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Krishnamurti's Journal
In his diary, the distinguished philosopher contemplates his life and discusses subjects, including consciousness, meditation, communication, and nature
100 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
20 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
About the author
J. Krishnamurti
1,323 books4,275 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 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 18, 2021
This is JK's journal from the early 1970's.
It is his observations of reality shown through nature and self exploration.
Words cannot express the beauty of his writings and I long to see the world as he does.
It is his observations of reality shown through nature and self exploration.
Words cannot express the beauty of his writings and I long to see the world as he does.
Read
April 23, 2014هل يمكن الخصول على نسخة بي دي اف من هذا الكتاب
Read
June 7, 2024" The silence of the mountains has a depth which the valleys have not. Each has its own silence; the silence among clouds and among trees is vastly different; the silence between two thoughts is timeless; the silence of pleasure and of fear are tangible. The artificial silence which thought can manufacture is death; the silence between noises is the absence of noise but it is not silence, as the absence of war is not peace.
The dark silence of a cathedral, of the temple, is of age and beauty, especially constructed by man; there is the silence of the past and of the future, the silence of the museum and the cemetery. But all this is not silence. "
The dark silence of a cathedral, of the temple, is of age and beauty, especially constructed by man; there is the silence of the past and of the future, the silence of the museum and the cemetery. But all this is not silence. "
September 30, 2019
كتاب تأملي، لا يوجد هدف سوى مشاركة الحالة التي يعيشها الكاتب.
July 10, 2011
Krishnamurti's journal is a fantastic read for anyone familiar with his work. There's a poetic and often neologic style to his writing.. It's random and tangential as journals tend to be, but with fascinating insights and reflections composed after some of his famous talks.
Perhaps the most striking was his attention to the world around him as he was writing, beautiful scenes and an almost surreal depth to what otherwise would have seemed mundane. Occasionally it reminded me of Proust; for example, simple details of a nearby tree would fill pages exploring and understanding what otherwise is impossible to express directly in words.
Perhaps the most striking was his attention to the world around him as he was writing, beautiful scenes and an almost surreal depth to what otherwise would have seemed mundane. Occasionally it reminded me of Proust; for example, simple details of a nearby tree would fill pages exploring and understanding what otherwise is impossible to express directly in words.
April 22, 2018
i drank that immense silence as those descriptions of nature and human consciousness from k (as he usually referred to himself) poured on me. the book itself is a meditation.
along with the pages, you become more and more responsive and attentive to your surroundings which is generally missed and ignored in life.....
......hence the life itself..
... this book is just beyond time...
i love the book
along with the pages, you become more and more responsive and attentive to your surroundings which is generally missed and ignored in life.....
......hence the life itself..
... this book is just beyond time...
i love the book
July 23, 2007
This collection is perhaps even more beautiful than the notebook. These pieces were all dictated into a tape recorder -roughly on a day by day basis from his bed when he was alone- and constitute Krishnamurti's last teachings. They are uncommonly beautiful, spacious, and spellbinding. To read one is like watching a sunset.
July 2, 2013
I have found this book very dry at the beginning. I've had a silent retreat that opened up for me some of the understandings Krishnamurti is writing about in his journal and after that it started to make a lot of sense.
May 18, 2018
The beauty of the writings in this book is immense and the way he describes the nature makes you stop with everything and make a walk in the nature, among the trees and far from the noice...If you allow it to yourself, you will fall in love with this book!
July 28, 2012
Sure raises hell lotta questions in ur head.. Some answered and rest one's got to find on ur own.
Comples u to find out who u really are.
Comples u to find out who u really are.
February 4, 2016
كتاب راااااااااااائع
December 23, 2018
A book that needs to be read and re-read read , this is the 4th or 5th time am reading this and Everytime my takeaways completely change
Read
December 22, 2019"La tristesse de la vie s'exprimait en toutes choses et dans le ciel bleu, tout là-haut, les vautours aux vastes ailes, tournoyant sans paraître faire un mouvement, planaient inlassablement, attendant et surveillant."
"Que l'espace fasse défaut, à l'intérieur comme à l'extérieur, et vous devenez un être de violence et de laideur."
"On est privé d'espace lorsque (...), lorsque la douleur règne ou que l'on devient le centre de l'univers."
"(...) sur cette terre que l'on voyait du ciel, il se trouvait des tyrans déniant toute liberté à l'homme, des idéologues façonnant son esprit, des prêtres qui depuis des siècles le maintenaient en esclavage grâce à une croyance enracinée dans la tradition." (1973)
"La religion a pour seul but la conversion totale de l'homme (...) l'une ouvre la porte à l'incommensurable et l'autre celle de la prison qui se referme sur l"homme. L'une est porteuse de vérité et l'autre débouche sur l'asservissement de la pensée."
"Vous avez besoin de toute votre énergie pour retrouver et dépasser la vitalité qui se perd dans la violence."
"Il n'est pas sain de vivre sous contrôle. Cela entraîne d'incessants conflits, la douleur et la confusion."
"Le cerveau a besoin de sécurité et d'ordre pour fonctionner harmonieusement (...)"
"L'espace, la distance, qui vous sépare de l'arbre c'est le mot, le savoir qui est d'ordre temporel."
"Le conflit qui oppose ceux qui croient que l'homme n'est que matière et ceux qui recherchent le spirituel existe depuis des millénaires. Cette division a entraîné tant de misère, de confusion et d'illusions pour l'homme."
"La liberté ne réside pas dans le fait de changer de prison (...)"
"Posséder un vaste savoir n'exclue pas la pauvreté extrême."
"Mais le savoir n'est pas compassion et sans elle, il entraîne malveillance, souffrance indicible et chaos."
"Le fait de se conformer et d'imiter est signe de violence, la duperie et l'asservissement à une autorité sont révélateurs de violence."
"Le contrôle, la censure, implique la division entre celui qui contrôle et ce qu'il contrôle."
"L'espace que l'on occupe est celui que la pensée a édifié autour de soi (...)" expose-t-il.
"Toutes ses tentatives pour créer des rapports empreints de profondeur se terminent dans la multiplication de ses propres images." souligne-t-il.
"Etant vous-même dépourvu d'intégrité, vous édifiez une société immorale, malhonnête, qui repose sur l'égoïsme absolu."
"Avoir une conscience claire et lucide de tout cela est agir (...)"
"L'esprit a un besoin vital de sécurité, la contradiction et la confusion le menacent. (...) mais le conflit s'intensifie.", "C'est le conflit de la vie, qui se pose quotidiennement."
"Et l'homme qui gravit la colline est maintenu dans l'espace étroit de ses problèmes."
"Certaines personnes exercent une autorité, alors même que vous refusez cette forme de pouvoir." constate-t-il au début du livre.
"(...) pourquoi les êtres adoptent des comportements erronés, tombent dans la corruption, affichent une attitude inconvenante faite d'agressivité, de violence, de duplicité ? (...) Nous cherchons à faire endosser la responsabilité de cette dégénérescence à d'autres que nous-mêmes, ou à certaines circonstances. Les explications et les causes constituent un moyen facile de s'en sortir."
(En Sanscrit) "Cette prière tend vers une paix durable : "Que la paix règne parmi les dieux, dans le ciel et entre les étoiles; que la paix soit sur la terre, entre les hommes et les animaux à quatre pattes; puissions-nous ne pas nous nuire mutuellement, puissions-nous être généreux les uns envers les autres; puissions-nous posséder cette intelligence qui guidera nos vies et nos actes; que la paix soit dans notre prière, sur nos lèvres et dans nos coeurs."
"Elle fut écrite il y a des siècles et des siècles par quelqu'un pour qui la paix revêtait un caractère de nécessité absolue et peut-être était-ce là ce qui inspirait sa vie quotidienne. (...) avant l'immortalisation du pouvoir de l'argent et l'importance accordée aux biens matériels qui découle de l'industrialisation."
"L'aurore révélé la forme des arbres et le tracé allongé des collines et des vignobles."
"Il n'est pas sain de vivre sous contrôle. Cela entraîne d'incessants conflits, la douleur et la confusion."
