Why is the feeling of guilt so tenacious in spite of every effort to be free of it? J. Krishnamurti 

I once hurt someone very much. Why is the feeling of guilt such a deep, tenacious one that endures, despite every effort to be free of it? You’ve understood the question? Do you feel guilt? Do most of you here have a guilty conscience? About something or other, right? No? Or we’re all pure human beings? So there is guilt. What does that word mean to each one of us? Doing something one feels we shouldn’t. Very simple level. Psychologically hurting another, and the other commits suicide, and you feel, “My God, what a terrible thing I’ve done.” Right? Or, you have remorse, which is the same thing, right? You understand? We are talking about guilt. Culpa. Mea culpa. People make you feel guilty. That’s one of their tricks. Because then they can do what they like with you. We have been in that position very well, too, all of us - the father, the mother, the big bullies, or somebody bullies you, and you feel you have done something terrible. And then, they have you by the neck, blackmailing you. You understand all this? Don’t you know all this? And, why does one feel guilty? I understand why you make me feel guilty. Because you want power over me. Then you have me by the tail, right? So that’s quite a different matter. But you have been unkind, you have done something to another, physically or psychologically, and he jumps off of the bridge. And you think, “My God, what have I done? I wish I hadn’t done that.” And you feel guilt. You understand that word, all of us. So I don’t have to go into the meaning of that word. Why? I have done everything I can. You want me to love you more, and out of my heart, I’ll do everything out of myself, not because you want more. Do you understand? Are you following all this? It’s your life, sir, not mine. I am your mother, father, whatever it is. I have done everything - I’ve loved you, taken care of you, all that, I have my part. But you want me to do more, exclusively, and I can’t. I’ve given you my heart, but you want the entire heart. But I left a little bit of it for somebody else. And you get hurt, right? Then you commit suicide, do every kind of horror, to hurt me. Then I feel guilty. These are cases, studies, no? I’m taking an example, this is common. You do it very little or very deep, but this blackmailing goes on. Nationally they do it - you’ll hold up the whole government because you’re going too fast. You know all the tricks they have played. So, why does one feel guilty? With all its anxieties, with its fears, with its kind of shrinking feeling. The feeling that, “My God, I wish I hadn’t done that. I wish I’d given more.” But I’ve given the best of everything I have, but you want something more, but I can’t. But you want me to feel guilty, because I can’t give more. And you make me feel more guilty by jumping in the lake, or taking a pill and committing suicide. So, I’m not going to be blackmailed, you understand? I’ve given everything possible. Or I don’t want to give it, you understand? I don’t want to feel guilty, not by your action. But you want me to feel guilty. Then you have me. And I refuse to be put in that position. You understand? I won’t be guilty. I mean, I see the absurdity of it. - This has been played (a trick) on me. That is a different matter. - I see very clearly that I’ve done everything a human being possibly can, and you want more. And I can’t give more. And it’s your affair if you want to kill yourself. I haven’t done anything. You understand? Why can’t we be sensible about all this? We know many many people who have carried guilt all their life. It’s like a wound, never healing, but they’re always remembering. And that destroys their life. One has done everything possible - yielded, lied, - follow? - given. But the bully wants more. The responsibility is not yours, but that of the bully. Right? Finito.

Brilliant explanation and very easy to understand, especially if you have been bullied by someone. Thank you for the relief! 🙏✨💕

Oh my god this can ....relive a person......thank u ...

I'm extremely thankful for this talk 🙏🏻🙏🏻

I have terrible guilt for having put my mother in a nursing home. It was very traumatizing for us both. I tried many ways to get help but was unsuccessful. I couldn't care for her alone. She never tried to make me feel guilty and loved me right up until the very end. Logically, I realize I did all I could but it doesn't matter, the guilt persists just the same, and comes from me alone. I wish I knew how to be free of it.

He might not have answered. But at the same time he made it clear that there's no point in holding the past and carrying the baggage with you. One should watch it observe it and then automatically the feeling of remorse or guilt will drop as you understand that there is no point holding it once you realise your mistake

I personally feel guilt is not always like this. When you hurt someone physically or psychologically, you ought to seek forgiveness. Sometimes circumstances don't allow this and then accepting the guilty feeling as punishment redeems you.

Thank you

Thank you❤🎉

Thankyou so much sir. I feel so much lighter like a weight has been lifted off of my body.

Highly Insightful

Guilt makes a person conscious of what they wouldn't want to do again in the future

thank you sir

I feel your presence on my inner self master

Wanderful answear

ignoring the inescapable truth that what we call "truth" can never actually be proven true because of the theory that reality is perception, i would say that the answer to this question is that what we did was actually wrong, and we feel remorse for it. and because of this, truth exists. just a theory

Sorry but, with all my great respect for K., I think this time he really didn't answer the question. I'm astonished ! What about the guilt than one feels after having done something really damaging against someone else and regretting it ?

This one was personal for him..

and it is sad that so-called loved ones strive so much for this

I feel so guilty my parents now are poor and my mom have to go to work by a bus 3 hours every morning just because I wanted to move to city for better uni, I feel so guilty and i miss my mom every morning and I pray so nothing will happened to her, and I feel like my dad heats me now ,I feel so guilty cus I only thinks of myself and not others ,and I wish everything will be okay

Hi. I am not a natural english speaker. Could someone please write what he said in the video? It would be really helpfull

Yes i have done everything possible . But the things which were not possible ....u wanted that

I feel guilty because my parents does a lot for me and i barely can do anything for them.. they just want me to excell in life materially.. even tho i have plans but i don't like to do material stuffs just for their sake, it hampers my own intelligence and flow it makes me a slave in my own vision, it's something I'd want but still feel like a slave while doing it. How to understand and overcome this ?

Can you please add closed caption for all your videos

He doesn't answer the question, he talks about guilt and blackmail. Not the question asked?