When you do have the
help of another, is there freedom?
Or does freedom only come with self-knowledge?
Is self-knowledge a matter of guidance, of organised help?
Or are the ways of the self to be discovered from moment to moment in our daily
relationships?
Dependence on another, or on an organisation, breeds fear, does it not?
(Krishnamurti)
Fixity
We are all brought up to perceive life in a twisted way.
Death is a taboo subject. We are shielded from illness and suffering.
Pretence is paramount.
People are trained to see things in a fixed, unchanging way. Perfect health. Job
security. Marriage...
But life is in flux.
Things change. Situations change. People change.
Anchor
Looking outside of yourself for an anchor is foolish.
Nothing is static. There is nothing to cling to. Our relationship with existence
is protean.
The more we struggle to create an anchor, the harder life becomes.
We need to let-go, and let the current take us where it will.
This is not so easy to do.
We invest in material possessions. We commit time to personal relationships. We
expect a job to repay our loyalty.
People invest in ideas, in opinions, in diversions and distractions.
They associate themselves with teams, with celebrities, with fashions and
trends.
An ever-changing parade of illusions are offered to us.
Identification
You are not your possessions. You are not the car you drive. You are not
your wallet, your bank account.
You are not your job. You are not your family. You are not your name. You are
not your reputation.
You are not your ambitions. You are not your memories. You are not your fears.
You are not your opinions. You are not your beliefs. You are not your image. You
are not your tai chi.
Material
Material goods are essentially junk. Trinkets. Tat.
They may make our lives more luxurious but they add nothing to our security.
Protecting and maintaining material goods is costly and ongoing.
Insurance, security, loss and theft create anxiety.
A car does not love you back, you cannot expect reciprocity. A mobile phone will
be outmoded in two years.
Jewellery has no actual worth. The value is simply attributed.
Relationships
A relationship is a complex interaction between people. There is no fixity to be
found.
In this era marriage is failing. People are unwilling to make a lasting
commitment.
The old values and interests are no longer as pertinent.
We live in a time dominated by the entertainment industry.
People draw inspiration from the fictional lives of celebrities, from the media
and the hype.
They have unrealistic expectations of other people. And of themselves.
Work
Job security is a precarious commodity in modern society.
Overpopulation, mechanisation, sweatshop labour and foreign competition make it
difficult to find and keep a job.
You may do everything conceivable to support your company only to find yourself
fired because the shareholders want higher profits.
More...
Page created 11 August 2002