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What Are You Doing With Your Life?
What are you?
Who are you?
What do you want from life?
Life hurts us all, but rarely are we taught how to deal with these shocks. Jiddu Krishnamurti offers an introduction to many of life’s themes from relationships and love, to fear and loneliness. He asks questions such as ‘What is the significance of life?’ and ‘What is the purpose of life?’ He argues that we ask these questions when there is chaos and uncertainty within. And ultimately it is our responsibility to the choices we make and how we choose to live our lives.
Who are you?
What do you want from life?
Life hurts us all, but rarely are we taught how to deal with these shocks. Jiddu Krishnamurti offers an introduction to many of life’s themes from relationships and love, to fear and loneliness. He asks questions such as ‘What is the significance of life?’ and ‘What is the purpose of life?’ He argues that we ask these questions when there is chaos and uncertainty within. And ultimately it is our responsibility to the choices we make and how we choose to live our lives.
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First published December 31, 1899
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About the author
J. Krishnamurti
1,336 books4,293 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 - 30 of 209 reviews
December 18, 2018
Thay vì than phiền, chửi mắng hoặc bực dọc với nền giáo dục hiện tại. Bạn cần thắp đuốc, bạn cần tự tìm ra con đường và bạn cần tự cứu lấy chính mình, xa hơn là cứu luôn cả con cái của bạn sau này.
Những triết lí trong sách sẽ giúp bạn nhìn nhận lại những sự giáo dục mà bạn đang thụ hưởng. Những sự thật trần trụi về cách thức bạn được giáo dục sẽ được phơi bày.
Đừng trông chờ vào hệ thống giáo dục, nhà trường, thầy cô hay thậm chí là ba mẹ, chỉ có bạn mới có thể giải thoát và cứu rỗi chính mình thôi. Nhưng trước đó, hãy đàm đạo cùng Krishnamurti qua cuốn sách này đã nhé.
Những triết lí trong sách sẽ giúp bạn nhìn nhận lại những sự giáo dục mà bạn đang thụ hưởng. Những sự thật trần trụi về cách thức bạn được giáo dục sẽ được phơi bày.
Đừng trông chờ vào hệ thống giáo dục, nhà trường, thầy cô hay thậm chí là ba mẹ, chỉ có bạn mới có thể giải thoát và cứu rỗi chính mình thôi. Nhưng trước đó, hãy đàm đạo cùng Krishnamurti qua cuốn sách này đã nhé.
October 25, 2021
Krishnamurti là một trong những người kéo mình sang trạng thái tỉnh thức. Mình thực sự khao khát, mong muốn bất kì bạn trẻ nào có cơ hội hãy tiếp xúc với sách của Krishnamurti một bậc giác ngộ, minh triết của Thời đại. Đếm quá có vài ba bậc giác ngộ nhưng đọc đều rất dễ "tu sai", Đức Phật, Chúa Jesus, Lão Tử, Trang Tử, Osho,... nhưng thú thực viết quá cô đọng hàn lâm làm chúng sinh hiểu sai con đường đến sự tỉnh thức. Mình thấy nên lựa chọn những người gần với thời đại chúng ta để dễ đọc 1 là Osho 2 là Krishnamurti.
2 người này đối lập nhau nhưng lại bổ trợ cho nhau. Osho thích phân tích, Krish thích tổng hợp, Krish giải thích theo logic còn Osho lại thích văn vở. Kish hiện hữu như một thầy dạy toán, chỉ con đường ngắn nhất để ta có thể giải được bài toán một các logic và chính xác, Osho thì ngược lại như một thầy dạy văn, vui chơi nô đùa với từng con chữ, đọc như bị Osho dắt mũi vì gần như mọi ý tưởng phản biện cho lời nói của ông đều được ông chuẩn bị sẵn ở câu sau, mình hay nói đùa đọc Krish thì phải tin vào Krish nhưng đọc Osho muốn không tin cũng không được. Krish thì nghiêm túc cô đọng, không nói thiếu một chữ, thừa một lời, Osho thì cợt nhả cà khịa, phân tích đúng sai của tất tần tật những thứ lầm tưởng của nhân loại... Một cách đọc thú vị mình nhận ra. Đọc Krish để hiểu tinh yếu những thứ bậc giác ngộ muốn truyền tải rồi đọc Osho để phân tích thật sâu, cả những thứ ta lầm tưởng ta hiểu nhưng thực ra là đang tự huyễn bản thân là đang hiểu.
Nói về cuốn sách: Krishnamurti là một trong những Nhà tư tưởng lớn của nhân loại. Cuốn này coi như bản tóm tắt ngắn gọn tất cả về cách sống và tư tưởng của ông về cuộc sống. Từ bản ngã, cách sống, cách chúng ta đang hành động có thực sự là tỉnh thức hay không, nên nếu chỉ muốn đọc 1 cuốn self-help chỉ cuốn này là đủ. Sách rất cô đọng nên cần thời gian để ngẫm.
