On the surface, this statement suggests that any pain or distress you experience arises directly from your clinging to people, things, ideas, or even your sense of self. If you hold onto something tightly, its loss or alteration will inevitably cause you anguish.

Krishnamurti, operating within a modern non-dual framework that echoes Vedantic ideas, points to the egoic self as the root of this attachment. The 'I' that suffers is itself a construct, a bundle of memories and identifications. This perceived self is what craves permanence and control, and attachment is its primary tool for self-preservation. When the objects of attachment change or disappear – as they inevitably must in the flux of existence – the ego's illusion of stability is shattered, leading to suffering. The non-dual perspective suggests that this egoic self, and thus its attachments, is ultimately unreal. True freedom from suffering lies not in managing attachments, but in seeing through the illusion of the self that creates them.

In your life: Notice when you feel a pang of irritation or sadness, and inquire into what you are holding onto in that moment.