New books ...... 4 Vacancies...... 4 Report on Gathering...... 5

KRISHNAMURTI FOUNDATION March - June 2014 RS.2/- VOL. X ISSUE 1

New books ...... 4 Vacancies...... 4 Report on Gathering...... 5 Let this inquiry carry you all day (KFI secured recently the rights to publish The Impossible Question, which consists of seven public talks and seven dialogues that Krishnamurti held in Saanen, Switzerland, in 1970. The new edition is priced at Rs 195. Those who are looking for ‘practical hints’ in Krishnamurti’s teachings may find them in this book, and some of these are published here—Editor)

ASSURE YOU one can put sensitive through starvation or Iaside the old tape, the old way fasting. One has to have regard of thinking, feeling, reacting, for what one eats. One has to the innumerable habits that one have a brain that is sensitive; has. One can do it if one really that means a brain that is not gives attention. If the thing one functioning in habits, pursuing is listening to is deadly serious, its own particular little pleasure, tremendously important, then sexual or otherwise. pp.9-10 one is bound to listen so that the Questioner: Do you think it is possible very act of listening will wipe to learn all the time? out the old. Do try it—or rather krishnamurti: When you ask do it. You are deeply interested, that question of yourself, you otherwise you would not be here. have already made it difficult. By Do listen with full attention, so putting a question of that kind that in the very act of listening you are preventing yourself from the old memories, the old habits, that very self-centredness will learning. You see the point? I am the accumulated tradition, will all prevent him from examining. But not concerned with whether I be wiped away. Page.4. he has got to listen to others, he am going to learn all the time, I’ll ONE WANTS TO find out how has got to examine, to question find out. What I am concerned to live quite a different kind of life, constantly; which means that with is: am I learning? If I am a life in which there is no violence, he has to be highly sensitive. learning, I am not concerned as in which there is complete inward He has to find out how and to to whether it is ‘all the time’—I freedom; one wants to find out whom he listens. So he is all don’t make a problem of it. The and intends giving time, energy, the time listening, pursuing, question becomes irrelevant if I thought, everything, to that. inquiring. He is discovering, and am learning. I would call such a person a with a sensitive brain, a sensitive mind, a sensitive heart—they Questioner: You can learn from serious person. He is not easily anything. put off—he may amuse himself, are not separate things—he is krishnamurti: That is, if you but his course is set. This does inquiring with the totality and the are aware that you are learning. not mean that he is dogmatic or sensitivity of all that. Find out if This is very complex: may I go obstinate, that he does not adjust. the body is sensitive; be aware of into it a little? He will listen to others, consider, its gestures, its peculiar habits. You examine, observe. He may in his cannot be sensitive physically if ‘Can I learn all the time’? seriousness become self-centred; you overeat, nor can you become Which factor is important here? MARCH 2014 JUNE 2014 Let this inquiry carry you all day ‘Learning’ or ‘all the time’? the next moment I become your education, your way of Obviously it is ‘learning’. When I inattentive. Having been attentive thinking, your conclusions, your am learning I am not concerned and knowing what inattention prejudices, without any kind of with ‘the rest of the time’— is, I struggle to make inattention condemnation or explanation the time interval and so on. I attentive. Do not do that, but or justification—just observe. am concerned only with what watch inattention, become aware When you so observe, there is I am learning. Naturally the that you are inattentive; that is all. no observer and therefore no mind wanders off, it gets tired, Stop there. Do not say, ‘I must conflict. it becomes inattentive. Being spend all my time being attentive’, Questioner: When I dream, I sometimes inattentive, it does all kinds but just watch when you are see something happening in the future, of stupid things. So it is not a inattentive. To go any further which is accurate. I dreamt that I saw you question of how to make the into this would be really quite come into this meeting and put the brown inattentive mind attentive. What complex. There is a quality of coat there and adjust the microphone; is important is for the inattentive mind that is awake and watching this was definitely a dream of what was mind to become aware that it is all the time, watching though there going to happen the next morning. is nothing to learn. That means a inattentive. I am aware, watching krishnamurti: How do you everything, the movement of mind that is extraordinarily quiet, account for that? First of all, why the trees, the flow of the water, extraordinarily silent. What has a do you give such tremendous and I am watching myself—not silent, clear mind to learn? pp. 19-21 importance to what is going to correcting, not saying this should SO THERE IS this observer happen in the future? Why? The be or this should not be—just and the thing observed; in astrologers, the fortune tellers, the watching. When the mind that is that division there is inevitably palmists, what marvellous things watching gets tired and becomes contradiction. That contradiction they say are going to happen to inattentive, suddenly it becomes is the root of all strife. you! Why are you so concerned? aware of this, and tries to force If that is the root cause of Why are you not concerned with itself to become attentive; so there conflict, then the next question the actual daily living, which is conflict between inattention and is: can you observe without the contains all the treasures—you attention. I say: do not do that, ‘me’, the censor, without all the do not see it! You know, when but become aware that you are accumulated experiences of the mind, because you have inattentive; that is all. misery, conflict, brutality, vanity, been listening here, has become somewhat sensitive—I do not Questioner: Could you describe how you pride, despair, which are the say completely sensitive, but are aware that you are inattentive? ‘me’? Can you observe without the past—the past memories, somewhat sensitive—naturally krishnamurti: I am learning it observes more, whether of about myself—not according to conclusions, and hopes, with- out all the background? That tomorrow or today. It is like some psychologist or specialist background—as the ‘me’, the looking down from an aeroplane —I am watching and I see the observer—divides you from and seeing two boats approaching something in myself. But I do not the observed. Have you ever from opposite directions on the condemn it, I do not judge it, I observed without the back- same river; one sees that they are do not push it aside, I just watch ground? Do it now, please. Play going to meet at a certain point, it. I see that I am proud—let us with it. Look at the outward and that is the future. The mind, take that as an example. I do not things objectively; listen to the being somewhat more sensitive, say, ‘I must put it aside, how ugly noise of the river, look at the lines becomes aware of certain things to be proud’, but I just watch it. of the mountains, the beauty, which may happen tomorrow As I am watching I am learning. the clarity of it all. That is fairly as well as of those which are Watching means learning what easy to do without the ‘me’, as happening now. Most of us pride involves, how it has come the past, observing. But can you give so much more importance into being. I cannot watch it for look at yourself inwardly without to what is going to happen more than five or six minutes— the observer? Do please look tomorrow and so little to what is if one can, that is a great deal— at yourself, your conditioning, actually happening now. And you

