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Education and the Significance of Life

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Krishnamurti is regarded by many as one of the great sages of the 20th century, and "Education and the Significance of Life" is an outstanding example of his thinking. Krishnamurti reflects that goal of education should be to help students develop into truly "integrated" human beings, and not merely to turn them into well-trained automatons.

Along the way, Krishnamurti offers pointed and thought-provoking critiques of such institutions as organized religion, national identity, and the family. And throughout the book he stresses one of his core themes: a resistance to conformity and mindless obedience.

Krishnamurti has been called a modern-day Buddha, and this book is a rich source of aphoristic statements that radiate with insight. On religion: "Organized religion is the frozen thought of man...." On national identity: "Nationalism is a disease, and it can never bring about world unity." On morality: "Organized religions are much concerned about our sexual morality; but they allow us to perpetuate violence and murder in the name of patriotism, to indulge in envy and crafty ruthlessness, and to pursue power and success."

For both professional educators and general readers, "Education and the Significance of Life" is a challenging work of spiritual and philosophical writing.

The primary premise of the book is that nearly all of the education system (govt. based, religious based, private) fails the child. These systems educate children to be good at techniques or skills, but do not educate them to know themselves.

Without knowledge of oneself, children will grow to be conflicted between the reality of their true nature, and the constrictions of conforming to civil society or religious doctrine.

An educational system that truly sought to benefit the children would be staffed by adults who were continually studying themselves, and striving to deepen their own awareness, not just conformists seeking the safety of job, income and leisure. Only when open-minded, self-aware adults teach with true love can children learn to know themselves, and so lead dignified, effective lives.

We are far from this vision, but it is worth it for each of us to walk along this path.

The focus point here is on just what education should produce. At present, it produces students intellectually prepared for their life's journey, but without a clue when it comes to self-knowledge. In fact, in Krishnamurti's eyes, education as it presently is, or at least was in the 50's when the book was written (and I haven't really seen evidence of huge change yet), discourages self-knowledge and focuses on false values, such as financial success and prestige.

The present educational system teaches reliance on authority, on books.

Krishnamurti comes down hard on the nationalistic mode our youth are molded in. This point may be difficult to agree with in today's America, especially in the past year. There has been a huge swing in patriotism since Sept. 11, and this is quite natural. And to read Krishnamurti's pleas to free ourselves from nationalism, from patriotism, may well be difficult.

And yet, if we truly want peace on this planet, loyalty to nation and loyalty to religion are blocks, according to Krishnamurti.

This is a book to read and study, even if you are uneasy with some points. I don't mean that this is a philosophy to pick up on and make the ruler of your life. And Krishnamurti makes it quite obvious that this isn't what he wants. Self-knowledge includes self-rule nd self-responsibility. Even if you, as I did, have a few reservations, this is a philosophy to consider, one which may call for action on your part to bring out a positive change in our educational system.

I've read over 25 Krishamurti books, including all the "big ones" like Freedom from the Known, The First and Last Freedom, Total Freedom, Awakening of Intelligence, Flight of the Eagle, Krishmaurti's Notebook, etc., many of which I've read more than once. I've given all of them away to share K's message but kept four of them which I keep as references for focused daily reflection/meditation (as opposed to the meditation of all waking life). The four I've kept are Freedom from the Known, On God, On Right Livelihood, and Education and the Significance of Life (the last one of great relevance to me since I'm an educator). And so now I always recommend (and often give) the first three books on that list I just mentioned to anyone who wants to learn more about K's "teachings." "Freedom from the Known" is the single best, most concise and thorough summary of all K's teachings. "On God" should greatly help anyone who is searching for ultimate reality, Truth, God, Enlightenment, Nirvana, The Meaning of Life, or whatever one wants to call it. No summary will do it justice; you must read it for yourself. "On Right Livelihood" addresses the issue of our daily living, in work, leisure, and even to some degree home life and family relationship, becuase, as K emphasizes, they all should be an integrated whole, not fragmented parts of our lives. "Education and the Significance of Life" is also or relevance to anyone who has children or who teaches; it will transform the way you view childrearing and education. I would say that those four books would be all a person would need to transform one's life; to have a radical revolution in living.

At first glance I thought this type of writing might be too heavily philosophical for my small mind to comprehend, but it engaged my interest by agreeing with me that our educational system is flawed and that children will benefit from being taught in small groups by people who love them. I homeschooled my two youngest children for nine years, and this book fits in well with my homeschooling philosophy.

Krishnamurti hoped to change the world for the better by helping parents and teachers become more effective. In chapter four, entitled Education and World Peace, he wrote:

"Peace is not achieved through any ideology, it does not depend on legislation; it comes only when we as individuals begin to understand our own psychological process. If we avoid the responsibility of acting individually and wait for some new system to establish peace, we shall merely become the slaves of that system." (p.68)

Some of the other chapters in the book are: Intellect, Authority and Intelligence; The School; Parents and Teachers; Sex and Marriage; and Art, Beauty, and Creation.

