Hermitix Jiddu Krishnamurti, Part 2: Education and Thought with Valentin Gerlier
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Jan 1, 2026 Dr. Valentin Gerlier, a scholar and musician from Dartington Arts School, shares his transformative encounter with Jiddu Krishnamurti's educational philosophy. He contrasts traditional exam-focused schooling with the inquiry-driven approach at Brockwood Park. Valentin emphasizes the importance of non-dogmatic learning, choiceless awareness, and the idea that true understanding stems from within. Their discussion delves into how awareness shapes thought and relationships, urging listeners to embrace presence as a path to deeper insight.
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Teenage Conversion At Brockwood Park
- Valentin Gerlier recounts entering Brockwood Park at 14 and feeling an immediate, life-changing resonance with the place and Krishnamurti's atmosphere.
- The school tailored curriculum to his interests and awakened his imaginative and musical pursuits.
Ask Students What They Want
- The school asked a novel question: "What do you want to do?" which shifted education from rote to interest-led learning.
- That question reoriented Valentin from compulsory goals to awakening the whole person.
Inquiry Time In Practice
- Valentin describes "inquiry time" at the school: weekly spaces for philosophical dialogue and self-inquiry lasting two to three hours.
- He notes some teachers embodied the teaching implicitly while others repeated Krishnamurti dogmatically.
