Ojai, USA, 1982

THE NATURE OF THE MIND No. 1: Roots of Psychological Disorder

What is psychological disorder and what is required for fundamental psychological change?

Isn't self-centred activity the origin, the beginning of all disorder? Is disorder the very nature of the self?

Have the psychologists tackled that problem, that the self is the origin, the beginning of all contradiction, divisive activity?

Human conditioning is to struggle, to suffer. Are we saying that it is natural in nature and in human beings to suffer, to go through agonies, to live in disorder?

I am society, I am the world, I am the result of all these influences, conditioning. And also my own individualistic activity has created this society. I am conditioned that way. Do we accept the condition that we are in? Is it not possible to be free of my conditioning?

THE NATURE OF THE MIND No. 2: Psychological Suffering

Q: Is it possible to live a life free from disorder? Q: What is security?

We are hurt by parents, school, university. Is it possible not to be hurt and not to hurt? A lot of ideas, emotions, reactions, all that is me. Is it possible not to have images at all?

I identify with my nation because that gives me a certain strength, status, security. Why do we want to identify with something? And why do we want to become?

Avoidance, of "what is" is an escape, but to say, look, this is what I am, let's look at it, is not.

If I see the fact that responsibility is order, I am responsible for keeping this house clean, as we all live on this earth it is our earth, not the British , or French or German earth. And we have divided ourselves because in this division we think there is security. In isolation there is neither security nor order.

THE NATURE OF THE MIND No. 3: The Need For Security

Q: Is there such a thing as absolute psychological security?

Why do I want psychological security? So that I feel completely content, without fear, anxiety, agony?

Is it that unconsciously we know that the self, the me, the ego is really unstable? Is that why human beings, want security, God, the saviour? If the content of our consciousness can be changed would there be any need for security?

The whole content of one's consciousness is unclear, messy. The difficulty is that we don't recognize deeply that this messy consciousness is me. Does one realize this and empty the content of consciousness? Are you willing to do that so that actually the self is not?

THE NATURE OF THE MIND No. 4: What is a Healthy Mind?

Q: What is the importance of attention? Q: Is there anything sacred in life?

Attention implies a great deal of care, affection, love. Not just mental, but attention with all your being. Perhaps you have established a very profound relationship, where there is love. I may reject you, but you have that responsibility of love. And not only to a particular person, but to humanity.

Thought thinks that what it has created is holy. Can we reject this and understand that there is nothing holy about thought? If I want to find out if there is anything sacred I must start very near and the very near is me. Can I free myself from fear and agony, sorrow and despair? When there is freedom I can move, I can climb mountains.

Is attention an act of will? In attention is the mind silent? Has the mind stopped thinking? When there is a great silence, then that which is eternal is.