940 Words Essay on Freedom by J. Krishnamurti

J. Krishnamurti is one of the original thinkers and educators of our time. In this essay titled ‘Freedom’ he speaker about the real meaning of freedom, its function and how to secure it.

The writer begins by saying that the problem of freedom is a complex one. To understand its meaning and implications requires deep study and understanding. Many people have lectured on freedom, written volumes on it and its various facts. They have talked about political and social freedom, religious freedom and freedom to do what one likes. All this has been done in a scholarly and complicated way. But in order to reach a solution to this problem one can approach it in a simpler and more direct way.

All must have seen the glow on the western sky at the time of sunset and a young sky moon appearing over the trees. At this hour the river is generally calm. Its clear surface reflects the bridge, the train running over it, the tender moon and a little later the stars in the sky. All these together present a marvelous sight. This is a beautiful enchanting scene. To give it full attention and to observe it keenly one’s mind must be free from all kinds of worries, anxieties, preoccupations and speculations. Only when one’s mind is free in the in the best sense of the term one can really observe and enjoy the splendid beauty. In this matter lies a clue to the problem of freedom.

Mere independence does not mean freedom. Many people in the world are certainly independent but few are free. One of the key implications of freedom is intelligence. It comes to one when one understands the various aspects of one’s environment. Environment is of many kinds, such as, social, religious, parental and a host of traditional influences. One requires deep insight to be free from and understand all kinds of influences. It has been generally observed that one submits to these influences when one is inwardly frightened.

One is afraid of a whole lot of things like not being able to have a good position in life, of what the priest will say, of not following the tradition and of not doing the right thing.

Freedom is nothing but a state of mind which has no place for fear of anything. It is a state of mind where there is no compulsion and no urge to be safe in life. As a matter of fact most of us want to be safe and want people to praise us. all of us want to be famous and important. We want to be so many things. But the moment we want to be something or some body we are no longer free.

If we want to be a so called man of status and position, such as, a politician, a man of authority, a virtuous, noble and saintly person we are no longer free. These aspirations and ambitions are absurd. One who understands this absurdity, one who has no desire to be something, one whose heart is pure and innocent is really free. One who understands the simplicity of this proposition can see its extraordinary beauty and depth.

Examinations do not serve a noble purpose throughout the world. Everywhere they are meant to give one a position or make one somebody. Titles, positions and knowledge encourage one to be something. Parents and teachers are always good one to be somebody like this man or that. In this respect, some people desire to imitate a hero, and ideal person, a master or a saint. Such people do not have any freedom. If some one desires to follow a model he does not have freedom. If he wants to follow an example set by a master, a saint, teacher, or a relative, he is not free.

If then follows that absence of desire to be something ideas to freedom. The real function of education should be such as to help a child not to imitate somebody but to be himself all the time.

To be what one really is a most difficult thing to do. The reason why one desires to be something is that one feels oneself to be ignoble. So he believes that if he changes into something it will be excellent. This change, he believes, makes him noble. But, in really, this never happens.

Therefore freedom lies in understanding that one really is from moment to moment. Our education is no education if it encourages us to be somebody and something other than ourselves. Real and true education makes one understand one’s self.

One’s ‘self’ is a complex entity. It is not something that goes to school, quarrels, plays games and is cheerful or afraid. It is something hidden, not obvious. It is made of one’s all thought, ideas derived from other people, all things that have gone into one’s mind, ideas of books, newspapers and leaders that have influenced one when one sincerely revolts against these traditional influences and tries to be want one really is, one is free. The real function of education is to cultivate this freedom.

To sum up, influence of parents and teachers and desires to be something enslaves one’s true self. Those who can see what is false and revolt against if true revolutionaries. In then lies the hope of a new world. One should receive the right kind of education in order to contribute to the creation of a new world. But as long as one goes on making efforts to be something , one is not free and one cannot lend a helping hand to creating a new world.