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Can Humanity Change? J. Krishnamurti in Dialogue with Buddhists
Many
have considered Buddhism to be the religion closest in spirit to J.
Krishnamurti's spiritual teaching—even though the great teacher was famous for
urging students to seek truth outside organized religion. This record of a
historic encounter between Krishnamurti and a group of Buddhist scholars
provides a unique opportunity to see what the great teacher had to say himself
about Buddhist teachings. The conversations, which took place in London in the
late 1970s, focused on human consciousness and its potential for
transformation. Participants include Walpola Rahula, the renowned Sri Lankan
Buddhist monk and scholar, author of the classic introductory text
What
the Buddha Taught.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2003
24 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
J. Krishnamurti
1,149 books4,241 followersJiddu Krishnamurti was born on 11 May 1895 in Madanapalle, a small town in south India. He and his brother were adopted in their youth by Dr Annie Besant, then president of the Theosophical Society. Dr Besant and others proclaimed that Krishnamurti was to be a world teacher whose coming the Theosophists had predicted. To prepare the world for this coming, a world-wide organization called the Order of the Star in the East was formed and the young Krishnamurti was made its head.
In 1929, however, Krishnamurti renounced the role that he was expected to play, dissolved the Order with its huge following, and returned all the money and property that had been donated for this work.
From then, for nearly sixty years until his death on 17 February 1986, he travelled throughout the world talking to large audiences and to individuals about the need for a radical change in humankind.
Krishnamurti is regarded globally as one of the greatest thinkers and religious teachers of all time. He did not expound any philosophy or religion, but rather talked of the things that concern all of us in our everyday lives, of the problems of living in modern society with its violence and corruption, of the individual's search for security and happiness, and the need for humankind to free itself from inner burdens of fear, anger, hurt, and sorrow. He explained with great precision the subtle workings of the human mind, and pointed to the need for bringing to our daily life a deeply meditative and spiritual quality.
Krishnamurti belonged to no religious organization, sect or country, nor did he subscribe to any school of political or ideological thought. On the contrary, he maintained that these are the very factors that divide human beings and bring about conflict and war. He reminded his listeners again and again that we are all human beings first and not Hindus, Muslims or Christians, that we are like the rest of humanity and are not different from one another. He asked that we tread lightly on this earth without destroying ourselves or the environment. He communicated to his listeners a deep sense of respect for nature. His teachings transcend belief systems, nationalistic sentiment and sectarianism. At the same time, they give new meaning and direction to humankind's search for truth. His teaching, besides being relevant to the modern age, is timeless and universal.
Krishnamurti spoke not as a guru but as a friend, and his talks and discussions are based not on tradition-based knowledge but on his own insights into the human mind and his vision of the sacred, so he always communicates a sense of freshness and directness although the essence of his message remained unchanged over the years. When he addressed large audiences, people felt that Krishnamurti was talking to each of them personally, addressing his or her particular problem. In his private interviews, he was a compassionate teacher, listening attentively to the man or woman who came to him in sorrow, and encouraging them to heal themselves through their own understanding. Religious scholars found that his words threw new light on traditional concepts. Krishnamurti took on the challenge of modern scientists and psychologists and went with them step by step, discussed their theories and sometimes enabled them to discern the limitations of those theories. Krishnamurti left a large body of literature in the form of public talks, writings, discussions with teachers and students, with scientists and religious figures, conversations with individuals, television and radio interviews, and letters. Many of these have been published as books, and audio and video recordings.
This author also writes under: Jiddu Krishnamurti
In 1929, however, Krishnamurti renounced the role that he was expected to play, dissolved the Order with its huge following, and returned all the money and property that had been donated for this work.
From then, for nearly sixty years until his death on 17 February 1986, he travelled throughout the world talking to large audiences and to individuals about the need for a radical change in humankind.
Krishnamurti is regarded globally as one of the greatest thinkers and religious teachers of all time. He did not expound any philosophy or religion, but rather talked of the things that concern all of us in our everyday lives, of the problems of living in modern society with its violence and corruption, of the individual's search for security and happiness, and the need for humankind to free itself from inner burdens of fear, anger, hurt, and sorrow. He explained with great precision the subtle workings of the human mind, and pointed to the need for bringing to our daily life a deeply meditative and spiritual quality.
