As I understand the non-duality is the core of his teaching- he was the first to use the phrase "the observer is the observed" and the whole of non-dualisim is contained in these four words. His every sentence that he spoke was so original that that one cannot catogorise his teachings as this or that.

Mittar Kumar Khera

Mittarkumar Khera wrote:

As I understand the non-duality is the core of his teaching- he was the first to use the phrase "the observer is the observed" and the whole of non-dualisim is contained in these four words. His every sentence that he spoke was so original that that one cannot catogorise his teachings as this or that.

Mittar Kumar Khera

Life is like the tamarind fruit bound in its shell

Dear Professor Khera, your statement above is contradictory in itself-you say "one cannot categorize his teachings as this and that" and yet you want us to discuss it.You say his teachings are "non-dualism"-so you have already labelled it.As your topic heading seems to ask"new or old" -there must be an "old" known, already to you. As far as I know there are plenty of non-dualist-thoughts from Indian thinkers-Sri Shankara,Guadpada,Sri Ramna Mahrshi, Nisargadatta et al. To me you know the answer and you seem to ask us to dicuss like a "professor" in a class-room-situation. With all respects to you, I humbly ask you to elaborate your topics as you post them initially.Otherwise persons like me get "frightened" to enter the territory where" mines" are laid already.I do not mind being ignorant but I do mind being cornered.

Life is like the tamarind fruit bound in its shell

Dear Srinivasan
First of all I would like to say that. the topic was not chosen by me or started by me. It was already there and I just made my comments to start the discussion and hoping that others may join. Non-duality has been the core of his teaching all his life. He elaborated this in many ways durng his talks with people. Does it mean that he has been labelled? I am not sure about this. Yes, there exists lot of literature discussing the problem of duality and its ending. Some had postulated a state of liberation in which thinker exists whereas the other school of thought held a state of liberation in which thinker has ceased. Advaita philophers talk of the cessesion of duality and the attainment of non-duality y going theough a process. It appears to me that that there was always some vagueness about the thinker and the thought. Krishnamurti came along and at one stroke made a statement that thinker and thought are inseparable. That is what his famous words, the 'Observer is the observed' imply. So 'K' cannot be categorised under one school of thought or the other. He has been very original and cannot be labelled. In one of the discussion he said that duality is created by the mind to postpone an action.For example when the mind is disturbed by violence, instead of understanding it and going into the whole structure of it, we just make an ideal of non-violence (dualistic state) and hope to achieve the ideal in due course of time thus posponing the real action by the mind. All dualities are created this way except those like day and night, long and short, man and women etc. Have I made my position clear enough, sir? My subject has been Physics and I know very little about old Indian or western hilosphy. I have no claims whatsoever about this.
Thanking you,
M.K. Khera (Mittar Kumar Khera)

Mittarkumar Khera wrote:
I know very little about old Indian or western hilosphy. I have no claims whatsoever about this. Thanking you, M.K.

Life is like the tamarind fruit bound in its shell

Dear Prof Khera, thanks for your explanation.As you mentioned about yourself, I must say I am not an expert in Philosophy(Eastern&western) at all. Just a curious interest .Even before I met JK in Madras (1972.),in my village, ordinary persons were keenly talking about SRI RAMANA MAHRSHI of THIRUVANNAMALAI and as child I am exposed to his thoughts- which is Advaita.To me JK´s teachings are modern without the encumbrances of the past-rituals, heritage, mantras, established order/Ashrams etc.That way he is unique, and appeals to men and women of all cultures&nations.
One may find his thoughts as" old wine in new flask" if one delves deeply into Indian thoughts of SHANKARA,SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI , NISARGADATTA et al. That is obvious and it does not degrade JK in any manner . They are all complimentary to each other. That is what I feel. I may be entirely wrong in my supposition.There could also be Buddhist thoughts similar to JK"s as one may read NAGARJUNA on Voidness.(On Voidness:study on Buddhist Nihilism-by TOLA,FERNANDO1915).I am not aware of Jewish or Islamic thoughts being similar to JK"s.Experts in these religions may come up with their findings.
Anyway, many thanks for your kind explanation.
Warm regards,
Krishnan Srinivasan

Life is like the tamarind fruit bound in its shell

Mittarkumar Khera wrote:
For example when the mind is disturbed by violence, instead of understanding it and going into the whole structure of it, we just make an ideal of non-violence (dualistic state) and hope to achieve the ideal in due course of time thus posponing the real action by the mind. All dualities are created this way except those like day and night, long and short, man and women etc.

Dear Professor Khera,

Why is "day and night", "long and short" or "man and woman" not considered dualistic? Are these not also the outcome of comparison, for the one is imperceivable without the other?

Namaste

Prof. Khera's saying that all dualities are created this way except those like day and night, long and short, man and women etc. , doesn't seem to fit in in this perspective. Because, they aren't from dual perception, but are actual separate situations. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Generally natural sensory or intelligent perception in mankind is supposed to be whole, single or unfragmented. The term duality is used in the context of perception, when man has lost his natural ability to perceive. The examples of effects of duality in a situation can be seen often as conflicting views or observations, double mind, vacillation, procrastination or even as dilemma etc.

Unless Advanced, K's Teachings May Remain As Ineffective As of Now