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The Ending of Time
This very important work offers penetrating dialogues between the great spiritual leader and the renowned physicist that shed light on fundamental issues of existence. The starting point of this in-depth sustained discussion is the question: “Has humanity taken a wrong turn, which has brought about endless division, conflict, and destruction?” This leads to an exploration of the nature of humanity and a person’s relationship to society, and new insights on human thought, death, awakening insight, cosmic order, and the problem of the fragmented mind. Krishnamurti and David Bohm probe such questions as: Is the source of human conflict the individual’s inability to face that fact of what he or she actually is, psychologically, resulting in the imposition of an illustory goal of what one must try to become? Why has humanity made thought so important in every aspect of life? Has technical and time-restricted thought been allowed to slip over into more subtle areas of functioning, where it is inappropriate? How does one cleanse the mind of the “accumulation of time” and break “the pattern of ego-centered activity?” Can someone who has achieved self-transcendent insight help free others from the world of illusion? Is it possible that, through insight, the brain can renew itself, healing the damage caused by years of wrong function? The Ending of Time concludes by referring again to the wrong turn humanity has taken. But this is not seen as something from which there is no escape. There is an insistence that humankind can change fundamentally; but this requires going from one’s narrow and particular interests toward the general, and ultimately moving still deeper into that purity of compassion, love, and intelligence that originates in the ground beyond thought, beyond time, even beyond emptiness. This means giving one’s time, one’s heart, one’s whole being, to the inquiry carried on throughout these discussions.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1985
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2096 people want to read
About the author
David Bohm
67 books457 followersDavid Joseph Bohm (December 20, 1917 – October 27, 1992) was an American scientist who has been described as one of the most significant theoretical physicists of the 20th century and who contributed innovative and unorthodox ideas to quantum theory, neuropsychology and the philosophy of mind.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
April 6, 2025
First off, this is the review I wrote of this book 4 or 5 years ago. It's all true. The seed of what Krishnamurti planted in my psyche at that time has now germinated.
As if a seed of a bean carefully cultivated in moist tissue during the winter months has now sprouted, preparing for our spring transplant into the soil. K. calls it The Process. Once planted in the jar, the bean has GERMINATED.
It is Alive.
THIS PROCESS WILL TAKE US FAR FROM OUR DOUBTS AND CONFLICTS:
***
I remember the time in my life when time had a beginning and an end.
It was a bland period in the sunset world I then inhabited. Then, gradually - with much help from Jiddu Krishnamurti, and from others among those whose books I read - I learned how to escape from my dreary sunset world into the vivid Present Tense.
Krishnamurti, though, had himself long since abandoned that dreary sunset world when this book was published...
Thirty-five years ago this year, this brave and outspoken man of no fixed belief - but rather travelling on an endless adventure of seeking - started me on the road to a certainty which was a long time in coming.
He’s not easy to read. He’ll challenge your deepest presuppositions and beliefs. But didn’t Socrates do the same?
And if you hold on to the Tiger - Jiddu Krishnamurti’s - tail through the endlessly discomfiting vistas of a new and challenging kind of deconstruction of your high falutin attitudes and comforts, he’ll show you Ordinary Reality in the end: a reality you could never previously endure...
It’s worth it, in the end, believe me.
You’ll live in a freedom you never thought possible. But be forewarned. It’s a process - and never really an end. And once on that train you’ll never get off. But neither will you want to.
The end is only often a new beginning, and as Cesar Pavese once wisely said, new beginnings are what makes life worthwhile. You just hafta get used to riding the tiger’s tail: no mean feat.
This book is as good a place as any to begin!
An important but difficult book about the intensely searing encounter between this modern mystic and an eminent physicist, in which both men humbly put down the apparent differences of their backgrounds to isolate the historic point at which humankind turned resolutely, but perhaps not irrevocably, down a blind alley. Into which we bitterly stumble more often than not.
Both men firmly believe that there is no answer in despair; and both keep the discussion open and flexible.
I find the main difficulty with K. Is that he sees so clearly our weak points (ouch!) - which we are forever reluctant to mend, being so fallibly human.
But both men point out that we MUST make a start - and the beginning is in the very personal aporias we are so very reluctant to disentangle. And neither of them is SELLING us anything.
But both agree we must make a beginning.
And that beginning, for us, may be just the opening we need to find new meaning and purpose in our lives.
One reason I gave it 5 stars is that these two gentlemen are NOT selling us anything. They’re only interested in unblocking our mental roadblocks. Theirs as well.
But if you take this book up, fasten your seatbelts first.
Self-discovery is never easy...
And this is is a Regular Roller Coaster Ride.
***
Well, it worked. The Process is now Living Within Me.
I'm now 15% finished my total re-read of this and I SO understand it. It pushes us to our limit. So ya just gotta put on your Anti-Thinking Cap!
How does it begin? Same as in The First And Last Freedom (see my review).
Here's the opening...
"Why (these are my words now) do we keep KICKING ourselves by continually asking Why? Why me, why This, why That!!!!?
Why am I totally STRESSED!?
(hint: Why NOT just turn off our Thoughts?)
That is the Essence of the Book!
AND this is my New Review in Progress.
