The Sixth Sense: Its Cultivation and Use

In Short

This book offers a structured guide to the "Mystic Sense," an internal, perceptive faculty that the author argues is the defining characteristic of human nature. Far from being a niche tool for religious ecstatics, this sense is presented as a vital, practical instrument used in science, literature, health, and daily decision-making. By analyzing how this faculty interacts with the objective world, the author provides a roadmap for developing a more robust character and a healthier, more meaningful life. Its enduring value lies in its attempt to harmonize spiritual aspiration with rational inquiry.

The Story

The narrative begins with a definition: the "Mystic Sense" is not a supernatural power, but a natural, inherent capacity that allows humans to grasp reality beyond the immediate input of the physical senses. The author establishes that this faculty acts as a bridge between the subjective individual and the external world. He argues that reality is not merely what can be touched or measured; it includes the "ideas" or laws that govern existence. To live fully, one must consciously admit these deeper realities into personal experience.

The arc of the argument moves from the theoretical existence of this sense to its practical applications in modern life. The author examines its role in health, asserting that the "will to live" is an operation of this sense. He argues that physical well-being is deeply tied to the health of the imagination and the ability to hold onto higher ideals. He then shifts to the domain of science, using the examples of ether and the atom to demonstrate that even the most rigorous scientific breakthroughs rely on the "Mystic Sense" to postulate truths that physical eyes cannot see.

The journey continues into the realm of character and morality. The author posits that self-respect is the byproduct of a life directed by these inner perceptions. He warns against "fatalism"—the idea that heredity or circumstance renders us helpless—and insists that the individual is capable of transcending their environment through the exercise of their will and their sense of higher purpose. He cautions that morality without a spiritual foundation can become a cold, oppressive, and empty code.

The final phase of the argument centers on religion. The author characterizes faith not as blind belief, but as the highest, most consistent operation of the Mystic Sense. He points to the life of Jesus as the ultimate model of this faculty in action—a life that was completely human yet perfectly aligned with the divine. He concludes by emphasizing that true spiritual maturity is found not in rare, dramatic visions, but in the patient, daily application of this sense to the "trivial round" of common tasks. The ending is an invitation: the reader is encouraged to stop viewing the spiritual and the material as warring opposites and instead to use the Mystic Sense to integrate them, ultimately leading to a more harmonious and powerful existence.

How It Unfolds

The definition of the human The author introduces the Mystic Sense as a natural, non-exclusive faculty that distinguishes man from the rest of the created order. He explains that while bodily senses provide raw data, this inner sense is required to conceptualize, analyze, and find meaning.

The interplay of objective and subjective The author argues that one cannot ignore the external world to focus solely on the internal, nor vice versa. He provides a framework where the Mystic Sense acts as a mediator, ensuring that our inner life and outer reality function as a complementary whole.

The promotion of physical health The focus shifts to how the imagination and the "will to live" serve as medicinal forces. The author insists that health is not just the absence of disease, but the result of a "healthy-mindedness" that uses this sense to grasp vital, constructive ideals.

The foundations of scientific inquiry The narrative examines how scientists have historically used this sense to postulate theories—such as the existence of the atom or the ether—that cannot be perceived by the five senses. This is used to claim that the ultimate reality of matter is, in fact, spiritual.

The pursuit of character The author explores the necessity of self-respect, arguing that it is the "perfume of the flower" that develops when one lives according to internal principles. He refutes the idea that we are victims of our heredity, asserting that the Mystic Sense allows us to rise above our circumstances.

The life of faith The book concludes by framing faith as the highest expression of this faculty. The author argues that religious life is not about escaping the world, but about using the Mystic Sense to infuse daily, common actions with a sense of divine purpose.

The People

The author, Charles H. Brent, serves as the primary guide, speaking with the authority of an experienced teacher and the humility of a seeker. He is not a detached observer; he is a man actively trying to synthesize his own observations of science and theology into a coherent way of life.

The figure of the "Normal Man" emerges as the ideal protagonist. This is not a person of extraordinary psychic abilities, but someone who has successfully integrated their rational, physical, and spiritual faculties. This individual is balanced, avoiding the "lop-sided" growth of those who obsess exclusively over either the material or the mystical.

Jesus Christ is held up as the supreme exemplar. The author portrays him as the bridge between humanity and the divine, whose own "Mystic Sense" was perfectly tuned. He is the standard against which all other efforts are measured, representing the successful reconciliation of a fully human life with an unwavering spiritual focus.

Finally, the reader is the intended subject of the work. The author addresses the reader directly, challenging them to take responsibility for their own "inner sense." He portrays the reader as someone currently distracted by the materialism of the age, struggling to find a way to make their life meaningful amidst the "trivial round" of modern existence.

In Its Own Voice

"By the Sixth Sense I mean the Mystic Sense, or that inner perceptive faculty which distinguishes man from the highest below him and allies him to the highest above him."

The author defines his subject in the opening chapter as the fundamental gift that makes human experience unique.

"A healthy ideal is a vitalizing force, an unhealthy ideal is an invitation to disease."

In the discussion of health, the author explains how the internal objects of our focus determine our physical and mental condition.

"The trivial round, the common task, Will furnish all we need to ask, Room to deny ourselves, a road To bring us daily nearer God."

Quoting a hymn in the final chapter, the author emphasizes that spiritual development is found in the mundane actions of everyday life.

What It's Really About

At its heart, this book is an argument for the legitimacy of the "non-rational" in a world increasingly dominated by scientific materialism. The author is concerned with the question of how a modern, intelligent person can maintain a spiritual life without falling into superstition or insanity. He posits that the "Mystic Sense" is a law-abiding, functional part of the human mind, just as valid as the senses that detect color or sound. The underlying tension is between the "objective" world of facts and the "subjective" world of meaning. The author’s project is to reconcile these two, arguing that humanity’s greatest achievements—in science, art, and religion—are only possible when these realms are held in proper, harmonious proportion.

Why Read It Today

Readers who find themselves frustrated by the coldness of purely secular explanations for human behavior will find a thoughtful, warm-hearted companion in this book. Its prose is clean and deliberate, carrying the weight of early 20th-century intellectual inquiry. It feels like a quiet conversation with a teacher who is deeply concerned with the "health" of your character.

However, the reader must be prepared for the author’s period-specific assumptions. His references to contemporary physics—the "ether" and the "atom"—are framed by the knowledge of 1911, which may strike the modern reader as quaint or scientifically outdated. Furthermore, the author’s rigid insistence on the importance of "character" and "will" reflects a Victorian-era optimism that some may find challenging or overly demanding. The text also occasionally leans into theological jargon that assumes a traditional Christian framework, which might alienate those looking for a purely secular psychological guide.

Yet, there is something profoundly grounding about its message. In an age of constant digital distraction, its plea for "stillness" and the cultivation of one's internal life remains as resonant as ever. It is not a quick read, but one that rewards slow, reflective attention, leaving the reader with a clearer sense of the dignity inherent in their own perceptions and the power of a focused, intentional life.