How to live in this world?

Heli Naik
3 min readOct 14, 2023
How to live in this world?
Illustration done by me in procreate

Imagine a world where things seem confusing and challenging. It’s a world filled with problems like violence, greed, and dishonesty.

Jiddu Krishnamurti had a conversation with someone who wanted to understand how to live in this world. Let’s see what they talked about.

Searching for Answers

The person starts by saying they want to know how to live in this world. They’re surrounded by things they don’t like, and they feel they must have a new way of living.

Don’t Make Life a Problem

Krishnamurti advises not to turn life into a big problem. If we do that, we get stuck trying to find answers. Instead, let’s explore life without turning it into a puzzle.

Understanding “Living”

Krishnamurti wants to know what the person means by “living.” It sounds simple, but it’s important to know what we mean by this.

Doubts and Worries

The person shares that they feel lost and don’t know how to live. They’ve lost faith in many things like religion and politics. They’re upset about things like war and bad behavior, and it’s hard for them to be in this world.

Do We Need an Ideal?

Krishnamurti asks if the person is looking for a completely different life or a changed version of their current life. It’s essential to know what we want.

The Real Problem

The person isn’t sure what they want. They know what they don’t want, but they’re not sure what they do want. This can make things confusing.

Understanding Violence and Change

Krishnamurti asks if the person’s feelings come from their deep understanding of the problems or from their own fears and dislikes. It’s a crucial question.

Are We a Part of the World?

Krishnamurti points out that the world is not only the place we live but it’s also how we relate to everything and everyone around us. Our thoughts, ideas, and even our problems are part of the world.

Realizing Our Responsibility

The person understands that they are part of the world’s problems. They see that it’s not about others; it’s about them too.

Exploring “Change”

The person wants to know how to change because they’re not happy with their current situation.

What Is Change?

Krishnamurti asks if change is moving from one known thing to another known thing. It’s not a real change if we’re switching between two familiar things.

Looking Beyond the Familiar

Krishnamurti says real change is when we break free from what we already know. It’s a revolution, like starting fresh.

This conversation teaches us that real change is not going from one old thing to another. It’s about breaking free from the past, understanding the world, and finding a new way to live.

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You can read the original talk here: https://www.jkrishnamurti.org/content/%E2%80%98how-live-world%E2%80%99

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Heli Naik

I am Heli & I am a watercolor artist, passionate about creating vibrant, dynamic paintings that capture the beauty of the world around us.