As if a seed of a bean carefully cultivated in moist tissue during the winter months has now sprouted, preparing for our spring transplant into the soil. K. calls it The Process. Once planted in the jar, the bean has GERMINATED.
It is Alive.
THIS PROCESS WILL TAKE US FAR FROM OUR DOUBTS AND CONFLICTS:
***
I remember the time in my life when time had a beginning and an end.
It was a bland period in the sunset world I then inhabited. Then, gradually - with much help from Jiddu Krishnamurti, and from others among those whose books I read - I learned how to escape from my dreary sunset world into the vivid Present Tense.
Krishnamurti, though, had himself long since abandoned that dreary sunset world when this book was published...
Thirty-five years ago this year, this brave and outspoken man of no fixed belief - but rather travelling on an endless adventure of seeking - started me on the road to a certainty which was a long time in coming.
He’s not easy to read. He’ll challenge your deepest presuppositions and beliefs. But didn’t Socrates do the same?
And if you hold on to the Tiger - Jiddu Krishnamurti’s - tail through the endlessly discomfiting vistas of a new and challenging kind of deconstruction of your high falutin attitudes and comforts, he’ll show you Ordinary Reality in the end: a reality you could never previously endure...
It’s worth it, in the end, believe me.
You’ll live in a freedom you never thought possible. But be forewarned. It’s a process - and never really an end. And once on that train you’ll never get off. But neither will you want to.
The end is only often a new beginning, and as Cesar Pavese once wisely said, new beginnings are what makes life worthwhile. You just hafta get used to riding the tiger’s tail: no mean feat.
This book is as good a place as any to begin!
An important but difficult book about the intensely searing encounter between this modern mystic and an eminent physicist, in which both men humbly put down the apparent differences of their backgrounds to isolate the historic point at which humankind turned resolutely, but perhaps not irrevocably, down a blind alley. Into which we bitterly stumble more often than not.
Both men firmly believe that there is no answer in despair; and both keep the discussion open and flexible.
I find the main difficulty with K. Is that he sees so clearly our weak points (ouch!) - which we are forever reluctant to mend, being so fallibly human.
But both men point out that we MUST make a start - and the beginning is in the very personal aporias we are so very reluctant to disentangle. And neither of them is SELLING us anything.
But both agree we must make a beginning.
And that beginning, for us, may be just the opening we need to find new meaning and purpose in our lives.
One reason I gave it 5 stars is that these two gentlemen are NOT selling us anything. They’re only interested in unblocking our mental roadblocks. Theirs as well.
But if you take this book up, fasten your seatbelts first.
Self-discovery is never easy...
And this is is a Regular Roller Coaster Ride.
***
Well, it worked. The Process is now Living Within Me.
I'm now 15% finished my total re-read of this and I SO understand it. It pushes us to our limit. So ya just gotta put on your Anti-Thinking Cap!
How does it begin? Same as in The First And Last Freedom (see my review).
Here's the opening...
"Why (these are my words now) do we keep KICKING ourselves by continually asking Why? Why me, why This, why That!!!!?
Why am I totally STRESSED!?
(hint: Why NOT just turn off our Thoughts?)
That is the Essence of the Book!
AND this is my New Review in Progress.
October 2, 2019
این اثر درباره ی گفتگو و مباحثه کریشنا مورتی و دکتر دیوید بوهم درباره ی تاثیر روانی زمان بر ذهن و زندگی انسان است.
سرفصل این گفتگوها حول موضوعات: منشاء تضادهای روانشناختی، پاک کردن ذهنی که زیر انباشت و تراکم زمان است و شکستن الگوی فعالیت خودمرکزبینی است. کتاب «پایان زمان» توسط خود کریشنامورتی نوشته و ویراستاری شده است، بنابراین میتوان حدس زد که متن کتاب، متنی شسته رفته و بی حشو و زوائد است.
اما برای من خوانش کتاب مقداری دشوارتر بود. شاید به دلیل وجود مباحث فیزیکی و ماورایی بود.
سرفصل این گفتگوها حول موضوعات: منشاء تضادهای روانشناختی، پاک کردن ذهنی که زیر انباشت و تراکم زمان است و شکستن الگوی فعالیت خودمرکزبینی است. کتاب «پایان زمان» توسط خود کریشنامورتی نوشته و ویراستاری شده است، بنابراین میتوان حدس زد که متن کتاب، متنی شسته رفته و بی حشو و زوائد است.
اما برای من خوانش کتاب مقداری دشوارتر بود. شاید به دلیل وجود مباحث فیزیکی و ماورایی بود.
May 2, 2011
Dialogs between David Bohm and J. Krishnamurti, enjoyable and provoking on the nature of thought, consciousness, and time. A central theme is the suggestion that humanity took a wrong turn in its history, leading to the present day sorrow, conflict, and war.
I couldn't help but to feel this is an erroneous presupposition, while tempting, it seems to necessarily lead to the very desire and becoming that both Bohm and Krishnamurti are speaking against-- a psychological becoming where humanity may witness inward revolutions leading to the cessation of suffering, the very suffering caused by desire for becoming. It seems the notion of a "wrong" turn presupposes a division between what is and what could have been.
