If the soul is spiritual essence , above and beyond all physical conditioning, apart from this thing called the 'i', then the 'i' is of no importance. Then why do we cling to it so desperately? Why are we caught up in its perpetuity, in its activities, in its ambitions and achievements, in its expansive desires?
So, when we say there is a spiritual entity, independent of all influence and conditioning, surely such an idea is an illusion, is it not? And also, if that spiritual entity is beyond and above and yet in us, if it cannot be contaminated, if nothing can be added to it, then why do we exert ourselves to understand, why do we struggle to make ourselves more perfect? If this spiritual essence is supposed to be love, intelligence, truth, then how can it be surrounded by this confusing darkness, by this violence and hate, by this feverish pursuit of the demands of the self? Yet it is. This does not mean that I am denying reality which can only be comprehended through understanding illusion and not by inventing illusions. We have accepted this idea of a spiritual entity, apart from the 'i,' for such an idea is very gratifying, comforting...
We see continuation of character, the 'i' being different from another... Conditioned thought must continue to create further limitations for itself. The 'i' is not only a particular, physical form with its name, but beyond its outer appearance, there is the psychological 'i' . What is this 'i'? A representative of previous influences and limitations, being born in a certain family, belonging to a certain group, a particular race, with its prejudices, its hates and superstitions, fears, and so on. These fears and conditioning originate in ignorance, in craving. These limitations have been transmitted from father to son right through till I am also that father, that past...
My father is also myself. The ideas and the beliefs, which my forefathers had, and which have come down to me, combine with the present action and reaction and become the 'i' of the present. Thus, character is preserved and continued 'myself' as today being reborn as another in the future...
Our ancestors, through their desires, fears, and hopes, created a certain pattern of thought and this thought is partly continuing in us; these ideas, in combination with the present, have created that narrow and limited thought which is the 'i'. This 'i', this ignorance, this myself, will go on in the future as another. So the world, mankind, is myself. If 'i,' being the world, the you, act thoughtlessly, 'i' must increase and perpetuate ignorance with all its effects, fears, and hates. So what 'i' do matters greatly; not in terms of reward and punishment. But when 'i' am deeply concerned about my rebirth, my immortality, the continuance of my experiences of achievement and sorrow, such concern must lead to wrong and thoughtless conclusions. The 'i' is a conditioned, limited state, and so it is unreal. Reality is that state which is free from the self.
Authored by: J Krishnamurti
Courtesy: KFI
So, when we say there is a spiritual entity, independent of all influence and conditioning, surely such an idea is an illusion, is it not? And also, if that spiritual entity is beyond and above and yet in us, if it cannot be contaminated, if nothing can be added to it, then why do we exert ourselves to understand, why do we struggle to make ourselves more perfect? If this spiritual essence is supposed to be love, intelligence, truth, then how can it be surrounded by this confusing darkness, by this violence and hate, by this feverish pursuit of the demands of the self? Yet it is. This does not mean that I am denying reality which can only be comprehended through understanding illusion and not by inventing illusions. We have accepted this idea of a spiritual entity, apart from the 'i,' for such an idea is very gratifying, comforting...
We see continuation of character, the 'i' being different from another... Conditioned thought must continue to create further limitations for itself. The 'i' is not only a particular, physical form with its name, but beyond its outer appearance, there is the psychological 'i' . What is this 'i'? A representative of previous influences and limitations, being born in a certain family, belonging to a certain group, a particular race, with its prejudices, its hates and superstitions, fears, and so on. These fears and conditioning originate in ignorance, in craving. These limitations have been transmitted from father to son right through till I am also that father, that past...
My father is also myself. The ideas and the beliefs, which my forefathers had, and which have come down to me, combine with the present action and reaction and become the 'i' of the present. Thus, character is preserved and continued 'myself' as today being reborn as another in the future...
Our ancestors, through their desires, fears, and hopes, created a certain pattern of thought and this thought is partly continuing in us; these ideas, in combination with the present, have created that narrow and limited thought which is the 'i'. This 'i', this ignorance, this myself, will go on in the future as another. So the world, mankind, is myself. If 'i,' being the world, the you, act thoughtlessly, 'i' must increase and perpetuate ignorance with all its effects, fears, and hates. So what 'i' do matters greatly; not in terms of reward and punishment. But when 'i' am deeply concerned about my rebirth, my immortality, the continuance of my experiences of achievement and sorrow, such concern must lead to wrong and thoughtless conclusions. The 'i' is a conditioned, limited state, and so it is unreal. Reality is that state which is free from the self.
Authored by: J Krishnamurti
Courtesy: KFI