Krishnamurti belonged to no religious organization, sect or country, nor did he subscribe to any school of political or ideological thought. On the contrary, he maintained that these are the very factors that divide human beings and bring about conflict and war. He reminded his listeners again and again that we are all human beings first and not Hindus, Muslims or Christians, that we are like the rest of humanity and are not different from one another. He asked that we tread lightly on this earth without destroying ourselves or the environment. He communicated to his listeners a deep sense of respect for nature. His teachings transcend belief systems, nationalistic sentiment and sectarianism. At the same time, they give new meaning and direction to humankind's search for truth. His teaching, besides being relevant to the modern age, is timeless and universal.
Krishnamurti spoke not as a guru but as a friend, and his talks and discussions are based not on tradition-based knowledge but on his own insights into the human mind and his vision of the sacred, so he always communicates a sense of freshness and directness although the essence of his message remained unchanged over the years. When he addressed large audiences, people felt that Krishnamurti was talking to each of them personally, addressing his or her particular problem. In his private interviews, he was a compassionate teacher, listening attentively to the man or woman who came to him in sorrow, and encouraging them to heal themselves through their own understanding. Religious scholars found that his words threw new light on traditional concepts. Krishnamurti took on the challenge of modern scientists and psychologists and went with them step by step, discussed their theories and sometimes enabled them to discern the limitations of those theories. Krishnamurti left a large body of literature in the form of public talks, writings, discussions with teachers and students, with scientists and religious figures, conversations with individuals, television and radio interviews, and letters. Many of these have been published as books, and audio and video recordings.
This author also writes under: Jiddu Krishnamurti
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 1, 2020
Personally, this book has been a great companion for the past few days. The book holds the serious philosophical inquiries on selected topics such as freewill, predicament over the status quo and human conditions, egoism and identity, life after Death, and other spiritual and philosophical stuffs.
What basically makes Krishnamurthi tickle is he's the only one among many "philosophers" around the locality to have broadened mindset to have had secular ideas and inquiries (not indoctrinated preachings but inquiries).
He travelled the world primarily for talking with intellectuals, freethinkers and philosopers to have insightful conversations for the last 40-50 years of his life. Some highlights are being picked up into this book.
And the conversations are mostly bound within the circle of Buddhists eventhough Krishnamurthi wanted to have a kind of conversations as if they were only human beings. Being a Buddhist maynot seem very different from being human being but it is. For instance, whenever Krishnamurthi came up with little interesting conversations, the others had to go back to what Buddha had said on this issue. This frustrated K for he doesn't advocate the idea of having an authority for the quest of knowledge and a great advocate for see it yourself.
"If I have accepted what Christ or X Y Z said, it's no inquiry."
"We are saying that, as long as I accept authority, it doesn't matter who it is, there's no insight."
"The power of the world and the power of an ideology do not change man."
"When we belong to something, then it's not possible to see; when we belong, we become irrational, violent, and then we want to end violence by belonging to something else."
Despite my attempts, my conditioning made me label him as an existentialist philosopher but the very labelling is one of the big problems, he says.
"So unless you, as a human being, are free from all these labels - Socialist, Communist, Capitalist, American, Indian, Muslim - as long as you are labelling yourself in any way, secretly or openly, you are breeding disorder in the world."
"Truth is not to be found by following somebody, by making it all easy for you as a pattern: doing this, following this, meditating this way, disciplining this way. You'll never get it that way."
Before all these experiences with and from the book, the very appearance of it intrigued me as if it wants to reveal something to me. I got the book from my recent visit to Krishnamurthi Foundation India where I got to get this 1999 edition rather than the newer reprint as they provided 60% off. The title of the book on the spine is somewhat faded and only "Change?" is what remains.
Something delusionally inspired me to come to a conclusion that I already found the answer. But after completing it, I had different thoughts. As long as we make delusional associations with the idiotic trivialities and redundancies, what is there for us to observe, really observe, find time to think without any biases, any conditioning, any basic postulatory rudiments. Somehow at the end, I find this man connected and had faith within the bounds of humanity. Tagore was one but I wouldn't say they have a lot in common.