That said, the discussion about time and conscious thought was incredibly insightful; so insightful, in fact, that it led me to question the central theme of humanities wrong turn.
I couldn't help but to feel this is an erroneous presupposition, while tempting, it seems to necessarily lead to the very desire and becoming that both Bohm and Krishnamurti are speaking against-- a psychological becoming where humanity may witness inward revolutions leading to the cessation of suffering, the very suffering caused by desire for becoming. It seems the notion of a "wrong" turn presupposes a division between what is and what could have been.
That said, the discussion about time and conscious thought was incredibly insightful; so insightful, in fact, that it led me to question the central theme of humanities wrong turn.
February 19, 2015
Unstructured smatterings of thoughts between two people, only one of which can actually explain or formulate appropriate ideas. The book is effectively JK sprouting his spiritual prowess and the frivolity of mankind through arm movements and gesticulations (formalized as "do you know what I mean?" in writing) and then DB translating into actual concepts. Dialogues occasionally broken by random N character who misses the mark by a mile.
Only managed half way through this before giving up. Some interesting questions posed but no actual progression of the exploration of those questions.
Only managed half way through this before giving up. Some interesting questions posed but no actual progression of the exploration of those questions.
January 12, 2009
The ending of time comes when we realize that time cannot end. This dialogue is a philosophical masterpiece between two of the greatest minds of our 'time'.
September 21, 2024
Highly Recommended for Everyone!!
September 27, 2010
This book offers a lot of insight on the inner workings of the mind, the conscience, the relationship between them and between them and the universal mind and conscience. A great read for anyone interested in revealing answers to those big questions that everyone of us asks from time to time, regarding life, the universe and whatever is in between.
October 9, 2012
The dialogues between David Bohm and Jiddu krishnamurti are one of the most provoking books i've read. They really honor the word "dialoge" and very cautiously avoid any of the traps that thought uses to give itself continuity without givin chance to Unitary Perception.
November 22, 2012
If one is really really aware when reading this book and reads the book with an open mind, he may get a grasp of what the speakers are trying to transmit towards the readers. I think it's essential to have a try, beside of what your believs currently are.
October 4, 2011
Interesting dialog between two individuals from fields that are poles apart, at times incomprehensible, ultimately posing more questions than answering them.
August 20, 2015
My zumba classmate inspected the book I held between my hands. “Krishnamurti,” she sighed. Class hadn’t yet begun. My zumba classmate is about 70 years old, I am guessing, and the zumba class is more of a salsa bump. “A bit before my time,” I said. “You don’t know who he was?” she asked. “No,” I replied.
I eyed the book suspiciously. Youtubing Krishnamurti was more interesting than reading the conversation presented in this book. An impoverished Brahmin who had been raised by a few English radicals to be the next Messiah, and who, upon the age of Enlightenment, declared all religions to be invalid, and promptly dissolved the Theosophists. Sounded like a true hero of mankind. A hero who had developed a fine taste for English tailors. Very spiffy.
The first thing that struck me when I cracked open the book is the poverty in the scope of vocabulary coupled with the astonishing diversity of reiteration of the same words. Certainly, if we move the words around in a sentence we reach a different conclusion. In a sentence we certainly reach a different conclusion if we move the words around. Ok, maybe not always. But the ego, the ego…..it can be beaten back into submission.
What are we, as humanity, reaching for? What is our struggle and how does time fit into our notions of end gaining? This is the principle idea of this conversation. There are many sentences that talk about the brain (not the body) as a whole. We all know now that the brain is a complex mass of impulses linked with the intelligence collectors of the body. However, I begin to get the feeling we are back in the Dark Ages in this book and the brain is considered a block concept. “The truth is a pathless land.” (Krishnamurti.) I am quite certain the man had interesting things to say, although it sounded to me as if he was a bit of a broken record. In fact the thought crossed my mind that Iris Murdoch must have used him as a prototype for one of her books. I googled Iris Murdoch and Krishnamurti and discovered they too had conversations together. It is all a somewhat fascinating slice of history, a wrong Messiah with a message to the planet.
I eyed the book suspiciously. Youtubing Krishnamurti was more interesting than reading the conversation presented in this book. An impoverished Brahmin who had been raised by a few English radicals to be the next Messiah, and who, upon the age of Enlightenment, declared all religions to be invalid, and promptly dissolved the Theosophists. Sounded like a true hero of mankind. A hero who had developed a fine taste for English tailors. Very spiffy.
The first thing that struck me when I cracked open the book is the poverty in the scope of vocabulary coupled with the astonishing diversity of reiteration of the same words. Certainly, if we move the words around in a sentence we reach a different conclusion. In a sentence we certainly reach a different conclusion if we move the words around. Ok, maybe not always. But the ego, the ego…..it can be beaten back into submission.
What are we, as humanity, reaching for? What is our struggle and how does time fit into our notions of end gaining? This is the principle idea of this conversation. There are many sentences that talk about the brain (not the body) as a whole. We all know now that the brain is a complex mass of impulses linked with the intelligence collectors of the body. However, I begin to get the feeling we are back in the Dark Ages in this book and the brain is considered a block concept. “The truth is a pathless land.” (Krishnamurti.) I am quite certain the man had interesting things to say, although it sounded to me as if he was a bit of a broken record. In fact the thought crossed my mind that Iris Murdoch must have used him as a prototype for one of her books. I googled Iris Murdoch and Krishnamurti and discovered they too had conversations together. It is all a somewhat fascinating slice of history, a wrong Messiah with a message to the planet.
