Free yourself from mind-forged manacles!

Jiddu Krishnamurti is no more but his philosophy is very much alive. Superficially, his philosophical ideas may seem to be baffling to the beginner. As a result, students and even adults give up reading his philosophy halfway through. Krishnamurti Foundation India publishes books from time to time simplifying his philosophy. A book published previously as This matter of Culture has been republished as Think on these Things. It is a treat to the reader who tries to understand his philosophy.

Krishnamurti propounded his philosophy mainly through lectures. Unlike many other philosophers, he did not come to the stage armed with a heap of documents and books. Without using slides and other complicated modern gadgets he got down to the real business of explaining his philosophy through questioning the audience. Sometimes he would ask, "What shall we discuss today?"

On some occasions he used to sit on the floor along with students who kept on questioning him. He loved to be questioned while he was delivering a speech. On most occasions he emphasised the importance of an open mind. According to him, it is very difficult to have an open mind because we are tied down by customs, religion,others' opinions and prejudices.

Observation

Apart from book learning, he encouraged his listeners to learn through observation. He also urged people to learn through experience. Krishnamurti used to ask, "When we see a boat on the river with its sails reflected on the quiet waters, is that not an extraordinary experience?" However, to most of us such experiences are too commonplace to be remembered. We feel that they teach us nothing.

Unknown to many of us, the mind stores up such experiences expanding our knowledge. Unfortunately, we really do not know how to think. Instead of thinking we tend to repeat what we have learned from books and other people. As a result, we never become original thinkers. When we come out with ideas expressed by others, they are woefully inadequate to solve our problems. So, we do not absorb the experiences when we see how people carry a dead body to the cemetery or fight on the street.

According to Krishnamurti, prejudices are caused by our beliefs, what we learn from others and books. Therefore, it is necessary for us to observe everything: How rich people wallow in luxury and poor people try hard to make ends meet. We should just watch them without trying to pass judgements. When we criticise them we become prejudiced. When we watch them without trying to pass judgements, our thinking becomes acute.

Mental asylum

When we look at the world, sometimes we wonder whether we are living in a mental asylum. Most people are trying to make more and more money by hook or by crook. Some people are power crazy and would do anything to achieve their ends. Then there are others who want to enjoy life to the full by eating, drinking and merrymaking. Amidst all these people, religious leaders and philosophers expect us to follow their 'isms'. So, we get confused. Krishnamurti says that we are unhappy because there is no love in our hearts. If we have love in our hearts, we will not kill other human beings and animals. But we have so many excuses to justify our dastardly acts.So long as we harbour hatred in our hearts, we will never be happy.

Once a person in the audience asked Krishnamurti, "Why do we want to live in luxury?" Pat came the reply. "...if you are fond of luxury... your mind goes to sleep." This is true because when we sit on a sofa and watch the idiot box, we simply fall asleep! Citing another example he said that fat people are happy because there are many layers of fat on them. He said even their minds have put on layers of fat!

On another occasion Krishnamurti was asked whether he was happy. He simply said, "I don't know. I have never thought about it. The moment you think you are happy, you cease to be happy." This is something anybody can test for himself. Think of the day you got married or passed an examination. You would have been on cloud nine! However, if you asked youself, "Am I happy?" your happiness would have evaporated.

Distractions

Like the Buddha, Krishnamurti also emphasised the need to be alone. We are living in a noisy world with so many distractions. We are so used to blaring music, sound of traffic and shouts of people that we cannot do without such distractions. When there is no sound around, we switch on the radio, television or the musical set-up and listen to endless music. When we are on the move, we use the mobile phone to disturb the silence.

According to Krishnamurti, "We are afraid to be alone, afraid to be without a companion, without a distraction of some sort." How many of us ever walk in the fields and the woods? Krishnamurti used to walk in the country, sometimes barefooted, feeling the warmth of Mother Earth and the beauty of nature. Modern man has no time for such walks. He is caught in a dull routine of endless work and no leisure activity.

Once a Zen master was walking in silence with one of his disciples along a mountain trail. The disciple asked the master, "How do I enter Zen?" The master remained silent for a few minutes and asked the pupil, "Do you hear the sound of that mountain stream?" The disciple closed his eyes and listened intently. Suddenly, he heard the murmur of a small stream in the far distance. That was a mini-enlightenment.

J. Krishnamurti, the Zen master and modern philosopher Eckhart Tolle express the same sentiments: Walk alone listening to the babbling brooks and chirping birds. That will liberate you from mind-forged manacles!