BEGINNING A NEW ERA

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 244, 16 July 1928, Page 10

BEGINNING A NEW ERA

THE WORLD TEACHER The present age was the beginning of a new era, said Dr. van tier Leeuw, speaking at the Town Hall_ ; last, night pn^tbe subject of “Krishnamurti',' the world teacher.” The world was awakening, and men now sought the unity of the whole human race. The nations sought to federate in order to end war, and a commonwealth of nations might result. Everything pointed to the signs of a new age. The twentieth century would see a third renaissance, a renaissance . where man would would be guided from externals back to the pursuit of happiness within himself by a world teacher, and that teacher the young Hindu, Krishnamurti.

Dr. van der Leeuw warned his audience that he was not trying to win them to a belief in this world teacher. Krishnamurti did not claim to be the Messiah or the Christ, but a world teacher who came to show the world the way to real happiness. Life, was the teacher, and people could never learn except through life and experience. The present century, continued the speaker, bore much resemblance to. tlie state of Rome in the century before the advent of the Christian era, It was then that men had lost their sense of values. They yearned for better things, and the coming of the Christ was their salvation. The middle ages were a period of darkness and doubt, which blossomed into light with the - renaissance'. In the nineteenth century men were again lost in the world of form. Materialism and international strife abounded, and the: result was the Great. War. If a vote were taken, the vast majority of people' of the world would be against war. but there was always the possibility of another war, a war that might mean the destruction of civilisation. But there were signs of an awakening. There was a broader outlook, a more kindred spirit among men. The spirit' of u new age was being born. Differences of sect inul creed were becoming less important.. The question was now: .“What sort of a life am I living?” At such a stage in our civilisation came Krishnamurti as the world teacher. There was never a man who was freer from the trammels of life. Such a teacher showed the real value of life. He did not say: “Follow me, take my gospel,” but. sent everyone back to himself to find the true teacher there within him. “If within yourself you can become the life,” said Dr. van der Leeuw in conclusion. “your whole world is changed. 'The light of your life shines tindinuned. There is peace, there is joy. there is freedom which can never bo disturbed ; (he freedom anti I hi; joy of whirl) Krirh naruurti, the world teacher, is teaching to-day, the way which is over new when a. human being has found, has entered it, has achieved,” -