August 18, 2016
The 'time' in question is what the participants in this series of conversations refer to as 'psychological time', that is, the habitually created illusion of the self that is in a perpetual struggle for improvement, motivated through illusions created by desire,hope and fear.
Various topics surrounding mans inability to let go of his illusory self, and relieve himself from suffering are approached from different angles. It took me 200 pages till the ideas started to resonate and I could relate to what was and had been said, or not said, as the no concept as concept approach, and the fact that thought tends to end in paradox means that what they are attempting to explain, is a state beyond the limits of normal verbal human communication, and is more zen-like but less intellectually elitist.
I found it hard going at times, but not tedious, as the texts are word for word transcripts of exploratory conversations, and as such are not edited for clarity, but left in their natural state, so the whole thing relies on the participants ability to express themselves coherently. This they do quite admirably, but there are a few redundancies, and for most of the time I got the impression Krishnamurti was directing the conversation as he was much more familiar with expressing himself and his ideas in a public arena.
Various topics surrounding mans inability to let go of his illusory self, and relieve himself from suffering are approached from different angles. It took me 200 pages till the ideas started to resonate and I could relate to what was and had been said, or not said, as the no concept as concept approach, and the fact that thought tends to end in paradox means that what they are attempting to explain, is a state beyond the limits of normal verbal human communication, and is more zen-like but less intellectually elitist.
I found it hard going at times, but not tedious, as the texts are word for word transcripts of exploratory conversations, and as such are not edited for clarity, but left in their natural state, so the whole thing relies on the participants ability to express themselves coherently. This they do quite admirably, but there are a few redundancies, and for most of the time I got the impression Krishnamurti was directing the conversation as he was much more familiar with expressing himself and his ideas in a public arena.
June 15, 2013
This dialogue has unsuspected depths, not in the usual sense of the word "depth" but almost opens perceptions to milky way and beyond, if one doesnt pull back in fear. The vista is beyond conceptual understanding, you can only stay silently with the understanding for brief period - mind doesnot want to fully go along. However, This clears the confusion for a while like benediction and dissolves some basic blocks, imperceptably. You get a glimpse of what sages say about "do absolutely nothing, just be". The insight of J.K is bound to change the world by its grace and not through words or intellectual understanding. The action one feels is timeless and is already going on imperceptably. By the way, It isnt only J.K, there are many such focal points such as Ramana Maharishi, Ramakrishna, Shridi and many other centeres which are annoynymous which will change the course or is really changing the course of humanity. This isnt Indian or Tibetain anymore.
K had interesting thoughtful in-depth discussions with Prof Alan Anderson and others but these do not reveal beyond a certain rational limit imposed by thought. These dialogues are on a level where they can be applied rationally and perhaps meant that way. But dialogues with Bohm reveal much more.
K had interesting thoughtful in-depth discussions with Prof Alan Anderson and others but these do not reveal beyond a certain rational limit imposed by thought. These dialogues are on a level where they can be applied rationally and perhaps meant that way. But dialogues with Bohm reveal much more.
September 16, 2008
This book is a disscussion between two great minds a physicist and a spiritual leader. They are talking about the nature of reality. The book discusses how humanity took a wrong turn and how to bring about true and lasting peace.
I am interested in learnig how to stay present. I would reccomend reading the Power of Now by Echart Tolle and then reading this book which goes into the nature of time. J. krishnamurti believed that we are all one. But what does that mean? in this book these two men are having a disscussion that sheds light on what living in peace would mean. I am reading this book on the reccomendation of Dattaterya Siva Baba who was Wayne Dyers guru. Dattaterya claims to have had an experience with enlightnment just from reading this book.
I am interested in learnig how to stay present. I would reccomend reading the Power of Now by Echart Tolle and then reading this book which goes into the nature of time. J. krishnamurti believed that we are all one. But what does that mean? in this book these two men are having a disscussion that sheds light on what living in peace would mean. I am reading this book on the reccomendation of Dattaterya Siva Baba who was Wayne Dyers guru. Dattaterya claims to have had an experience with enlightnment just from reading this book.
June 28, 2007
One of his last and most succinct works with physicist David Bohm. K himself said if you are going to read him start with this book and go backwards. I have to agree.
July 23, 2007
every time i pick this book up, i learn something new.
February 19, 2013
It is one of the better books by K.
It truly explores the working of human mind and how it is limited by psychological time .
Its chapters about insight are remarkable .
It truly explores the working of human mind and how it is limited by psychological time .
Its chapters about insight are remarkable .
July 25, 2013
one of my favourite book!!
