8/14/2019 Report on Sydney Dialogues

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Brief Report on our Monthly Sydney Dialogues:

Dialogue reflects the nature of a teaching from Jiddu Krishnamurti. To be clear about the intention

of Dialogue we have to be clear about the intention of that teaching. Krishnamurti spoke extensively

around the world for over sixty years to large and small audiences, and in small groups and one on

one dialogues with prominent as well as humble people of his time. He was a rare if not unique

figure in history as he was not able to be labelled under a specific category such as philosopher or

religious teacher. He simply spoke about the most important topic concerning human affairs - life

and relationship. He encouraged people to find out directly for themselves, essentially what life is all

about, and to pursue that enquiry without reference to any conventional authority, including one's

own ego. He stated that 'self knowledge is the beginning of wisdom', and from that premise he

proposed that a human being could completely transform his or her consciousness, and in so doing,

affect the consciusness of the whole of humanity. Krishnamurti was not the only person in history to

say such things. Socrates, Lao Tsu, Christ, Buddha, Mohammed and various other great teachers

were to communicate that same basic principle, but Krishnamurti was speaking to an emerging and

global society of people who were no longer willing to be directed by dogmatic doctines of belief:

religious, cultural or traditional. What he was pointing to is a way of living which is whole,intelligent and compassionate – and this possibility is what we concern ourselves with in Dialogue.

I have participated in Dialogue groups for nearly twenty years. What I find is that for many people

who come along, the group provides a vital opportunity to share and test our meanings or

assumptions about life. Krishnamurti's teaching is very empowering, though also very demanding. It

requires a serious and sensitive approach to perplexing questions about human behaviour, but in the

process of enquiry it opens the mind to profound insights, which are not the common result of mere

intellectual discussion. These dialogues have a special quality to them which enable the individuals

and the group collectively to discover a deeper understanding of the human condition, and the

possibility of transcending those aberations of consciousness which destroy our creative potential.

Why should we be granted DGR status? Because the entire aim of all the Krishnamurti Schools and

Foundations throughout the world; all the voluntary work we do in Australia to disseminate the

teachings; all the gatherings and dialogues we run – all this work is directly aimed at overcoming

the stressful conditions of consciousness which debilitate sanity and sound reason. The getting of 

wisdom is the end of ignorance, hatred, insanity and violence. Surely this pursuit deserves all the

support the government of Australia can provide.

Written by Terry O'Brien – public officer and committee member of Krishnamurti Australia Inc.