But, you see, that (i.e self investigation ) is tremendously arduous; it is hard work, and you do not like hard work. You prefer an easy, indolent existence—earning a livelihood, accepting what comes, and just drifting along through life. Or,
if you don’t do that, you practise some system, some form of
compulsion, discipline. You get up every morning at 4 o’clock to
meditate—by which you mean forcing yourself to concentrate, compelling your mind to conform to a particular pattern. You drill yourself incessantly, day after day, and that you consider hard work. But that, it seems to me, is a most childish way of working. It is not the work of a mature mind. By hard work I mean something totally different. It is hard work
to examine every thought and feeling, every belief, without bringing in
your own prejudices, without shielding yourself behind an idea, behind a
conclusion, an explanation. It requires hard, clear thinking—which is real work. And most of us do not want to tackle that kind of work.
We would rather accept a senseless belief, belong to an organized
religion, go to the temple, the church, or the mosque, repeat some words
and get a little sensation; and with these things we are
satisfied.
- J. Krishnamurti
- J. Krishnamurti