December 4, 2024
Тази книга е за моментите в тъмните часове на деня, били те сутрин в метрото или в 2 през нощта, когато единственото нещо, което чуваш, е периодичното минаване на трамвая. Навън е тихо, но главата ти бръмчи от мисли и от желанието за изразяването им, желанието да имаш приятел, който да изслуша и рефлектира върху казаното от теб. В крайна сметка само чуждата преценка би ти дала представа прав ли си всъщност. Вероятно не, защото си пристрастен на емоциите си и на собствените си изолирани и макроскопски некохерентни мисли. Както и да е. Бом и Кришнамурти са като две гласчета в ума, движещи се в синхрон въпреки леките разминавания на моменти, и това всъщност бе нещото, което ми направи най-голямо впечатление. Индийски философ и американски физик намират общ език и го говорят в продължение на около 400 страници. Дава надежда за постижимостта на синхрон в себе си. За разлика от повечето книги, "Да Сложим Край на Времето" оставяше ума ми в пълна тишина. Имах чувството, че започвам да разбирам някакви неща, които изглежда подсъзнателно са ме обезпокоявали достатъчно дълго време, за да усетя промяната. Оттам идва и щастието за мен - от редките моменти на тишина. И така половината пъти съм на косъм от изпускане на метростанцията :)
March 27, 2008
Got 1/2 way through at one point
be nice to reread and maybe finish sometime
one of those books i always mean to get back to
enjoyed the discussions so far
Soon : )
more time to read.
be nice to reread and maybe finish sometime
one of those books i always mean to get back to
enjoyed the discussions so far
Soon : )
more time to read.
February 3, 2015
This book can really take it out of you. A times hard to keep up but once you get rid of the clutter in your mind and make space for some powerful philosophy, magic happens!
March 5, 2024
Wow. So this book has taken me a very long time to complete. I have reasons and excuses, but mostly I had a lot to think about. Of all the thinkers, philosophers, great minds, or whatever title suits your fancy, I found that Jiddu Krishnamurti causes the most reflection in me. David Bohm largely played my role, the student.
Krishnamurti is a master in this scenario and, if you're like me, you are playing the student. Ultimately, he and I would be friends. I know it would have been a pleasant experience to have attended or be a part of his talks. This is a book that records the dialogues between David and Jiddu (with other guests on occasion) in the same vein as The Republic with Socrates and his audience.
I do not always follow and sometimes I think I might be thinking or trying to hard when the discussion is on, but I do have plenty of "ah-ha!" moments as when I'm reading philosophy. I believe this book requires an open mind, or rather, an open mind would help. Some of these ideas will come across as crazy and even Krishnamurti poses the question, "Are we crazy? Is this logical?"
I may not be the best read, but I have read enough to believe some of this crazy. I'm an oddball myself, and if someone poses the question and I have to answer honestly I would have to fess up that I do believe parts of fantasy and science fiction are real. They are so much the real to me because I find myself in them. It's the creativity, the characters, the story, the moral, the theme, every element of a story excites my being. It's my passion. Whether I'm reading it, writing it, thinking about it, or living it in some imaginary daydream, it all has a very real quality to me.
This is why I can accept modes of communication that require silence. This is how I can believe and have faith in what Krishnamurti says. If I'm totally honest in my own journey - I am at the wall... At least I think I am. I see everything that's being said, I've reread what was said and it all clicks, yet the wall remains. It's very tricky and one day I will outfox it, assimilate it, overcome it, who knows. I know I am not suppose to do anything. Just be still.
I went off on a tangent, but the reason I mentioned my readings is because this is likely the seventh time I've come across the notion. The message that when you no longer allow your thoughts to reign supreme a transformation will take place. I cannot speak from experience, as I said, I'm at the wall. I have people I have met and there are people that I've read who say these same things. Then you open up a bit and you can see the message written everywhere. I suppose I might be able to say it's the universal language that God uses (will say this in Alchemist style).
Perhaps I'm too obsessed with my own suffering. I believe the chains that bind me to myself feel unbreakable at times. I feel like they are innumerable. After reading a book like this, I believe they are illusory, yet they still feel so very real. That's my personal crisis. That's all of our crisis.
I enjoyed the book and I will likely reference its pages for years to come. Thank you Jiddu and David for recording these conversations (or whoever saw to it) for posterity. There are plenty of memorable quotes, but it does much better to read the book, or listen to their talks online. I suppose I need to end with something that has a bit more flair.
In order to end the endless, to see what is, we have to cease our becoming. Focus on the now. The root of the cause is in thought. Thought is in time. Thought has fragmented our minds. We live in a world of man-made divisions. If we simply did away with it in a cessation of thought what solutions would come forth? Or rather, what then would happen to all mankind's problems?
Krishnamurti is a master in this scenario and, if you're like me, you are playing the student. Ultimately, he and I would be friends. I know it would have been a pleasant experience to have attended or be a part of his talks. This is a book that records the dialogues between David and Jiddu (with other guests on occasion) in the same vein as The Republic with Socrates and his audience.
I do not always follow and sometimes I think I might be thinking or trying to hard when the discussion is on, but I do have plenty of "ah-ha!" moments as when I'm reading philosophy. I believe this book requires an open mind, or rather, an open mind would help. Some of these ideas will come across as crazy and even Krishnamurti poses the question, "Are we crazy? Is this logical?"