Rate: 5.0/5.0
P/s: Xin lỗi mình sẽ luôn để 5.0 cho những cuốn làm thay đổi thế giới quan của mình, nên đừng phê phán bảo mình thiên vị không công tâm với các tác phẩm khác nhé
2 người này đối lập nhau nhưng lại bổ trợ cho nhau. Osho thích phân tích, Krish thích tổng hợp, Krish giải thích theo logic còn Osho lại thích văn vở. Kish hiện hữu như một thầy dạy toán, chỉ con đường ngắn nhất để ta có thể giải được bài toán một các logic và chính xác, Osho thì ngược lại như một thầy dạy văn, vui chơi nô đùa với từng con chữ, đọc như bị Osho dắt mũi vì gần như mọi ý tưởng phản biện cho lời nói của ông đều được ông chuẩn bị sẵn ở câu sau, mình hay nói đùa đọc Krish thì phải tin vào Krish nhưng đọc Osho muốn không tin cũng không được. Krish thì nghiêm túc cô đọng, không nói thiếu một chữ, thừa một lời, Osho thì cợt nhả cà khịa, phân tích đúng sai của tất tần tật những thứ lầm tưởng của nhân loại... Một cách đọc thú vị mình nhận ra. Đọc Krish để hiểu tinh yếu những thứ bậc giác ngộ muốn truyền tải rồi đọc Osho để phân tích thật sâu, cả những thứ ta lầm tưởng ta hiểu nhưng thực ra là đang tự huyễn bản thân là đang hiểu.
Nói về cuốn sách: Krishnamurti là một trong những Nhà tư tưởng lớn của nhân loại. Cuốn này coi như bản tóm tắt ngắn gọn tất cả về cách sống và tư tưởng của ông về cuộc sống. Từ bản ngã, cách sống, cách chúng ta đang hành động có thực sự là tỉnh thức hay không, nên nếu chỉ muốn đọc 1 cuốn self-help chỉ cuốn này là đủ. Sách rất cô đọng nên cần thời gian để ngẫm.
Rate: 5.0/5.0
P/s: Xin lỗi mình sẽ luôn để 5.0 cho những cuốn làm thay đổi thế giới quan của mình, nên đừng phê phán bảo mình thiên vị không công tâm với các tác phẩm khác nhé
January 13, 2019
3.5 stars.
“How easy it is to destroy the thing we love!”
“When you see something very beautiful, you want to possess it, you want to hold onto it, you want to call it your own — it is my tree, my bird, my house, my husband, my wife. We want to hold it, and in that very process of holding, the thing that you once enjoyed is gone because in the very holding there is dependence, there is fear, there is exclusion, and so the thing that gave joy, a sense of inward beauty, is lost, and life becomes enclosed.”
Jiddu Krishnamurti was an Indian philosopher intrigued by the nature of the mind. What I find most interesting — and admirable — about him is that he claimed no allegiance to any nationality, caste, or religion. It is this identity (or lack of, one might argue) that forms the basis for Krishnamurti’s ideas.
At its core, What Are You Doing With Your Life? describes how change within the individual brings about change in society. This isn’t a radical idea, and it is the nature of this change that separates this book from other personal development titles. What Are You Doing With Your Life? is an ambitious read that tries to answer all of life’s important questions, and — in all honesty — it does a pretty good job of it. This is certainly a book that can be reread and reinterpreted at different times in one’s life.
Whilst I agree with almost all of Krishnamurti’s ideas (with the exception of, for example, his glorification of the mind), I disliked his style of writing. He writes in an almost stream-of-consciousness style, and although it was expressive — and, at times, poetic — this made it much more difficult to actually process what he was saying.
I confess that I skipped a few parts. This book didn’t hold my attention entirely, and there was nothing revolutionary about the arguments — although I acknowledge that I have read many books with similar outlooks, and it is unfortunate (for the purposes of this review) that I have only just gotten around to reading Krishnamurti’s works now.
For these purely subjective reasons, I have given What Are You Doing With Your Life? 3.5 stars. However, I strongly recommend that every reads this book. If everyone were to practice Krishnamurti’s philosophies, the world would be a much better place.
“How easy it is to destroy the thing we love!”
“When you see something very beautiful, you want to possess it, you want to hold onto it, you want to call it your own — it is my tree, my bird, my house, my husband, my wife. We want to hold it, and in that very process of holding, the thing that you once enjoyed is gone because in the very holding there is dependence, there is fear, there is exclusion, and so the thing that gave joy, a sense of inward beauty, is lost, and life becomes enclosed.”
Jiddu Krishnamurti was an Indian philosopher intrigued by the nature of the mind. What I find most interesting — and admirable — about him is that he claimed no allegiance to any nationality, caste, or religion. It is this identity (or lack of, one might argue) that forms the basis for Krishnamurti’s ideas.
At its core, What Are You Doing With Your Life? describes how change within the individual brings about change in society. This isn’t a radical idea, and it is the nature of this change that separates this book from other personal development titles. What Are You Doing With Your Life? is an ambitious read that tries to answer all of life’s important questions, and — in all honesty — it does a pretty good job of it. This is certainly a book that can be reread and reinterpreted at different times in one’s life.
Whilst I agree with almost all of Krishnamurti’s ideas (with the exception of, for example, his glorification of the mind), I disliked his style of writing. He writes in an almost stream-of-consciousness style, and although it was expressive — and, at times, poetic — this made it much more difficult to actually process what he was saying.