Krishnamurti encouraged us to take responsibility for the education of our children, rather than to leave this task to the public education system.

"Government control of education is a calamity. There is no hope of peace and order in the world as long as education is the handmaid of the State or of organized religion. . . . Education throughout the world has failed, it has produced mounting destruction and misery. Governments are training the young to be the efficient soldiers and technicians they need; regimentation and prejudice are being cultivated and enforced." (pp.75-76)

I totally agree that governments should not control education although I've never objected to the idea of parents educating their children in the religion of their choice. However I see Krishnamurti's point in wanting to free the minds of the people from organized religions. He idealized a state of 'creative intelligence' for the people of the future, something that is impossible when people are pressured to accept limited ideologies.

"If those who are young have the spirit of inquiry, if they are constantly searching out the truth of all things, political or religious, personal and environmental, then youth will have great significance and there is hope for a better world." (p.40)

Sadly, it seems the world hasn't been listening. This book was first published in 1953, and since then, society has disintegrated. The strength of the typical family unit has eroded, schools now focus on teaching to the test, and children turn away from the ways of wisdom and toward mind-numbing video game systems as well as other distractions. Perhaps it is time for parents to reconsider Krishnamurti's educational philosophy.

Interestingly, and totally against the Westernized concept of education, Krishnamurti taught that children should not be pushed to succeed. He wrote:

"As long as we want our children to be powerful, to have bigger and better positions, to become more and more successful, there is no love in our hearts; for the worship of success encourages conflict and misery." (p.102)

I enjoyed reading the book, and am fascinated by Krishnamurti's depth of understanding, the originality of his ideas, and the concern he showed in writing so passionately about the education of children. Naturally I wanted to know more about him and soon found several sites on the internet with information about his life and writings.

Krishnamurti was born in India in 1895 and died in Ojai, California in 1986. He was discovered as a teenager in India by C.W. Leadbeater, a leader of the Theosophical Society, and was trained by Leadbeater and Annie Besant who believed Krishnamurti was the promised incarnation of a world spiritual teacher. However in 1929 Krishnamurti denied this idea and dissolved The Order of the Star of the East, an organization set up to promote this claim of his greatness. Though she was not pleased with his decision, he remained a close friend of Besant until her death in 1933. He spent his life traveling and teaching about his philosophy, which is that "truth is a pathless land." In other words, that people can come to truth only on their own, and not through any teaching, organized religion, government, philosophy, psychological technique, dogma, ritual, priest, guru, or creed.

This is a wonderful book, stressing the need for growth in ways that the average U.S. public school does not provide. As children grow into adults, they must be taught to think for themselves, to think for their own long-term happiness. How many friends do I have that have picked careers because they sound easy, or because they have a friend that can get them a job when they get out? Way too many. In fact, almost all of my friends suffer from this. I refused to, though, realizing (almost too late) that I didn't want to do something simply because I'm good at it. Satisfaction with one's work is one thing; and this can be good. However, it cannot stand up against the satisfaction of enjoying what you do; and further of doing something you want to be doing.

Krishnamurti's message carries far beyond this example, but in my life, this has proved the key element of his philosophies. I believe the world would become a much different place if every high-school aged student read and came to understand this material.

This book is a must for anyone seriously interested in real education. Written by one of the 20th century's great spiritual teachers, this book demonstrates that education must result in deep integreation of thought, feeling and action to be useful in the transformation of the child and of the world. There is not much hope for the world if this message is not heard and applied.

Why are we educating our children?
Do we love them enough to have them question the "respectable values" of our present day society or do we want them to be "good citizens" (hence good soldiers) and imitative human beings?
If we loved our children we would teach them to question and not simply try to fill them with knowledge.

Krishnamurti challenges us in a way that no one else has. I have read every book of his I could find as well as
watched videos of his talks. He talked all over the world for 60 years and his talks are just as relevant today.

Why haven't politics, organized religion or war solved our problems?
Don't expect answers but be prepared for the beginnings of understanding the problems.

I've read quite of Krishnamurti's books and this one is the most unique. If you are an educator or a fan of Krishnamurti's teachings, you NEED this book. He points out the problems troubling modern education with such clarity you'll feel like Krishnamurti is putting your very own unarticulated feelings into thought.

You will definately leave this book a better, more intelligent person. But it now.

Noone can cut to the core issues like Krishnamurti. Education and the Significance of LIfe is one of the most compelling and thought-proviking books ever written on education. The stern father of the spiritual movement gives page after page of timeless wisdom on the value and necessity of raising integrated human beings. A must read for parents and teachers alike.