I may not be the best read, but I have read enough to believe some of this crazy. I'm an oddball myself, and if someone poses the question and I have to answer honestly I would have to fess up that I do believe parts of fantasy and science fiction are real. They are so much the real to me because I find myself in them. It's the creativity, the characters, the story, the moral, the theme, every element of a story excites my being. It's my passion. Whether I'm reading it, writing it, thinking about it, or living it in some imaginary daydream, it all has a very real quality to me.
This is why I can accept modes of communication that require silence. This is how I can believe and have faith in what Krishnamurti says. If I'm totally honest in my own journey - I am at the wall... At least I think I am. I see everything that's being said, I've reread what was said and it all clicks, yet the wall remains. It's very tricky and one day I will outfox it, assimilate it, overcome it, who knows. I know I am not suppose to do anything. Just be still.
I went off on a tangent, but the reason I mentioned my readings is because this is likely the seventh time I've come across the notion. The message that when you no longer allow your thoughts to reign supreme a transformation will take place. I cannot speak from experience, as I said, I'm at the wall. I have people I have met and there are people that I've read who say these same things. Then you open up a bit and you can see the message written everywhere. I suppose I might be able to say it's the universal language that God uses (will say this in Alchemist style).
Perhaps I'm too obsessed with my own suffering. I believe the chains that bind me to myself feel unbreakable at times. I feel like they are innumerable. After reading a book like this, I believe they are illusory, yet they still feel so very real. That's my personal crisis. That's all of our crisis.
I enjoyed the book and I will likely reference its pages for years to come. Thank you Jiddu and David for recording these conversations (or whoever saw to it) for posterity. There are plenty of memorable quotes, but it does much better to read the book, or listen to their talks online. I suppose I need to end with something that has a bit more flair.
In order to end the endless, to see what is, we have to cease our becoming. Focus on the now. The root of the cause is in thought. Thought is in time. Thought has fragmented our minds. We live in a world of man-made divisions. If we simply did away with it in a cessation of thought what solutions would come forth? Or rather, what then would happen to all mankind's problems?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2022
Jiddu Krishnamurti has had a huge influence for me. Humble as he is, he doesn't claim originality, challenging his students to find out for themselves, as he himself has and many others have before and after him. As I understand him, his message is akin to that of some of the "spiritual" ideas of several anciet wisdom traditions just as the philosophical ideas of modern and contemporaries like Gödel, Wittgenstein, or Parfit. Yet, Krishnamurti has a... let's say... special style, and at least for me, this style proved to be a helpful shortcut, maybe thus curcumventing some of the despair of Wittgenstein.
Krishnamurti's effectiveness might be related to his respect for rationality and science. Being a physicist myself, it is the scientific approach that I really apreciated to not get lost in language games and woo. Hence, I was extremely curious and happy to find out about this dialogue between the two great souls and thinkers, especially as I have not yet seen a more precise summary of Krishnamurti's project than Bohms (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emAeF...).
Unfortunately though, it doesn't work. The problem is this: Krishnamurti's approach is a more improvisational, deconstructive. His language is far from precise, almost chaotic. His strength is that he knows that and uses it to remind us that he uses language only as a tool to overcome it in the second step. Bohm's approach is very precise, analytical. Both Krishnamurti and Bohm thus try to overcome language, Bohm by carefully going "through" it, by thinking it to the end (this is the project of e.g., Gödel and Wittgenstein), Krishnamurti by (geniusly!) trying to shake it off halfway.
Both could complement each other perfectly, but instead they get stuck all the time, I think out of too much respect for each other. Krishnamurti seems to hope that Bohm has answers he himself claims to not seek, thus getting completely lost in the two thing he wants to overcome - abstractness and desire. (This starts at the very beginning, when Krishnamurti initiates with the weird topic that "humanity has lost its way", both the idea of "humanity" as well as the evaluation seem to not be aligned with is other thinking, and he and Bohm spent hours to overcome this blundered start.) Bohm, on the other hand, is most of the time too careful to take over the conversation, only very late helping K. to sort his thinking. His role would have been to build a solid foundation of concepts from a modern scientific basis and to allow Krishnamurti to argue where this model goes to far. Instead, he lets K. build a chaotic garden of crazy-talk, punching holes in it from the side.
Bohm and Krishnamurti have discussed several times before, Bohm was a frequent participant in Krishnamurti's talks. It makes sense that they decided to share a dialogue. (Or maybe someone else nudged them to do?) Yet, by not explicitly building on their shared experience, by trying to again start at zero, they get totally lost.
Personally, I found K's "Total Freedom" and "Reflections on the Self" way better paths into his thinking. If you want to find out how to square his ideas with a modern scientific approach, I think Capra's "The Tao of physics" is a great place to start. And as I said, Wittgenstein offers yet another way into this field. "The ending of time" might then help to connect some open threads, for me though, it was more of the map of a minefield, i.e., showing where you can still get lost with this approach.
Krishnamurti's effectiveness might be related to his respect for rationality and science. Being a physicist myself, it is the scientific approach that I really apreciated to not get lost in language games and woo. Hence, I was extremely curious and happy to find out about this dialogue between the two great souls and thinkers, especially as I have not yet seen a more precise summary of Krishnamurti's project than Bohms (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emAeF...).