I confess that I skipped a few parts. This book didn’t hold my attention entirely, and there was nothing revolutionary about the arguments — although I acknowledge that I have read many books with similar outlooks, and it is unfortunate (for the purposes of this review) that I have only just gotten around to reading Krishnamurti’s works now.
For these purely subjective reasons, I have given What Are You Doing With Your Life? 3.5 stars. However, I strongly recommend that every reads this book. If everyone were to practice Krishnamurti’s philosophies, the world would be a much better place.
January 9, 2021
As titles say, it's a self-inquiry about the ignored aspect of life contaminated by the confusion of thoughts. Basically it a collection of Jiddu Krishnamurthi commentary on different parts of life. Books content mainly covers love, relationship, meditation, and fear, etc. if you are attentive in the first few chapter antidote offered by the author in plain language, you don't need to read the entire book. But it's very difficult to grasp what the author trying to convey with an inattentive and cluttered mind. The author trying to emphasize the essential requirement of awareness and observation in day to day action thought and any involvement to liberate from the clutches of endless inward suffering. If you are looking for methods to find out what to do with your life, this is not for you. Because the author is partially against all kinds of methods since it indirectly alleviates the suffering by confining us in ideologies.
Just read it and try to be still, if you are fully attentive to all the ongoing you can find the magic of stillness through the words of an author.
Just read it and try to be still, if you are fully attentive to all the ongoing you can find the magic of stillness through the words of an author.
April 24, 2021
J. Krishnamurti is very coherent about what is wrong with our lives, but incoherent about how to fix it. of course, there is great advice in this book, but sometimes it’s as if he is adding more dirty laundry to the basket without putting it in the washing machine--if you understand the crappy analogy. i just didn’t understand too much of what he said. as a spiritual person, i should but i don’t. i don’t really like the way he explains it—no offense to him but this book wasn’t too great in the beginning as well. it was also WAY too abstract for me to understand. it was like the author was attempting to be even more abstract than the concept already was. one thing i really enjoyed was his belief in which the source of finding the purpose of life—to figure out your life—is within yourself, not religion nor any spiritual gurus, or anything like that, but yourself. i find that it is great advice for anyone who rejects spirituality or religion, even me, someone who is a bit spiritual, enjoys that he shows how to completely be self-reliant on your journey to discovering who you are and the world around you. he is a great thinker, i really enjoyed hearing a different perspective, but i don’t think this book impacted me that much.
January 1, 2022
A really exposing and exceptional read.
The book is quite difficult to understand and focuses on self awareness and really gives a righteous perspective.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ❤️
The book is quite difficult to understand and focuses on self awareness and really gives a righteous perspective.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ❤️
July 17, 2020
O Que Estás a Fazer Com a Tua Vida foi o primeiro livro que li dentro da temática da autoajuda e foi um primeiro contacto muito positivo. O título da obra, por si só, já deixa o leitor a refletir sobre a sua própria vida, sobre o seu rumo. Como é expectável, ainda antes de iniciar a leitura o livro já me tinha conquistado.
Divide-se em quatro grandes partes, tendo cada uma delas capítulos mais específicos sobre determinados temas. A meu ver, essa abordagem está muito bem conseguida. Os capítulos são curtos e os conteúdos são explicados de forma bastante clara e apresentados de modo a promover, no leitor, uma reflexão por vezes bastante profunda.
Não é um livro para se ler num só dia. É, sim, um livro para ir sendo lido e digerido, pouco a pouco, pois aborda imensos temas pertinentes que estão presentes no nosso dia a dia e aos quais por vezes não prestamos a devida atenção.
O Que Estás a Fazer Com a Tua Vida tem, sobretudo, o objetivo de nos fazer pensar criticamente sobre o mundo que nos rodeia e, principalmente, sobre nós próprios - em todos os sentidos -, de nos fazer analisar os nossos próprios limites e eventuais barreiras que possam existir. É um livro que certamente abrirá horizontes e fará com que se repense a forma como se encara a vida. Recomendo imenso!
Foram muitos os excertos que me deixaram a refletir bastante e que me fizeram perceber o enorme potencial da obra. Destaco e irei citar um dos que mais me marcou para que possam, também vocês, refletir sobre ele:
“A vida não tem uma resposta simples. Quem procura uma resposta simples para a vida tem, obviamente, uma mente embotada, estúpida. A vida não tem conclusão, não tem padrão definido; a vida é viver, alterar, mudar...”
Divide-se em quatro grandes partes, tendo cada uma delas capítulos mais específicos sobre determinados temas. A meu ver, essa abordagem está muito bem conseguida. Os capítulos são curtos e os conteúdos são explicados de forma bastante clara e apresentados de modo a promover, no leitor, uma reflexão por vezes bastante profunda.
Não é um livro para se ler num só dia. É, sim, um livro para ir sendo lido e digerido, pouco a pouco, pois aborda imensos temas pertinentes que estão presentes no nosso dia a dia e aos quais por vezes não prestamos a devida atenção.
O Que Estás a Fazer Com a Tua Vida tem, sobretudo, o objetivo de nos fazer pensar criticamente sobre o mundo que nos rodeia e, principalmente, sobre nós próprios - em todos os sentidos -, de nos fazer analisar os nossos próprios limites e eventuais barreiras que possam existir. É um livro que certamente abrirá horizontes e fará com que se repense a forma como se encara a vida. Recomendo imenso!
