lead to some very interesting knowledge. But I don't think that this may be considered a "final" work, a book that will pour light on all the "dark questions". It has the potential to lead people to experience enlightenment, even if it is only in a "beginning stage" of it.