Insight through Awareness

Abstract

For over fifty years, Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986) spoke on a wide array of topics, but primarily directed his teachings at the problem of human suffering. He taught that all conflict is intrinsically tied to our psyches, which have been heavily conditioned by our upbringing. Aligned with other renowned Western and Eastern thinkers on the wisdom of self-discovery, Krishnamurti presents a distinctive vision for learning that encourages self-understanding through sensitive observation and choiceless awareness. He calls for a radical transformation of human consciousness, thereby enabling pliant minds to blossom. This flowering of intelligence, through a liberating insight into the mechanisms of conditioning, is at the heart of his educational philosophy. Institutions that embrace his approach must be vigilant not to succumb to the traditional modes of academic training and norms of success, lest they perpetuate the structures of fear, violence, and conformity that continue to stifle the creativity of human spirit.