Foram muitos os excertos que me deixaram a refletir bastante e que me fizeram perceber o enorme potencial da obra. Destaco e irei citar um dos que mais me marcou para que possam, também vocês, refletir sobre ele:
“A vida não tem uma resposta simples. Quem procura uma resposta simples para a vida tem, obviamente, uma mente embotada, estúpida. A vida não tem conclusão, não tem padrão definido; a vida é viver, alterar, mudar...”
September 22, 2023
One of the drawbacks of reading such philosophers is the organisations that function in their names start to exploit their fame and keep publishing the same thoughts under different names and ideas. This book is no exception. All the wisdom is lost in the pattern in which the book is published. JK is not known for brevity in explaining any idea and here it is confounded by needless subtitles thrust in the middle of the text. Also, there are repetitions and the QA style of the writing is not fit for understanding what the author is trying to convey. Disappointed. 💔
December 5, 2023
É um livro com reflexões sobre a vida, faz-nos pensar sobre o mundo e nós próprios. Recomendo a sua leitura!!!
May 25, 2020
This may not be a popular opinion here, especially going by the glowing reviews I'm seeing here on goodreads.
But I've just ploughed through one of the most painful, rambling 30 pages I've read in my life (academic books included). And, although I usually tend to have an almost uncontrollable compulsion to finish almost every book I've started, in this particular case, it's been relatively simple to make the decision to add it firmly to my DNF pile. I do not even think I will give it another try. Not for the next few decades, at least.
I'm sure JK makes some valid points, like the fact that we are all a product of our conditioning and we need to break out of it to really learn and grow.
I also completely understand the fact that education needs to be redefined to include all-round development of a student, instead of merely focusing on technical knowledge. This latter argument is a fact that the schools ostentatious founded on JK's philosophy would do well to understand better (given the propensity of at least some of them to misconstrue this advice as a diktat that they should *not* focus on technical knowledge at all! Mega face-palm!)
However, it is very painful to sift through all the rambling to try and unearth a few pebbles of wisdom. The language especially, is extremely trying.
Rambling, unedited and conversational stream-of-consciousness style of prose, it started to get on my nerves after the first page and a half.
In short, I found myself concluding after the first 20 odd pages, that life is too short to waste reading this book by JK, ironically titled "What are You Doing With Your life?"
As far as I'm concerned, this is yet another case of the emperor not having any new clothes.
Oh, and maybe JK gets to actually providing solutions later on in the book (I wouldn't know), but whatever I read was just him going on and on about how human behavior is so very flawed, without offering any constructive suggestions.
He successfully lost my attention completely at the point when he declared that human thought has never, and will never, solve any problems.
Once that idea is put into print in a book, I really cannot force myself to read any further. I do not appreciate self flagellation to *that* degree!
Another, potentially scandalous thing I'm going to say is this: the crazily-abstract rambling of the book reminded me very strongly of "Swamy" Nithyananda (I know, I expect a reasonable amount of hate for having drawn this comparison).
But actually, on balance, I'd rather listen to Nithyananda. At least he's entertaining. I can laugh at what he says without giving it a second thought; and that is time better spent than reading abstruse (pretentious) rambling!
But I've just ploughed through one of the most painful, rambling 30 pages I've read in my life (academic books included). And, although I usually tend to have an almost uncontrollable compulsion to finish almost every book I've started, in this particular case, it's been relatively simple to make the decision to add it firmly to my DNF pile. I do not even think I will give it another try. Not for the next few decades, at least.
I'm sure JK makes some valid points, like the fact that we are all a product of our conditioning and we need to break out of it to really learn and grow.
I also completely understand the fact that education needs to be redefined to include all-round development of a student, instead of merely focusing on technical knowledge. This latter argument is a fact that the schools ostentatious founded on JK's philosophy would do well to understand better (given the propensity of at least some of them to misconstrue this advice as a diktat that they should *not* focus on technical knowledge at all! Mega face-palm!)
However, it is very painful to sift through all the rambling to try and unearth a few pebbles of wisdom. The language especially, is extremely trying.
Rambling, unedited and conversational stream-of-consciousness style of prose, it started to get on my nerves after the first page and a half.
In short, I found myself concluding after the first 20 odd pages, that life is too short to waste reading this book by JK, ironically titled "What are You Doing With Your life?"
As far as I'm concerned, this is yet another case of the emperor not having any new clothes.
Oh, and maybe JK gets to actually providing solutions later on in the book (I wouldn't know), but whatever I read was just him going on and on about how human behavior is so very flawed, without offering any constructive suggestions.
He successfully lost my attention completely at the point when he declared that human thought has never, and will never, solve any problems.
Once that idea is put into print in a book, I really cannot force myself to read any further. I do not appreciate self flagellation to *that* degree!
Another, potentially scandalous thing I'm going to say is this: the crazily-abstract rambling of the book reminded me very strongly of "Swamy" Nithyananda (I know, I expect a reasonable amount of hate for having drawn this comparison).
But actually, on balance, I'd rather listen to Nithyananda. At least he's entertaining. I can laugh at what he says without giving it a second thought; and that is time better spent than reading abstruse (pretentious) rambling!