I would recommend all human beings with good patience to read his books.
What basically makes Krishnamurthi tickle is he's the only one among many "philosophers" around the locality to have broadened mindset to have had secular ideas and inquiries (not indoctrinated preachings but inquiries).
He travelled the world primarily for talking with intellectuals, freethinkers and philosopers to have insightful conversations for the last 40-50 years of his life. Some highlights are being picked up into this book.
And the conversations are mostly bound within the circle of Buddhists eventhough Krishnamurthi wanted to have a kind of conversations as if they were only human beings. Being a Buddhist maynot seem very different from being human being but it is. For instance, whenever Krishnamurthi came up with little interesting conversations, the others had to go back to what Buddha had said on this issue. This frustrated K for he doesn't advocate the idea of having an authority for the quest of knowledge and a great advocate for see it yourself.
"If I have accepted what Christ or X Y Z said, it's no inquiry."
"We are saying that, as long as I accept authority, it doesn't matter who it is, there's no insight."
"The power of the world and the power of an ideology do not change man."
"When we belong to something, then it's not possible to see; when we belong, we become irrational, violent, and then we want to end violence by belonging to something else."
Despite my attempts, my conditioning made me label him as an existentialist philosopher but the very labelling is one of the big problems, he says.
"So unless you, as a human being, are free from all these labels - Socialist, Communist, Capitalist, American, Indian, Muslim - as long as you are labelling yourself in any way, secretly or openly, you are breeding disorder in the world."
"Truth is not to be found by following somebody, by making it all easy for you as a pattern: doing this, following this, meditating this way, disciplining this way. You'll never get it that way."
Before all these experiences with and from the book, the very appearance of it intrigued me as if it wants to reveal something to me. I got the book from my recent visit to Krishnamurthi Foundation India where I got to get this 1999 edition rather than the newer reprint as they provided 60% off. The title of the book on the spine is somewhat faded and only "Change?" is what remains.
Something delusionally inspired me to come to a conclusion that I already found the answer. But after completing it, I had different thoughts. As long as we make delusional associations with the idiotic trivialities and redundancies, what is there for us to observe, really observe, find time to think without any biases, any conditioning, any basic postulatory rudiments. Somehow at the end, I find this man connected and had faith within the bounds of humanity. Tagore was one but I wouldn't say they have a lot in common.
I would recommend all human beings with good patience to read his books.
August 21, 2021
I have read several books by " Jiddu Krishnamurthy". His passion to bring change in Humanity make me admire him more and more.
In here, He take us on a journey to answer the important question " Can humanity change? ".
While i was reading, He made me realise there is a possibility for humanity change. But once i finished reading , I became aware of the real world i am living in where people trying to be this or that. Hope of change in Humanity is lost again.
Hope in change of humanity lost not because the world is dark, Its because my world itself is dark. In this beautifully built tortured world, We measure everything with cause and effect. When our very existence is on what we get, How can we even think about changing?
I admire jiddu works, But i believe our life has reached a state where there is no going back. If we try to go back, We maybe called mad in the insane world.
Can humanity change'?
Yes
Can i change?
No
So humanity cant change.
In here, He take us on a journey to answer the important question " Can humanity change? ".
While i was reading, He made me realise there is a possibility for humanity change. But once i finished reading , I became aware of the real world i am living in where people trying to be this or that. Hope of change in Humanity is lost again.
Hope in change of humanity lost not because the world is dark, Its because my world itself is dark. In this beautifully built tortured world, We measure everything with cause and effect. When our very existence is on what we get, How can we even think about changing?
I admire jiddu works, But i believe our life has reached a state where there is no going back. If we try to go back, We maybe called mad in the insane world.
Can humanity change'?
Yes
Can i change?
No
So humanity cant change.
July 15, 2008
Enlightening experience that leads down seldom explored alleys in the western psyche. If read with thoughtful purpose and an open mind it unlocks doors that one never knew existed.
