r/InsightDialogue

“The approach to the problem either breaks down the problem, or increases the problem”

- 29th Jan 1978

It can be often observed how people ask the wrong questions in approaching our human problems.

For example, the problem of division is approached through ideas about tolerance. The problem of immorality is approached through social morality. An unfavourable trend is opposed by a counter culture.

These reactions - being born of disorder - sustain disorder. We ignore “what is” in favour of an ideal.

“But if we don’t act, nothing will change” is often the response. But is the actor separate from that which he wishes to change? To tolerate you, I must still see you as separate to me. To rely on societal morals is conformity, which is still immoral. A counter culture is born of its opposite: both parties need each other to sustain their ideologies.

So our approach maintains disorder.

After seeing this in society, which is not separate from ourselves, can we see the same mechanism in our personal life? Before we ask a question: “how do I become free” , for example, can we see the “me” who is asking is conditioned and therefore can never be free? In that seeing, there is freedom. In seeing fully our own disorder, there is order.

A question is a beautiful thing. It may be more important than the answer which we seek. The seeking only blinds us from what is staring us in the face. The framing of the question may already contain its answer.

We are told that meditation is essential - but what is it?  Is it some kind of magical practice that transforms us over time?  Is it some kind of effort that I make to become better? Is it - as the zen buddhists tell us - enlightened action itself?

When we are encouraged to “sit with” something - like our anger - what does that mean?

>Are you aware of hurt? Are you aware that you are resisting, that you are frightened hurt might increase and invite more hurts? Are you aware that seeking the cause of hurt is a waste of time? So what happens? You are not spending energy inquiring into the cause of hurt. You are not building a wall around hurt in order not to be hurt more. You are no longer trying to cover it up. When you give your complete attention, you will see hurt is no longer there. Then only you can proceed to find out what love is.

Krishnamurti, Talk 2, Madras 1974

>Thought shattering itself against its own nothingness is the explosion of meditation.

Krishnamurti's notebook

nb. we're meeting this Saturday 18th of July on Zoom at 5:30pm CEST (thats 9pm in India and 11:30am EDT) - comment below, or message me if you'd like to take part.

Meditation is an invitation to set ourselves free. 

We are invited to a Psychological revolution - a call to freedom from the authority directing our lives : our primitive and incoherent psyche.

Why?  Because we are causing a lot of pain and harm - despite our deep longing for comfort and security.  Our beliefs and our fears are driving us to turn against ourselves and our planet.  

Is this revolution possible?  Can we escape the authority of our thoughts and emotions?  Can we be free of our beliefs and fears?   Can we escape our mechanical propensity for suffering?  Maybe, maybe not.

Meanwhile another revolution is already underway - the AI revolution.   Our minds are currently undergoing a mutation - we are in a new era - what we call humans are now a rudimentary form of cyborg (machine/human hybrids).

What this entails is that our knowledge and understanding is not confined to our own biological brains - a lot of our thinking and understanding is being carried out by LLMs (Large Language Model robots).  Also our thoughts and our beliefs have become a lot more sophisticated and beguiling.   They appear less confused - when expressed by AI chatbots - they have gained in authority.

This is happening to us right now.  Despite not having resolved the issues of human evolution : the big brain, the increased cognition still dominated by primitive fears.   We have been pulled into our next incarnation as a society : an even more powerful hybrid brain, still carrying its unresolved primitive drives.

https://preview.redd.it/1rkdkoih3lch1.png?width=939&format=png&auto=webp&s=4d760bccc123f71d24072cf87f3523a6d3951c3a

>Are you aware of hurt? Are you aware that you are resisting, that you are frightened hurt might increase and invite more hurts? Are you aware that seeking the cause of hurt is a waste of time?

>So what happens? You are not spending energy inquiring into the cause of hurt. You are not building a wall around hurt in order not to be hurt more. You are no longer trying to cover it up. When you give your complete attention, you will see hurt is no longer there. Then only you can proceed to find out what love is.

(J. Krishnamurti, talk 2, Madras, 1974)

"seeking the cause of hurt is a waste of time" !?!? - is this because the retelling of past trauma mainly confirms self-identity? Is this because affirming or confirming my pain just makes me stronger?

"When you give complete attention, hurt is no longer there" Does this mean we have observed "hurt" - or that "hurt" cannot be observed?