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The Future of Humanity: A Conversation
Krishnamurti--a philosopher and mystic--and David Bohm--a theoretical physicist--discuss the current and future state of humanity and explore the nature of consciousness.
- GenresPhilosophySpirituality
98 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1986
3 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
J. Krishnamurti
1,336 books4,294 followersJiddu Krishnamurti was born on 11 May 1895 in Madanapalle, a small town in south India. He and his brother were adopted in their youth by Dr Annie Besant, then president of the Theosophical Society. Dr Besant and others proclaimed that Krishnamurti was to be a world teacher whose coming the Theosophists had predicted. To prepare the world for this coming, a world-wide organization called the Order of the Star in the East was formed and the young Krishnamurti was made its head.
In 1929, however, Krishnamurti renounced the role that he was expected to play, dissolved the Order with its huge following, and returned all the money and property that had been donated for this work.
From then, for nearly sixty years until his death on 17 February 1986, he travelled throughout the world talking to large audiences and to individuals about the need for a radical change in humankind.
Krishnamurti is regarded globally as one of the greatest thinkers and religious teachers of all time. He did not expound any philosophy or religion, but rather talked of the things that concern all of us in our everyday lives, of the problems of living in modern society with its violence and corruption, of the individual's search for security and happiness, and the need for humankind to free itself from inner burdens of fear, anger, hurt, and sorrow. He explained with great precision the subtle workings of the human mind, and pointed to the need for bringing to our daily life a deeply meditative and spiritual quality.
Krishnamurti belonged to no religious organization, sect or country, nor did he subscribe to any school of political or ideological thought. On the contrary, he maintained that these are the very factors that divide human beings and bring about conflict and war. He reminded his listeners again and again that we are all human beings first and not Hindus, Muslims or Christians, that we are like the rest of humanity and are not different from one another. He asked that we tread lightly on this earth without destroying ourselves or the environment. He communicated to his listeners a deep sense of respect for nature. His teachings transcend belief systems, nationalistic sentiment and sectarianism. At the same time, they give new meaning and direction to humankind's search for truth. His teaching, besides being relevant to the modern age, is timeless and universal.
Krishnamurti spoke not as a guru but as a friend, and his talks and discussions are based not on tradition-based knowledge but on his own insights into the human mind and his vision of the sacred, so he always communicates a sense of freshness and directness although the essence of his message remained unchanged over the years. When he addressed large audiences, people felt that Krishnamurti was talking to each of them personally, addressing his or her particular problem. In his private interviews, he was a compassionate teacher, listening attentively to the man or woman who came to him in sorrow, and encouraging them to heal themselves through their own understanding. Religious scholars found that his words threw new light on traditional concepts. Krishnamurti took on the challenge of modern scientists and psychologists and went with them step by step, discussed their theories and sometimes enabled them to discern the limitations of those theories. Krishnamurti left a large body of literature in the form of public talks, writings, discussions with teachers and students, with scientists and religious figures, conversations with individuals, television and radio interviews, and letters. Many of these have been published as books, and audio and video recordings.
This author also writes under: Jiddu Krishnamurti
In 1929, however, Krishnamurti renounced the role that he was expected to play, dissolved the Order with its huge following, and returned all the money and property that had been donated for this work.
From then, for nearly sixty years until his death on 17 February 1986, he travelled throughout the world talking to large audiences and to individuals about the need for a radical change in humankind.
Krishnamurti is regarded globally as one of the greatest thinkers and religious teachers of all time. He did not expound any philosophy or religion, but rather talked of the things that concern all of us in our everyday lives, of the problems of living in modern society with its violence and corruption, of the individual's search for security and happiness, and the need for humankind to free itself from inner burdens of fear, anger, hurt, and sorrow. He explained with great precision the subtle workings of the human mind, and pointed to the need for bringing to our daily life a deeply meditative and spiritual quality.
Krishnamurti belonged to no religious organization, sect or country, nor did he subscribe to any school of political or ideological thought. On the contrary, he maintained that these are the very factors that divide human beings and bring about conflict and war. He reminded his listeners again and again that we are all human beings first and not Hindus, Muslims or Christians, that we are like the rest of humanity and are not different from one another. He asked that we tread lightly on this earth without destroying ourselves or the environment. He communicated to his listeners a deep sense of respect for nature. His teachings transcend belief systems, nationalistic sentiment and sectarianism. At the same time, they give new meaning and direction to humankind's search for truth. His teaching, besides being relevant to the modern age, is timeless and universal.
