We never see a tree except through the image that we have of it, the concept of that tree; but the concept, the knowledge, the experience, is entirely different from the actual tree. Look at a tree and you will find how extraordinarily difficult it is to see it completely, so that no image, no screen, comes between the seeing and the actual fact. By completely I mean with the totality of your mind and heart, not a fragment of it.
Interpretation
Our perceptions of reality often distort the true nature of what we observe.
This quote by Jiddu Krishnamurti emphasizes the gap between our mental concepts and the actual reality of objects, in this case, a tree. He argues that our understanding and experiences shape our view, making it challenging to perceive things in their entirety; true perception requires a complete engagement of both mind and heart, free from biases and preconceptions.
In practice
This quote can be shared in a discussion about perceptions in a philosophy class.
The following of authority is the denial of intelligence. [It] may help us temporarily to cover up our difficulties and problems; but to avoid a problem is only to intensify it, and in the process, self-knowledge and freedom are abandoned.
In seeking comfort, we generally find a quiet corner in life where there is a minimum of conflict, and then we are afraid to step out of that seclusion.
If you listen through the screen of your desires, then you obviously listen to your own voice; you are listening to your own desires.
If you have this extraordinary thing going in your life, then it is everything; then you become the teacher, the disciple, the neighbour, the beauty of the cloud - you are all that, and that is love.
Meditation is one of the greatest arts in life - perhaps the greatest, and one cannot possibly learn it from anybody, that is the beauty of it.
All of us have been trained by education and environment to seek personal gain and security and to fight for ourselves. Though we cover it over with pleasant phrases, we have been educated for various professions within a system which is based on exploitation and acquisitive fear.
Men always try to make virtues of their weaknesses. Fear of death and fear of life both become piety.
If you can understand the inner life, then you can wear the uniform, the tattoos, or whatnot and realize that the things that are different about us become superficial.
I and my public understand each other very well: it does not hear what I say, and I don't say what it wants to hear.
This is his first punishment, that by the verdict of his own heart no guilty man is acquitted.
We are swimming on the face of time and all else has drowned, is drowning, or will drown.
If we do not allow free thinking in chemistry or biology, why should we allow it in morals or politics?
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