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Word Gems 

exploring self-realization, sacred personhood, and full humanity

Reincarnation On Trial

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Editor’s note: This article was originally written for the “Omega” book, but it deserves consideration on the “R” page. Almost everyone has known the sense of peace engendered by a bird’s song, the glorious sunset, or the sight of an innocent baby. But we also know that, when we turn our heads and go about our duties in the world, the peace we knew left us almost immediately. And here’s another example of this fleetingness. You give a gift to someone. You hope that it will build a bridge, serve to heal old wounds. The gift may (or may not) generate a measure of gratitude. But, so often, how quickly the gift-inspired amity is forgotten and egos clash once again. Can experience, no matter how pleasant, precipitate real change in the egoic mind?

Jiddu Krishnamurti
1895 - 1986

In his 17.December.1969 lecture, Krishnamurti offered the thought-provoking comment that, contrary to popular belief, any form of external beauty cannot bring us peace of mind. He stated, to the effect,

Have you ever listened to the note of a bird? You can ride on that movement, the movement carries you, the tonality, the sound itself brings about a certain quality, a feeling of great sensation, but that doesn't bring about a transformation of your heart and mind.

Kairissi. This is a provocative statement by Jiddu. I immediately want to disagree; and yet… as quickly, I stop cold.

Elenchus. I know what you mean. When we hear that bird sing, especially, in the very early hours with the dawning light, its singing can strike us as altogether peaceful and quieting. However, as we must hasten to admit, the effect is but momentary. No real change takes place in our troubled spirits.

K. That realization is very disconcerting; because in that rapturous moment of the bird’s jubilant song, we do feel enchanted. We feel more alive. We wish we could freeze time and just live in that glorious instant. But the moment passes; and so does our enchantment. And then it’s as if we’d never heard our feathered friend’s “hymn to the morning.”

E. And all of this raises the unsettling question: What about all the other aspects of Nature’s peace and beauty that the whole world longs and seeks for?

K. The vacation home by the beach or in the mountains; the flower gardens; the paintings; the concerts, the poety; the pets we like – all these items people seek for in order to capture a measure of peace and tranquility. And yet, do those who enjoy any of this command for themselves greater repose and equanimity, in any meaningful sense?

E. As Krishnamurti points out, none of this leads to a transformed heart and mind.

K. And of course the big example here is that people want to marry a beautiful person, believing that the gorgeous mate will “make me happy” and provide a lifetime of pleasure and comfort.

E. It’s odd. Billions have tried this plan, but has it ever worked for anyone?

K. For some, in part, more than others; but why has it failed? We witness that bird singing, that dazzling sunset, and also the beautiful person, and we do feel the uplifting sensation; we do feel better – but only for that fleeting brief time. Why can't it save us?

E. Let’s look at Krishnamurti’s statement again:

Have you ever listened to the note of a bird? You can ride on that movement, the movement carries you, the tonality, the sound itself brings about a certain quality, a feeling of great sensation, but that doesn't bring about a transformation of your heart and mind.

K. I think the problem is, even among those who count themselves religious or spiritual, we don’t really get it. We’re still very materialistic in our thinking. We do believe that something on the outside, external to the “inner riches” of the soul, can save us.

E. So John marries pretty Mary and really believes that her beauty can change and overcome the disquietude of his heart and mind.

K. But she never even gets close; nothing external, no external beauty of any kind, ever gets close. But, tell me Elenchus. There is that momentary sense of elation. There is that at least. This would indicate there’s a “crack in the granite.” It seems that something is getting through. Explain for everyone what this means.

E. Some of this enchantment is bio-stimulation, chemicals in the brain in an excited state. But some of it could be more. The best that the singing bird, the splendid sunset, or the beautiful girl, the most that any of these can do for the mind is to “open a portal” to enlightenment. It’s an opportunity, but most allow the chance to pass by.

K. In that rapturous moment of stunning beauty, the ego, the “chattering in the head,” is silenced for a second or two, and in this existential quietude, the peace of God rushes into our spirits to fill the void.

E. We could have had this at any time if we’d learned how to “go within” and meet God in the sacred silence of the inner person. But most do not allow this.

K. John could actually stumble his way into enlightenment with the help of pretty Mary. But he’s still too materialistic in his thinking and sees Mary, and himself, only as a body. The “union of spirits,” as “The Wedding Song” uses the phrase, suggests that enlightened lovers allow themselves to “enter the portal,” provided by each for the other.

