If we depend on relationship or on dialogue, associations, and institutions to teach us, to help us, to make things clear-what we are-then we depend, And when we depend on others, whatever it is, institutions, encounter groups, small groups, and so on, what are you learning? And what do you mean by learning? Please, this is again a very serious question, Learning, as we know it, is accumulating knowledge. I have learned about myself-that l am all this, all the pain, the misery, the confusion, the extraordinary travail of life-I am all that. I have learned it. That is, somebody has told me, or I have learned about myself. So learning, as far as we know it now, is accumulating knowledge about ourselves. And K says knowledge is the very root of disorder.
Go slowly. Knowledge is necessary in the field of technology, in daily life, but psychologically knowledge is the very root of disorder, because knowledge is the past. Knowledge is always limited, because it is based on experience, hypothesis, conclusions, a chain–it is a constant addition of these; therefore, it is very limited. So can I look at myself without my previous knowledge or conclusion? You understand my question? I have looked at myself all yesterday, or a few hours yesterday, and I find that l am this, that, the other thing, l am depressed by it or elated by it. All that is going on. That becomes yesterday’s knowledge. And with that knowledge I observe myself again. We do this. So knowledge is bringing about constant, psychologically mechanical repetition. And if you go into the matter very carefully with scientists, they are also beginning to discover that knowledge is a hindrance in certain areas of discovery. So you are not learning or discovering anything from K. You are the storehouse of past history. That is a fact. You are the history of mankind. And if you know how to read that book, you don’t have to depend on anybody, on discussions, or relationship, or organised groups and all that kind of thing. I am not saying you should not discuss, you should not have relationship, you should not have this or that.
All that one is pointing out is that as long as you depend for your understanding of yourself on others, then you are lost. You have had leaders, haven’t you, Religious leaders, political leaders, every kind of specialist who will tell you what to do, how to raise your children, how to have sex. You have had every kind of leader for the last hundred thousand years or more. And where are you at the end of it? Do ask these questions, please. We are what we are because we have depended on others – somebody to tell us what to do, what to think, which means we are being programmed all the time. And to understand ourselves, there is every opportunity through relationship, through discussions, but if you depend on them, you are lost. Is this dear, this question? Not that you must agree with the speaker. But see the consequences of depending on others, depending on government to bring order. in this chaotic world, depending on a guru, depending on a priest, whether it is the pope or the local priest.
So the issue is really this: one is the storehouse of all mankind. One is the rest of mankind1 and if one looks at that very closely, with a great deal of hesitation and affection, then you begin to read what you are, and then there is a flowering. But if you depend-then you live with pain and anxiety and fear.
Q: But even if we have no separate identity, we have got to have some form of government, surely?
K: Of course. Some form of government which is not based on separative governments.
Q: Who are going to be the politicians?
K: Oh, you see we want to organise it right away! First, sir, begin with ourselves, not what kind of governments to have, who the prime minister and chief treasurer will be. First, let’s begin with ourselves. All of us in this marquee really felt this in their heart, in their blood, we would have different governments in the world. We would put an end to wars.
Look, we are only pointing out one thing-our brains are conditioned. Whatever is conditioned is limited. Whatever is conditioned is separated, and this separation, this conditioning, is causing havoc in the world, which is a fact. And to stop that havoc, one must begin with oneself, not how to organise a new government. Am I conditioned? Am I thinking about myself endlessly from morning till night? In meditation, in exercise, in doing all kinds of things. I am more important than anybody else. I want all my desires fulfilled. I want to be somebody, recognised, so I am occupied with myself. The scientist may be occupied with his experiments, but he is also occupied with himself. He is also ambitious, wants a marvellous position, to be recognised by the world, get the Nobel Prize. I know some of them. One didn’t get the Nobel Prize and the other did – you ought to see the fellow who didn’t get it, how upset, bitter, and angry he was. You know, just like you and me, and everybody else.
So, if you really want to live on this peaceful earth, you have to begin very near, which is yourself.