Foundation Focus
Winter/Spring 2025

"Now, when you listen with complete attention to what is being said, you will immediately see the truth of it or the falseness of it. There is nothing false about it, because it is factual—we are dealing with facts, not with ideas which we can discuss or about which you have your opinion or somebody’s opinion. These are facts, however ugly or however beautiful. And that is the way we have functioned for centuries upon centuries: we have said to ourselves, 'Thought can alter everything.' Thought is based on pleasure, and will is the result of pleasure; and we say, 'From that we will alter everything.' And when you examine, you will find that you cannot alter a thing, unless you understand this pleasure principle.

So, when you understand all this, conflict ceases. You don’t end conflict deliberately; conflict ceases—which does not mean you become a vegetable! But you have to understand desire, to observe it functioning daily and to watch the interference of thought, which gives desire a time element. In the examination and the understanding of these there is inherent discipline. To listen to what is being said needs discipline—to listen not only verbally but inwardly, deeply, not according to some pattern. The very act of listening is discipline, surely.

So, when the mind understands the nature of pleasure, thought, desire, that very examination brings with it discipline. Therefore there is no question of indulging, not indulging, should, should not, all that goes away. It is like some food you eat, which gives you a tummy ache! If the pleasure of the tongue is greater than the tummyache, then you go on eating, and you constantly say, 'I must not eat;' you play a trick on yourself, but you go on eating. But when the pain becomes greater, then you pay attention to what you eat. But if you were attentive at the first moment when you had pain; then there would be no need to have the conflict between pleasure and pain.

So all this brings us to a certain point, which is that one must be a complete light to oneself. We are not; we rely on others. As you are listening, you are relying on the speaker to tell you what to do. But if you listen very carefully, the speaker is not telling you what to do; he is asking you to examine, he is telling you how to examine and what is implied in the examination. By examining very carefully, you are free of all dependence and you are a light to yourself. That means you are completely alone.

We are not alone. We are lonely. You are the result of so many centuries of culture, propaganda, influence, climate, food, dress, what people have said and have not said, and so on; therefore, you are not alone. You are a result. And to be a light to yourself, you have to be alone. When you have discarded the whole psychological structure of society, of pleasure, of conflict, you are alone. And this aloneness is not something to be dreaded, something which is painful. It is only when there is isolation, when there is loneliness, that there is pain; then there is anxiety, then there is fear. Aloneness is something entirely different, because it is only the mind which is alone which is not influenceable. This means the mind has understood the principle of pleasure and therefore nothing can touch it— nothing; no flattery, no fame, no capacity, no gift can touch it. And that aloneness is essential. When you see the sunset attentively, you are alone—are you not? Beauty is always alone—not in the stupid, isolating sense. It is the quality of a mind that has gone beyond propaganda, beyond personal like and dislike, and that is not functioning on pleasure. A mind can perceive beauty only in aloneness. The mind has to come to that extraordinary state when it is not influenceable and therefore has freed itself from the environmental conditioning and the conditioning of tradition and so on. It is only such a mind that can proceed in its aloneness to examine or to observe what is silence. Because it is only in silence you can hear those screeching owls. If you are chattering with your problems and so on, you will never hear those owls. Because of silence, you hear. Because of silence, you act. And action is life.

When you understand desire, pleasure, thought, you have discarded all authority, because authority of every kind— inward, outward has led you nowhere. You have lost total faith in all authority, inwardly; therefore, you don’t rely on anybody. Therefore, through your examination of thought and of pleasure, you are alone. And being alone implies silence; you cannot be alone if you are not silent. And out of that silence is action. This needs further examination. To us, action is based on an idea, a principle, a belief, a dogma. And according to that idea I act. If I can approximate that action according to my idea, I think I am a very sincere person, a very noble person! And there is always a difference between idea and action, and hence there is conflict. When there is conflict of any kind, there is no clarity. You may be outwardly very saintly, lead a so-called very simple life—which means a loincloth and one meal. That is not a simple life. A simple life is much more demanding and far deeper than that. A simple life is a life in which there is no conflict."


J. Krishnamurti
Excerpt from 6th Public Talk in Chennai, India, 1966

Dear Friends,

The digital version of Foundation Focus, our bi-annual newsletter, is now available. This publication provides news, information, and updates from the KFA. You can view the full version by clicking here.

We invite you to join us at the Krishnamurti Center in Ojai for our next silent retreat from March 7-9. This in-person weekend retreat will focus on right livelihood. Participants will have the space for a structured, yet flexible space to reflect on our relationship with work, livelihood, and society. Through shared activities like sitting, walking, and meals—all held in silence—participants can explore these questions in a quiet, supportive environment. Register now to reserve your spot.

Next month we have an online program, Right Action, which will take place from March 24-28. This online program will explore how we meet life’s challenges—in livelihood, relationships, health, and more—through dialogue and inquiry. During daily sessions, participants will examine questions such as: is there action free from conflict? Can we respond without fragmentation? Grounded in Krishnamurti’s teachings, the program will focus on self-discovery through group dialogue, offering a space for observation and reflection. Together, we’ll look at the personal within the universal, deepening our understanding of ourselves and the world.

Lastly, we invite you to the KFA Annual May Gathering, taking place at Oak Grove School in Ojai from May 3-4, 2025. This year’s theme, On Silence, will guide conversations, workshops, and reflections on Krishnamurti’s teachings. The event will be held both in-person and online, and registration is free—sign up for the livestream here. We hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Jaap Sluijter
Executive Director

Oak Grove School
1975 - 2025


50 Years of Exploring the Art of Living and Learning in Ojai

"From ancient days, humanity has sought something beyond the materialistic world, something immeasureable, something sacred. It is the intent of this school to inquire into this possibility."

- J. Krishnamurti 
The Intent of Oak Grove School
 
READ MORE
Engaging New Audiences
Social Media


Social media has transformed how people engage with ideas, making it an essential tool for reaching wider audiences. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok are particularly influential among younger generations, who increasingly turn to these digital spaces for inspiration, education, and philosophical inquiry. 

We bring Krishnamurti’s teachings to life through carefully curated visuals and thoughtful captions. While younger and middle-aged audiences make up most of our followers, we have seen engagement from individuals of all backgrounds, many of whom are encountering Krishnamurti’s work for the first time.
 
READ MORE
Learning From Every Moment
The Immeasurable Podcast


The Exploring Educationseries examines how education can foster academic proficiency, self-awareness, creativity, and an understanding of life. It challenges conventional teaching methods and encourages a holistic approach to learning that nurtures curiosity and critical thinking. One compelling episode in the series is “Learning From Every Moment,” in which the speakers have an exploration on how students can engage with education as an ongoing process of inquiry.
 
READ MORE
KFA May Gathering
Onsite and Online
May 3-4, 2025

 
The KFA Annual May Gathering is taking place at Oak Grove School in Ojai from May 3-4. Join us as we gather with new and familiar faces and dialogue together, participate in workshops, and admire the natural beauty surrounding the OGS campus. This year's gathering will focus on subjects such as silence, consciousness, and love. Attendees will have the chance to interact with scholars who have a deep appreciation for Krishnamurti's teachings. The theme for this year's gathering is On Silence, and this free event will occur both in-person and through virtual streaming online. 
 
REGISTER NOW
Instagram
Instagram
TikTok
TikTok
Facebook
Facebook
Twitter
Twitter
Website
Website
Email
Email
Copyright © 2025 Krishnamurti Foundation of America, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you are on our mailing list

View this email in browser

Our mailing address is:
Krishnamurti Foundation of America
PO Box 1560
Ojai, CA 93024

Add us to your address book


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp
 ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