E. And this is the “drawing life and giving it back again” which the Song refers to.

K. This is such an important subject, Ellus, and yet, who knows of these things?

E. Almost no one, and that’s why virtually the entire world is suffering in its materialistic concepts of life and love.

K. You know, some people work very hard to surround themselves with beautiful things, and they do this for good reasons. They believe that artistry and fine things in one’s environment will “make me a better person.”

E. It’s very deceptive, isn’t it? In a sense, it’s true, for a little while, but from another viewpoint, it can never take us to where we need to go.

K. I don’t think the author would mind if we use his work as an example. But consider this. The Word Gems site is a small library of tens of thousands of inspirational quotations; plus, hundreds of inspirational articles.

E. The author has worked with all this, “lived” in this,” for decades.

K. And so, if it were possible to “pull oneself up by one's own bootstraps” simply by immersing oneself in beautiful thoughts, poetry, and inspirational writings, then all of this should have been a great advantage to the author.

E. But he would be the first to make clear to everyone that “living in a library” of wisdom literature does not, of and by itself, make one a spiritual person.

Editor's note: Another example of "spatial proximity to beautiful things": In my youth, I thought that if I could memorize the biblical book of Proverbs I'd somehow be transformed into a wise person. I started the memory work, but soon gave it up as I realized it was having no profound effect. In his autobiography, Ben Franklin informs us that he tried a similar project. He attempted to make himself perfectly virtuous by focusing, one at a time, on a list of character traits, trying very hard to do the right thing all the time. He too abandoned this misguided avenue to perfection. The Scribes in Jesus day did accomplish memorizing the Torah, could even tell you the middle letter in the whole book, but without moral benefit to themselves; they ended up killing Jesus. Not to say that effort is not required, but becoming a truly good person is not accomplished by firm resolve, lists, and memory work, per se. See more discussion here and here.

K. It could “open a portal.”

E. Yes, it could “open a portal,” but you have to be willing to walk through the portal.

K. No one will be “dragged kicking and screaming into the kingdom of God.”

E. And just because you “live in a library” of inspirational writings, it's not an advantage in any exclusive sense. All of us, every last one of us, have “portals” around us every day of our lives – the singing birds, the flowers, the stars at night, the loving dog or cat, on and on – but, again, with any of these, you have to stop and consider and be willing to “walk through the portal.”

K. I think people who work in the arts might be especially prone to deception here. Writers, especially inspirational writers, can trick themselves into believing that mere spatial proximity to beautiful things will change their minds for the better; but, not necessarily. And so it is with other artists: photographers, painters, and others. They might tell themselves that they love nature, love beautiful things, and this may be true, but this augmented sensibility, of and by itself, as Krishnamurti pointed out, will not evolve and transform the heart and mind, will not make us more spiritually mature.

E. This discussion is part of a book on the nature of love. Will you summarize for us, Kriss?

K. Your true mate, when you find him, when you’re finally allowed to be with him, is meant to “save” you, as many teachers assert. But this “saving” is not one of external healing balm. And he cannot be saved by her, the "beautiful body," though he proclaims, with utmost superlative, that she is “most this" or "most that" in the universe. Something else is required.

E. Tell us of that “something else”.

K. He must not view her materialistically, he must not see her primarily as a body. He must fall in love with her mind, heart, and soul, if what they feel for each other is to mean anything more than the call of Mother Nature. I think the writing “Will you survive the terror of eternal life, part 2” said it well. Each to the other, in their “made in the image” official capacities, must reveal the “beautiful face of God.”

E. This is very important. They, each prompting the other, must “enter the portal," and therein they will find God, their true selves, and true love. They will find God in the mystical eyes of the “made in the image” beautiful mate.

K. Elenchus, as a final note – it’s quite ironic. John chooses Mary because, in her presence, momentarily his spirit is quieted and seems satisfied.

E. Like hearing the bird’s song at dawn.

K. But it's temporary, and usually he experiences no profound soul connection with her. Now contrast this with a hypothetical situation. A fellow knows a girl who, in terms of externality, does not give him comfort. She’s prickly, she’s nice sometimes, but too often a churl. And so he learns to avoid her. However, even though, at the surface of life, he “doesn’t like” her, he also senses, so strangely for him, a deep inner connection, a deep yearning for her, that won't subside. His soul, not his ego, has fallen in love with her; though his outer person stands guard.

E. I have no idea what you're talking about.