Krishnamurti's essential message is that to find truth, we must go beyond the limits of ordinary thought. In public talks worldwide, he strove to free listeners from conventional beliefs and psychological mind-sets in order to understand what is. The essential message of J. Krishnamurti, revered philosopher and spiritual teacher to millions, challenges the limits of ordinary thought. In talks and teachings to audiences worldwide, he extricated his listeners from the tangled net of ideas, organizational beliefs and psychological mind-sets and pointed them to the bliss of truth. In the final volume of this series, conversations with individual seekers explore many topics, including the cultivation of sensitivity, the problem of search, the importance of change, and "What is life all about?"
Jiddu 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.
Jiddu Krishnamurthy stands different from the other philosophers and thinkers of his time.Krishnamurthy talks about life when the others talk about religion or god.In all the series of books titled commentaries on living by Krishnamurthy this very idea is put forward.All aspects of life that a human being can think about is covered in the book.In Krishamurthy's own words:"Everywhere I go,I see people searching for something.Either they search for god,truth or something divine that can give them extreme happiness.But I maintain that truth is life itself.And in understanding of life there is borne an understanding of truth".
The commentaries on living series by J Krishnamurti is a life-changing experience! His teachings is profoundly deep and revolutionary in the truest sense of the term!
Gorgeous book. I see Commentaries on Living series (especially volumes 2 and 3) as maybe JK's finest work, together with Krishnamurti's Notebook. The way he sets the scene before going to actual discussion about the topic is something that gives the special strength and interest to each discussed topic. Together with Notebook, Commentaries are the books that need to be re-read on a daily basis.
Stopped reading. All the chapters seemed to have the same message, "I can't tell you anything. You have to find out for yourself." No doubt that's true.