Why is it that almost all human beings, apart from their talents and capacities, are mediocre, including Beethoven, Mozart and Bach and all the rest of them? I know I am mediocre. I don’t seem to be able to break through this mediocrity. Why is it almost all human beings, apart from their talents and capacities, are mediocre? I know I am mediocre and I don’t seem to be able to break through this mediocrity. First of all, are we aware that we are mediocre? Sir, you answer it for yourself. Mediocre means neither high nor low, just hovering in between. The great painters, the great musicians, the great architects, they have got extraordinary capacities and talent, but in their daily life they are like you and me and like everybody else. Like Haydn, when he composed he put on his best clothes, and when we go to church we put on the best clothes. You understand what I am saying? So - was it Haydn? Doesn’t matter so much. If I am aware that I am mediocre - just a minute, go into it slowly with me, please, let’s share it - if I am aware I am mediocre what does that mean? I am neither hot nor cold - right? - neither passionate; I may be lustful and I cool off. I may have great talent - writer, painter, sculptor, musician, teacher - those are all outward dress, outward show of inward poverty. Being poor inwardly, we are always struggling to become rich, not financially, but in knowledge, in understanding, in striving to something nobler, nobler, nobler. This sense of insufficiency and trying to fill that insufficiency with the latest gossip about politics, with the latest rituals, latest meditation, latest this and the - all that is an act of mediocrity. Right? Please don’t get angry with me, we are just sharing it, pointing out to each other. And this sense of mediocrity, if one is aware of it, shows itself in outward respectability. Right? Or the revolt against the mediocrity - the hippies, the long hair, the unshaved, the latest fallouts - it is the same movement. You understand? I can join a community, a commune, because inwardly there is nothing in me and by joining I become important, there is something, there is an action. So when one is aware of this mediocrity, which is this utter sense of insufficiency, this sense of deep frustrating loneliness, which is covered over by all kinds of activities. If you are aware of that, then what is insufficiency? You understand my question? What is loneliness? How do you measure this insufficiency? You follow? The moment you measure, you are insufficient. I wonder if you capture it. Do you see that? Right? No, don’t agree, but don’t measure. See, like depression is measurement. Don’t reduce everything to measurement. (Laughs) That is another catchword. You are good at catching words and repeating it, and worthless, it becomes worthless. But we are saying this insufficiency comes into being as long as there is comparison. Right? And this measurement is limitless - you can go on measuring, measuring, measuring. Not ‘limitless’. Sorry I used that word. It is a constant movement from a human being who is insufficient in himself. Now can that comparative observation end? Then is there insufficiency? You are following what I am saying? No, come on, sirs. I compare myself with you and I realise that you are much cleverer than I am, much more intelligent, nicer, alive, full of this and that. I compare myself, and then I say to myself how dull I am in comparison. So I strive to compete with you. But if I don’t compare with you who are very clever - the ‘very clever’ is already comparison; I don’t know if you follow - if I don’t compare, am I dull? Or am I aware of what is actually taking place in me? When I compare, I am avoiding the fact of ‘what is’. Is this too much of a thing for a morning? Perhaps for some of you it is. So, this mediocrity that all of us seem to have can be broken through when there is no sense of comparison, measurement. It gives you an immense freedom. Where there is freedom there is no mediocrity. Right? Do see it, sirs. The more - not ‘the more’ - where there is complete psychological freedom there is no sense of mediocrity - you follow? - you are out of that class altogether - not ‘you’ - something totally different, state of mind exists.

Outward show off inward poverty. Always struggling to be rich in knowledge, money etc..revolt against mediocrity is due to sense of insufficiency. It comes into being as long as comparison. It is a constant movement.when comparison ceases there is no insufficiency. When we compare are we aware of the thing happening inside me. Where there is freedom there is no mediocrity.

Yes enough said!

What??That means nothing. So în a free market are there no mediocre brands? Are there no average people? Boring people? It ok to be boring. But saying mediocrity doesn't exist where there is freedom... Makes almost no sense.