"La tradition est très puissante, plus forte que l'amour." souligne-t-il dans certains cas.
"La tradition de la guerre est plus forte que l'amour." écrit-il le 29 septembre 1973
-
"Que l'espace fasse défaut, à l'intérieur comme à l'extérieur, et vous devenez un être de violence et de laideur."
"On est privé d'espace lorsque (...), lorsque la douleur règne ou que l'on devient le centre de l'univers."
"(...) sur cette terre que l'on voyait du ciel, il se trouvait des tyrans déniant toute liberté à l'homme, des idéologues façonnant son esprit, des prêtres qui depuis des siècles le maintenaient en esclavage grâce à une croyance enracinée dans la tradition." (1973)
"La religion a pour seul but la conversion totale de l'homme (...) l'une ouvre la porte à l'incommensurable et l'autre celle de la prison qui se referme sur l"homme. L'une est porteuse de vérité et l'autre débouche sur l'asservissement de la pensée."
"Vous avez besoin de toute votre énergie pour retrouver et dépasser la vitalité qui se perd dans la violence."
"Il n'est pas sain de vivre sous contrôle. Cela entraîne d'incessants conflits, la douleur et la confusion."
"Le cerveau a besoin de sécurité et d'ordre pour fonctionner harmonieusement (...)"
"L'espace, la distance, qui vous sépare de l'arbre c'est le mot, le savoir qui est d'ordre temporel."
"Le conflit qui oppose ceux qui croient que l'homme n'est que matière et ceux qui recherchent le spirituel existe depuis des millénaires. Cette division a entraîné tant de misère, de confusion et d'illusions pour l'homme."
"La liberté ne réside pas dans le fait de changer de prison (...)"
"Posséder un vaste savoir n'exclue pas la pauvreté extrême."
"Mais le savoir n'est pas compassion et sans elle, il entraîne malveillance, souffrance indicible et chaos."
"Le fait de se conformer et d'imiter est signe de violence, la duperie et l'asservissement à une autorité sont révélateurs de violence."
"Le contrôle, la censure, implique la division entre celui qui contrôle et ce qu'il contrôle."
"L'espace que l'on occupe est celui que la pensée a édifié autour de soi (...)" expose-t-il.
"Toutes ses tentatives pour créer des rapports empreints de profondeur se terminent dans la multiplication de ses propres images." souligne-t-il.
"Etant vous-même dépourvu d'intégrité, vous édifiez une société immorale, malhonnête, qui repose sur l'égoïsme absolu."
"Avoir une conscience claire et lucide de tout cela est agir (...)"
"L'esprit a un besoin vital de sécurité, la contradiction et la confusion le menacent. (...) mais le conflit s'intensifie.", "C'est le conflit de la vie, qui se pose quotidiennement."
"Et l'homme qui gravit la colline est maintenu dans l'espace étroit de ses problèmes."
"Certaines personnes exercent une autorité, alors même que vous refusez cette forme de pouvoir." constate-t-il au début du livre.
"(...) pourquoi les êtres adoptent des comportements erronés, tombent dans la corruption, affichent une attitude inconvenante faite d'agressivité, de violence, de duplicité ? (...) Nous cherchons à faire endosser la responsabilité de cette dégénérescence à d'autres que nous-mêmes, ou à certaines circonstances. Les explications et les causes constituent un moyen facile de s'en sortir."
(En Sanscrit) "Cette prière tend vers une paix durable : "Que la paix règne parmi les dieux, dans le ciel et entre les étoiles; que la paix soit sur la terre, entre les hommes et les animaux à quatre pattes; puissions-nous ne pas nous nuire mutuellement, puissions-nous être généreux les uns envers les autres; puissions-nous posséder cette intelligence qui guidera nos vies et nos actes; que la paix soit dans notre prière, sur nos lèvres et dans nos coeurs."
"Elle fut écrite il y a des siècles et des siècles par quelqu'un pour qui la paix revêtait un caractère de nécessité absolue et peut-être était-ce là ce qui inspirait sa vie quotidienne. (...) avant l'immortalisation du pouvoir de l'argent et l'importance accordée aux biens matériels qui découle de l'industrialisation."