March 31, 2011
Wonderful discussion about the nature of human thought and the conditioning of thought and action. The discussion offers compelling insights into the process and function of thought, the limits of thought, and the areas of the mind beyond those limits. A very open discussion, Krishnamurti goes to great lengths to implore the audience to question for themselves and not accept any word or thought from the speaker, but to truly question and learn.
October 5, 2018
I personally agree with the statement that if the change is already premeditated it is not change, if we know what we are changing into , it's already a ideal and again stuck in the same ruckus !!
September 2, 2015
Even though I have followed Krishnamurti for passed few years and have a good knowledge o the Buddhist philosophy, I found this book extremely hard to read. I couldn't get a hold of the conversations. Either you need to be very familiar with Krishnamurti's works or should have a very deep philosophically trained mind to read this.
That being said there were some very important and thought provoking points highlighted in this book
That being said there were some very important and thought provoking points highlighted in this book
August 19, 2022
So much of this was frustrating because they constantly kept trying to talk about something but instead, they just spend two pages arguing about a definition of a word and thr semantics rather than delving into the philosophical thoughts I had been anticipating to read. Otherwise, I appreciated the content and found value in it.
July 13, 2025
23 years ago my tai chi teacher suggested this book. I recall finding it tedious and annoying to no end, DNF-ing it.
Fast forward to today. My body psychotherapy teacher suggests this book. I still find it tedious and annoying, I do read most of it and skim the rest.
Let me admit that there are nuggets I like a little bit here and there. I do have tremendous respect for Krishnamurti's fate and choices in life. The 'Truth is a Pathless Land' text about rejecting his Messiah-hood is still very powerful.
Yet this book to me is about old men bickering and then Krishnamurti going on an iconoclastic rant. I mean, somehow I feel all these people should do better?
Perhaps, herein lies the true iconoclastic lesson. Do not trust even the iconoclast masters. 1 star.
Fast forward to today. My body psychotherapy teacher suggests this book. I still find it tedious and annoying, I do read most of it and skim the rest.
Let me admit that there are nuggets I like a little bit here and there. I do have tremendous respect for Krishnamurti's fate and choices in life. The 'Truth is a Pathless Land' text about rejecting his Messiah-hood is still very powerful.
Yet this book to me is about old men bickering and then Krishnamurti going on an iconoclastic rant. I mean, somehow I feel all these people should do better?
Perhaps, herein lies the true iconoclastic lesson. Do not trust even the iconoclast masters. 1 star.
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July 19, 2025Can’t really rate this book. This book is more of a companion that puts a spin on the outlook of life. I think Krishnamurti’s ideas about life and consciousness are very similar to my own and I like how he doesn’t describe himself as a guru and never answers direct questions. Rather he allows people to really think about what has been said and come to their own conclusions based on the information.
If everyone had the same views that Krishnamurti has, we would truly be in a utopia.
A very thought provoking book that I implore people to read and try to understand.
Will definitely be coming back to this book as it requires a second read and annotations.
If everyone had the same views that Krishnamurti has, we would truly be in a utopia.
A very thought provoking book that I implore people to read and try to understand.
Will definitely be coming back to this book as it requires a second read and annotations.
December 20, 2017
Certainly not angelic writing but the humane touch to the book makes it even worthier to be readn and enjoyed...
October 10, 2019
Deeply moving, thought provoking...read it!
June 9, 2011
Imteressante a forma como ele questiona tudo, e até a propria essencia do questionamento. Mas o fato de insistir que não devemos aceitar mestres e ensinamentos se confunde muito com o que ele próprio diz. Acaba ficando confuso e inconclusivo.
November 29, 2023
More difficult/philosophical than some of K.'s books, but always fascinating and provocative. The shorter Part Two could make a good introduction to his thought, which is needed now more than ever imho.
May 15, 2015
This is the most difficult and abstract book I have read from him. Surely not a place to start neither to grasp his main 'view'. Actually, I would only indicate it for those who already have a solid understanding of K's teachings.
The book is really good, but not that accessible.
The book is really good, but not that accessible.
October 13, 2013
A good record of conversation on K with Buddhists. They wanted him to admit that he is Matrai but K did not budge.
August 16, 2021
Heavy but inspiring.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews