Balance

As intellectual as some people seem to think I am, this quote from Krishnamurti's Brockwood Park (9.11.71) talk resonates with me: "Intellectually we are imitative, intellectually we are not creative, intellectually we are second-hand, or third-hand; we repeat--repeat what others have said, our little thoughts. There we are not active, creative, alive, free; and emotionally we have no passion, we have no deep interests."

Although I took this a bit out of context from the actual speech, which is about freedom and pleasure (with this particular paragraph making the point that sex, the ultimate in worldly freedom, would not be such a big deal to us if we had more freedom in other areas of our lives), it not only makes sense in its context but standing by itself as well.

I have nothing against intellectualism. I love to learn, to think, to understand--I am curious, a sponge for various kinds of knowledge just because I like to know--just because I have insatiable hunches that I need to pursue.

But what is intellectualism stripped of passion? What is the headiness of cognition without soul? Where is the creativity, emotion, activity, relationship--where is the life? Are these not just as important as the knowledge? I believe in balance.