Mind Without Measure

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From very ancient times, human beings have been taught to regard thought as the most powerful and perhaps the only instrument they have for dealing with life. Krishnamurti shatters this dearly held notion by declaring that the instrument of thought produces havoc within individuals and in the world at large. Thought, no doubt, has helped man to progress in functional areas, and it has its rightful place there. But in the psychological realm, the solutions it offers only create more problems.

Developing this theme in this book, Krishnamurti shows how the instrument of thought is inadequate in tackling the basic emotions that generally underlie individual and collective action-violence, hurt, conflict, insecurity, pleasure, fear, sorrow, and so on. He explains, in different contexts, how thought itself creates and sustains these problems. So is there 'a new instrument totally different from thought', he asks in this series of talks given in New Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay between October 1982 and January 1983.

J. Krishnamurti (1895 - 1986) is regarded as one of the greatest philosophers and religious teachers of all time. For more than sixty years he travelled the world over, giving talks and holding dialogues, not as a guru but as a friend. His teachings are not based on book knowledge and theories, and therefore they communicate directly to anyone seeking answers to the present world crisis as well as to the eternal problems of human existence.

From very ancient times, human beings have been taught to regard thought as the most powerful and perhaps the only instrument they have for dealing with life. Krishnamurti shatters this dearly held notion by declaring that the instrument of thought produces havoc within individuals and in the world at large. Thought, no doubt, has helped man to progress in functional areas, and it has its rightful place there. But in the psychological realm, the solutions it offers only create more problems.

Developing this theme in this book, Krishnamurti shows how the instrument of thought is inadequate in tackling the basic emotions that generally underlie individual and collective action-violence, hurt, conflict, in-security, pleasure, fear, sorrow and so on. He explains, in different contexts, how thought itself creates and sustains these problems. So is there 'a new instrument totally different from thought', he asks. This question, like all other questions posed by Krishnamurti, is not meant to propound a new theory about the human psyche or to provoke an academic debate on the subject. It is an invitation to each human being to bring about in himself a radical change, and that endeavour is not an individual or selfish affair. On the contrary, it affects the totality of mankind because human consciousness is one although its expressions may vary. 'It is not individual salvation; it is the salvation of all human beings', says Krishnamurti. The sixteen public talks in this book were given in New Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay between October 1982 and January 1983.

Krishnamurti's visit to India in 1982 was marked by a hectic schedule of talks and question-and-answer meetings, besides dialogues with his associates, students, teachers and so on. The visit was significant in that it was for the first time that he was giving a series of talks in Calcutta, although he had been to the city earlier in 1928 and 1939. The historic city of Calcutta, known for its artistic and intellectual pursuits as well as its religious fervour, gave him a rousing welcome, with his talks attracting large crowds and the local newspapers featuring him prominently on their pages.

This is the second and revised edition of Mind Without Measure, which was first published in 1983.

**Contents and Sample Pages**