Control implies division, the controller and the thing to be controlled; this division, as all division, brings about conflict and distortion...
From the Archives
This is an excerpt taken from the handwritten manuscript of Krishnamurti's journal – 1973. The full quote is shown below the original images:
"Control implies division, the controller and the thing to be controlled; this division, as all division, brings about conflict and distortion in action and behaviour. This fragmentation is the work of thought, one fragment trying to control the other parts, call this one fragment the controller, or whatever name you will. This division is artificial and mischievous. Actually, the controller is the controlled.
Thought in its very nature is fragmentary and this causes confusion and sorrow. Thought has divided the world into nationalities, ideologies and into religious sects, the big ones and the little ones. Thought is the response of memories experience and knowledge, stored up in the brain; it can only function efficiently, sanely, when it has security, order. To survive physically it must protect itself from all dangers; the necessity of outward survival is easy to understand but the psychological survival is quite another matter, the survival of the image that thought has put together.
Thought has divided existence as the outer and the inner and from this separation conflict and control arise. For the survival of the inner, belief ideology, gods, nationalities, conclusions become essential and this also brings about untold wars, violence and sorrow. The desire for the survival of the inner, with its many images, is a disease, is disharmony. Thought is disharmony. All its images, ideologies, its truths are self-contradictory and destructive.
Thought has brought about, apart from its technological achievements, both outwardly and inwardly, chaos and pleasures that soon become agonies. To read all this in your daily life, to hear and see the movement of thought is the transformation that meditation brings about. This transformation is not the “me” becoming the greater “me” but the transformation of the content of consciousness; consciousness is its content. The consciousness of the world is your consciousness; you are the world and the world is you. Meditation is the complete transformation of thought and its activities. Harmony is not the fruit of thought; it comes with the perception of the whole."
– J. Krishnamurti
Dear Friends,
I hope you are all safe and well.
We wanted to share with you some original material from our Archives. Above this letter, there is an excerpt taken from the handwritten manuscript of Krishnamurti's journal from 1973. This is an example of how Krishnamurti has been continuously pointing at the underlying causes of human conflict. Understanding this process of division, seems to be the key to ending suffering.
At the beginning of the month, as we were not able to gather together in person, we held our first all Online Annual Gathering which focused on the theme of Can the Mind Be Quiet? We live-streamed interesting talks from speakers such as Mark Lee (trustee of the KFA), Stephen Smith (former academic director and former teacher of Brockwood Park School), Michael Mendizza (author, filmmaker, and former KFA trustee), David E. Moody (author and former director of Oak Grove School), and Prof. Krishna (trustee of the KFI), among others.
For those who were not able to attend online but would like to see the various talks and discussions, you can watch them now – click here. They will be available on our website until the end of the year. Some of the most popular presentations are part of this e-newsletter in the section below.
Finally, as we approach the last month of our financial year, I would like to deeply thank all of you who have made a contribution so far. Your support allows us to offer different opportunities for people to connect with the teachings. If you haven't made a donation to our Spring Appeal yet, please consider making a contribution today – donate here.
Sincerely,
Jaap Sluijter Executive Director
Remote Learning Oak Grove School
At Oak Grove, we recently had our first all-school virtual assembly via Zoom. In the spirit of togetherness, all students watched the assembly video at the same time. You can also learn more about Oak Grove School's response to the pandemic and remote learning plan.
This presentation was part of the Online Annual Gathering 2020. Michael Mendizza is an author, filmmaker, and former trustee of the Krishnamurti Foundation of America.
This presentation was part of the Online Annual Gathering 2020. Stephen Smith is a former academic director and former teacher of Brockwood Park School in England.
This presentation was part of the Online Annual Gathering 2020. Professor Krishna is joined by Oak Grove Faculty, Mary Kelley, and KFA Publications Director, Cory Fisher, after his presentation.
