Freedom From {Psychological} Fear

The Real Revolution: Is A Natural-Holistic Change At The Root of The Psyche

The point of all these articles of discussion is to see if we can radically bring about a change/transformation of the mind – not accept things as they are, nor revolt against them. Revolt doesn't answer a thing. Instead, go into the problem – to question it, go into it, to examine it. Give your heart and your mind and everything you have to find out the way of living completely differently.

Considering what the world is now with all their misery, conflict, destructive brutality, aggression; tremendous advancement in technology and so on, it seems to me although humanity has cultivated the external world (and has more or less mastered it), inwardly (psychologically) he/she is still as he/she was – he/she is still brutal, violent, aggressive, acquisitive, competitive. And, he/she has built a society along these lines. And, the more one observes (unless one is totally blind, deaf and dumb), one is aware of the extraordinary contradiction of human beings. And, to understand the extraordinary complex problems of human existence, one must have tremendous passion, which cannot be possibly supplied by the intellect or by casual sentiment or emotionalism or by the passion aroused by committing oneself to a particular cause of action or by belonging to a particular political or religious group. That does give one a particular quality of intensity, a certain drive. But through it all, there is the demand for gratification (for pleasure). And, the whole structure of society, with its “morality”, with its “gods”, with its culture, with its entertainment, is based on pleasure (reward).

So one hopes one will listen to what is being said; not hear a lot of words to a lot of ideas. Because, ideas and words are not the fact. Ideas and words never bring about a radical revolution (a total change), a mutation in the mind/psyche. So we are not dealing with ideas and opinions and judgments. What one is concerned is with bringing about a radical revolution in the mind. And, that revolution/change must take place without effort. Because, all effort has behind it a motive; and a revolution with a motive is not a revolution at all – a change. It becomes a modified continuity (of the old structure), when there is a motive. But, a mutation (a radical transformation of the mind) can only take place when there is no motive, and when we begin to understand the psychological structure of not only of society (which is a part of us) and to understand it, there must be the ACT OF LISTENING! [*Not just listening to the message, but to what is actually taking place within ourselves.]

So it is a responsibility of how we all listen; because we are taking a journey together into the whole psychological structure of Mankind. Because in the understanding of that structure and the meaning of it, we can then, perhaps, bring about a deep, fundamental change in society. And, society needs a TOTAL change, a TOTAL revolution.

Our whole concept, action and urges are based on pleasure. And, until one understands the total nature and structure of pleasure, there will always be fear. Fear, not only in our relationships with each other, but fear of ALL LIFE – THE TOTALITY OF EXISTENCE! So without understanding pleasure, there can be no freedom from fear. And, one is not denying pleasure. One is not advocating a puritanical way of life – a suppression of pleasure or a substitution of pleasure or the denial of that thing that we call great satisfaction. Instead, we are examining it! And, in examination, there must be 'freedom from opinion', otherwise, you can't examine.

'Pleasure' is an extraordinary thing to understand; it needs a great deal of in depth attention – a swiftness of mind, a subtle perception. So, one has to understand it. And, to understand it, there must be neither withholding or denying that quality of that principle of pleasure. And, that is very difficult to do, because we are so heavily conditioned to accept and to function with the motive of pleasure (with psychological gratification). Therefore, we are always LIMITING our TOTAL ATTENTION. We look at life in fragments (opinions/beliefs), and as long as the particular fragmentation exists, then one cannot possibly see The Total (The Truth). If one says, “I must have a certain pleasure, and I'm going to hold on to it at any price,” then we will not comprehend or see the Total Pattern or Structure of Pleasure. And, we are concerned with seeing the Totality of Pleasure -- what is involved in it -- i.e., the pain, the frustration, the agony, the remorse, the ache of loneliness when ALL pleasure is denied. And naturally, the escape from all of that through various forms (which again is the continuation of pleasure).

