18 April

J.Krishnamurti’s Last Talk: 4 January 1986 

Krishnamurti In India: The Last Decade

Madras 1985 / 1986 – 3rd   Public Talk

10    So, we are going to investigate – together, please bear in mind always together – not only the nature of religion, but also enquire into the computer. You know what the computer is? Don’t you? Yes. It’s a machine. It can programme itself. It can bring about its own computer. The father computer has its own son computer who is better than the father. You understand all this? You don’t have to accept this. It’s public, it’s not something secret, so watch it carefully. That computer can do almost anything that man can do. It can invent all your gods, all your theories, your rituals, even better at it than you will ever be. So, the computer is coming up in the world, not only in the factories, but also it’s going to make your brains something different. Which is – you’ve heard of genetic engineering? Oh god, don’t you hear all these things? They’re trying to, whether you like it or not, to change your whole behaviour. That is genetic engineering. They are trying to change your way of thinking. You understand what I mean?

11    Oh, don’t stare at me, sir. He is laughing. Will you go and sit somewhere else? Will you? Will you go and sit somewhere else? Because you are staring at me all the time. (Laughter) Sit there, sir, would you?

12    Questioner: It’s only my eyes.

13    Krishnamurti: I know, I know. That’s good enough. Would you sit there, sir? Good. Thank you.

14    So, genetic engineering and the computer. Right? When the two meet together – they’re going to presently, in a couple of years – what are you? You understand what I’m asking, sir? What are you as a human being, what are you? Your brains are going to be altered. Your way of behaviour is going to be changed. Right? They may altogether remove fear, remove sorrow, remove all your gods. They’re going to, sir, don’t fool yourself. Because it all ends up either in war or in death. Right? So, this is what is happening in the world actually. Genetic engineering on the one side and computer on the other and when they meet, as they’re inevitably going to meet, what is your… what are you as a human machine… being? Actually, your brain now is a machine. You are born in India and say, ‘I’m an Indian’. You are encased in that. Or you’re born in Russia – back again, and so on. You are a machine – please don’t be insulted, I’m not insulting you – you are a machine who repeats, repeats, or says it is different – you know, machine, like a computer. Right? Don’t imagine there is something divine in you – that would be lovely – something holy that is everlasting. The computer will say that to you too.