Getting into JK’s mood

Fewer names are more famous in philosophy than that of Jiddu Krishnamurti. Was it because he had a saintly personality? Well, not exactly. But his ideas are all around us. Although Krishnamurti, popularly known as “JK”, is no more, he shows up in weekly recorded lectures at the Krishnamurti Centre and a ready flow of books containing his philosophy of life.

“I don’t understand his philosophy” is a common complaint even from some intellectuals. However, those who understand or are trying to get to grips with him flock to listen to his recorded talks, view video interviews and read his books.

The latest book to come from the Krishnamurti Foundation India is Commentaries on Living - Second Series. In fact, the book contains notes made by the great sage himself. It was Aldous Huxley who encouraged Krishnamurti to write his commentaries on life which consist of a series of dialogues he had with ordinary men and women who came from different parts of the world. The encounters recorded in the book are both challenging and illuminating.

Probing questions

Krishnamurti has his own unique way of unravelling the truth through probing questions. He reminds us that humans can solve most of their psychological problems by adopting the right attitude and listening to one’s own voice. Krishnamurti’s intelligent and probing questions have opened a new genre of writing. His philosophical reflections and psychological insights are embedded in every dialogue.

Jiddu Krishnamurti: You are the very instrument of fear.

Commentaries on Living comes at a time when most people are running after pseudo philosophers, faith healers and charlatans who promise to provide quick solutions to human problems. Most of us have problems at home and the workplace. By trying to solve them, we seek happiness which seems to be the buzzword in everybody’s vocabulary. Krishnamurti shows us how to lead a happy life in a novel way.

Unemployed people are deeply worried that they have no income. The underemployed are also unhappy because they do not earn enough to sustain life. Then there are a few people who have everything in life, except happiness. Most of them live in fear of losing their wealth, reputation and power. Does it mean that no living being is happy? It is a difficult question to answer because some people hide their real feelings.

Pestering problem

Once a distraught woman came to Krishnamurti, seeking a solution for a pestering problem. She tried her hand at different things such as earning money, social work and leading a good family life. She said, “I have gone from one activity to another, from one misfortune to another, always being driven and always pursuing.” Her problem was to be free of all conditioning and to go beyond. In a way, most of us are in the same predicament.

Krishnamurti asked her why she had not previously asked herself the reason for her miserable situation. She said it never occurred to her to question herself why she was unhappy. At the same time, she admitted that she desired to live alone. She believed that there was something exhilarating in being alone. Outwardly she did not mind being alone, but she turned away from inner solitude.

Krishnamurti’s Commentaries on Living should serve as essential reading especially for those who are living in fear of death. In fact, almost all of us are afraid of old age and death. Although we know that we must die, no amount of rationalising seems to calm our fears. Such fears are deeply embedded in our psyche. Krishnamurti asks: “What is your problem? Do you want to be free from fear or are you seeking the truth regarding death?”

Fear of death

According to Krishnamurti, fear of death does not exist independently, in isolation. It comes into being in relation to something else. Although there are various theories of death, it is still something unknown. As death itself cannot be brought into the field of the known, we are gripped by fear. On the other hand, do we know what life is? Does life mean conflict, confusion, joy and pain? When we cannot understand what life is, how can we understand the meaning of death?

Krishnamurti resolves this riddle beautifully. “You are fear, you are not separate from it. The experiencer of fear is not an observer of it; he is fear itself, the very instrument of fear.”

If death is common, nobody can be afraid of it. It is the known that causes fear, not the unknown. We fear death because of the loss of the known, that is life!

Reading Krishnamurti’ philosophy is like delving deep into Richard Dawkins’ The Greatest Show on Earth, the stunning counter-attack on creationists, and all those who still question evolution as a scientific fact. Likewise, Krishnamurti too debunks various theories on death. He is an awesome thinker of rare calibre.