And, the mind that is caught, that is conditioned by this principle of pleasure cannot, obviously, see what is True – cannot think clearly; and therefore, it has no passion! Such a conditioned mind translates 'passion' as being something sexual or achieving some fragmentary activity and fulfillment in that fragment (such as, romantic or so-called “spiritual” concepts and rituals). So where there is no understanding of pleasure, there is only enthusiasm, sentimentality, which evokes brutality and callousness and all the rest of it.

So, what is 'Pleasure'?

Because without understanding what is 'Pleasure', there is NO LOVE!

LOVE is not 'Pleasure'! LOVE is not 'Desire'! LOVE is not 'Psychological Memory'! And, 'Pleasure' denies LOVE! Therefore, it is important to understand this principle of 'Pleasure'. Surely, 'Pleasure' IS 'Desire' (emotional attachment or possessiveness). 'Desire', which comes into being very naturally when you see something that gives you a stimulation, a sensation; and from that sensation, there is 'Desire'. And, the continuation of that 'Desire' IS 'Pleasure'! And, that 'Pleasure' is sustained by thought (the remembering of that sensation):

• The mind sees/hears something, and with the contact with it, there is a sensation.

• The sensation is the 'Desire' sustained by 'Thought' {the remembering of that sensation}.

• Because, 'Thought' is the response of memory.

• That memory is based on other experiences of 'Pleasure' and/or 'Pain'.

• And, 'Thought' gives to that 'Desire' the sustenance, the quality of pursuit and fulfillment.

One can see this in oneself very simply. If one observes/examines, it's all there right in front of you. And, the Quality of [Holistic] Observation cannot be taught nor given by another. And, if you are taught “how to observe”, you cease to actually observe. Then, you have merely the mechanical 'technique of observation' – which prevents you from Actually Seeing/Observing/Examining yourself, for yourself IS The Whole of Mankind, psychologically. Yourself contains all the aches and the miseries, with the solitude and loneliness, despair, the utter loneliness of existence; the meaninglessness of it all. And when you do so observe yourself, it unfolds, endlessly – which is Life itself! Then, you are not dependent on anybody – on any psychologist, on any theologian, on any priest, or on any dogma. Then, you are looking at this movement of Life, which is yourself (your emotional responses). But unfortunately, we cannot look with clarity because we are driven by this principle of 'Pleasure'.

So to understand 'Pleasure', one has to understand The Structure of Thinking. Because, it is 'Thought' that gives continuity to 'Pleasure'.

One has had an experience of 'Pleasure' yesterday (of different kinds), and 'Thought' thinks about that 'Pleasure', and demands its continuity. So, the memory of that 'Pleasure' of yesterday is reacting, demanding that it be renewed through 'Thought. And, 'Thought' is time – yesterday's delight and enjoyment (thinking about the past 'Pleasure', past gratification). And, 'Thought' is demanding its continuity now, in the present moment. And, 'Thought' projects tomorrow's 'Pleasure'. And, 'Thought' creates the 'Past', the 'Present' and the 'Future', which is time.

• I have had that 'Pleasure' = Past
• I am going to have that 'Pleasure' = Present
• And, I demand that 'Pleasure' again = Future

This time quality is created, put together by 'Thought' (Memory). And, 'Thought' is 'Time'. And, it is 'Time' [psychologically] that creates fear. And, without probing into this:

Time

Pleasure

Thought

...we are always bound by 'Time' (mental slavery). Therefore, 'Time' has never a stop. It is only when there is an End of 'Time' that there is something Totally New. Otherwise, there is merely a continuity of the Past being modified through the Present and conditioned/programmed into the Future {which is the Modified Past}.

For a human being to be free of fear...

Fear about the Past, Present or the Future; there are a multitude of fears that human beings have (conscious or unconscious fears):

Fear of the neighbors, fears of death, fear of being lonely, insecure, uncertain, being confused, fear of being stupid and trying to become very clever. Fear is always in relation to something. Fear does not exist by itself. And, to be totally free of fear, not partially or a fragment of what is considered fear – to be totally free of fear; that is, psychologically to COMPLETELY BE FREE OF FEAR, one must understand:

Thought

Time

Pleasure

And, this understanding is not intellectual nor emotional. Understanding can only come when there is TOTAL ATTENTION – when you give your COMPLETE ATTENTION to 'Pleasure' (how it comes into being).

