The brain is quiet when there is attention | J. Krishnamurti

Summary

This transcript delves into the nature of attention, distinguishing it from concentration, emphasizing how attention is free from resistance and fear. The speaker explores how the brain demands order and the importance of self-awareness in achieving mental clarity. The idea that true wisdom and beauty arise from understanding oneself fully is also highlighted. The transcript reflects on the profound stillness of the mind that can lead to an experience of life beyond thought and time, encouraging a deeper understanding of self and a life free from inner conflict and distortion.

Takeaways

• 😀 Attention is different from concentration. Concentration requires resistance, while attention is free from resistance.
• 😀 To be fully attentive, one must engage the body, heart, and mind without any form of resistance.
• 😀 Resistance arises from fear—fear of not gaining, achieving, or experiencing something, which blocks attention.
• 😀 True attention does not come from an entity or 'self' trying to attend; it is a state where there is no sense of a person attending.
• 😀 When profoundly interested in something, the brain naturally attains a state of attention without effort or resistance.
• 😀 The brain is capable of extraordinary feats but struggles with maintaining internal order. It demands order to function effectively.
• 😀 Disorder in the brain leads to insensitivity. Sleep helps the brain to organize itself and become more sensitive.
• 😀 Attention is not something that can be practiced but is an innate state that arises when one is aware of their inattention.
• 😀 The key is not to focus on the duration of attention but to understand and observe inattention, as awareness of inattention brings attention.
• 😀 True stillness in the brain, free from effort and distortion, is the key to experiencing something beyond thought, time, and past experiences.

Q & A

What is the main difference between concentration and attention according to the speaker?

Concentration involves resistance, where you try to control your wandering thoughts to focus on a specific object or idea. In contrast, attention requires no resistance, and it involves being fully engaged without trying to control or direct your thoughts.

What role does resistance play in preventing attention?

Resistance arises when there is fear, such as the fear of not achieving or experiencing something. This fear prevents true attention because it creates a distraction that pulls you away from fully engaging with the present moment.

Why does the speaker say that when you give attention, there is no 'entity' who is attending?

The speaker suggests that when you are fully attentive, there is no separate self or 'center' of awareness. The attention is not the result of a personal effort but an effortless state of being, where the boundaries of the self dissolve.

What is the connection between profound interest and attention?

When you are deeply interested in something, you can naturally give attention without effort. This intense interest allows you to focus fully without any resistance, as the mind becomes completely absorbed in the object of attention.

How does the brain demand order, and why is it important?

The brain seeks order because it finds disorder unsettling. If the brain encounters a chaotic or unclear experience, it becomes disturbed. This order is essential for mental clarity and sensitivity, which can only be achieved when the brain is organized and calm.

What happens to the brain when a person's day has been disorderly?

If the day has been chaotic or confusing, the brain works to quiet itself and organize everything during sleep. This process ensures that the brain can function well and remain sensitive, but without this order, the brain may become disturbed or insensitive.

Why does the speaker suggest that practicing attention is not the right approach?

The speaker believes that attention is not something to be practiced deliberately. The idea of practicing attention implies an effort or resistance, which contradicts the essence of true attention, which is effortless and free from control.

How does awareness of inattention lead to attention?

When you become aware of your inattention, this awareness itself transforms into attention. By recognizing when you are inattentive, the mind naturally shifts into a state of full attention without any force or effort.

What does the speaker mean by 'the quality of stillness'?

The quality of stillness refers to a deep, natural calmness that arises when the mind is free of distractions and distortions. This stillness is not forced but emerges when the mind is fully present, quiet, and free from effort.

What is the importance of understanding oneself in achieving quietness and beauty?

The speaker suggests that understanding oneself completely leads to quietness, which in turn reveals beauty. This understanding requires letting go of distortion caused by effort, and in this clarity, the mind can experience profound stillness and a sense of beauty, which is equated with love.