2 MARCH 2014 JUNE 2014 Let this inquiry carry you all day will find, if you go into this very has said something ugly about day’, the brain has started. But deeply, that nothing ‘happens’ at me, or something true which I if you watch, looking out of the all: any ‘happening’ is part of life. do not like.’ That is accumulation window and not saying a word to through observation, and that Questioner: You tell us to observe yourself—which does not mean accumulation is the observer. our actions in daily life, but what is you suppress the word—just When you observe without the entity that decides what to observe observing without the activity of accumulation, then there is no and when? Who decides if one should the brain rushing in, there you judgement. You can do this all observe? have the clue, there you have the the time; in that observation key. When the old brain does not krishnamurti: Do you decide naturally certain definite decisions respond, there is a quality of the to observe? Or do you merely are made, but the decisions are new brain coming into being. You observe? Do you decide and say, natural results, not decisions can observe the mountains, the ‘I am going to observe and learn’? made by the observer who has river, the valleys, the shadows, the For then there is the question, accumulated. pp. 53-55. lovely trees and the marvellous ‘Who is deciding?’ Is it will that clouds full of light beyond the says, ‘I must’? And when it fails, THE BRAIN IS active from the moment you wake up until you mountains; you can look without it chastises itself further and says, a word, without comparing. ‘I must, must, must’; in that there go to sleep, and even then the is conflict. Therefore the state of activity of the brain is still going But it becomes much more mind that has decided to observe on. That activity in the form of difficult when you look at another is not observation at all. dreams is the same movement of person; there already you have established images. But just to You are walking down the road, the day carried on during sleep. The brain has never a moment’s observe! You will see when you so somebody passes you by, you observe, when you see clearly, that observe and you may say to rest, never does it say, ‘I have finished.’ It has carried over the action becomes extraordinarily yourself, ‘How ugly he is; how vital; it becomes a complete action he smells; I wish he would not problems which it accumulated during the day into sleep; when which is not carried over to the do this or that.’ You are aware of next minute. pp. 73-75 your responses to that passer-by, you wake up those problems still you are aware that you are judging, go on—it is a vicious circle. A YOU NEED HERE a persistent condemning or justifying; you are brain that is to be quiet must have observation, not any conclusion, observing. You do not say, ‘I must no dreams at all; when the brain or anything that you think should not judge, I must not justify.’ In is quiet during sleep, there is a be. That is, I am aware of my being aware of your responses, totally different quality entering emptiness. Before, I covered it there is no decision at all. You into the mind. How does it up, now it has been stripped, see somebody who insulted you happen that the brain which is and I am aware. Who is aware yesterday. Immediately all your so tremendously, enthusiastically of this emptiness? A separate hackles are up, you become active, can naturally, easily, be segment of my mind? If it is, nervous or anxious, you begin quiet without any effort or then there is a division between to dislike. Be aware of your suppression? I will show it to you. emptiness and the thing that is dislike, be aware of all that, As we said, during the day it is aware that it is empty. Then what takes place in that emptiness, in do not ‘decide’ to be aware. endlessly active. You wake up, that division? I can’t do anything Observe, and in that observation you look out of the window and about it. I want to do something there is neither the observer say to yourself, ‘Oh, awful rain’, nor the observed: there is only about it and I say, ‘I must bring it or ‘It is a marvellous day, but too together’, ‘I must experience this observation taking place. The hot’—you have started! So at that observer exists only when you emptiness’, ‘I must act.’ As long moment, when you look out of as there is a division between the accumulate in the observation, the window, don’t say a word, not observer and the observed, there when you say, ‘He is my friend, suppressing words but simply is contradiction, and therefore because he has flattered me’, or realizing that by saying, ‘What a there is conflict. Is that what you ‘He is not my friend, because he lovely morning’, or ‘A horrible are doing?

