Teaching the Greatest Profession

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This book consists of six discussions that Krishnamurti had with teachers of Rajghat Besant School and Rishi Valley School in 1984. It may be regarded as an introduction to his vision of education for those who, seeing the collapse of educational systems in the modern world, feel therefore the importance of their being teachers of a different kind. Throughout his life, Krishnamurti maintained that teachers had a special responsibility in that they had to nurture not only the academic side of a child but also, and more importantly, the psychological side, which is what is generally taken for granted in modern education. For Krishnamurti, the educational setting is only a context for exploring the larger issues of human existence. The relevance of his vision is certainly not confined to the teaching profession, and so these discussions are meant for all-teachers or taught, professionals or parents, young or old.

J. Krishnamurti (1895-1986) is regarded as one of the greatest philosophers and religious teachers of all time. For more than sixty years he travelled the world over, giving talks and holding dialogues, not as a guru but as a friend. His teachings are not based on book knowledge and theories, and therefore they communicate directly to anyone seeking answers to the present world crisis as well as to the eternal problems of human existence.

TEACHING-THE GREATEST PROFESSION

consists of discussions that Krishnamurti had in 1984 with the teachers of the two educational institutions he had founded in India nearly fifty years earlier: Rishi Valley School and Rajghat Besant School. These six discussions, held a little more than a year before his passing away, may be regarded as an introduction to his vision of education for those who, seeing the collapse of educational systems in the modern world, feel therefore the importance of their being teachers of a different kind. For Krishnamurti, the educational setting is only a context for exploring the larger issues of human existence and what lies beyond it. The relevance of his vision is certainly not confined to the teaching profession, and so the discussions here are meant for all-teachers or taught, professionals or parents, young or old.

However, throughout his life, Krishnamurti maintained that teachers had a special responsibility in that they had to nurture not only the academic side of a child but also, and more importantly, the psychological side, which is what is generally taken for granted and therefore neglected in so-called modern education. The emphasis he laid on this aspect of teaching comes out clearly in his reply to a question, which must have been posed in the 1950s:

Questioner. One of our professors says that what you are telling us is quite impractical. He challenges you to bring up six boys and six girls on a salary of 120 rupees. What is your answer to this criticism?

Krishnamurti: If I had only a salary of 120 rupees, I would not attempt to raise six boys and six girls; that is the first thing. Secondly, if I were a professor it would be a dedication and not a job. Do you see the difference? Teaching at any level is not a profession, it is not a mere job; it is an act of dedication. Do you understand the meaning of that word dedication? To be dedicated is to give oneself to something completely, without asking anything in return, to be like a monk, like a hermit, like the great teachers and scientists-not like those who pass a few examinations and call themselves professors.