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Life Is Relationship In Action Download The Book (pdf)
A Living Foundation: Learning Through The Process Of Integration
Self-Inquiry is a process that delves into all areas of concern and
conflict in life. Yet it is not recognised as an area of serious study.
Its relevance to the psychological well-being of children is overlooked
by education probably because it is regarded as an adult preoccupation!
As far as I am aware its’ relevance to children has only been explored
seriously in the Krishnamurti Schools. Children are naturally
inquisitive and interested in all manner of things. If we encourage them
to address the nature of thought and to explore the impact of labels
upon their mind, they will do so out of natural curiosity! Back in Rishi
Valley, we soon began to display an interest in ourselves that
corresponded naturally with an emerging concern for the world we lived
in! Ingeniously, Krishnamurti used this link to drive home the process
of inquiry leaving the mind open to learn!
Realizing "the word is not the thing” while still a child provides room
for a depth of insight that continues to enlighten one throughout life!
To begin with, this insight helps the child to account for the
differences between the word and the thing. It also helps one to resolve
these differences as required through insights into the nature of
thought! This process awakens intelligence to the danger of complacency.
Krishnamurti was constantly addressing the problem of outmoded
information! “Knowledge is the past!” he would stress. With this kind of
rhetoric it was impossible to lose sight of the limitations of thought
and knowledge during adolescence!
Watching thought soon reveals the mechanics of thinking. Our constant
assertions and deliberations came under scrutiny repeatedly. It provided
us an opportunity to delve into the nature of self, gender, character
and identity! These are all popular areas of adolescent inquiry. Inquiry
stimulates intelligence and expands awareness. In his schools,
Krishnamurti promoted the subject of self as an important area of study
as he attempted to hitch our minds to the process of inquiry through
dialogue. He was able to ensure that we would not succumb readily to a
complacent, conditioned mind-set even as he created a healthy disregard
for the known. I often wondered why he used the words “awakening
intelligence”! It was only years later that I realized that he meant to
awaken us to the dismissive or exclusive nature of thinking so we would
realise the enormous influence language has upon consciousness as the
content of our discontent!
Looking back I feel that it is never too early to enlist a child’s
interest in this inquiry! As one becomes fluent in a language the
process of self-inquiry comes into play. If this is nurtured with
affection and respect it will soon take root and flourish providing a
living foundation for intelligence to mature! Unless this area is
addressed by education I don’t see how we can expect children to take
the time to be deeply honest with themselves let alone the rest of the
world! With Krishnamurti there was always room for error and space for
fearless inquiry as we manoeuvred our way through the maze of life. He
made sure we were free to express ourselves, allowing natural curiosity
to scan our thoughts he delivered intelligence from the clutches of
language and conditioning. Exploring our thoughts revealed the force of
conditioning spanning across the whole of our lives! It is an awesome
sight in retrospect. If that does not give one cause to pause, I don’t
know what will! Geetha Waters June ‘07