3 MARCH 2014 JUNE 2014 New books, translations Truth is a at Rs. 50. The other books in Journal of the Pathless Land this series are Freedom from Krishnamurti and The Core of the Known, The First and Last Schools: The the Teaching: Freedom, Education and the latest issue (18th) This booklet Significance of Life, and You are of the Journal of contains two the World the Krishnamurti historic pronouncements made Jiddu Schools, published annually by by Krishnamurti. The first is the Krishnamurti India, speech he made when he, as the Druk-pathamlo is now available. It consists of head of the Order of the Star Vidya: Telugu articles written by teachers of the of the Theosophical Society, translation, by Krishnamurti schools in India, the dissolved it on 3 August 1929 at Lakshmi Prasad, UK and the USA, and by other a Star Camp held in Ommen in of Krishnamurti on Education. educators and philosophers who Holland. The other is a piece he Consisting of Krishnamurti’s have reflected on issues of school wrote when his biographer Mary talks to the students and teachers education in the modern world. Lutyens asked him what the core of the in The focus is on Krishnamurti of his teaching was. Printed on art the 1960s, the book runs to 176 vision of education and how it can paper and with a rare photograph pages and is priced at Rs 120. be made effective in schools today. of Krishnamurti in 1929, this Copies can be had from KFI Copies can be ordered online at booklet is priced at Rs 20. centres or from the publisher www.kfionline.org or by post. Low-cost editions: Beyond Visalaandhra Publishing House, Price Rs.120. May be remitted Violence has also been now Giriprasad Bhavan, Nagole, GSI by DD or cheque in favour of brought under the scheme of Post, Bundlaguda, Hyderabad – Krishnamurti Foundation India, Low-cost Editions—it is priced 500 068. payable at Chennai.

