Our teacher for this week is Juddu Krishnamurthi, and here are a few thoughts from him to ponder as you look at your week ahead –
“In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either the key or the door to open, except yourself.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti
“The more you know yourself, the more clarity there is. Self knowledge has no end – you don’t come to an achievement, you don’t come to a conclusion. It is an endless river.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti
“There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti
It’s all within you. The more you know yourself, the more clarity you’ll have. There is no end to getting to know yourself though, you can expect the journey to be endless, but also expect to continue gaining more clarity over your direction.
But now… can you balance the benefit of having clarity – having a clear intention – with the truth that you’ll never really have certainty? Or will you become stuck in your desire for certainty?
“The very desire to be certain, to be secure, is the beginning of bondage. It’s only when the mind is not caught in the net of certainty, and is not seeking certainty, that it is in a state of discovery.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti
It’s very human to want to reach for certainty. Our very survival nature clings to the illusion of certainty in the need to know that we can survive. But the moment we feel certain about anything it’s like we’re shutting a book, and no more learning can be be done. I just love how clearly Krishnamurti illustrates this by saying that the only way we can remain in a state of discovery, is if we let go of our need for certainty.
Think about it this way for a moment, “known vs unknown” …
From the moment you were born until now, your brain has been creating a recording, and everything you “know” everything you’re “certain” of is in that recording – what are you able to create from what is known, from your recording? From what is known you can only create the same, you can only recreate the past again and again. You have to become brave enough to step into the unknown, because we can create the new only from what is not known to us yet. It’s only when we let go of certainty and embrace the unknown that we are able to create what is new for us.
In summary, Jiddu Krishnamurti’s message for your week is this:
Your journey is one of continuously learning, an endless river with no final exam but with an ever increasing clarity. What will put a stop to your learning is when you try to grasp too tightly onto anything as a certainty.
Mantras for embracing the unknown:
- Become a curious explorer. Ask questions, challenge assumptions, and seek out new perspectives.
- Experiment and iterate. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; they are stepping stones to growth.
- Embrace continuous learning. Every experience, every encounter, holds a valuable lesson.
Remain open. Embrace the unknown!
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Jumpstart the week.
(image credit: Getty images)