The Craving for Experience

Many Buddhists diligently practice meditation to attain enlightenment or experience mystical states. However, few realize that this pursuit itself can be a form of grasping, which, according to the Second Noble Truth, inevitably leads to suffering. The desire for these experiences, while common, is often overlooked as a subtle attachment that hinders genuine spiritual growth.

Among meditation teachers, it is rare to find someone who highlights this issue. Yet, Jiddu Krishnamurti addressed the dangers of craving “experience” as a form of grasping. He was particularly critical of the pursuit of extraordinary or mystical experiences — such as visions, states of ecstasy, or heightened states of consciousness — as a means to achieve spiritual enlightenment.

Krishnamurti believed that the desire for such experiences can distract from the more profound work of self-understanding and awareness. He argued that, despite their intensity, these experiences remain within the realm of thought and sensation and thus do not represent ultimate truth or reality.

In Krishnamurti’s view, pursuing mystical experiences can reinforce the ego and the illusion of a separate self, which is counterproductive to true spiritual growth. He emphasized that genuine transformation arises not from seeking extraordinary experiences but from a deep understanding of the nature of…