Page 74 - EducationWorld September 2020

Books

Profound and become very

insights THINK ON THESE THINGS proficient in mathematics,
physics or what you will,”
J. Krishnamurti
KRISHNAMURTI FOUNDATION he says.
Much of the book’s
EGENDARY phi- Rs.250 focus is on spirituality.
losopher, spiritual Pages 267 Krishnamurti urges us to
Lguru, educationist explore beyond ancient
and one of the world’s holy texts, religious dogma
pioneer environmentalists and birth identity to seek
Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895- true understanding of the
1986) travelled the world necessary, but a school A collection of connection between the
for six decades, delivering includes much more than philosopher, spiritual academic and spiritual life.
illuminating commen- that. It is a place where guru and educationist He stresses the importance
taries on the scriptures, both the teacher and the Jiddu Krishnamurti’s of self-knowledge in shap-
philosophy and education. student explore, not only interactions with ing the individual, which is
The wisdom he shared, the outer world, the world students, parents and missing and receives scant
much of which was com- of knowledge, but also teachers in India attention in most educa-
piled in the form of books, their own thinking, their tion institutions.
has a timeless quality and own behaviour.” “To know oneself is the
universal reach. This book is a collection purpose of education. Why very purpose of all educa-
Unlike many phi- of some of Krishnamurti’s do children struggle to be tion” he opines. “Through
losophers, sages and seers musings and interactions educated? Is it merely to self-knowledge, you begin
whose teachings are oft with students, parents and pass examinations for job to find out what is God,
interred with their bones teachers in India. It covers preparation and to secure what is truth, what is that
or relegated to unfre- a wide canvas in which the gainful employment? state which is timeless…
quented library spaces, philosopher-seer reflects Krishnamurti un- Self-knowledge is the be-
Krishnamurti’s education on a host of issues related ambiguously expresses ginning of wisdom. In self-
philosophy, based on his to the human condition — his dissatisfaction with knowledge is the whole
vision of human progress, from ambition, desire and conventional education. universe; it embraces all
lives on in several highly acquisitiveness to love and In his view, the purpose the struggles of humanity,”
respected bricks-n-mortar freedom, to intelligence, of education is to improve he taught.
schools promoted by the creative discontent, life the mind and character The reflections of this
Chennai-based Krish- and death, religion and of young people, to help extraordinary seer are
namurti Foundation India God. As Think O n These them understand the contained within the cov-
(estb.1928 as the Rishi Things, the title of the entire process of life. ers of this valuable gift to
Valley Trust and renamed book urges us — they “Having a job and the public. It will inspire
KFI in 1970). are the core of human earning one’s livelihood is readers to do better and
Today KFI supervises existence. necessary, but is that all? lead meaningful lives.
six environment-friendly, The merit of this com- Are we being educated ANONYMOUS
no-frills schools across the pendium is that it awak- only for that?” he asks.
“Surely life is not merely a
country with the pioneer ens the reader to a deeper job, an occupation; life is Poetic
Rishi Valley School, Chit- understanding of the
toor (Andhra Pradesh) mind of this revered seer. something extraordinarily
ranked India’s #1 co-ed The content is thought wide and profound, it is a melancholia
boarding school for seven provoking, profound great mystery, a vast realm
years consecutively in the without being pedantic, in which we function mall Day s and
annual EducationWorld guiding gently without as human beings. If we N ights is a rich
India School Rankings. being preachy. Consider merely prepare ourselves Swork of fiction with
“A school is a place for instance, his thoughts to earn a livelihood, we an inter-racial love story,
where one learns about on education, a subject shall miss the whole point probably a portrait of the
the totality, the wholeness with which he was deeply of life. And to understand author’s own parents,
of life,” said Krishnamurti engaged. They raise life is much more a Welsh mother and an
famously. “Academic provocative questions important than merely to Indian, Gujarati father. It
excellence is absolutely about the meaning and prepare for examinations impresses by its radical

74 EDUCATIONWORLD SEPTEMBER 2020