Life is a movement in learning
Public Discussion 1
Learning is never ending
Public Discussion 1 Madras
December 30, 1978
Q: Why do we identify ourselves with something? Why do we accept to live a life in which there is absolutely no security, with constant struggle, competition, uncertainty, confusion and infinite division? Why do we identify ourselves with something? All conflict arises through division, yet we maintain that division in our daily life. Why do we do this, knowing division is corrupt and brings about violence? How am I going to learn; where do I begin? In my reactions to my relationship with another I begin to find out the state of my responses. You have learnt to compare; that's your conditioning. If you don't compare you will find out what you actually are. Learn to live without comparison and see what happens. Learn and therefore act from that learning.
Public Talk 1
Organisations have not saved man
Public Talk 1 Madras
December 31, 1978
There is outer and inner fragmentation. Who is going to change man? Have organisations of any kind helped? To go very far we must begin very near, which is with ourselves. Is one aware of one's thoughts, feelings, fears and pleasures? Can one listen purely, without any distortion? Is there a responsibility to listen to the world and to your own anxiety and sorrow? Can you observe without any prejudice? To learn, mustn’t the brain be free of knowledge? What is action in your life? In relationship, has knowledge any place at all? Can the brain only register what is necessary?
Public Talk 2
An action that is not the outcome of thought
Public Talk 2 Madras
January 01, 1979
Is there an action which is not fragmentary, which has no regrets and no sense of incompleteness? Is there security in the things of thought? Is all psychological security an illusion? Can one attend without concentration and effort? Does the very thought which concentrates also distract? Have you ever given attention in which there is no otherness, deviation or distraction? To attend implies there is no centre from which you are listening. When you have an insight into the nature of thought it finds its right place.
Public Discussion 3
Can you understand what a religious life is?
Public Discussion 3 Madras
January 11, 1979
Q: Has tradition and culture any part in a religious life? The word ‘religion’ means to gather – gather all your energy to inquire into what is truth and reality, if there is an end to sorrow, and into what is love, and whether one can live without any effort and control. You can only find what life is, which may be eternal, or nonsensical, or extraordinary, when you understand your daily living and the beauty of life. Why does the brain form habits, which is tradition, whether it is ten days old or ten thousand years old? The brain can only function in security. Is there such security? Will you throw away your illusions, your habits, because you see the reason, the logical consequence of forming habits?