Krishnamurti spoke not as a guru but as a friend, and his talks and discussions are based not on tradition-based knowledge but on his own insights into the human mind and his vision of the sacred, so he always communicates a sense of freshness and directness although the essence of his message remained unchanged over the years. When he addressed large audiences, people felt that Krishnamurti was talking to each of them personally, addressing his or her particular problem. In his private interviews, he was a compassionate teacher, listening attentively to the man or woman who came to him in sorrow, and encouraging them to heal themselves through their own understanding. Religious scholars found that his words threw new light on traditional concepts. Krishnamurti took on the challenge of modern scientists and psychologists and went with them step by step, discussed their theories and sometimes enabled them to discern the limitations of those theories. Krishnamurti left a large body of literature in the form of public talks, writings, discussions with teachers and students, with scientists and religious figures, conversations with individuals, television and radio interviews, and letters. Many of these have been published as books, and audio and video recordings.
This author also writes under: Jiddu Krishnamurti
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 20, 2017
The Future of Humanity: A Conversation by Jiddu Krishnamurti and David Bohm is a small book and a quick read. The book contains a transcript of two dialogues that took place between Krishnamurti and Bohm in June 1983. Bohm writes in the preface that these two dialogues took place three years after a series of thirteen similar dialogues.[1]
The starting point for the discussion was the question: What is the future of humanity? This question led in turn to the question whether mind is limited by the brain of mankind, with all the knowledge that it has accumulated over the ages.[2] The book contains the essential spirit of the whole of Krishnamurti's teachings, and throws further light on them.[3]
The book leaves me with mixed feelings. I can see how David Bohm continuously tries to understand what Krishnamurti is saying. Bohm repeatedly asks for clarity, and tries to summarize what Krishnamurti says. I really appreciate David Bohm's search for intellectual clarity. He is able to pursue abstract thought to a far greater degree than most other people. Bohm also gives the impression of being a very gentle and kind person. Maybe too kind?
Because I can also see a Krishnamurti who I perceive as very assertive and rather evasive. Sometimes, when Bohm comes too close with his questions, Krishnamurti says he talks psychologically, or simply avoids answering Bohm's question by answering another. I definitely lost confidence in Krishnamurti when he said that the activity of the brain really is like a computer.[4] It's a really poor metaphor! Just because someone gives the impression that he knows what he's talking about it doesn’t mean that he does!
Notes:
[1] Jiddu Krishnamurti and David Bohm, The Future of Humanity: A Conversation (Haper & Row, 1986), p. 1.
[2] Ibid., p. 2.
[3] Ibid., p. 4.
[4] Ibid., p. 54.
The starting point for the discussion was the question: What is the future of humanity? This question led in turn to the question whether mind is limited by the brain of mankind, with all the knowledge that it has accumulated over the ages.[2] The book contains the essential spirit of the whole of Krishnamurti's teachings, and throws further light on them.[3]
The book leaves me with mixed feelings. I can see how David Bohm continuously tries to understand what Krishnamurti is saying. Bohm repeatedly asks for clarity, and tries to summarize what Krishnamurti says. I really appreciate David Bohm's search for intellectual clarity. He is able to pursue abstract thought to a far greater degree than most other people. Bohm also gives the impression of being a very gentle and kind person. Maybe too kind?
Because I can also see a Krishnamurti who I perceive as very assertive and rather evasive. Sometimes, when Bohm comes too close with his questions, Krishnamurti says he talks psychologically, or simply avoids answering Bohm's question by answering another. I definitely lost confidence in Krishnamurti when he said that the activity of the brain really is like a computer.[4] It's a really poor metaphor! Just because someone gives the impression that he knows what he's talking about it doesn’t mean that he does!
Notes:
[1] Jiddu Krishnamurti and David Bohm, The Future of Humanity: A Conversation (Haper & Row, 1986), p. 1.
[2] Ibid., p. 2.
[3] Ibid., p. 4.
[4] Ibid., p. 54.
September 23, 2018
It is profound yet enlightening. Majorly talks about how the future of humanity is dependent on each and every individual's self-knowledge and thought.
February 2, 2020
The BEST book in humankind..
Let go of "me, myself and I"....
Let go of self, then one let go of hate, and differences, and in-differences with other...
Let go of "me, myself and I"....
Let go of self, then one let go of hate, and differences, and in-differences with other...
August 12, 2016
Pretty interesting conversation, although the title is about the interest and aesthetics involved with humans rather than the topic of conversation.
Both Krishnamurti and Bohm reach deep within a Bergsonian psyche of flow, memory and time along with some Kantian conception of teleology in order to try and suss out "what humans are". In that sense, peeling back the confusion in how we inhabit the world is a more apt title than what is currently given.
Both Krishnamurti and Bohm reach deep within a Bergsonian psyche of flow, memory and time along with some Kantian conception of teleology in order to try and suss out "what humans are". In that sense, peeling back the confusion in how we inhabit the world is a more apt title than what is currently given.
June 3, 2011
A very short addendum to "Ending of Time", focusing solely on the discussions with David Bohm. In everything I've read from Krishnamurti, conversations with professor Bohm are by far my favorites-- incredibly insightful discussions between these two.
May 15, 2015
Love is the answer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews