INDIA July - October 2014 RS.2/- VOL. X ISSUE 2

Reprints, translations ...... 4 Retreats ...... 5 KFI Gathering...... 6 An editor’s We escape through the intellect or through mysticism misgivings HEN LIFE IS very function through the mind. The In 1993 the Krishnamurti Foundation Wdifficult, when problems intellectual may be able to talk, to of America asked Raymond Martin, are increasing, we escape express himself more clearly, but professor of philosophy at the University either through the intellect or he too withdraws himself into his of Maryland, to edit a volume of through mysticism. We know own ideas and lives there quietly, Krishnamurti’s talks and writings. the escape through the intellect: disregarding society and pursuing The idea was that there should be an rationalization, more and more his illusions, which are born anthology that would be particularly cunning devices, more and more of the mind; so I do not think interesting to academic philosophers there is any difference between and students of philosophy. The result the two. They are both pursuing was the anthology titled Krishnamurti: illusions of the mind, and neither Reflections on the Self, and in the highbrow nor the lowbrow, his introduction, Raymond Martin neither the mystic, the yogi who speaks about the misgivings he had in escapes, withdraws from the producing such a book. Here are some world, nor the commissar, has the excerpts from the introduction: answer. It is you and I, ordinary y misgivings were due, common people, who have Mfirst, to the fact that as to solve this problem without things stand, Krishnamurti’s being highbrow or mystical, thought is quite removed from without escaping either through academic philosophy, particularly rationalization, or through vague in the analytic tradition. There is terms and getting hypnotized by a simple reason why this should Reflections on the Self. First KFI words, by methods of our own be so: Krishnamurti wasn’t reprint, pp. 212+xviii. Rs 250. self-projection. interested in presenting theories; techniques, more and more I AM HERE, an ordinary human and theories are what academic economic responses to life, being. I have not read a thing. philosophy is all about. Second, all very subtle and intellectual. I want to know. Where am I it seemed—and still seems— And there is the escape through to begin? I have to work: in a to me that my having been an mysticism, through the sacred garden, as a cook, in a factory, an analytic philosopher had actually books, through worshipping an office; I have to work. And also made it more difficult for me to established idea—idea being an there are the wife and children; understand Krishnamurti. The image, a symbol, a superior entity, I love them, I hate them, I am a reasons for this are complex and or what you will—thinking that sexual addict because that is the not entirely clear to me even now. it is not of the mind; but both only escape offered to me in life. I think the heart of the difficulty the intellectual and the mystic are Here I am. That is my map of life was that I couldn’t understand products of the mind. One we and I start from here. I cannot what Krishnamurti was saying call the intellectual highbrow, and start from over there; I start unless what he was saying was the other we despise, because it here and I ask myself what it is ‘clear’ and it wasn’t going to be is the fashion now to despise the all about. I know nothing about ‘clear’ until I had processed it in mystic, to kick him out; but both God. You can invent, pretend; I Turn to Page 3 have a horror of pretending. If JULY OCTOBER 2014 We escape through the intellect or through mysticism I do not know, I do not know. I carefully and hesitantly, what is form of pride, is it not? I am still am not going to quote Shankara, this fear? Why do human beings, concerned with achievement. Buddha, or anybody. So I say: this after this tremendous evolution, Finding that pride is very painful, is where I start. Can I bring about still live with fear? Is it something spiritually ugly, I say that I must order in my life?—order, not that can be operated upon and be free of it. The ‘I must be free’ invented by me or by them, but removed—like a disease, like contains the same motive as the order that is virtue. Can I bring it cancer, or any other dreadful, ‘I must be successful.’ The ‘I’ is about? And to be virtuous there painful disease? Is it something still important, it is the centre must be no battle, no conflict in that can be operated upon? of my struggle to be free. So me or outside. Therefore, there Which means there is an entity what matters is not how to be must be no aggressiveness, no who can operate upon it, but free of pride but to understand violence, no hate, no animosity. that very entity is an abstraction the ‘I’, and the ‘I’ is very subtle. And I find out I am afraid. I must of trying to do something about It wants one thing this year be free of fear. To be conscious of fear, that entity is unreal. What is and another thing next year; it is to be aware of all this, aware factual is fear. This requires very and when that turns out to be of where I am. And then I find careful attention not to be caught painful, it then wants something out I can be alone—not carry all in this abstraction of the one else. So, as long as the centre the burdens of memory. I can be who says, ‘I am observing fear’, of the ‘I’ exists, whether one is alone because I have understood or one who says, ‘I must put away proud or so-called humble is of order in my life; and I have fear, or control fear’, and so on. very little significance. What you understood order because I have The one who watches is also the have to understand is how this ‘I’ denied disorder, because I have outcome of fear. If this is clear, comes into being. The ‘I’ comes learnt about disorder. Disorder that the observer—to go back to into being through the sense of means conflict, acceptance of our old saying—the observer is achievement in various forms. authority, complying, imitation, the observed, the thinker is the This does not mean that you must all that. That is disorder, the thought, the doer is the entity not act; but the feeling that you social morality is disorder. Out of who is doing, there is no division. are acting, that you are achieving, that I will bring order in myself; And so if there is no division— that you must be without pride, not myself as a petty little human which is an extraordinary fact to has to be understood. You have being in a backyard, but as a realize, a fact, not an idea I must to understand the structure of human being. Every human being realize, it is an extraordinary fact the ‘I’. is going through this hell. So if I, that there is no division between SIR, WHAT DO you mean as a human being, understand this, the observer and the observed— by sin? The Christians have a I have discovered something that therefore there is no conflict. concept of sin which you have all human beings can discover. Conflict exists when there is not, but you do feel guilty when SO CAN WE deal with the fact the observer different from the you have more money, when of fear and look at it that way, not observed, which is what most you have a bigger house than escape, not say, ‘Well I don’t like of us do and therefore live with somebody else—at least you fear’, get nervous, apprehensive, perpetual conflict. So can we should. [Laughter] When you and suppress it, or control it, or look at fear, and in the very act are riding in a comfortable car deny it, or move it into another of looking, watching, begin to and you see a queue of people field? If we can do all that, just discover the origin of fear, the one mile long waiting to catch a remain with that fear, fear then beginning of it, the cause of it? bus, it does something to you— becomes an actual fact, which is DO I WANT to be free of pride either you have what is called a there, whether you are conscious because I find it harmful to me, feeling of guilt, or you want to of it or not, whether you have painful, spiritually not good? If transform something radically, hidden it very, very deeply, it is that is the motive, then to try to not in the stupid economic still there. Then we can ask very free myself from pride is another sense, but in the religious sense,

2 JULY OCTOBER 2014 We escape through the intellect or through mysticism so that these things cannot it? Is it a form of pity? Most of is still within the stream of self- happen in the world. Or you us are occupied with ourselves centred activity, is it not? If you may feel guilty because you in different ways from morning are living intensely with your realize that you have a certain till night, and consciously or whole being, if you are fully aware capacity, an insight which others unconsciously we move along of everything about you and have not. But strangely we never in that stream. When there is a within yourself, the unconscious feel guilty about such things; we sudden challenge, that movement as well as the conscious, where is feel guilty only about worldly of self-occupation is disturbed, there room for guilt? It is the man things—having more money, a and then we feel guilty, we feel who lives in fragments, who is better social position, and so on. that we are doing something divided within himself, that feels Now, what is this sense of wrong, or that we have not done guilty. One part of him is good, guilt, and when are you aware of something right; but that feeling the other part corrupt; one part is Turn over from Page 1. An editor’s misgivings herself. Yet, as the writings in this (and what he sometimes called the way I had been trained as an volume will reveal to those who )… analytic philosopher to process accept his invitation to examine any view I was considering.… Krishnamurti was not the first to their experience and behaviour, In the end what enabled me to propose critical looking. Others, much of what Krishnamurti said overcome my misgivings about such as the Buddha, had already is deeply relevant to philosophy. editing this volume was the proposed it. But Krishnamurti’s Its relevance is not that he had realization that I’d been moved approach was different and theories to propose or critiques and instructed by Krishnamurti’s perhaps better suited to skeptically of extant theories. Krishnamurti’s thoughts. minded philosophers and students focus is on insights. His talent as a Krishnamurti was not a of philosophy. For one thing, teacher is that he facilitates them. philosopher in the classical Krishnamurti was anti-authority to Rather than a theorist, Krishna- sense. He wasn’t interested a degree that few thinkers have ever murti was a seer and a teacher. in presenting theories or in been. He had no use for creeds or Among the things he thought arguing for his views. Still what theories. He discouraged people he saw are certain inherently he was up to is continuous from examining themselves in an distorting psychological struc- with philosophy. Like Socrates, institutional setting or as part of a tures that bring about a division who through his example and spiritual discipline. He taught that in almost everyone’s conscious- questioning encourages his in examining oneself one should ness between ‘the observer’ and audiences to examine critically not rely even on what one has ‘the observed’. This division, the assumptions on which their learnt in previous examinations. he believed, is a potent source beliefs depend, Krishnamurti, The freedom we need to see what of conflict—both internally through his example and is true, he said, is freedom from the for the individual, and through questioning, encourages his known. And because he spoke to the individual externalized for audiences to examine critically the us in a contemporary idiom, it may society as a whole. Krishnamurti assumptions on which their very be easier for us to understand what also proposed a way to remove experience of themselves and the he said. these damaging structures, or, world depends. In other words, Krishnamurti had little use for more accurately, to facilitate their whereas Socrates encourages academic philosophy. Occasionally removal. That is what the writings what today we would call critical he dismissed it as a waste of time, or in this volume are about: a thinking (or, simply, philosophy), worse as a generator of theories that radical transformation in human Krishnamurti encourages what become obstacles in an individual’s consciousness… we might call critical looking attempt to understand him or

3 JULY OCTOBER 2014 We escape through the intellect or through mysticism trying to be noble, and the other do we not? I do not want to be together become a very strong is ignoble; one part is ambitious, poor and therefore I exercise and powerful rope with which ruthless, and the other part talks my capacity, my will, everything you try to climb to success, to about peace, love. Such people to get rich. Or, I am vain and I freedom. feel guilty because they are still exercise will, not to be vain. So Now, will desire give freedom, within the pattern of their own we think we shall get freedom or is the very desire for freedom making. As long as there is self- through the exercise of will. But the denial of it? Please watch centred activity, you cannot get will does not bring freedom. yourselves, Sirs, watch your own over the feeling of guilt. I will be, I must not be, I am desires, your own ambition, your THERE IS A sense of freedom going to struggle to become own will. And if one has no will which is not from anything, something, I am going to learn— and is merely being driven, that which has no cause, but which all these are forms of exercising also is a part of will—the will is a state of being free. You see, will. Now what is this will, and to resist and go with the tide. the freedom that we know is how is it formed? Obviously Through that weight of desire, always brought about by will, is through desire. Our many through that rope, we hope to it not? I will be free; I will learn desires, with their frustrations, climb to God, to bliss or whatever a technique; I will become a compulsions and fulfilments, it is. specialist; I will study, and that will form as it were the threads of a So I am asking you whether give me freedom. So we use will cord, a rope. That is will, is it not? your will is a liberating factor. Is as a means of achieving freedom, Your many contradictory desires freedom come by through will? Reprints, translations Why are You being Educated?: with the teachers and students translations—Eswar Kya Hai? An Education of the schools he founded in (On God) – 135; Prem Kya Hai, pack—F o r India and abroad—as can be Akelapan Kya Hai? (On Love and Krishnamurti, seen in the three books and the Loneliness)- Rs 215; Azad Ki Khoj education is audio recordings contained in (On Freedom) – Rs 175; Ye Rishte not what it this Education Package, which Kya Hai? (On Relationship) – Rs is commonly is meant specially for parents, 145; Jeevan Aur Mrtyu (On Living thought to be teachers, students and anyone and Dying) – Rs 125. All these have now—a specialized part of interested in the larger issues of been translated by KFI’s Rajghat life confined to the classrooms education and existence. Centre, and published by Rajpal of schools and colleges. True Contents: Life Ahead || and Sons, Kashmiri Gate, Delhi – education, in his vision, opens Krishnamurti on Education || 110 006. For more Hindi books, teachers (parents included) as Why are you being Educated? visit www.rajpalpublishing.com well as students to the much || MP3: Education and the Bhayathilirundu Viduthalai: vaster dimensions of life. This Challenges of Life (6 Audio Tamil translation can happen only when both Recordings)|| Booklet on of the theme the teacher and the taught are Krishnamurti Study Centre, book On Fear. constantly learning, not only to Chennai. Sold as a set in a hard- Published by attain academic excellence but, cover box. Price: Rs 599. Narmadha beyond this, are learning to be Theme book Pathippagam, sensitive in their relationships series in Hindi: 10 Nana Street, with other human beings and with A number of T’Nagar, Chennai---600 017. nature through the art of self- theme books Available in all leading Tamil observation and self-knowing. published earlier bookstores in Tamil Nadu. Krishnamurti emphasized this in English are in all his talks and discussions available as Hindi

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At Rajghat: First Study Retreat: Retreats Coordinator, 31 August to 3 September 11 to 14 September : Education Campus, 17th km Kanakpura 2014. Theme: Self-knowledge and the understanding of life. Road, Thatguni Post, Bangalore – and Attention. Second Study 6 to 9 November: Understanding 560062. Email: kfistudy@gmail. Retreat: 6 to 9 November 2014. Relationship. com Phone: 080-2843-5243 or Theme: The art of learning +91.94826.41389. Registration 10 to 14 December: Retreat for about oneself. For further details forms can be downloaded from the young (18-35) What are you and registration please contact: the website. doing with your life? The Krishnamurti Centre, Monthly 8 to 11 January 2015: At Vasanta Vihar: Krishnamurti Foundation India, week-end residential retreats are a Exploring worry, stress and Rajghat Fort, Varanasi 221 001. regular feature of Vasanta Vihar, conflict; 12 to 15 February: E-mail: [email protected]. Chennai. These are generally held Silence, stillness, and meditation; Phone: 0542-2441289, 2440326 in the third week of every month, 12 to 15 March: What does fear do beginning by Friday evening and In Bangalore: The Study to you?; 9 to 12 April: Karnataka ending by Sunday evening. All are Centre, KFI, Bangalore offers JK Shibra: Significance of living welcome to these programmes, residential retreats every month. in the here and now. The dates and themes are: details of which are published in Visit www.kfistudy.org for our website www.kfionline.org. 7 to 10 August: Significance of further information on the Study living in the here and now. For more information, email Centre. Write to the Study Centre [email protected]. Supporting tribal children n the mid-1990s, the In these ten years we have seen made by cheque favouring KEEP IKrishnamurti Foundation some profound changes taking C & E FUND, KFI or through India started an afforestation place; for instance, almost all the direct bank transfer to our scheme in 200 acres of degraded children between 3 and 14 years account in State Bank of India, land in Kaigal village, adjoining attend school. Children from Jayanagar Branch, Bangalore, the reserve forests around the these communities are joining favouring: KEEP C & E Fund, Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary high school for the first time. KFI: SB A/C No. 31439640001. (KWS) in Andhra Pradesh. Besides, the age of marriage of IFSC: SBIN0003286. Your Around KWS live the Yanadi, a girls has gone up from 12-14 to contribution is exempt from tribe well known for its traditional 18-20—quite a revolution in the Income Tax under section 80 G knowledge systems of the forests community. of the Income Tax Act. and its medicinal wealth. In 2004, To continue this work, the For further details and for we started schools for the children Foundation requires your support. contributions from abroad, of five remote tribal hamlets, We are extremely grateful to all contact: Dr Sudha Premnath, called Sanctuary Schools, and the readers for the heart-warming (Coordinator, KEEP), ph. +91 today there are in it more than response to our appeal made in 9008362493. Address: Kaigal 100 boys and girls in the 3-14 an earlier issue of this newsletter. Education & Environment age group. Here we provide We are sure that some of you Programme (KEEP) Krishna- an education that will help in would like to continue supporting murti Foundation India, nourishing children who are the same child annually or on a Kanakapura Rd, Thatguni Post, happy and responsible, who value monthly/quarterly basis, with Bangalore -- 560062. E-mail: kfi. their tradition and ecology, and are standing instructions to your [email protected]. confident of earning a livelihood. bank. Website: www.kaigalconserve.info. Apart from free education and A contribution of Rs.15,000 will Sanctuary Schools documentary: lunch, the students are given take care of a child for a whole http://youtu.beE43e7CuQwAs. clothes, books, and other year. Contributions are to be requirements.

5 JULY OCTOBER 2014 Welcome to KFI Annual Gathering 2014

rishnamurti Foundation A/c type: Savings Account wire mesh to keep of insects and KIndia’s Annual Gathering IFSC/NEFT: HDFC0000746 mosquitoes. will be held this time at its Sahyadri Bank Address: Kohinoor Centre, Food: Wholesome vegetarian food Centre near . Pune-Nasik Highway, Near will be served in the dining hall at The Gathering, which is open to Talegaon Chowk, specified times. Tea will be provided all, is meant to help us re-examine Chakan, 410 501, District Pune, in the dormitories early morning. our life and see its relationship Maharashtra Transport: Transport will be to Krishnamurti’s teachings. Phone: 02135-300171/76. provided from and to Pune Railway Talks, group dialogues, screening Station, Pune Airport and the Bus of Krishnamurti videos, and a Accommodation: Participants Terminus on 19 & 23.. cultural programme will be the will be accommodated in the chief features of the event. hostels of the Sahyadri School Weather: Sahyadri enjoys a moderate spread over the campus. Each climate, with November weather Theme: Freedom and the First bringing temperatures of about 28 Step. hostel has several dormitory-type rooms and a cluster of toilets C (maximum) and 15 C (minimum). Dates: Morning of 20 November and bathrooms. Six to eight Light woolens are recommended. (Thursday) to forenoon of 23 participants will share a room. For more details visit our website November (Sunday). Groups can be accommodated http://kscskfi.com., or contact us: Arrival of participants: 19 together if they so request at the Sahyadri Study Centre November (Wednesday) by time of registration. evening. Krishnamurti Foundation India There will be separate Tiwai hill, Rajgurunagar (Khed) Gathering programmes: 20, 21, dormitories for men and women. 22, & 23 (end by lunch time on All the rooms are furnished with Pune, Maharashtra - 410 513. the last day). beds, cupboards, tables and Tel: (02135) 306 192, 288442, Departure of participants: 23 chairs. Bedding with pillows and 288443 November (Sunday) after lunch. blankets will be provided. Hot E-mail: kfisahyadri.study@gmail. Participation fee: Rs 2000/- water for bath will be available. com [email protected] for the entire programme. For Dormitory windows have foreign nationals USD 100. The charges include boarding, lodging, and transport. See Gathering Registration Form on our website http://kscskfi. com to enable you to register online or print the form and send it by post along with the remittance. Mode of payment: You may make a direct deposit through net transfer into the Study Centre Bank account. You will need the following details: Bank: HDFC Bank Limited Name of account: Krishnamurti Study Centre, Sahyadri KFI A/c No.: 07461110000038.

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