The poem from J. Krishnamurti that explains your life, and saved mine

If you have grown up and witnessed your own consciousness expanding, then you will recognize your journey toward awakening and fulfillment in this powerful poem. When, decades ago, I was breaking free from my socialized and conditioned mind, I quite literally thought I was going crazy. The world in which I grew up no longer made sense, but there was nothing new emerging that did. I felt so very alone in the world. What was happening to me? This poem brought clarity. I was raging at my window.

Without further ado, here is the third section of Krishnamurti’s five part poem. Read on and you will find the entire poem, my journey with Krishnamurti, some context for understanding K, as he was called, and a handful of reflective questions designed to edify your personal journey toward The Truth.

Section III from The Search by J. Krishnamurti

III.

As one beholds through a small window

A single green leaf, a small patch of the vast blue sky,

So I began to perceive Thee,

In the beginning of all things.

As the leaf faded and withered, the patch covered as with dark cloud,

So didst Thous fade and vanish,

But to be reborn again,

As the single green leaf, as the small patch of the blue sky.

For many lives have I seen

The bleak winter and the green spring.

Prisoned in my little room,

I could not behold the entire tree nor the whole sky.

I swore there was no tree, nor the vast sky —

That was the Truth.

Through time and destruction

My window grew large.

I beheld

Now,

A branch with many leaves,

And a greater patch of the blue with many clouds.

I forgot the single green leaf, the small patch of the vast blue.

I swore there was no tree, nor the immense sky —

That was the Truth.

Weary of this prison,

This small cell,

I raged at my window.

With bleeding fingers

I tore away brick after brick,

I beheld, Now,

The entire tree, its great trunk,

Its many branches, its thousand leaves,

And an immense part of the sky.

I swore there was no other tree, no other part to the sky —

That was the Truth.

This prison no longer holds me.

I flew away through the window.

O friend,

I behold every tree and the vast expanse of the limitless sky.

Though I live in every single leaf and in every small patch of the vast blue sky,

Though I live in every prison, looking out through every small casement —

Liberated am I.

Lo! Not a thing shall bind me —

This is the Truth.

You can find the entire poem by going to Medium, clicking here, or following the link below.

1927, The Search, a poem by J. Krishnamurti

Some context for understanding Krishnamurti

I was introduced to K’s writings back in 1986 just prior to his death. One of his books was suggested to me by a very dear friend. I acted and picked up a copy. With that step into K, I was introduced to a deeply spiritual philosopher with a life history that was vastly different than mine. His words and ideas resonated with me and enticed me — and I felt some relief. I read a handful of his books, including a two volume biography — one on The Years of Awakening, and the other on The Years of Fulfillment. You can find his numerous books in print, and many YouTube videos of his talks.

K was born in India, identified as a gifted spiritual person when just a youngster, and then taken to England where he was groomed to become the World Teacher by the Theosophical Society. As his own search for the Truth evolved, he eventually left that position and moved to Ojai, California. His life story is just fascinating.

It was his 1927 volume, The Search, that spoke to me so powerfully. I still have all those books in my library. A small fact — I remember reading his obituary in TIME Magazine, an honor given to very few in those days.

A handful of reflective questions designed to edify your journey toward The Truth

First Question: In what “room” did you find the truth when you were young?

Second Question: What was your experience of time and destruction picking at your room of truth? Who challenged your truth? What experiences challenged your truth? What experiences invited you out to explore beyond your room of truth? Did you resist, or go along?

Third Question: What was the next truth that you embraced? Was it a bigger and wider truth, or a smaller and more narrow truth?

Fourth Question: Do you recall becoming bored with your room of truth, wondering about a better way, a fuller way, a way with more integrity? Do you recall raging at the window so you could break free from the boredom; so you could go out and explore more deeply?

Fifth Question: How far have you flown through the window, liberated from your attachments to the truth where you were once anchored securely? Have you found The Truth?

Admittedly, I am still searching.

Thank you for engaging in The Search. Our world needs more and more of us to be searching.

I am the author of the book, LOVING MOTHER EARTH: Integrating Environmentalism and Spirituality, which you can find on Amazon. My own search has taken me to an appreciation of The Truth, for I know, at least in my mind, that I live in every single green leaf. I know that you do as well.

Thank you for LOVING MOTHER EARTH.