Unfortunately though, it doesn't work. The problem is this: Krishnamurti's approach is a more improvisational, deconstructive. His language is far from precise, almost chaotic. His strength is that he knows that and uses it to remind us that he uses language only as a tool to overcome it in the second step. Bohm's approach is very precise, analytical. Both Krishnamurti and Bohm thus try to overcome language, Bohm by carefully going "through" it, by thinking it to the end (this is the project of e.g., Gödel and Wittgenstein), Krishnamurti by (geniusly!) trying to shake it off halfway.
Both could complement each other perfectly, but instead they get stuck all the time, I think out of too much respect for each other. Krishnamurti seems to hope that Bohm has answers he himself claims to not seek, thus getting completely lost in the two thing he wants to overcome - abstractness and desire. (This starts at the very beginning, when Krishnamurti initiates with the weird topic that "humanity has lost its way", both the idea of "humanity" as well as the evaluation seem to not be aligned with is other thinking, and he and Bohm spent hours to overcome this blundered start.) Bohm, on the other hand, is most of the time too careful to take over the conversation, only very late helping K. to sort his thinking. His role would have been to build a solid foundation of concepts from a modern scientific basis and to allow Krishnamurti to argue where this model goes to far. Instead, he lets K. build a chaotic garden of crazy-talk, punching holes in it from the side.
Bohm and Krishnamurti have discussed several times before, Bohm was a frequent participant in Krishnamurti's talks. It makes sense that they decided to share a dialogue. (Or maybe someone else nudged them to do?) Yet, by not explicitly building on their shared experience, by trying to again start at zero, they get totally lost.
Personally, I found K's "Total Freedom" and "Reflections on the Self" way better paths into his thinking. If you want to find out how to square his ideas with a modern scientific approach, I think Capra's "The Tao of physics" is a great place to start. And as I said, Wittgenstein offers yet another way into this field. "The ending of time" might then help to connect some open threads, for me though, it was more of the map of a minefield, i.e., showing where you can still get lost with this approach.
January 23, 2019
My brain was fried multiple times but I marched on as it really opened my mind. 🧠
The conversations between Krishnamurti and Bohm started with the central questions: “What is conflict” and “What is the root of conflict”. There are conflicts because we humans always want to go somewhere or be in another state, which is different from the now. Therefore, TIME is the problem, and to end conflict, TIME needs to end.
They then explored what is beyond TIME - emptiness, the ground, the source. They debated what humans should do, or rather, whether humans even want to be there. If there is no reward, no reason, nothing on “the other side”, would you bother?
The answer is ‘no’, otherwise the sufferings would have ended. TIME can only end if there is no ego. One would only listen fully if one doesn’t come with opinions, prejudice and all the knowledge that was accumulated. One would only listen fully if one comes with love. In other words, one can only end TIME with LOVE 💖
This is my shallow understanding and it will never do the book justice. You would want to read this:
▫️If you want to explore spirituality but have been shying away because you are the logical type (like me!)
▫️If you enjoy exploring one single concept very very deeply
▫️If you are not frustrated by seemingly endless questions
▫️If you want to be happy
▫️If you have time (no pun intended!!) .
Interestingly the word ‘present’ was never used, but I gather that is the essence of all these!
The conversations between Krishnamurti and Bohm started with the central questions: “What is conflict” and “What is the root of conflict”. There are conflicts because we humans always want to go somewhere or be in another state, which is different from the now. Therefore, TIME is the problem, and to end conflict, TIME needs to end.
They then explored what is beyond TIME - emptiness, the ground, the source. They debated what humans should do, or rather, whether humans even want to be there. If there is no reward, no reason, nothing on “the other side”, would you bother?
The answer is ‘no’, otherwise the sufferings would have ended. TIME can only end if there is no ego. One would only listen fully if one doesn’t come with opinions, prejudice and all the knowledge that was accumulated. One would only listen fully if one comes with love. In other words, one can only end TIME with LOVE 💖
This is my shallow understanding and it will never do the book justice. You would want to read this:
▫️If you want to explore spirituality but have been shying away because you are the logical type (like me!)
▫️If you enjoy exploring one single concept very very deeply
▫️If you are not frustrated by seemingly endless questions
▫️If you want to be happy
▫️If you have time (no pun intended!!) .
Interestingly the word ‘present’ was never used, but I gather that is the essence of all these!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2020
Actually, I read the Spanish translation of the book, listened to the original recordings on Spotify and watched some videos on Youtube.
The topics touched are profound and radically changes the perspective on global issues such as war, racism, sexism, poverty, and any form of violence. There's innovative concepts on what is love, what is time. What is human existence.
Truly inspiring. One day I will read it and listen to the recordings again, to attempt to grasp the concepts better. Merely trying to follow the conversation I think improves one's cognitive abilities and exposes one to the kind of psychological state Krishnamurti and Bohm are exploring.
Definitely recommend listening to the recordings, as many nuances are captured there, such as the participation of third speakers, occasionally jumping into the conversation. It gives a feeling of being there. Thankfully, videos are also availabe on Youtube.
One of my favorite recordings is the one numbered third or fourth. At a certain point, Bohm and Krishnamurti make silence. Bees can be heard buzzing in the background, they are so loud.
I'd been following K's publications for some time and had never heard of the significance of these dialogues with the scientist David Bohm. I jumped in as I saw the album on the top releases of Krishnamurti on Spotify.
The topics touched are profound and radically changes the perspective on global issues such as war, racism, sexism, poverty, and any form of violence. There's innovative concepts on what is love, what is time. What is human existence.
Truly inspiring. One day I will read it and listen to the recordings again, to attempt to grasp the concepts better. Merely trying to follow the conversation I think improves one's cognitive abilities and exposes one to the kind of psychological state Krishnamurti and Bohm are exploring.
Definitely recommend listening to the recordings, as many nuances are captured there, such as the participation of third speakers, occasionally jumping into the conversation. It gives a feeling of being there. Thankfully, videos are also availabe on Youtube.
One of my favorite recordings is the one numbered third or fourth. At a certain point, Bohm and Krishnamurti make silence. Bees can be heard buzzing in the background, they are so loud.
I'd been following K's publications for some time and had never heard of the significance of these dialogues with the scientist David Bohm. I jumped in as I saw the album on the top releases of Krishnamurti on Spotify.
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May 6, 2025Melhores trechos: "...O amor não possui uma causa, e o ódio tem uma causa. Os dois não podem coexistir... Se uma coisa não tem causa, isso não quer dizer necessariamente que ela irá atuar sobre algo que tenha uma causa... A própria existência da luz significa mudar o processo da escuridão... O processo material está trabalhando na escuridão, no tempo, no conhecimento, na ignorância, e assim por diante. Quando surge a visão intuitiva, ocorre a eliminação daquela escuridão. Isso é tudo que estamos dizendo. A visão intuitiva elimina aquela escuridão, e o pensamento, que é o processo material, não mais trabalha na escuridão. Conseqüentemente, essa luz alterou? Não, ela terminou com a ignorância... Você está dizendo que o esforço de vir a ser, de se transformar produz sofrimento? K: Obviamente. É simples. Tudo isso é divisório, pois me separa dos outros, e desse modo você é diferente de mim. E quando eu dependo de alguém, e essa pessoa vai embora, eu me sinto solitário e infeliz. Tudo isso continua. Estamos dizendo, assim, que qualquer fator de separação, que é a própria natureza do self, deve inevitavelmente causar sofrimento..."
November 14, 2022
There are many many books and videos of J. Krishnamurti in conversation like this one, or speaking from a stage, and some from his own writings. He is always saying the same thing, and one never quite understands. Nevertheless, the act of reading him always calms, clarifies, and challenges. His later books and this one in particular where he talks to physicist David Bohm, are perhaps more suited to the modern atheistic mind, whereas his earlier books tend to use a more religious and moral language.
Either way, here is a man who urgently wants to communicate something ineffable that he has discovered, and yet does not want to recruit followers and has no axe to grind. Here is a pearl of great price, given freely to anyone who cares to pick it up; this is the medicine we need, if only we can take it.
Either way, here is a man who urgently wants to communicate something ineffable that he has discovered, and yet does not want to recruit followers and has no axe to grind. Here is a pearl of great price, given freely to anyone who cares to pick it up; this is the medicine we need, if only we can take it.
April 11, 2020
The Ending of Time comprises various illuminating dialogues which had taken place between a philosopher and a physicist.
One such dialogue sheds light on human conflicts and argues that since ages all human efforts invested in surpassing those conflicts have proven to be unfruitful.
The Philosopher, K extorts that man can only resolve all his problems if he understands the illusion of psychological time and accept reality (what is) without any condemnation or rationalisation and gain insight into the conditioning and content which Influences and makes his thought.
The book also contains some interesting and unpremeditated analogies drawn between the concepts of physics and the nature of human mind.
One such dialogue sheds light on human conflicts and argues that since ages all human efforts invested in surpassing those conflicts have proven to be unfruitful.
The Philosopher, K extorts that man can only resolve all his problems if he understands the illusion of psychological time and accept reality (what is) without any condemnation or rationalisation and gain insight into the conditioning and content which Influences and makes his thought.
The book also contains some interesting and unpremeditated analogies drawn between the concepts of physics and the nature of human mind.
May 24, 2018
An interesting discussion about the source of human misery. David Bohm exhibits the kind of patience and commitment to dialogue that I would like to emulate in myself. His conceptualisation helped make sense of Krishnamurti's rambling "ideas." The ideas themselves were modest but reflective of a certain point of view which is prevalent in the spiritualist and untrained philosophical. I enjoyed this book as a reflective exercise and as an incentive for pursuing my own philosophical training further to avoid being so unclear, muddled and fuzzy in my thoughts as Krishnamurti appeared to be.
February 10, 2018
This book is an unhinged conversation between an ageing Krishnamurthy and David Bohm regarding the nature of thought and breaking from preconceived patterns which hold the mind a prisoner to the need for identification with something larger i.e. race / religion / nations / favorite soccer team or any form of glorified tribal manifestation.
Problem with the conversationalist format is they end up going in circles and sometimes loose track of the original question; especially Krishnamurthy.
Problem with the conversationalist format is they end up going in circles and sometimes loose track of the original question; especially Krishnamurthy.
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