Is Death Different From Living?

"We all know that death exists, especially the older people, and also the young who observe it. The young say, 'Wait until it comes, and we’ll deal with it'; and as the old are already near death, they have recourse to various forms of consolation.
Please follow and apply this to yourselves; don’t put it off on somebody else. Because you know you are going to die, you have theories about it, don’t you? You believe in God, you believe in resurrection, or in karma and reincarnation; you say that you will be reborn here or in another world. Or you rationalize death, saying that death is inevitable, it happens to everybody; the tree withers away, nourishing the soil, and a new tree comes up. Or else you are too occupied with your daily worries, anxieties, jealousies, envies, with your competition and your wealth, to think about death at all. But it is in your mind; consciously or unconsciously, it is there.
First of all, can you be free of the beliefs, the rationalities, or the indifference that you have cultivated towards death? Can you be free of all that now? Because what is important is to enter the house of death while living, while fully conscious, active, in health, and not wait for the coming of death, which may carry you off instantaneously through an accident, or through a disease that slowly makes you unconscious. When death comes, it must be an extraordinary moment which is as vital as living.
Now, can I, can you, enter the house of death while living? That is the problem—not whether there is reincarnation, or whether there is another world where you will be reborn, which is all so immature, so infantile. One who lives never asks, 'What is living?' and has no theories about living. It is only the half-alive who talk about the purpose of life.
So, can you and I while living, conscious, active, with all our capacities, whatever they be, know what death is? And is death then different from living? To most of us, living is a continuation of that which we think is permanent. Our name, our family, our property, the things in which we have a vested interest economically and spiritually, the virtues that we have cultivated, the things that we have acquired emotionally—all of that we want to continue. And the moment which we call death is a moment of the unknown; therefore, we are frightened, so we try to find a consolation, some kind of comfort; we want to know if there is life after death, and a dozen other things. Those are all irrelevant problems; they are problems for the lazy, for those who do not want to find out what death is while living. So, can you and I find out?"
J. Krishnamurti
Excerpt from As One Is

As One Is is a series of eight talks given by Krishnamurti in Ojai, California in 1955. Krishnamurti addresses the confusion, habits, and assumptions of the human mind, claiming that these factors are the root causes of violence and suffering in the world. He examines a world where technological advancements and increased productivity promise a better future, but fail to deliver it. He also highlights the persistence of war, competition, envy, and territorial conflicts, despite improvements in education, religious unity, and self-improvement technologies. Krishnamurti ultimately urges his audience to consider that personal progress is not synonymous with freedom but rather a cycle of illusion. He suggests that true freedom occurs when one understands themselves through observation. Click here to order the recently released audiobook.
At the Krishnamurti Foundation, we have a range of volunteer and job opportunities available for individuals with various skills and expertise. Some of the open positions available are a full-time Retreat & Programs Manager and a part-time IT Manager. We also welcome individuals with diverse skill sets and interests to volunteer with us and encourage you to reach out to us. We value the unique talents and perspectives that individuals bring, and we are open to exploring how your skills can be best utilized. Please reach out if you are interested in volunteering or working with us. Use the form on this page to contact us.
We are excited to announce that we are gearing up for our highly anticipated Annual May Gathering event for next year. This event brings together friends from both near and far, creating a vibrant and enriching experience for all who attend. We invite you to be a part of this incredible gathering by suggesting presenters and speakers for the May Gathering. Our aim is to curate a diverse lineup of speakers and presenters who will bring unique perspectives and enrich our collective understanding. We value your input and welcome your suggestions for potential candidates. If you know of individuals whose expertise and insights align with the teachings of Krishnamurti, we would love to hear from you. Please click here to send us your recommendations.
Next month our in-person weekend program, Choiceless Awareness, occurs from August 11-13. During this dialogue weekend, participants will have the opportunity to come together in the beautiful Krishnamurti Center to explore the role of choiceless awareness in our own lives. In an atmosphere of kindness, affection, and rigorous inquiry, attendees will dialogue about the nature of this awareness, so that perhaps they can come to understand what it means for us in our daily experience. This program will be both an invitation and an opportunity to explore choiceless awareness and potentially discover a deeper sense of freedom from the known.
We're also offering an online, in-depth program on the same theme which occurs from August 21-25. Participants will meet each day for a 2 1/2-hour session that will include but not be limited to discussion/dialogue, some short video clips, and short excerpts from texts. Click here to register for this program.
Our online programs continue in September with There is No Thinker, Only Thought taking place from the 11th to the 15th. This in-depth, online program asks participants questions such as What exactly is thought? And what is it capable of? Is it capable of creating a seemingly permanent identity through which all other thoughts seem to flow and through which we experience the physical body? Is thought the root of all conflict? Attendees will meet each day for a 3-hour session that will include but not be limited to discussion/dialogue, short video clips, and excerpts from texts.
Sincerely,

Jaap Sluijter
Executive Director