Those well versed on Krishnamurti, I don't mean to single you out... of course this question isn't directed directly at you, but for everyone to think on.
Its a topic derived from "Inward Revolution". I've been reading it piece by piece, whenever I have a spare silent second to concentrate heavily.
It's on the subject of setting ones mind free from the past, for one to try and release past memories we hold to.
First off, how does one let go of past memoreis and still manage to hold on to lessons that were acquired though these memories? Are we supposed to let go of those intacted, compacted segmented parts of mind called lessons also?
I'm not talking about the lessons we learn in school here, but simply the ones that we base ourselves off of.
Its hard to categorize myself in Krishnamurtis books, cuz I've never really believed in one set religion or ideology, put pertain all my knowledge to being my own self.
I guess... now that I think of it... I'm answering my own questiong.
Maybe I'll use an example.
I have a memory of being a child, and going camping on the beach, whenever I'm near the ocean, and smell the scent of summer and salt, my mind is brought back to the good times I had as a kid, running barefoot on the beach...
So I guess, in allowing myself to let go of those memories, when I walk along the beach in the present my mind won't be pressured to remember only what I experienced before, but fully appreciate the now.
Maybe... its that I understand the idea that letting go of memoreis, good or bad, allows our mind to be set free, yet I can't quite grasp the idea that letting go of memories that allow us to continue on as we are.
We can achieve this state of being by letting go of past influences, but can we comprehend being without understanding how we came to be? Are we programmed to become a product of our own thoughts, or is that just a thought also?
I don't know...
If we are taught to look at something innocently each time we glance at a subject... is that not the same as looking at something purely? Isn't that us looking without the subject being categorized into past memories and therefore not being looked at it through the eyes of past experiences?
If I go to the beach today, and am aware that I could enjoy it as much as I did yesterday, and understand that it might not be the same as yesterday or tomorrow... is that the same as letting go of your past experiences?
Just some scribbled thoughts that were squirming to get out.... please share your thoughts on this.

hi

i don't know how well versed i am in K and those teachings from heaven only knows - i mean, i've read a few of his books and i started to see the sense in so many of the things he talks about after going into those things for myself - actually i read a couple of his books - was ponderin' and ponderin', then something prompted me to pick him up again and i think a few things started going snap snap in my mind + other happenings, and by now, well ...

there are things which K goes into that i'm still wrestling with - one of those things is part of the very thing you mentioned .... btw, i haven't touched anything from K for a while - not interested in reading anymore right now ... but here's what i have to offer after reading your post:

when you were attacked at the Sky Train (i hope you don't mind me bringing this up but i think it's relevant and useful to mention) - i remember you were mentioning how you realized that all is not love and light ... you said you had a sense that something was up before you were attacked ... so maybe that was part of the lesson, right ? trust yourself --- and some peeps just don't get it ...

if you got that - then it stays with you - you don't need to recall it in every situation, it's just there, it's become a part of you - it's not something you need to revisit, at least that's how i see it ...

so the next time you're at the station - can you face that situation/those people without the past interfering ? well that's really complex, maybe ...

have i been able to master this thing about the past memories having an affect on me - wiping out psychological hurt, and therefore have any good reason to write this reply ... ?? well i don't know to be honest ... it's the part about the image-recording process <-- that still happens with me -- i'm just watching and trying to figure out how/why

all's i can say is - face whatever's coming up when it comes up - if you start judging yourself, or clinging to what you see in yourself and identifying with it - any action of thought - then you can't face what's there ... and without that contact - you can't go beyond it ...

i know i've been able to do this in some aspects for myself - but it means staying aware all the time - not so easy perhaps ...

that thing about letting go of the past - i think it relates to a lot of other things --- you were talking about observing the beauty of something in the present moment --- you need a quiet mind and to be in a state of attention and 'see' what's there - if you're looking at something but stuff is playing in your head - you can't really fully grasp or touch or fully appreciate what's going on out in front of you right now - but it's your awareness of what you're doing and what's going on inside, that helps make your mind quiet - and when you realize you're being inattentive - that itself is attention <-- direct paraphrase from K ... this also relates to images we hold of each other and of ourselves in our relationships ... we form different images of ourselves and people based on our experiences, and we hold on to those things for different reasons maybe - at least i know have (if not the vast majority of people) - so when we meet each other in any given moment - if we're meeting each other with our memories of each other - we're looking through a filtered lens, which means with distorted perception - not making actual contact with each other as we are ...

in my own life - esp. in my relationship with my parents - this has been an issue for moi up to some point ... but i've learned that even though people can tend to have certain patterns about themselves - i can meet them without fear or desire to change them for how/who they do/be - self observation + external viewage also, i think opens up that gift of acceptance, compassion, forgiveness - it's more involved than that i realize - but observation & attention also notifies you when there's something murky happening and you need to exit ...

CLC - you can figure this stuff out by yourself (sounds like you already have a good handle on it) - it was nice to have this opportunity to share this there, in anonymous fashion - although i don't feel anonymous somehow ...

Interesting reply Oceanchild, thanks so much for that! It helped me see some more into what I was trying to figure out inside!

This kinda relates to the topic at hand... but regardless... its a cute little version on the importance of self virtues....



"A man was in downtown New York, walking along with his friend, who lived in New York City. Suddenly he said, "I hear a cricket."
"Oh, you're crazy!" His friend replied.
"No, I hear a cricket. I do! I'm sure of it."
"Its the noon hour. You know there are people bustling around, cars honking, taxis squealing, noises from the city. I'm sure you can't hear it."
"I'm sure I do." He listened attentively and then walked to the corner, across the street, and looked all around. Finally on the other corner he found a shrub in a large cement planter. He dug beneath the leaf and found a cricket. His friend was duly astounded. But the man said, "No, my ears are no different from yours. It simply depends on what you are listening to. Here, let me show you."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of change- a few quarters, some dimes, nickles and pennies. And he dropped it on the concrete.
Every head within a block turned.
"You see what I mean?" the man said as he began picking up his coins. "It all depends on what you are listening for." "

By:
Tim Hansel

i think the whole idea of letting go... im gonna use an example of letting go of pain... "The observer is the observed." ... ur only human.. U cant get rid of your past memories... Just liek u cant get rid of ur pain... It's not about struggling to rid urself of these things... its about ACCEPTING that it is apart of you.. and in doing that... u transend the pain.... so its not about destroying ur past memories.. its about how thos memories affect you.

See, I have no doubt that I can rid of the pain of past memories, and that I would love nothing more than to throw away and forget all ill feelings that are prevoked because of past experiences. But I have soooo many sweet-ass childhood memories that are smooth as molasses and just leave me feeling soooo good inside, I just can't seem to accept the neccesary motive behind discarding or disregarding all those fabulous frozen moments...
Like my beach example...
If I can look at a sunset, feel the sand between my toes, smell the salty air, and hear the rushing waves, I may be brought back to past experiences, but in a way it captures that moment in present time as well. I'm drawing on all my senses and the experience at that exact moment, remembering something from a past moment, and in turn regarding my surroundings with a clear mind in order to take it all in again.
So where is the need to forget the good? I see we all agree on the need to surpass the negative, but what about our hunger for the positive moments we weave into our minds and the sub-concious closet that stores our memories?

"Can the mind observe its activity without prejudice." krish.

...think about it... why do we feel it so necassary to relase ourselevs of bad memories and keep the good ones?.. Can we not observe the mind without trying to affect it in any way shape or form?... can we not simply accept the fact that holding on to past memories is apart of being human? You are the observer, and u ARE the observed. You arent seperate from feeling that pain. You are pain, you are pleasure.. You are everything.. Life is a yin-yang.

"When there is a division between the observer and the observed there is conflict but when the observer is the
observed there is no control, no suppression. The self comes to an end. Duality comes to an end. Conflict comes to an end."

I like the whole going to the beach theory. But To me it's all a mind state though.

I don't believe that memories always have to be a conflict, that there is a division. I'm able to recognize when observing, that my mind is serving me this sight soley based on what I've seen and been through in my past. Therefore, is that not looking at the observed with a different percpective than one who isn't able to see that?
If I'm able to recongnize that my vision is tainted, is that enough for my perception to be altered enough to see things a little more "clearly" a little more "un-altered" a little less "cluttered"?
I just, I don't quite see how it is possible to litterly forget memories, I think that all Krishnamurti encourages us to do is realize that we are affected by those memories with every movement and every second of every single day.


Right you are indeed. I think... that all life is about is a state of mind... a challenged mind state. I can be, see, feel, hear, touch and smell anything that I want. I can fly.

Its impossible to forget memories. exactly. Memories arent un-natural. It's a natural thing. That aint the problem. Its the humanities need to control. (greed the root of all evil) That turns us into PARASITES!! ewww!! Our lives are a constant contridiction, thats fine. Nothings wrong with that. As long as you accept human condition. We breathe we sleep, we feel pain, we cry we laugh. Nothings wrong with that. I think theres an inner conflict though, and thats where lies the problem and why sometimes people assume destroying sorrow means becoming a robot. To struggle to be something else, instead of being who you are. There aint no method to finding love. To seeing reality. You just gotta let yourself be.

Soemtimes you gotta be careful what you read to. Dont let anyone fool ya lovely lady. Look for it yourself.

witlove.D.

Aha! Could never be fooled! I analyze everything way tooooo much! The only person who is able to fool me would be myself!
On the other hand,
when you said that some people believe that if they destroy sorrow, it means becoming a puppet?
I think... personally, when one destroys feelings and emotions, it creates something similiar to a puppet...
I feel like I'm on a merry-go-round with my thoughts sometimes. A never ending cycle that seizes to exist.