"L'aurore révélé la forme des arbres et le tracé allongé des collines et des vignobles."
"Il n'est pas sain de vivre sous contrôle. Cela entraîne d'incessants conflits, la douleur et la confusion."
"La tradition est très puissante, plus forte que l'amour." souligne-t-il dans certains cas.
"La tradition de la guerre est plus forte que l'amour." écrit-il le 29 septembre 1973
-
January 6, 2020
Jiddu Krishnamurti is undoubtedly one of the most thought-provoking and powerful philosophers from India. Luckily, I purchased this book from one of his foundations and I got to start the year with his timeless wisdom.
Each entry in this journal starts with a beautiful serenity and it feels more like poetry than mere accumulated thoughts. Krishnamurti’s ideas related to varied themes like love, seperation, freedom, meditation, rationality and many more are discussed while intricating them with the natural description of everyday life.
A refreshing and beautiful insight into the simplicity and rich wonders of nature and life both.
Each entry in this journal starts with a beautiful serenity and it feels more like poetry than mere accumulated thoughts. Krishnamurti’s ideas related to varied themes like love, seperation, freedom, meditation, rationality and many more are discussed while intricating them with the natural description of everyday life.
A refreshing and beautiful insight into the simplicity and rich wonders of nature and life both.
February 25, 2021
This is the first time K kept a journal. The entries are spanned over a period of several months. Each passage has vivid and beautiful description of nature. Then he writes philosophical thoughts and sometimes questions you.
I read one or two entries per day and found it to be very meditative. I believe that's the right way to read this "book". In fact, most of K's books are meant to be "read" a little a day and then spend more time contemplating on his questions and, as he always said, question everything he said without accepting anything on face value.
I read one or two entries per day and found it to be very meditative. I believe that's the right way to read this "book". In fact, most of K's books are meant to be "read" a little a day and then spend more time contemplating on his questions and, as he always said, question everything he said without accepting anything on face value.
March 28, 2022
Menarik untuk dibaca, banyak hal-hal yang biasa dianggap remeh di kehidupan sehari-hari yang ternyata terdapat maknanya dan itu dapat disadari jika membaca dengan sungguh-sungguh. Ada banyak renungan yang bisa diambil dari kisah Krishnamurti. Pelajaran mengenai meditasi diajarkan dengan sangat berbeda dari buku meditasi yang lain. Mungkin karena masih kurang familiar dengan buku dalam bahasa Inggris sehingga sedikit susah untuk dipahami maknanya.
November 22, 2022
Exceptional!
Krishnamurti ne dezvăluie modul propriu de a medita si rezultatele stării de a medita: profunzimea liniștită a conștiinței.
Cartea descrie conexiunea dintre natură si fiinta umană conștientă de sine.
Desi sunt imagini ale mediului in care se afla Krishnamurti, multe dintre ele in aceeasi paletă descriptivă, mereu am fost fascinată de fluxul de constiinta favorizat de plimbarile meditative ale scriitorului.
Krishnamurti ne dezvăluie modul propriu de a medita si rezultatele stării de a medita: profunzimea liniștită a conștiinței.
Cartea descrie conexiunea dintre natură si fiinta umană conștientă de sine.
Desi sunt imagini ale mediului in care se afla Krishnamurti, multe dintre ele in aceeasi paletă descriptivă, mereu am fost fascinată de fluxul de constiinta favorizat de plimbarile meditative ale scriitorului.
September 1, 2024
I haven’t read much of Krishnamurti’s writing in years, but I happened to stumble across this book recently. I adore the way he discusses nature and I find reading someone’s journal to be very intimate and connecting. Although I will admit most entries seemed repetitive (always with something new to ponder, but repetitive nonetheless) - but really, I can’t complain here. How many times have I journaled about the same thing?!
January 2, 2021
Mixing nature with the deepest thinking possible, it was my favorite book I read in 2020.
September 17, 2025
respectfully…what was this man on when he wrote this
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews