Autumn 2003

Compassion

"If you want peace you must live peacefully, not be divided into nations with wars and all the hideousness that is going on."

What is compassion? Is it emotion, something romantic? Does it expend itself in some kind of social work? One has to find out what compassion is, what love is. Is love desire? Is love pleasure? And can there be love when there is ambition? Can there be love when one is trying to become something - not only in the outward world but also psychologically where there is this constant struggle to be or to become something?

Can there be love when there is jealousy and violence; when there is division between you and me? Can there be love when you are nationalistic? In this nationalistic division and the division of beliefs, images, can there be love? Of course there can be no love when there is such division. But all of us are so heavily conditioned, and we accept that conditioning as normal. What is the relationship of love to sorrow? Can suffering and love go together - not only personal suffering but the enormous suffering of mankind, the suffering that wars have brought about and are still bringing about, the suffering of people in totalitarian states - can there be love when there is suffering? Or is it only with the ending of suffering that there is this passionate compassion? After stating all this, where are we? Is love just an ideal - something which we do not know and therefore want to have: that extraordinary sense of great compassion? But we will not pay the price for it. We would like to have this marvellous jewel but are unwilling to make a gesture, do something that will bring it about. So what price do we pay for this, not coins and paper but inwardly? How deeply, profoundly, do I see that nationalism, that all division, must end in myself as a human being? Because one human being - whether you or I - is like the rest of the world, psychologically. We all suffer, we all go through agonies, we all go through great fears, uncertainties, confusion, we are all caught in absurd religious nonsense. We are that. Can we see the totality, not as an idea, not as something longed for, but as a fact, as a burning, actual, daily fact? Then out of that perception the responsibility of compassion comes. Compassion goes with great intelligence. That intelligence is not the operation of knowledge. Knowledge can solve many problems, intellectual and technical, but intelligence is something entirely different. Please do not accept what I am saying, just look at it You may have read a great deal, be capable of great arguments and of solving problems, but the problem-solving mind is not the intelligent mind Intelligence comes with compassion, with love. And when that intelligence is an act of compassion it is global, not a particular action.  

From "Questions and Answers" by J. Krishnamurti

©1982 The Krishnamurti Foundation Trust Ltd.  

 

KANZ HAS NO MEMBERSHIP

One of Krishnamurti's most significant statements occurred during the epoch making speech at Ommen in 1929. "My sole aim is to set men free" Of course he was talking about mankind as a whole and about psychological freedom that removes the need for dependence on religions, nationalistic organisations and even small groups that seem to offer psychological security. It is likely that anyone who has studied Krishnamurti has achieved at least a little of that freedom that produces an independent mind willing to question everything, particularly itself. A mind that can observe the constant movement of the external and the inner world. KANZ is not an organisation set up in the name of Krishnamurti seeking members or offering any form of moral authority or security. The work of KANZ as set out in the deed of Trust can be summarised as follows: Making available the work of Krishnamurti by producing a newsletter, organising study gatherings, accumulating books, video tapes and audio tapes which are available to anyone wishing to use them.

"The truth lies in the teachings themselves. The Foundations will see to it that these teachings are kept whole, are not distorted, are not made corrupt. The Foundations have no authority to send out propagandists or interpreters of the teachings in my name now or at any time in the future. The Foundations wilt not give rise to any sectarian spirit in their activities. The Foundations will not create any kind of place of worship around the teachings or the person".

It is also envisaged that at the appropriate time a Krishnamurti Study Centre will be established. The Trustees also have a duty to see that nothing inappropriate happens in the name of Krishnamurti. KANZ relies solely on donations.  

Warwick Bradshaw - Administrator

The Trustees of the Association are Warwick Bradshaw, Carol Galvin, Arcot Somashekar, Keith Symonds, Plonia Krikke and Glenn Muir.

Please address all correspondence to: Glenn Muir, KANZ Administrator, 11 Croston Rd, Ngaio, Wellington; e-mail: krishnamurtiassn@xtra.co.nz phone: (04) 4793598

 

CONTACTS

Contact people throughout New Zealand provide information on activities in their area, which usually take the form of video showings or small group dialogues.

Auckland: Warren Snow (09) 443 7276

Auckland: Colin Watson (09) 627 9278

Auckland: Sreejith Soman (09) 278 1323

Coromandel Peninsula: Dan Hansen (07) 866 3848

Hamilton: Jane Evans (07) 856 6523

Whakatane: Warwick Bradshaw (07) 312 4860

Hawkes Bay: Keith Symonds (06) 875 0180

New Plymouth: Carol Galvin (06) 759 1700

Wellington: Glenn Muir (04) 972 3598

Nelson: Ulla Schneider (03) 548 9375

Christchurch: Paul and Pauline Matsis (03) 385 9461

Banks Peninsula: Kyoko Giebel (03) 329 4789

 

Study Gathering / Retreat 2003

Wanganui, North Island,

New Zealand

KANZ will host a North Island study gathering/retreat at the Quaker Settlement in Wanganui from the afternoon of Friday 17 October to the afternoon of Monday 20 October 2003.

The Settlement is set in 20 acres of farm and forest on the outskirts of Wanganui. It is 5 minutes by car from town and is noted for its quiet and peaceful atmosphere. To get to the Settlement (76 Virginia Road; ph: 06 347 7409) from the south proceed towards New Plymouth on State Highway 3 and turn right into Virginia Road about 2 km after Virginia Lake.

Participation in the study gathering/retreat is open to anyone interested in inquiring into Krishnamurti's teachings either alone or with others. A comprehensive library of Krishnamurti books and tapes (audio and video) will be available.

Vegetarian meals will be provided.

Accommodation and Prices

Units (5):

Single usage: $66.50

Twin share: $56.50 /day/person

Each unit has an ensuite supplied with tea/coffee making facilities and linen.

One unit is set up for disabled access.

Sleeping house: $47.50 day/person

Mix of small cabins, bunk-room and marae-style. Mattresses and pillows supplied, but one needs to bring bedding, pillow slips and towels.

Camping: $39.50

These charges are per day.

Bookings will be on first come basis.

To register send $30 deposit to: Carol Galvin 6a Leatham Avenue New Plymouth

 

HELPING OTHERS

Question: I have been a member of a Gurdjieff group. I find it has given me a background to better understanding of what you are saying. Should I continue with such a group in order possibly to help others, as I was helped? Or does a group make for fragmentation?

This is an extraordinary idea, this idea of helping others, as though you have comprehension, beauty, love and truth, the whole world of order, and that great immense sense of wholeness. If you have that you do not talk about helping others.

     Why do we want to belong to something? - belong to some sect, some group, some religious body? Is it because it gives us strength? Is it that we cannot stand alone? The word `alone' means all one. Is it that we need encouragement, need somebody to tell us this is the right way? The questioner says: As I belong to a certain group, it has helped me to understand you. Understand what? Me? Do please look at it. Understand what we are talking about? Do we need interpreters to understand what we are talking about? - to be kind, to love, to have no sense of nationality? Does it need anybody to tell us that? Why do we depend on others, whether the other be an image in a church, in a temple or mosque, or the preacher, the psychologists? Why do we depend on others? If we do depend on others psychologically we become secondhand people, which we are. The whole history of mankind is in us - the story of mankind is not in books except for outward things; the whole history is here. And we do not know how to read it. You understand what I am saying? You are the book. But when you read the book as a reader it has no meaning. But if you are the book and the book is showing you, telling you the story, then you will not depend on a single person, you will be a light unto yourself. But we are all waiting for a match, the fire of another, to kindle the light. Perhaps that is why you are all here. And that is where the tragedy lies, because we cannot see clearly for ourselves. Before we help others we have to see clearly, for God's sake! It is like the blind leading the blind.

From "Questions and Answers" by J. Krishnamurti

©1982 The Krishnamurti Foundation Trust Ltd.

 

The Krishnamurti Lending Libraries in New Zealand

KANZ has a video library of talks and dialogues for hire. Video tapes cost $6 each plus postage. A printed catalogue is available. Write to Kamlesh Duggal: 1 North Street Te Awamutu.

Books and audio tapes are available from Clive Elwell: 64 Ryburn Rd, Hamilton.

Audio tape (cost $2 plus postage)

books (cost postage only).

If people have books/tapes they would like to donate - please contact Kamlesh Duggal or Clive Elwell.