Direct Observation

Chapter: Direct Observation (February 15)

The Book of Life: Daily Meditations with Krishnamurti

Why are concepts rooted in our minds? Why are facts less important than concepts? Why are theories or concepts more important than facts? Is it because we cannot understand facts, lack the ability to understand them, or are we afraid to face facts? It is precisely because of the fear of facing facts that a host of concepts, speculations, or theories are formed.

You may try every means to escape, but a fact is a fact — such as anger, ambition, or sexual desire in the mind. You may suppress these things and transform them into another form, but they are always restrained by various ideas. Do not ideas waste our energy? Do they not dull the mind? You may be good at reasoning and quoting others' words, but obviously your mind is not sharp. If you can face the fact, your energy will flow freely, and then you can resolve inner conflicts in an instant.

We often think one thing and do another, so most people are trapped in inner conflicts. If you can face the desire to do something, there will be no conflict in your heart, and then you can focus all your attention on the present truth and understand it.