To Be Human

by KRISHNAMURTI, J.

• ISBN13: 9781570625961
• ISBN10: 1570625964
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-10-10
• Publisher: Shambhala

Summary

To Be Humanpresents Krishnamurti's radical vision of life in a new way. At the heart of this extraordinary collection are passages from the great teacher's talks that amplify and clarify the nature of truth and those obstacles that often prevent us from seeing it. Most of these core teachings have not been available in print until now. Besides presenting the core of Krishnamurti's message, the book alerts the reader to his innovative use of language, the ways in which he would use "old words with new interpretations," then gives practical examples, showing that we can clarify our understanding of life itself-and act on this new understanding. The splendid introduction by David Skitt discusses Krishnamurti's philosophy as a guide to knowledge and experience, the roles knowledge and experience should play in our lives, and the times when it is best to cast them aside and "look and act anew." The book's source notes will aid the inquisitive reader who wishes a deeper understanding of this great teacher's message.

Author Biography

J. Krishnamurti (1895–1986) was a unique spiritual figure who was "discovered" by members of the Theosophical Society when he was a young boy in India and groomed to be a world teacher. As a young man, he departed the Society—and organized religion altogether—to become a teacher of even greater renown. He drew large audiences at his lectures up until his death at the age of ninety.

Table of Contents

Editor's Introduction: Philosophy without Boundaries	xi
PART I The Core of the Teaching
Listening	3	(2)
The Core of the Teaching	5	(2)
Truth Is a Pathless Land	7	(2)
Is There Such a Thing as Truth Apart from Personal Opinion?	9	(5)
There Is Only Infinite Watching	14	(2)
A Man Addicted to Knowledge Cannot Find the Truth	16	(3)
There Is No Technique	19	(4)
You Have to Find Truth through the Mirror of Relationship	23	(4)
Human Begins Have Built in Themselves Images as a Fence of Security	27	(4)
The Burden of These Images Dominates Thinking, Relationships, and Daily Life	31	(6)
Freedom from Being a Slave to the Past	37	(9)
Thought Is Always Limited	46	(2)
The Content of One's Consciousness Is One's Entire Existence	48	(9)
One's Perception of Life Is Shaped by Concepts Already Established in One's Mind	57	(11)
One's Uniqueness as a Human Being Lies in Complete Freedom from the Content of One's Consciousness	68	(5)
Choiceless Awareness	73	(1)
Freedom Is Found in the Choiceless Awareness of Daily Existence and Activity	74	(3)
Thought Is Time	77	(3)
Time Is the Psychological Enemy	80	(8)
In Observation One Begins to Discover the Lack of Freedom	88	(12)
A Radical Mutation in the Mind	100	(6)
Total Negation Is the Essence of the Positive	106	(3)
The Division between the Thinker and the Thought, the Observer and the Observed	109	(14)
This Division between the Observer and the Observed Is an Illusion	123	(15)
Breaking the Mirror	138	(7)
PART II Words and Meanings
Words	145	(4)
Meanings	149	(30)
PART III Action through Inaction
Observing	179	(1)
Staying with ``What Is''	180	(5)
Asking but Not Answering Fundamental Questions	185	(4)
The Beauty of Not Knowing	189	(3)
On Issues Often Discussed	192	(3)
Appendix	195	(2)
Source Notes	197