Freedom from the known

Freedom is the condition or right of being able to say, do or think whatever you want to, without being controlled or limited. I do not think anyone has that kind of freedom to do whatever they want. There are laws of defamation, human rights and rules of common decency.

We are passing through a difficult phase in history. Acts of terrorism, wars, drugs, lethal weapons, criminals and liars in every field of activity have made our lives miserable. As such, sometimes we wonder why are we here or what is man's predicament in the Digital Age.

Many religious leaders such as the Buddha, Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed have shown us the way to lead better lives. However, despite these world-renowned religious leaders and their doctrine, man is still searching for something. This can be peace or inner tranquillity.

Among the philosophers who have dealt with this problem of human predicament, J. Krishnamurti's teachings have been innovative and thought provoking. A synthesis of Krishnamurti's ideas about the human predicament was published for the first time way back in 1969. In fact, the book entitled "Freedom from the known" is regarded as a primer on Krishnamurti's teachings. What is remarkable is that Krishnamurti had himself asked Mary Lutyen to compile this book.

Those who seek something beyond material welfare will find this book a treasure house of knowledge. Krishnamurti is somewhat critical of man's heavy dependence on codes of conduct and philosophies of life. He calls them "second hand people". His views may come as a surprise to millions of people who have been conditioned by ethics, religion and philosophy.

According to Krishnamurti people have been conditioned to accept some kind of authority to guide them. To defy this authority you need tremendous courage. Only a philosopher like Krishnamurti can challenge despots and others in authority.

I met J. Krishnamurti in the company of the late E. W. Adikaram about 50 years ago. At that time I found that he was a mystery. At least at that time I could not understand his philosophy. Then I started reading his books and later the prestigious magazine "The Link" which paved the way for greater understanding.

To a mind attuned to Western philosophies of Emmanuel Kant, Schopenhauer, Hegel, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Heidegger or Sartre, Krishnamurti is an extraordinary philosopher. After the Buddha he was the greatest philosopher India has produced.

Although he lived in the West for most of the time, he was the quintessential Indian or eastern thinker.

After listening to his lectures and reading his books, I find that his language is lucid and fascinating. For instance, the following extract taken from his "The only revolution" is a classic.

"Light, like sound, is an extraordinary thing. There is the light that painters try to put on a canvas; there is the light that cameras capture; there is the light of a single lamp in a dark night, or the light that is on the face of another, the light that lies behind the eyes.

The light that the eyes see is not the light on the water; that light is so different, so vast that it cannot enter into the narrow field of the eye. That light, like sound, moved endlessly-outward and in ward - like the tide of the sea. And if you kept very still, you went with it, not in imagination or sensuously; you went with it unknowingly, without the measure of time."

The latest edition of the book entitled "Freedom from the known" published by the Krishnamurti Foundation in India is locally available with the Krishnamurti Centre, Sri Lanka Inc., 310, High Level Road, Colombo 6. As this book has been written at Krishnamurti's suggestion and his approval, it sounds authentic. This is an ideal book to read, re-read and treasure every moment of your reading it.

The purpose of this column on Krishnamurti is not to popularise his philosophy. In fact, philosophy is not at all a popular subject. My purpose here is to make the younger generation aware of J. Krishnamurti and his thinking. He has no disciples or followers to popularise his theories. However, if you are a thinking person ready to accept challenges and face uncommon reasoning, Krishnamurti is the ideal person to study.

When I visited Puttaparathy in India recently I visited Sathya Sai Baba's museum. The words prominently displayed at the entrance were: "I am God. You are God". They struck me like a bolt from the blue. But Krishnamurti does not accept the concept of God. He says,

"I do not demand your faith; I am not setting myself up as an authority. I have nothing to teach you-no new philosophy, no new system, no new path to reality; there is no path to reality any more than to truth.

All authority of any kind, especially in the field of thought and understanding, is the most destructive, evil thing. Leaders destroy the followers and followers destroy the leaders. You have to be your own teacher and your own disciple. You have to question everything that man has accepted as valuable, as necessary."

I need not say more. Krishnamurti's ideas may seem baffling to many people because he was ahead of his time. It is not easy to follow his reasoning. That is the very reason that we must read and study his philosophy. Like the ancient Greeks we must try to perform difficult tasks. There lies the joy of living!