1. Introduction to the concepts of Freedom and Peace

Krishnamurti is basically concerned with freedom of man as that alone is the living without conflict. And to be without conflict is to be in peace. Therefore, for Krishnamurti peace cannot be there unless conflict disappears. But conflict cannot come to an end, as Krishnamurti holds, by escaping it. Conflict can end only by understanding it.

Krishnamurti said,

‘You can’t avoid conflict. You have to understand its nature. Conflict is one of the most difficult things to understand. We have tried to avoid conflict, so we take to drink, sex, church, organized religion, social activities, superficial amusement–every form of escape. We have tried to avoid conflict, but we haven’t been able to. The very avoidance is contributory to conflict.’^[1]

Culture and human environment all over the world are structure so as to make the mind conform to tradition. Krishnamurti says that:

‘The imprint of the past on the young mind, the conscious and unconscious conditioning of the student to obey, to conform. The communists are now doing this very efficiently as the Catholics have for generations. Other religious sects are also doing it, but not so purposefully or effectively, parents and society are shaping the minds of children through tradition, belief, dogma, conclusion, opinion, and this psychological inheritance prevents the coming into being a new social order.’^[2]

In the preceding chapter, detailed discussion has been made on bondage and conditioning because of fear, authority, dependence, tradition etc. A person is denied of freedom because of innumerable social norms and obligation. One could not come out from that bondage and is accordingly directed by the environment in which one lives. In this chapter, a detailed analysis has been made on how bondage and conditioning have implications in human life and society at large. According to Krishnamurti, conflict and suffering that we see in individuals as well as in the world are due to the bondage man is in. Conflict is a reality that we see outside in the world. Krishnamurti wanted that a society should be free of conflict. However he said that the outside conflict is a result of inner conflict that man has.

According to Krishnamurti, everything one did brings conflict. In his own words:

‘We do not know a moment from schooldays till now when we are not in conflict. Going to the office, which is a terrible bore, your prayers, your search for God, your disciplines, your relationship–everything has in it a seed of conflict.’^[3]

Human being is a mass of conflict and contradiction, not only at the level of thought but also at the level that conscious thought has not penetrated. One is in conflict whether one likes it or not, and life is a bundle of misery, confusion and a series of contradiction. One’s life is in contradiction and therefore in conflict, which are born of trying to conform, seeking fulfillment, conflict engendered by social influence. Human beings have lived in this state of conflict for the whole of known history.

He said,

‘We see the disintegrating process that is going on in the world. The old social order is breaking down, the various religious organizations, the beliefs, the moral and ethical structures in which we have been brought up, are all failing.’^[4]

So, human being is caught up in this social, religious and moral disintegration.

The world is in a transitory phase. The present day human being is caught up in transition and is in a state of terrible confusion and chaos. On the one side scientific technology has brought innumerable changes in life and on the other side, man still conditioned by various forms of beliefs and traditions. The crisis is manifested in various part of life, be it political, religious, moral, social and psychological aspect. Human being could not overcome one’s own cruelty and confusion, despite scientific and technological advancement. The ‘crisis which we are facing today cannot be solved by the politicians because they are not aware of the root cause of the crisis, namely, thought. The crisis cannot be solved even by the scientist for the scientist too is confined to the realm of thought which is conditioned and limited.’^[5]

Krishnamurti opined that, unless one understands the primary and secondary issues involved in the outbreak of war, one would be confused and unable to extricate from its disaster. The inevitable end of the society is war and is geared to war. Whatever one does within its borders contributes to war. One cannot escape from war as society is organized for total war. The most simple and harmless works contributes to war in some way or the other.

The chapter will be discussing causes of conflict first at the individual level and how they lead to social conflict at large. Besides, the chapter would discuss the way out to overcome conflict and how peace would come in the life of an individual, the society and in the world as a whole. The entire discussion would be base on the concept and analysis of Krishnamurti.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Krishnamurti, J. (2011). ‘On Conflict.’ Chennai: Krishnamurti Foundation India, p. 55

[2]:

Krishnamurti, J. (2014). ‘Commentaries on living.’ (3^rd series), Haryana: Penguin Books, p. 62

[3]:

Krishnamurti, J. (2011). ‘On Conflict.’ Chennai: Krishnamurti Foundation India, p. 42.

[4]:

Krishnamurti, J. (2008). ‘Total Freedom: The Essential Krishnamurti.’ Chennai: Krishnamurti Foundation India, p. 292

[5]:

Kumar, P. K. (2015). ‘Jiddu Krishnamurti: A Critical Study of Tradition and Revolution.’ Delhi: Kalpaz Publication, p. 108.