KFI Annual Gathering 2014 into Classes 4 to 8, and 11 can The Annual Gathering organized News & Notes be downloaded from the school next paragraph for contact details by the Krishnamurti Foundation website and submitted, duly filled of .) India will be held this year on in, to the school. Scholarships are the campus of the Sahyadri Vacancies at Sahyadri School available for deserving students School, near Pune. The dates are A fully residential, co-educational to partially meet school fees. 20 November (Thursday) to 23 school, Sahyadri is situated For information: Sahyadri School, November (Sunday). amidst great natural beauty in Krishnamurti Foundation India, The Gathering is an occasion for the Western Ghats. The school Tiwai Hill, Rajgurunagar, Dist. those interested in inquiring into is not only a centre of academic Pune – 410 513. Phone: 02135 their lives and going deeply into excellence, but also a place – 306100, 288442/3. E-mail: Krishnamurti’s teachings, and where children and educators [email protected]. is open to all, from India and explore fundamental questions Website: www.sahyadrischool. outside. It would consist of talks, of life together. The discovery org question and answer sessions, of self-awareness, right living Study Retreats in Bangalore small group discussions, and and right relationship with the video screenings. The theme of earth is at the heart of our intent. The Study Centre in Bangalore the Gathering, dates of arrival Experienced teachers may apply, offers residential retreats every and departure, participation through the school website, month. The dates and themes are: fees, mode of registration and for classes 4-10, and for classes April 10-13: Karnataka JK other details will be announced 11-12 (higher secondary). Adhayana Shibira: Under- later, in the July issue of this Teachers with varied interests standing Relationship newsletter and also in our and capabilities will be preferred. June 12-15: Is it possible to live website www.kfionline.org. (See Application forms for entry without conflict?

4 MARCH 2014 JUNE 2014 July 10-13: Can I be a responsible There will be no retreats in May parent without understanding News & Notes and June 2014. Post, Bangalore – 560062. myself? We also encourage groups of E-mail: kfistudy@gmail. August 7-10: Significance of people in a locality to organize com Phone: 080-2843-5243 or Living in the Here and Now retreats for themselves at +91.94826.41389. Registration Vasanta Vihar; such groups September 11-14: Education and forms can be downloaded from should contact us two or three the understanding of life the website. months in advance and intimate November 6-9: Understanding Retreats at Vasanta Vihar: Relationship us about the dates of the Monthly week-end retreats, held retreats and the possible number December 10-14: Retreat for specially to suit the convenience of participants, to enable us to the Young (18-35) What are you of office-goers and others in confirm the programme, prepare doing with your life? Chennai, is a special feature study materials, make room Visit www.kfistudy.org for of Vasanta Vihar. Those from bookings, and so on. For more further information or write to outside Chennai are also welcome. information, contact The Study, the Study Centre Coordinator, The themes of the retreats and Vasanta Vihar, 124 Greenways Campus, 17th other details are announced on Road, Chennai—600 028 or Km Kanakpura Road, Thatguni our website www.kfionline.org. e-mail [email protected]. Living the teachings in a secular world: A report on KFI Gathering 2013 round two hundred and fifty a screening of the first video- coming in—not that individuals Apeople attended the four- recorded talk in India by are personally responsible for day KFI Gathering at Rishi Valley Krishnamurti, delivered in all that has gone wrong in the that ended on 24 November. The Madras on 31 December 1978. external world, only that in so Gathering theme, ‘Living the Apart from its relevance to the far as each individual is driven by Teaching in a Secular World’, was main theme, the video reveals the impulses of ambition, anger, intended to be a joint and open- facets of Krishnaji’s personality— and competitiveness, he or she is ended exploration of the place his radiance, his compassion and, complicit in its affairs. Because of Krishnamurti’s teachings in above all, the grace and beauty the inner and outer are conjoint, the contemporary world. of an 83-year-old sage distanced human beings are responsible for In her introductory remarks, Dr from the world he is in love the world in which they live. Radhika Herzberger examined with. To comprehend the totality On the second day, Dr P. Krishna the rationale for the Gathering, of life, Krishnamurti urges his sketched within a historical explaining the title, what it means audience to begin with the outer context the emergence of the to live the teachings in a world world, ‘You must begin with the secularized world. The conflict that has been secularized, in other outer and come inward....’ By between religion and science words, in a world that has lost its the ‘outer’ he does not mean the natural world revealed to surfaced in the 16th century. moorings in religion. A religious th life today has no role in public the refined senses but to a world When Galileo, the 16 century affairs, which are governed by law, defined by ideological conflicts. It astronomer, successfully individual rights and economic is a world, for instance, in which, challenged the doctrines of the growth. Given this state of ‘Four hundred thousand million Church, among them the view affairs, pertinent questions are: dollars are spent on armaments that the sun circles the earth, he How do you live a spiritual life in each year’ by nations divided by was able to establish a source of a world that has relegated religion ideological fervour. truth independent of dogma. to the private individual sphere? In Krishnamurti’s eyes, the inner Dr Krishna’s historical account and Is Krishnamurti’s teaching and outer worlds are linked; they illustrated how observation and relevant only in the private realm? are like the waters of the sea— experiment establish independent The Gathering opened with the tide going out and the tide criteria of truth, displacing the

