Apposite thoughts from Krishnamurti, from The Book of Life.
"The question is: Is there not truth in religions, in theories, in
ideals, in beliefs? Let us examine. What do we mean by religion? Surely,
not organized religion, not Hinduism, Buddhism, or Christianity—which
are all organized beliefs with their propaganda, conversion,
proselytism, compulsion, and so on. Is there any truth in organized
religion? It may engulf, enmesh truth, but the organized religion itself
is not true. Therefore, organized religion is false, it separates man
from man. You are a Muslim, I am a Hindu, another is a Christian or a
Buddhist—and we are wrangling, butchering each other. Is there any truth
in that? We are not discussing religion as the pursuit of truth, but we
are considering if there is any truth in organized religion. We are so
conditioned by organized religion to think there is truth in it that we
have come to believe that by calling oneself a Hindu, one is somebody,
or one will find God. How absurd, sir; to find God, to find reality,
there must be virtue. Virtue is freedom, and only through freedom can
truth be discovered—not when you are caught in the hands of organized
religion, with its beliefs. And is there any truth in theories, in
ideals, in beliefs? Why do you have beliefs? Obviously, because beliefs
give you security, comfort, safety, a guide. In yourself you are
frightened, you want to be protected, you want to lean on somebody, and
therefore you create the ideal, which prevents you from understanding
that which is. Therefore, an ideal becomes a hindrance to action".
Licensed today: the bar of the Three Stags' Heads, in rural Derbyshire...
No comments:
Post a Comment