Collected Works 7 - Tradition and Creativity by Jiddu Krishnamurti

Author:Jiddu Krishnamurti [Krishnamurti, Jiddu]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

11th Talk 22nd December 1952

You remember that we have been talking about fear. Now, is not fear also responsible for the accumulation of knowledge? This is a difficult subject and so let us see whether we can go into it very carefully, and consider it. As I said just now, fear takes the form of knowledge and that is why human beings accumulate knowledge and worship knowledge. They think that knowledge is so important in life — knowledge of what has happened, knowledge of what is going to happen, knowledge not only scientific, but so-called spiritual knowledge. The whole process of accumulating information gradually becomes a thing which we worship as knowledge. Is that not also from the background of fear? We feel that, if we do not know, we would be lost, we would not know how to conduct ourselves, we would not know how to behave. So, gradually through other people's beliefs and experiences, through our own experiences, through book-know- ledge, through what the sages have said, we gradually build up knowledge which becomes tradition; and behind that tradition, behind that knowledge, we take refuge. We think this knowledge is essential; we feel that without this knowledge, we shall be lost, we shall not know what to do.

Now, when we talk about knowledge, what do we mean by knowledge? What do we know? What do you know when you really consider the knowledge that you have accumulated? What is it? At some level, knowledge is important, such as, science, engineering; but beyond that, what is it that we know? Have you ever considered this process of accumulating knowledge? Why is it that you pass examinations, why is it that you study? It is necessary, is it not?, at certain levels; because without knowledge of mathematics, geography, history, how can one be an Engineer or be a Scientist? All social contact is built upon such knowledge; and we would not be able to keep on earning a livelihood without it; so, that kind of knowledge is essential. Beyond that, what do we know?

As I was saying, knowledge is essential at certain levels of our life in order to live. But beyond that, what is the nature of knowledge? What do we mean when we say that knowledge is necessary to find God, or that knowledge is necessary to know oneself, or that knowledge is essential to find a way through all the turmoils of life? Here, we mean knowledge as experience. What is it that we experience? What is it that we know? Is not this knowledge used by the ego, by the « me', to strengthen itself? Say, for instance, I have achieved a certain social standing. That experience, the success of it, the prestige of it, the power of it, gives me a certain sense of assurance, of comfort; and so, the knowledge of my success, the knowledge of my being, of having power, my position, the knowledge that I am somebody, strengthens the « me', does it not? So, we use knowledge as a means of strengthening the ego, the « me'.

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