@@Octwavian Here comparison or measure at psychological level is being pointed out as mediocrity. At physical level, comparison and measure has a place, provided one is not bringing in psychological or cognitive bias; but one is understanding the value of a thing purely on its physical attributes and properties.

@@Octwavian You will get it some day

@@Octwavian it is the mediocrity of human mind that created so much unnecessary complications in simple human life. For example, overpopulation, financial terrorism(greed/corruption etc), authority, industries, pollution, world cups and television entertainment, religious leaders etc etcetcetc....and all the circuses and rest of it.... but we don't know how to see the immense beauty of life....what we know is rat races.....

🙏 bhai

Hey bro...😻

Yes!! .. but how to let go off comparison

@@smitachhetri1648 the whole quiet mind idea. Thought the root of fear, not recording the psychological. This is really a mediocre question by itself if you really try to grasp K, which has the same solution as most, if not all other ones

+Nero Wolff he wouldn't have taken anything you offer even your words :)

I'm sure he wouldn't have wanted you to deify him.

Yeah, and no amount of meditation and positive self talk will get you there. Think about the greatest fear you have and confront it. That's where you'll find your self.

You need freedom to understand. If you think it is tough, it is tough.

@@chinnojeerao2756 yep it's a mindset that comes in between observation, to understand anything we have to be in a state where we forget our own ego or existence just like a new born child

How is his book/books called?

GOOD EARTH I liked what u wrote... But when u said there is no god outside of us.... I disagree.... If u carefully listen to some vedios where he is asked about god... He said there is no god so that people stop worshipping the man made gods...like idols in temples...or holy books in watever form people think as god...but he also said "there is an ultimate truth which is beyond measure and timeless... " Good earth.... The power which is controlling the universal laws of karma...is "Supreme soul"...we are all souls ...god is also a soul but is called supreme because of not coming into the cycle of taking birth and then die...God is one..he cannot be everywhere like in dogs and cats and humans.... He is the highest source of power or energy in a metaphysical form...and we all take physical forms because of which when our energy or soul depletes we connect to the higher source. The line that god is inside of us depicts that we are children of source of love i.e god...and so should we behave. Jus felt like sharing ....felt Good to read ur comment and good to know that people like u make the earth beautiful... 👍

@@Jasleen09 you are trapped in all that. Drop it all dear. You are seeking security in all those imaginations. Which is the result of fear. Just acknowledge fear and it's all gone. Thank you.

Same

Was thinking the same but even this was helpful!!