What is {psychological}'Time'? 'Time' which 'Thought' has created:

'I' was = the Past

'I' am = the Present

'I' will be = the Future

Psychological 'Thought' says to itself, “I must change 'This' into 'That'. This idea of gradual psychological evolution of Mankind is very gratifying, however, it is a hoax. 'Thought' dictates that:

“We will all g-r-a-d-u-a-l-l-y become extraordinarily kindly some day; and, we shall g-r-a-d-u-a-l-l-y lose all our violence and aggression; and, we'll ALL be brotherly at one time much, much later.”

This concept of gradualism, which is generally known as “psychological evolution” is utterly bogus. This statement is not an opinion – it's a FACT! Because when you give your TOTAL ATTENTION (psychologically), there is NO TIME AT ALL! In that state of TOTAL ATTENTION, there is neither 'Yesterday', 'Today' or 'Tomorrow. Therefore, 'Time' (psychologically) has ceased. But, the cessation of 'Time' cannot possibly be when there is the Center as 'The Principle of Pleasure'.

'Pleasure' has in it 'Pain'. The two things cannot be separated, if you have observed yourself – 'Pleasure' IS 'Pain' (heads/tails of same psychological coin). So, you cannot avoid 'Pain' if you are pursing psychological 'Pleasure'! The contradiction of our mind is: we want the one, and we don't want the other. We function emotionally (wanting and not wanting). And, when deep issues and fundamental problems are concerned, and to give your mind Totally to it, it's rather difficult when ALL your life has been dissipated in fragmentary and contradictory action (the seeking of 'Pleasure' and the avoidance of 'Pain'/'Fear'). Because, the moment you seek and obtain 'Pleasure', you become afraid of losing it. Ergo, 'Pleasure' IS 'Fear'.

And on the rare occasion that we do act, Totally, we only do it when there is a great crisis we are facing. Then, you wake up and give your WHOLE ATTENTION. And, this is a crisis: the message you are reading right now IS a crisis. It's a challenge. You can't just push it aside. Therefore, it may be rather difficult or arduous to understand all of this. But, it wont be difficult if you are examining your own state of mind (while you explore this message). It's like sitting on the bank of a river and watching the waters go by. And, when you so watch, there is neither the Examiner or the Examined; neither the Observer or the Observed. There is only Pure Holistic Examination/Observation. There is only a movement that is being studied. But in order to observe like that, there must be no psychological fear of examining your inward responses completely, objectively – without any choice or domination. The absence of 'Fear' is NO 'Pleasure' nor the demand for psychological gratification/fulfillment ('Pleasure').

Then, in that state, you can observe THE WHOLE MOVEMENT OF LIFE. The Movement of Life, which is: agony, despair; the ache of meaningless existence; the routine; the boredom; the great fears – as of Death, etc. So one can watch all of this... And, when you so observe – then The Observer IS The [thing being] Observed. Then, you have gone beyond all of this (conflict of pursuing 'Pleasure' & escaping from 'Pain'/'Fear'). And, the orderly mutation can only take place in the mind when 'Time', 'Pleasure' and 'Fear' have come to an end, naturally. And, therefore, there is a certain dimension of quality which cannot be approached through 'Thought'. 


Book Quotation: Freedom from the Known,101

Those who think a great deal are very materialistic because thought is matter. Thought is matter as much as the floor, the wall, the telephone, are matter. Energy functioning in a pattern becomes matter. There is energy and there is matter. That is all life is. We may think thought is not matter but it is. Thought is matter as an ideology/belief. Where there is energy it becomes matter. Matter and energy are interrelated. The one cannot exist without the other, and the more harmony there is between the two, the more balance, the more active the brain cells are. Thought has set up this pattern of pleasure, pain, fear, and has been functioning inside it for thousands of years and cannot break the pattern because 'IT' has created it.  ~J. Krishnamurti