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Articles: Philosophy | The Problem of Suffering
- Nazeer
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THE only thing that stands between ourselves and freedom is our incapacity or refusal to see ourselves squarely as we are. Suffering forces us to face ourselves and there is no other remedy for suffering but to submit to its imperious demand for self-awareness. Suffering is the great awakener and the only adequate response is to be glad to be awakened.
When we suffer, we seek remedies, we look for an escape from suffering. Krishnamurthi says that our various escapes are completely ineffective, mere concepts which help us to forget ourselves as long as we are busy in their construction, but are unable to uncover the deep and permanent roots of sorrow. It is only when we do not turn our eyes away from suffering, when we open ourselves entirely to its cleansing rays, it can complete its task and disappear spontaneously, without leaving any residue.
In other words: our way to liberation from suffering lies through the suffering itself. 'Suffering is but intense clarity of thoughts and feelings which makes you see things as they are',says Krishnamurthi. He speaks from his own experience. When his beloved brother died, his suffering was immense, but by not escaping from it into any form of consolation he saw it transform itself suddenly into ecstasy. This experience pervades his entire teaching:
'As you would not like to change something very beautiful: the light of the setting sun, the shape of a tree in the field, so do not put obstacles in the way of suffering. Allow it to ripen, for with its flowering understanding comes. When you become aware of the wound of sorrow, without the reaction of acceptance, resignation or negation, without any artificial invitation, then suffering itself lights the flame of creative understanding'.
This integral liberation through suffering is not the relief which psycho-analysis brings and which is a process in time, based on memory and aiming at adjustment within society. Krishnamurthi speaks of integral liberataion through the integral acceptancae of what is.
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