Three Public Talks
1. A radical transformation in the psyche itself - 8 November 1968
Duration: 80 minutes
• To communicate we must know that the word is not the thing and also be in
that state of mind whose quality is attention, care. That can only take place if
we are serious.
• We are the world and the world is us. To bring about a radical transformation,
which is so essential in society, there must be radical transformation in
ourselves.
• Analysis of violence does not end violence, nor is violence ended by thinking of
non-violence.
• There is no teacher outside, no saviour, no master, you yourself have to change
and therefore you have to learn to observe, to know yourself.
• Knowledge and learning are two different things.
• Q: What is this silence you talk about? The silence that I am experiencing comes
and goes.
2. Thought is the cause of fear - 10 November 1968
Duration: 76 minutes
• Though we have plenty of energy, apparently we lack the drive, enthusiasm,
vitality to bring about a change in ourselves.
• As long as there is fear there must be violence, aggression, anger, hatred.
Thought is the source of fear.
• Is it possible to live everyday life without thought interfering?
• Thought is always old. When you worship thought you are worshipping some
thing that is dead.
• Q: Could you discuss the process of verbalisation that goes on when one
observes?
• Q: How do we get rid of this separation, division in ourselves?
3. The benediction of meditation - 17 November 1968
Duration: 67 minutes
• We shall explore together into this life, existence, in which is included
relationship, love and death, not merely as a phenomenon but as something
tremendously significant, to be cherished, deeply lived. Meditation is the
approach to this problem of living.
• It is only a free mind that is capable of attention in which there is no achieving
or losing or fear. It is only a quiet, attentive mind that can understand this
immense problem of living. It is only the quiet, meditative mind that can come
upon what is called love.
• What is living?
• The observer cannot possibly do anything about envy because he is the cause
and the effect. Whatever he does with regard to envy is still envy.
• What does it mean to die, knowing the organism comes to an end? What does it
mean to die psychologically, inwardly?
Five Public Discussions
4. Freedom of choice is not freedom - 11 November 1968
Duration: 83 minutes
• What do we mean by free will? Is there such thing?
• Is choice ever necessary?
• Freedom exists only when I perceive very clearly, when the mind sees things as
they are.
• Q: Is it possible to be free in society?
• Q: Is love the absence of hate?
• To find out what truth is you must be free of propaganda: the propaganda of
the Church, the propaganda of literature, propaganda of tradition, so that you
see things clearly for yourself.
5. Learning is action - 12 November 1968
Duration: 56 minutes
• Our education is concerned with the accumulation of knowledge. Very few of us
are capable of living a life without the influence of specialists.
• What is the point of going to a university, getting a degree and disappearing
into the vast structure of society?
• Q: How shall we approach the idea of study?
• If you express from something already accumulated it is a deadly bore, but if
you are all the time watching, not only yourself but the world, you are learning.
• Q: You say that a mantra is an escape. Do you think that people use drugs as an
escape or because they want to become closer?
• When I observe myself I cannot learn if I condemn what I find.
• We observe through our imagination, through our image, through our
knowledge.
6. Is it possible to end the thousand yesterdays? - 13 November 1968
Duration: 88 minutes
• Living together amicably, creatively, in complete relationship with one another
— if that is
