By our pontifical assertions, our superior impatience, and our casual brushing aside of their curiosity, we do not encourage their inquiry, for we are rather apprehensive of what may be asked of us; we do not foster their discontent, for we ourselves have ceased to question.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the importance of encouraging curiosity and questioning rather than dismissing it.
Jiddu Krishnamurti emphasizes that when we express superiority and dismiss the inquiries of others, we stifle their curiosity and inhibit the pursuit of knowledge. This behavior reflects our own apprehensions about facing difficult questions, ultimately leading to a society where questioning and critical thinking are undervalued, and discontent grows as a result.
In practice
This quote would be great in a discussion about fostering a questioning culture in education.
The following of authority is the denial of intelligence. [It] may help us temporarily to cover up our difficulties and problems; but to avoid a problem is only to intensify it, and in the process, self-knowledge and freedom are abandoned.
In seeking comfort, we generally find a quiet corner in life where there is a minimum of conflict, and then we are afraid to step out of that seclusion.
If you listen through the screen of your desires, then you obviously listen to your own voice; you are listening to your own desires.
If you have this extraordinary thing going in your life, then it is everything; then you become the teacher, the disciple, the neighbour, the beauty of the cloud - you are all that, and that is love.
Meditation is one of the greatest arts in life - perhaps the greatest, and one cannot possibly learn it from anybody, that is the beauty of it.
All of us have been trained by education and environment to seek personal gain and security and to fight for ourselves. Though we cover it over with pleasant phrases, we have been educated for various professions within a system which is based on exploitation and acquisitive fear.
The most powerful way to manifest is through subtle intention and choiceless awareness-inten d to let go and flow.
Think of a flabby person covered with layers of fat. That is what your mind can become - flabby, covered with layers of fat till it becomes too dull and lazy to think, to observe, to explore, to discover ... not wanting to be disturbed or questioned into wakefulness.
It is easier to make our wishes conform to our means than to make our means conform to our wishes.
The devotee of truth is often obliged to grope in the dark.
Acquire wisdom from the story of those who have already passed.
The same intelligence is required to marshal an army in battle and to order a good dinner. The first must be as formidable as possible, the second as pleasant as possible, to the participants.
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