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Word Gems exploring self-realization, sacred personhood, and full humanity
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti has been an important teacher in my life. I began learning about the “true” and “false” selves about 15 years ago, and his insights helped to inaugurate this vital area of enquiry. pointing the way He was the one to make clear that “guru” signifies merely “one who points,” not “infallible sage.” Pointing the way is what even the best teachers might provide, but no more. One must walk the path of enlightenment alone, make our own discoveries, and no one can do this for us.
just tell us plainly In line with this, early in my investigations of his teachings, I would sometimes feel frustrated, "Why doesn't he just tell us exactly how to meditate the right way? or how to bring about the state of 'no you and no me'?" Later, I would understand. He couldn't delineate precisely because no one can tell us these things. "Truth is a pathless land," K would often assert. It could be a little different for each person. you must teach yourself But here's the general direction. As one endeavors to become very alert, monitoring one's own mind, the choiceless awareness, discerning the inner disorder, and this, without rendering judgment, one will yet be given flash insights into what works and what doesn't. Follow these breadcrumbs; follow them, inwardly, to center of being. Eventually, more and more, one is led into a sense of certainty. And this is how one "teaches oneself", as K would say. Krishnamurti was famous in his lifetime. For 60 years he traveled the world, lecturing on the “inner life,” defining concepts such as meditation, dualism, observer and observed, inward freedom, pleasure-based morality, conditioned beliefs, awareness of inner disorder, identification with thought-forms, “no you and no me,” choiceless awareness, living without resistance, the mind colored by the past, and other principles. All these are very important. However, I thought I should state that not everything K taught, according to what I see, is accurate. I sometimes comment on these points of departure as “Editor’s notes” in his transcribed lectures.
truth detector How can we know that K or any teacher speaks rightly and accurately? There’s only one way. As one sedulously, and honestly, investigates, then one will be offered one’s own insights. But, how can one know who’s correct? – the teacher or the student? Let’s recall that there are no gurus in the sense of “infallible sages.” This means that, in a larger sense, there are no teachers – we’re all students. And this is why, in the Gospel Of Thomas, the Jesus in that writing asserts, “I am not your teacher.” each is taught directly by God, if one allows it This is so because each human being must be taught directly by God, the Universe, the Source, or whatever term you’d prefer. And years on the job is no guarantee of wisdom. An honest newcomer might see things that have bedeviled the elites for centuries.
This is also a true principle concerning afterlife messages. There are some immature and unscrupulous teachers on the other side who love to assert, “We’re over here, so we really know.” But better heads in the next worlds say things like “Be led by no one who claims all wisdom. Even those who have been here for ages have seen but a tiny fraction of these realms and know even less of what might be known.” it takes more than great age to be wise Also, the truly wise point out that some on the Earth, if they’re linked to Universal Intelligence, might perceive certain truths which have escaped the ancients over there. See "the 500 tape-recorded messages from the other side" writing for more discussion. hidden Krishnamurti was not a perfect man, and after his passing it came to be known that, in some areas of his life, he'd spoken one thing but lived another. Great scandals were revealed. This contradiction between word and deed caused, for him, as it would for anyone, a measure of mental darkness. K even denied the reality of the afterlife; he, of all people, should have known better. But he adopted this belief as protection against future accountability. See more at the bottom of the following article. was anyone actually transformed by the teachings of Krishnamurti This question was asked in the book, Infinite Potential: The Life and Times of David Bohm, by Dr. David Peat. Physicist David Bohm was Krishnamurti’s most famous disciple. Near the end of their lives, Bohm and K had a falling out. The teachings could not prevent ordinary squabbling and “protecting one’s territory.” Krishnamurti, along with close associates, asked, had anyone been truly changed by the teachings? Bohm wanted to say yes, but he hesitated and wondered if he had. Strangely, Krishnamurti asked if he himself had been truly, inwardly benefited! And the comment was made, too, where is the transformation among the inner circle of K’s helpers and attendants, those closest to the teachings? No one could really point to anything definite. All of this is problematic, and very telling, concerning the efficacy of “going within” and discovering the inner life; meaning, great teachings are not enough; if one approaches them in a materialistic manner, they will not help you, even if you promote them to others. what can we learn from this anomaly While I did not learn of the “true self” from Krishnamurti, I have greatly benefited from this genre of teachings. But, again, why is it that some closest to the source of instruction might experience a dry well? As I see it, Krishnamurti began well. His best work, in my opinion, occurred during the 1930s and the subsequent initial years, when he was relatively unknown. But the potency of his teachings, especially to himself and close followers, began to progressively wane in later decades as fame and money flowed to him. how to be a friendly neighborhood guru I’m reminded of Will and Ariel Durant’s observation that, “The only real revolution is the enlightenment of the mind and the improvement of character; the only real emancipation is individual, and the only real revolutionists," the only ones who effect meaningful and lasting change, "are philosophers and saints." The Lessons of History We note that they did not say that real change for troubled human beings is effected by rich celebrities and wealthy institutions or lauded teachers. Is this assessment too harsh? There could be exceptions, but we can’t think of any right now. And then there’s the comment of Jesus about how difficult it is for a rich person to find the kingdom of God. As soon as a teacher enjoys a measure of success, then the question quickly becomes, “who will write the checks and control the real estate?” This heady proposition alters attitudes. And now the handlers of said celebrated guru hover about, waiting, like vultures, for their chance to control assets, once the head honcho passes on. This is the story of most every religion on the planet. Editor's note: Ernest Hemingway said something similar:
how to deal with this I think Saint Francis, and ones like him, provides the best model of what a teacher needs to do, and how to live, to effectively promote “the truth.”
Probably, a “vow of poverty” is not strictly called for, but assuredly one must live modestly, honestly, with no thought given to self-aggrandizement and empire-building. Once there’s a step over the line into accumulating largesse, then it’s essentially over in terms of doing one’s best work. Editor’s note: This problem happens on the other side, as well - dysfunctional teachers over there crave the limelight, want to appear as big shots, while espousing empty platitudes. The effect of this might be to bedazzle unwary followers, but – no true change of human nature takes place.
An acquaintance of mine, August Goforth, pointed out to me that, in his book, The Risen, there’s a chapter on Krishnamurti. After K crossed over, he contacted August, who has psychic abilities. You’ll want to read the account for yourself, but, essentially, as it strikes me, K sounds like a hollowed out and brittle neurotic. It would appear that his leading a “double life” left him in a very weakened state of cognitive disability. without prejudice All this mayhem, as it might be, should not be taken as indicator that the Krishnamurti teachings lack value. I will say there is tremendous value contained therein. But the teachings must be properly applied, and lived; also, certain of K's precepts need some fine-tuning. No one will be aided by, "I read the book but nothing happened."
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