May 22, 2020
Một cuốn sách sâu sắc về cái tôi và bản chất của cuộc sống. Hiểu về chính mình, về những nỗi sợ hãi sâu kín trong mỗi người đang chi phối cuộc sống và ngăn chúng ta hạnh phúc thế nào.
Đọc để biết và hiểu về bản thân, về cái tôi hơn, và từ đó tập sống tỉnh thức hơn.
Đôi khi mình cảm thấy tác giả hơi thiếu tích cực 1 xíu, nhưng cũng dễ hiểu vì xã hội đang có quá nhiều điều tiêu cực, miễn là mỗi cá nhân ý thức được về chính mình, thay đổi chính mình thì xã hội cũng sẽ tốt hơn.
Đọc để biết và hiểu về bản thân, về cái tôi hơn, và từ đó tập sống tỉnh thức hơn.
Đôi khi mình cảm thấy tác giả hơi thiếu tích cực 1 xíu, nhưng cũng dễ hiểu vì xã hội đang có quá nhiều điều tiêu cực, miễn là mỗi cá nhân ý thức được về chính mình, thay đổi chính mình thì xã hội cũng sẽ tốt hơn.
October 2, 2019
It gave me an everlasting inner peace. It’s one of the books that you need to read again and again.
You’ll be surprised by how much wisdom is put into a small book that is super easy to read.
You’ll be surprised by how much wisdom is put into a small book that is super easy to read.
May 16, 2020
Audio from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4kHU...
Dễ đọc (dễ nghe) á, cho mỗi ngày một chút chứ không nên đọc (nghe) liền một lèo.
Có nhiều suy nghĩ quan điểm khá lạ nữa.
Dễ đọc (dễ nghe) á, cho mỗi ngày một chút chứ không nên đọc (nghe) liền một lèo.
Có nhiều suy nghĩ quan điểm khá lạ nữa.
November 15, 2021
I am so impress with this book, I really do when sth can change my mind. I wish, I could read this book earlier to take a good exam at school about what the meaning of this Life is.
The Roman „What are you doing with your Life?" by J. Krishnamurti, published in 2001, is about to see the world different by getting your Soul moving.
Overall, reading this book makes me completely change the way I think. This book isn't a recipe for how to be someone you want to be. This book wants to show in you, in the way you can unfold it in yourself. Therefore, ,,What are you doing with your Life?" Is absolutly recommend for all those who are looking for Life and Meaning in Life, Freeminders with an interest in Philosophy and Spiriation.
The Roman „What are you doing with your Life?" by J. Krishnamurti, published in 2001, is about to see the world different by getting your Soul moving.
Overall, reading this book makes me completely change the way I think. This book isn't a recipe for how to be someone you want to be. This book wants to show in you, in the way you can unfold it in yourself. Therefore, ,,What are you doing with your Life?" Is absolutly recommend for all those who are looking for Life and Meaning in Life, Freeminders with an interest in Philosophy and Spiriation.
April 18, 2022
There are no answers in this book, that would be disapponting. What you'll find is incredible self-empowerment to find answers within yourself through the understanding of the mind and self. An oversimplified bottom line: stop looking for guidance on how to live your life and start living it mindfully and passionately.
September 5, 2019
"Like river, life is running, swift, volatile, never still"
Simple, provocative, rhetoric questions and concepts on life, education and somewhere-in-between.
Simple, provocative, rhetoric questions and concepts on life, education and somewhere-in-between.
October 10, 2024
This left me staring at the wall for two hours without saying anything
November 15, 2024
Door uitgeverij Samsara Books ben ik verrast met een nieuwe non-fictie die me direct nieuwsgierig en enthousiast maakt. Ik lees graag boeken waarvan ik nieuwe inzichten, kennis en inspiratie opdoe die ik in mijn eigen leven kan gebruiken. Ik denk dat dit boek zo'n boek gaat zijn. Ik ken Krishnamurti nog niet, maar de flaptekst van het boek is veelbelovend, waardoor ik hoge verwachtingen heb van dit boek.
Krishnamurti is een van de grootste denkers van onze tijd. In dit boek behandelt hij de prangende vragen van deze tijd: Wie ben je? Wat ben je? Waar verlang jij van het leven? Hij spreekt over relaties, liefde, angst en eenzaamheid. Hij deelt zijn inspirerende wijsheid over verschillende thema's over het leven. Hoe kan je het beste trouw zijn aan jezelf en hij beantwoordt vragen als 'Wat is de betekenis van het leven?’ en 'Hoe kan ik het leven ten volle leven?’
Wat een helder, pakkend en mooi boek. Krishnamurti weet door middel van korte, heldere en toegankelijke verhalen zijn kennis en wijsheid met je te delen. Het boek is opgedeeld in vier delen: Je 'zelf' en je leven, Zelfkennis: de sleutel tot vrijheid, Onderwijs, werk en geld en als vierde Relaties. Daarbinnen weet hij verschillende onderwerpen van het leven te plaatsen die hij uitgebreid, maar wel helder, duidelijk en pakkend bespreekt, toelicht en zijn wijsheid ver laat schijnen.
Wat dit boek erg krachtig en goed maakt, is dat Krishnamurti echt tot de kern van dingen weet te komen. Hij belicht thema's vanuit verschillende perspectieven en durft er kritische en heldere vragen op los te laten. Alle stukken zijn opgedeeld in korte alinea's waardoor het een overzichtelijk boek is geworden.