5 MARCH 2014 JUNE 2014 Living the teachings in a secular world dogmas of religion. The triumph village where he grew up and was inhabited by individuals of science over religion made the three personalities who with virtuous as well as flawed way for a secularized world, in dominated the essentially pre- personalities, but that something which truth is not only not the modern cultural landscape. The significant had been lost in the monopoly of religion but the description highlighted the fact last half-century. very idea of religious truth falls the pre-modern period in India within the scrutiny of the rational intellect. The video viewed on the Obituary second day moved the theme Krishnamurti Foundation India regrets to announce the passing of responsibility forward but in away of two of its Trustees: Mrs Radha Burnier and Mr Rajesh Dalal. a surprising direction. The talk Mrs Radha Burnier, who was President of the Theosophical Society given at Madras on 27 December 1980 focuses on India, and on for several decades, passed away at the age of 90 on 30 October the responsibility of his Indian 2013. She was closely associated with Krishnamurti and his work audience to ‘salvage’ their right from her young days and took part in many of his small group country. Krishnamurti makes it discussions. Krishnamurti often asked her questions about the abundantly clear that he is not Vedantic and Buddhist perspectives of life and religion. She gave speaking as a nationalist, but as talks on Krishnamurti’s teachings in several parts of the world. a person who feels that it is the Mr Rajesh Dalal’s end, at the age of 61, came suddenly in Pune responsibility of his largely Indian on 24 February 2014. He had the good fortune of being close to audience to ask the question. Krishnamurti from the time he graduated out of the IIT. He joined the Rajghat Besant School in the mid-1970s and later worked in Rishi On the third day, Mr Rajan Valley School, Vasanta Vihar, and Uttar Kashi. He also held the post Chandy picked up the thread of Director of the Rajghat Education Centre for some years, and Dr Krishna had introduced. He was actively connected with all the schools and study centres. He had framed his argument within the a rare passion for the teachings and helped many young people to context of a secularized world, claiming that the freedom that go deeply into it through his dialogues and interactions with them. society had won from the power of the priesthood had robbed society of ‘virtue’. In a world where individuals are concerned chiefly about their own material well-being, society had lost the virtues embedded in a religious view of the world. Modern societies, he maintained, have lost their moorings in dharma; as a result the pursuit of pleasure and the accumulation of wealth had become driving forces in human life. The Gathering closed with Mr S. P. Kandaswamy’s des- cription of the difficulties ordinary human beings face in understanding Krishnamurti. He sketched the culture of the

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