What is the right relationship to money? | J. Krishnamurti

Summary

This script delves into the complex relationship humans have with money, questioning its importance and the societal emphasis placed on it. It explores whether money's value lies in the freedom and status it provides or if our preoccupation with it stems from deeper fears of emptiness and the unknown. The speaker encourages a reflective examination of our minds' constant state of occupation and the potential for a mind to be truly free and experience originality, suggesting that only an unoccupied mind can be fully alive and creative.

Takeaways

• 💰 Money's importance: The speaker questions why money has become so central in life and what it represents beyond necessities.
• 🌍 Worldly attachment: The focus on material possessions and wealth stems from a strong attachment to things created by thought.
• 💪 Money and freedom: Wealth is often linked to freedom, status, power, and the ability to break societal rules.
• 🤔 Occupation with money: The speaker explores how people's minds, whether rich or poor, are occupied with money, questioning why this is the case.
• 🧠 Constant occupation: The human brain is constantly occupied with something, whether it's money, religion, sex, or daily tasks, which leads to mental exhaustion.
• 😨 Fear of emptiness: People may be afraid of not being occupied, leading to an overworked brain and a shallow existence.
• 🛑 The value of non-occupation: The speaker advocates for freeing the brain from constant occupation to allow for deeper observation and mental rest.
• 🌳 Pure observation: Observing without thought or judgment can lead to a free and flexible mind, one not burdened by constant mental activity.
• 🧠 Mind and originality: An occupied mind can never experience something truly original; only a free, empty mind can be creative and energetic.
• ⚡ Emptiness and energy: The speaker emphasizes that emptiness is not a vacuum but a state of energy, allowing for a full, vibrant mind.

Q & A

What is the main question the speaker is exploring in relation to money?

The speaker is exploring the question of why money has become so important in our lives and what constitutes the right relationship to money.

Why does the speaker suggest that money gives a sense of freedom?

The speaker suggests that money gives a sense of freedom because it allows one to travel, become powerful, gain status, and potentially bend or break laws.

How does the speaker describe the role of money in organized religions?

The speaker describes organized religions as business organizations that have amassed vast wealth, often at the expense of their followers, which has contributed to the importance of money.

What is the speaker's concern about the constant occupation of the human mind with various matters?

The speaker is concerned that the constant occupation of the mind with matters like money, sex, or other preoccupations leads to a lack of mental space and depth, resulting in a shallow and potentially weary mind.

Why does the speaker ask if our minds are perpetually occupied?

The speaker asks if our minds are perpetually occupied to highlight the issue that this constant state of being occupied might prevent us from experiencing something original or having a truly restful and creative mind.

What does the speaker mean when they say 'a mind that is not occupied'?

The speaker means a mind that is not preoccupied with thoughts, worries, or desires, allowing for a state of emptiness that is full of energy and capable of experiencing something original.

Why does the speaker suggest that the brain becomes more shallow when it is constantly occupied?

The speaker suggests that a constantly occupied brain becomes more shallow because it lacks the space and rest necessary for deep thought and creativity, leading to a state of mental exhaustion.

What is the significance of the Himalayan hermit's story in the context of the discussion about money and occupation?

The story of the Himalayan hermit illustrates that even in solitude, one can be mentally occupied with the world's knowledge, preventing true solitude and original thought, which is analogous to the speaker's point about the mind's occupation with money or other matters.

How does the speaker relate the concept of 'emptiness' to the mind's ability to experience something original?

The speaker relates 'emptiness' to the mind's ability to experience something original by suggesting that a mind that is not occupied or cluttered with thoughts has the space and energy to encounter new and original experiences.

What is the speaker's view on the various occupations of the mind, such as business, money, sex, or God?

The speaker views all occupations of the mind, whether they are business, money, sex, or God, as essentially the same in that they all occupy the mind and prevent it from being truly free and experiencing something original.

What does the speaker propose as an alternative to being constantly occupied with money or other concerns?

The speaker proposes observing without being occupied, which means to look and observe without the interference of thoughts or preconceived notions, allowing the mind to rest and become more alive and pliable.