Met name zijn inzichten en wijsheden rondom liefde en relaties waren echt eyeopeners. Hij wist dit zo helder, goed en krachtig te verwoorden, dat ze echt bij me binnen kwamen. Hierdoor is mijn kijk op mensen en de relatie die ik hiermee heb veranderd. Een krachtig inzicht wat me echt wist te raken was:
"Waar gehechtheid is, is geen liefde. Omdat je niet weet hoe je lief moet hebben, ben je afhankelijk en is er dus angst. Waar het om gaat is dat je dat feit ziet en niet vraagt hoe je lief moet hebben of hoe je vrij van angst moet zijn."
Wat doe jij met je leven? Is een super inspirerend, krachtig en helder boek waarin Krishnamurti verschillende thema's van het leven belicht en hierover zijn gedachten en wijsheid laat schijnen. Hij weet met zijn korte en mooie inzichten echt tot de kern te komen en laat je nadenken over hoe jij je leven leidt en invult. Het is echt een super mooi boek met echte eyeopeners.
Krishnamurti is een van de grootste denkers van onze tijd. In dit boek behandelt hij de prangende vragen van deze tijd: Wie ben je? Wat ben je? Waar verlang jij van het leven? Hij spreekt over relaties, liefde, angst en eenzaamheid. Hij deelt zijn inspirerende wijsheid over verschillende thema's over het leven. Hoe kan je het beste trouw zijn aan jezelf en hij beantwoordt vragen als 'Wat is de betekenis van het leven?’ en 'Hoe kan ik het leven ten volle leven?’
Wat een helder, pakkend en mooi boek. Krishnamurti weet door middel van korte, heldere en toegankelijke verhalen zijn kennis en wijsheid met je te delen. Het boek is opgedeeld in vier delen: Je 'zelf' en je leven, Zelfkennis: de sleutel tot vrijheid, Onderwijs, werk en geld en als vierde Relaties. Daarbinnen weet hij verschillende onderwerpen van het leven te plaatsen die hij uitgebreid, maar wel helder, duidelijk en pakkend bespreekt, toelicht en zijn wijsheid ver laat schijnen.
Wat dit boek erg krachtig en goed maakt, is dat Krishnamurti echt tot de kern van dingen weet te komen. Hij belicht thema's vanuit verschillende perspectieven en durft er kritische en heldere vragen op los te laten. Alle stukken zijn opgedeeld in korte alinea's waardoor het een overzichtelijk boek is geworden.
Met name zijn inzichten en wijsheden rondom liefde en relaties waren echt eyeopeners. Hij wist dit zo helder, goed en krachtig te verwoorden, dat ze echt bij me binnen kwamen. Hierdoor is mijn kijk op mensen en de relatie die ik hiermee heb veranderd. Een krachtig inzicht wat me echt wist te raken was:
"Waar gehechtheid is, is geen liefde. Omdat je niet weet hoe je lief moet hebben, ben je afhankelijk en is er dus angst. Waar het om gaat is dat je dat feit ziet en niet vraagt hoe je lief moet hebben of hoe je vrij van angst moet zijn."
Wat doe jij met je leven? Is een super inspirerend, krachtig en helder boek waarin Krishnamurti verschillende thema's van het leven belicht en hierover zijn gedachten en wijsheid laat schijnen. Hij weet met zijn korte en mooie inzichten echt tot de kern te komen en laat je nadenken over hoe jij je leven leidt en invult. Het is echt een super mooi boek met echte eyeopeners.
December 2, 2020
Makes à convincing case of self awareness.
April 18, 2020
Sometimes the universe brings you things that you need at the right time. I guess this is one such thing for me.
The philosophy in this book is rather deep, and to me, it will be hard to incorporate right away. But I am hoping to get there someday. I will reread this book someday.
JK encourages his audience to self-enquire, think one's way through the problem and arrive at a solution. To achieve peace in the world, he reasons that one should live peacefully. Only a mind that is self-aware and free of conditioning is capable of love. A mind that is capable of love is peaceful.
The philosophy in this book is rather deep, and to me, it will be hard to incorporate right away. But I am hoping to get there someday. I will reread this book someday.
JK encourages his audience to self-enquire, think one's way through the problem and arrive at a solution. To achieve peace in the world, he reasons that one should live peacefully. Only a mind that is self-aware and free of conditioning is capable of love. A mind that is capable of love is peaceful.
September 5, 2012
Interesting and gripping but too grimm .. too grimm. Depressing part is that there are shades of what is happening in that book happening in our lives too and has been happening all thru history and even now... and worse I feel we do such things to ourselves too rather than a govt doing it to the society.. deny reality,modify past, desensitize ourselves with junk food, entertainment, gaming,modify past(?) Chilling :-(
June 12, 2018
I'm going to read this again in a few years.
It's one of these books that will give you a different experience each time you read it.
It leaves so many questions open for the reader, which makes it even better because now you actively have to answer the questions yourself of which you expected an answer so badly.
It's one of these books that will give you a different experience each time you read it.
It leaves so many questions open for the reader, which makes it even better because now you actively have to answer the questions yourself of which you expected an answer so badly.
October 13, 2020
Mới lạ, độc đáo.
Quyển đầu tiên đưa mình đến với tư tưởng của Krishnamurti, tác giả cung cấp cho mình thêm một góc nhìn rất thú vị độc đáo về con người.
Quyển đầu tiên đưa mình đến với tư tưởng của Krishnamurti, tác giả cung cấp cho mình thêm một góc nhìn rất thú vị độc đáo về con người.
April 9, 2025
2025 is - door verschillende omstandigheden - voor mij een sabbatjaar geworden waarin ik voor mezelf wou oplijsten wat ik graag doe, hoe ik er enthousiast van kan worden en wat de toekomst gaat brengen. Als een soort hulpmiddel en vooral ook als morele steun kreeg ik van een vriendin de Nederlandse vertaling van deze What Are You Doing With Your Life? Geen idee waar ik me aan moest verwachten, want ik kende J. Krishnamurti totaal niet en dit soort boeken zijn niet in mijn boekenkast terug te vinden, maar ik ben voor mijn doen dan toch redelijk snel aan het boek begonnen.
Om uiteindelijk toch gecharmeerd te worden door wat Krishnamurti te vertellen heeft. Het boek zelf is een verzameling van zijn uitspraken die allemaal gegroepeerd zijn via bepaalde thema’s. Seks, huwelijk, religie, … Je moet het maar opnoemen en Krishnamurti heeft er waarschijnlijk wel iets over te zeggen gehad. Het zijn vaak korte antwoorden (het gebeurt slechts af en toe dat Krishnamurti iets meer dan een pagina over een bepaald topic praat) op stellingen die geponeerd worden en hoewel ik het niet eens ben met alles wat hij te vertellen heeft, zit er vaak wel een zekere logica in. Krishnamurti vertelt bovendien vlot, maar het probleem zit hem vooral in het feit dat dit nooit als een volledig geheel aanvoelt. Achteraan het boek zit een bronnenlijst waarin wordt aangegeven uit welke conversaties/boeken het antwoord van Krishnamurti komt en je voelt inderdaad dat het wat een samenraapsel van verschillende gesprekken is. Soms zijn het zelfs letterlijk quotes uit interviews. Verder kun je je afvragen of hij zelf wel tevreden was geweest met dit soort boek. What Are You Doing With Your Life lijkt het antwoord te willen geven op specifieke vragen zoals wat de betekenis is van het leven, maar het is net Krishnamurti die meerdere keren aangeeft dat je op jezelf moet vertrouwen en je niet moet laten leiden door goeroes die zeggen wat je moet doen. Dat geeft het geheel een nogal tegenstrijdige indruk.
Wat ik dan wel weer ten zeerste weet te waarderen is dat Krishnamurti duidelijk aangeeft dat religie meer schade berokkent dan wat anders. Hij ziet er nog wel het positieve in als je je kunt optrekken aan je geloof, maar veroordeeld werkelijk elke andere vorm van religie. Ik had namelijk verwacht dat hij volop de kaart ging trekken van “religie x is slecht, maar in religie y vind je alle antwoorden” en dan had een atheïst als mezelf niet verder geraakt dan de eerste paar pagina’s.
Om uiteindelijk toch gecharmeerd te worden door wat Krishnamurti te vertellen heeft. Het boek zelf is een verzameling van zijn uitspraken die allemaal gegroepeerd zijn via bepaalde thema’s. Seks, huwelijk, religie, … Je moet het maar opnoemen en Krishnamurti heeft er waarschijnlijk wel iets over te zeggen gehad. Het zijn vaak korte antwoorden (het gebeurt slechts af en toe dat Krishnamurti iets meer dan een pagina over een bepaald topic praat) op stellingen die geponeerd worden en hoewel ik het niet eens ben met alles wat hij te vertellen heeft, zit er vaak wel een zekere logica in. Krishnamurti vertelt bovendien vlot, maar het probleem zit hem vooral in het feit dat dit nooit als een volledig geheel aanvoelt. Achteraan het boek zit een bronnenlijst waarin wordt aangegeven uit welke conversaties/boeken het antwoord van Krishnamurti komt en je voelt inderdaad dat het wat een samenraapsel van verschillende gesprekken is. Soms zijn het zelfs letterlijk quotes uit interviews. Verder kun je je afvragen of hij zelf wel tevreden was geweest met dit soort boek. What Are You Doing With Your Life lijkt het antwoord te willen geven op specifieke vragen zoals wat de betekenis is van het leven, maar het is net Krishnamurti die meerdere keren aangeeft dat je op jezelf moet vertrouwen en je niet moet laten leiden door goeroes die zeggen wat je moet doen. Dat geeft het geheel een nogal tegenstrijdige indruk.
Wat ik dan wel weer ten zeerste weet te waarderen is dat Krishnamurti duidelijk aangeeft dat religie meer schade berokkent dan wat anders. Hij ziet er nog wel het positieve in als je je kunt optrekken aan je geloof, maar veroordeeld werkelijk elke andere vorm van religie. Ik had namelijk verwacht dat hij volop de kaart ging trekken van “religie x is slecht, maar in religie y vind je alle antwoorden” en dan had een atheïst als mezelf niet verder geraakt dan de eerste paar pagina’s.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2024
My wife sent me a picture of a stack of books from a post that called them “20 Books To Read In Your 20s”.
