Secondhand Human Beings
I read quite a bit of Krishnamurti, probably my favorite philosopher and spiritual teacher. He is forcing me to ask the important questions. I care for a community of people. I am aware that people, especially those who desire to develop their spirituality in community, are incredibly open to abuse, manipulation, oppression, and judgment. They are also very inclined to depend on the discoveries, experiences, beliefs, teachings, methods and advice of others, especially their leaders. Krishnamurti concludes that this is why we have all become “secondhand human beings“. We resist discovering for ourselves. In my observations, we resist this for the fear of independent questioning as well as the fear of reprisal from our fellow spiritual seekers. But I’m convinced that if we want to know the truth that will set us free, we have to come to it ourselves. Krishnamurti writes:
The mind that has read all the sacred books is not a religious mind. A mind that is crowded with the authority of others’ experience is not a religious mind. A mind that is filled with the knowledge of what others have said is not a religious mind. A mind that believes, that has dogmas, conclusions, that plays with rituals, is not a religious mind… It is only a very still, quiet, untortured mind that sees the truth.
So, even though I often fail, I try to discourage the herd-mentality, status-quo-ness, conformity, propriety, majority thinking and controlled behavior. And I try to encourage a fierce independent spirit in people. I encourage uniqueness. I love diversity. I delight in non-comformism. Because I truly think people need to discover for themselves. This isn’t an easy way to be a community, but I can see no other way that’s worthwhile.
The fine art photograph is the creation of my friend Jorgen Klausen, and is from his Fundy Sculptures series.
church, community, krishnamurti, naked, pastor Share This
“It is only a very still, quiet, untortured mind that sees the truth.”
personally, I believe it’s a tortured mind that can even accept the truth.
if I didn’t have questions, and rail about them, and be “tortured” because of them, then I wouldn’t be thinking investigating ciphering
s e e k i n g
but I may be missing the meaning of the “untortured” here….
To use a biblical analogy, we must be still to know. Krishnamurti saw the accumulation of knowledge as the problem to knowing truth.
I love Krishnamurti too!
I understand what Mary is saying about a tortured mind - but I agree that unless we can sit still and quite ourselves we will live in that state. I live in that state too often.
I wish I lived up there so I could go to your church. Do you know how rare it is to find a naked pastor? One with your views? Its rare, at least around here.
For the majority of my life I have lived in the herd mantality. Gosh, for years I never had to hear God for myself because someone else always did and always told me what He was saying. To find myself in a place of wanting to walk my own walk, discover my own journey.. isn’t always easy. I find myself falling back into the old patterns and ways of thinking. Wanting to conform because it’s easiest and most accepted. Pushaw.. that is the furthest thing from who Joni is. I have a fierce independant spirit and I need to stop pushing it down and causing it to go to sleep.
Thank you for your blog, got me thinking, challenged me to be me. Yeah even more ME! I remember in Grade 9 making a shirt at school. I made these shapes and painted all of them blue. In the middle was one yellow shape and I wrote across the top, “Dare to be different”. I have never wanted to conform to anything, have always wanted to be an individual. Through the years I lulled that part of me to sleep. And it’s kinda nice and freaky all at the same time to see that side of me awakening … discovering..
This post meant a lot to me.
I have found that whenever I do feel confused about a “God” issue or Bible passage, the more I seek out an understanding or interpretation, the worse it is. I believe there must be about 1,324 varying opinions on each and every verse in the Bible, and of course, everyone feels theirs is the right (and only) way to interpret it.
I have to constantly remind myself that no human has the answers I seek. Only God has those answers.
“Don’t let others spoil your faith and joy with their philosophy, wrong and shallow answers based on man’s thoughts and ideas rather than what Christ has taught” (Col. 2:8)
There’s lots of truth in what you say, abundant blessings. we must have the courage to proceed down that path!
Discover on! Joni! can’t wait.