Callicles soixante quinze Most transcripts can be found performing a search at www.jkrishnamurti.org/krishnamurti-teachings/index.php. Feel free to request transcripts here on KZfaq and we will paste them in the comments. Here's the transcript for this video: 5th Question: Why is it that almost all human beings, apart from their talents and capacities, are mediocre, including Beethoven, Mozart and Bach and all the rest of them? I know I am mediocre. I don’t seem to be able to break through this mediocrity. Why is it almost all human beings, apart from their talents and capacities, are mediocre? I know I am mediocre and I don’t seem to be able to break through this mediocrity. First of all, are we aware that we are mediocre? Sir, you answer it for yourself. Mediocre means neither high nor low, just hovering in between. The great painters, the great musicians, the great architects, they have got extraordinary capacities and talent, but in their daily life they are like you and me and like everybody else. Like Haydn, when he composed he put on his best clothes, and when we go to church we put on the best clothes. You understand what I am saying? So - was it Haydn? Doesn’t matter so much. If I am aware that I am mediocre - just a minute, go into it slowly with me, please, let’s share it - if I am aware I am mediocre what does that mean? I am neither hot nor cold - right? - neither passionate; I may be lustful and I cool off. I may have great talent - writer, painter, sculptor, musician, teacher - those are all outward dress, outward show of inward poverty. Being poor inwardly, we are always struggling to become rich, not financially, but in knowledge, in understanding, in striving to something nobler, nobler, nobler. This sense of insufficiency and trying to fill that insufficiency with the latest gossip about politics, with the latest rituals, latest meditation, latest this and the - all that is an act of mediocrity. Right? Please don’t get angry with me, we are just sharing it, pointing out to each other. And this sense of mediocrity, if one is aware of it, shows itself in outward respectability. Right? Or the revolt against the mediocrity - the hippies, the long hair, the unshaved, the latest fallouts - it is the same movement. You understand? I can join a community, a commune, because inwardly there is nothing in me and by joining I become important, there is something, there is an action. So when one is aware of this mediocrity, which is this utter sense of insufficiency, this sense of deep frustrating loneliness, which is covered over by all kinds of activities. If you are aware of that, then what is insufficiency? You understand my question? What is loneliness? How do you measure this insufficiency? You follow? The moment you measure, you are insufficient. I wonder if you capture it. Do you see that? Right? No, don’t agree, but don’t measure. See, like depression is measurement. Don’t reduce everything to measurement. (Laughs) That is another catchword. You are good at catching words and repeating it, and worthless, it becomes worthless. But we are saying this insufficiency comes into being as long as there is comparison. Right? And this measurement is limitless - you can go on measuring, measuring, measuring. Not ‘limitless’. Sorry I used that word. It is a constant movement from a human being who is insufficient in himself. Now can that comparative observation end? Then is there insufficiency? You are following what I am saying? No, come on, sirs. I compare myself with you and I realise that you are much cleverer than I am, much more intelligent, nicer, alive, full of this and that. I compare myself, and then I say to myself how dull I am in comparison. So I strive to compete with you. But if I don’t compare with you who are very clever - the ‘very clever’ is already comparison; I don’t know if you follow - if I don’t compare, am I dull? Or am I aware of what is actually taking place in me? When I compare, I am avoiding the fact of ‘what is’. Is this too much of a thing for a morning? Perhaps for some of you it is. So, this mediocrity that all of us seem to have can be broken through when there is no sense of comparison, measurement. It gives you an immense freedom. Where there is freedom there is no mediocrity. Right? Do see it, sirs. The more - not ‘the more’ - where there is complete psychological freedom there is no sense of mediocrity - you follow? - you are out of that class altogether - not ‘you’ - something totally different, state of mind exists.

J. Krishnamurti - Official Channel Thank you

He did say apart from their talents and capacities, so he isn't really talking about the conventional use of the word intelligence here. Even without comparison with everyone else we are individually mediocre, our reactions are predictable, we aren't sensitive to ourselves and others, and we are fragmented in our approach.

The one who is striving for it gets to see that , we all people listening to them because we want to see truth, where people there sitting are just taking their sessions as time pass because those times there were very few marketing, entertainment industry not evolved to grab people attention So anything different captures their time and energy and that's what masses were doing Here we are masses in form of striving truth But only few will get to know who is really really serious about it like getting winning 10M dollar If one is that serious state of mind the one is eligible to access it even in abundance of trash or from trash or gem Circumstances never matters to those who strive with the fullest capacity

I think what he is saying is to stop comparing and start acting in total freedom. In total freedom there is no mediocrity. Now as a rule, you will excel if there is no mediocrity....that's what I think he said...

I think he is not saying that the one who excels, as a rule, is inwardly poor. If one sees talent as such, as a matter of fact, something which one happens to get, then there is no problem at all. But if one makes talent a source of psychological fulfillment, pride, and superiority, then one makes it into a problem. And also, we can never be sure of artist's intents. If we observe carefully, we may get some insights into their intents. Have you been to a concert? Have you seen the rush of pride on the artist's face when the audience applaud? The various gestures they make to show who is the boss around?

It is similar to "doing good works" in the New Testament.

@@pradeepprad I would replace 'pride' with gratefulness, when an artist receives applause. I doubt a really great musician is showing 'pride and who is boss'. But then again, some might do just that.

You are the prison

Impossible - for we are all actors on the stage of life !