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"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."
Unknown source |
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"I think most of us realize the urgency of an inward revolution, which alone can bring about a
radical transformation of the outer, of society. This is the problem with which I myself and
all seriously-intentioned people are occupied. How to bring about a fundamnental, a radical
transformation in society, is our problem; and this transformation of the outer cannot take
place without inner revolution."
The First and Last Freedom, p.35 |
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"Most of us are rich with the things of society. What society has created in
us and what we have created in ourselves,
are greed, envy, anger, hate, jealousy, anxiety - and with all these we are
very rich.
The various religions throughout the world have preached poverty. The monk assumes a robe, changes his name, shaves his head, enters a cell and takes a vow of poverty and chastity; in the East he has one loin cloth, one robe, one meal a day - and we all respect such poverty. But those men who have assumed the robe of poverty are still inwardly, psychologically, rich with the things of society because they are still seeking position and prestige; they belong to this order or that order, this religion or that religion; they still live in the divisions of a culture, a tradition. That is not poverty. Poverty it to it completely free of society, though one may have a few more clothes, a few more meals - good God, who cares? But unfortunately in most people there is this urge for exhibitionism. Poverty becomes a marvelously beautiful thing when the mind is free of society. One must become poor inwardly for then there is no seeking, no asking, no desire, nothing! It is only this inward poverty that can see the truth of a life in which there is no conflict at all." Freedom From the Known, p.60 |
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"If, in each one of us, the centre of the 'me' is non-existent, with its desire for power, position,
authority, continuance, self-preservation, surely our problems will come to an end!"
The First and Last Freedom, p.113 |
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"Society is the outward expression of man. The conflict between himself and
society is the conflict within himself."
Commentaries on Living, First Series, p.51 |