(the picture, for those reading this in an app that can't render the image, is here: https://jimrazinha.files.wordpress.co...)
I’d read three already (and can only really recommend one of those, McRaven’s Make Your Bed), so I decided to see if there was any merit to the rest of the stack. I tried to imagine what a twenty-something me would take away, and of course, the current me informs how I read it now.
As I make my way through the list, I’ve mentally sorted them into “No”, “Qualified No”, “Qualified Yes”, “Yes” categories. One of the books gave me pause and I had to add a new category: “Not Only No, But…”.
This one is a hard no. I think that somewhere, Krishnamurti might have said something coherent in a different book, or maybe not. This one, however, well… waterboarding may (technically) be illegal but this could serve as a substitute. It really could have used a strong editor to put together something better than the Analects of Krishnamurti.
I got tired of highlighting passages to illustrate the convoluted nonsense that serves to fog over the handful of good observations. Dawkins’ Law of the Cnservation of Difficulty applies here, “… obscurantism in an academic subject expands to fill the vacuum of its intrinsic simplicity. Physics is a genuinely difficult and profound subject, so physicists need to – and do – work hard to make their language as simple as possible (‘but no simpler,’ rightly insisted Einstein). Other academics – some would point the finger at continental schools of literary criticism and social science – suffer from what Peter Medawar (I think) called Physics Envy. They want to be thought profound, but their subject is actually rather easy and shallow, so they have to language it up to redress the balance.”
This is pseudo profound. This is Kierkegaard dressed in Asian mysticism (Kierkegaard is not a good thing, in case I wasn’t obvious enough). This is searching for an actual deep meaning of Jonathon Livingston Seagull.
Keep searching.
(the picture, for those reading this in an app that can't render the image, is here: https://jimrazinha.files.wordpress.co...)
I’d read three already (and can only really recommend one of those, McRaven’s Make Your Bed), so I decided to see if there was any merit to the rest of the stack. I tried to imagine what a twenty-something me would take away, and of course, the current me informs how I read it now.
As I make my way through the list, I’ve mentally sorted them into “No”, “Qualified No”, “Qualified Yes”, “Yes” categories. One of the books gave me pause and I had to add a new category: “Not Only No, But…”.
This one is a hard no. I think that somewhere, Krishnamurti might have said something coherent in a different book, or maybe not. This one, however, well… waterboarding may (technically) be illegal but this could serve as a substitute. It really could have used a strong editor to put together something better than the Analects of Krishnamurti.
I got tired of highlighting passages to illustrate the convoluted nonsense that serves to fog over the handful of good observations. Dawkins’ Law of the Cnservation of Difficulty applies here, “… obscurantism in an academic subject expands to fill the vacuum of its intrinsic simplicity. Physics is a genuinely difficult and profound subject, so physicists need to – and do – work hard to make their language as simple as possible (‘but no simpler,’ rightly insisted Einstein). Other academics – some would point the finger at continental schools of literary criticism and social science – suffer from what Peter Medawar (I think) called Physics Envy. They want to be thought profound, but their subject is actually rather easy and shallow, so they have to language it up to redress the balance.”
This is pseudo profound. This is Kierkegaard dressed in Asian mysticism (Kierkegaard is not a good thing, in case I wasn’t obvious enough). This is searching for an actual deep meaning of Jonathon Livingston Seagull.
Keep searching.
September 7, 2024
Một quyển sách nói về shel help, mọi thứ điều quay quanh bạn thân mình. Không ai có thể giải quyết được vấn đề của bạn thận họ trừ mình họ ra. Quyển sách chỉ về cách chúng ta thuyền, thuyền không chỉ ngồi yên bất động mà còn mà thuyền trong những việc chúng ta làm hành ngày. Chúng ta chỉ nên làm một việc trong môt thời điểm không nên làm nhiều việc cho một thời điểm thì hiểu suất công việc của chúng ta không cao. Nói về tình dục, nó không phải tất cả những gì trong cuộc sống của chúng ta, nếu chúng ta suy nghĩ về nó quá nhiều, thần thánh nó thì lúc đó chúng ta sẽ gặp vấn đề với nó thật. Nói về bản ngã con người ....
May 10, 2025
This is a short book, but it felt so long. It's very repetitive, too high-level, a good-old "don't worry be happy"-style, a long "I didn't know what to wear and I decided to wear a smile" speech with no real life application and most of the time not even finishing a line of thought.
A big chunk of the book goes like: "I know A. What me to tell you about A? In order to understand A, let me tell you about B first, which is actually the same as C, but definitely should not be confused with D. Don't even get me started with E, but how nice is F, right? Aaaaaand, that was A! Hope you understood it."
A big chunk of the book goes like: "I know A. What me to tell you about A? In order to understand A, let me tell you about B first, which is actually the same as C, but definitely should not be confused with D. Don't even get me started with E, but how nice is F, right? Aaaaaand, that was A! Hope you understood it."
September 11, 2022
"This imitation of what we should be breeds fear; and fear kills creative thinking. Fear dulls the mind and heart so that we are not alert to the whole significance of life; we become insensitive to our own sorrows, to the movement of the birds, to the smiles, and miseries of others."
November 27, 2019
Som bez slov.
December 13, 2019
A book to ponder over again and again
Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews