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On Truth
On Truth offers Krishnamurti's most profound ruminations on the search for truth. In 1929, he began his life of public teaching by saying, "Truth is a pathless land." Throughout his many years of speaking to audiences of all ages and backgrounds, he continually emphasized that truth cannot be approached through the instrument of thought. Truth is intangible and nameless, and can only be realized through exploring the total movement of thought and its activities. Appearing in print for the first time, these vital teachings show how truth arises when effort ceases, the mind is empty, and there is only the present moment. We learn that truth comes uninvited, "with glory," when one puts all in order, and "in that there is great sacredness."
- GenresPhilosophy
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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85 people want to read
About the author
J. Krishnamurti
1,323 books4,274 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 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 22, 2020
Bertahun-tahun buku ini tidak pernah benar-benar kusentuh. Akhirnya sekarang berhasil kuselesaikan karena entah mengapa aku merasa ini waktu yang tepat untuk membaca buku ini. Dunia dan kepalaku sama-sama sedang kacau, apa sih yang seharusnya kulakukan?
Buku ini membuatku pusing dan lega sekaligus. Pusing karena aku membandingkan epistemologi J.Krishnamurti (K) dengan teori-teori lainnya yang pernah kubaca. Aku terlampau skeptis. Lega karena sebenarnya, sebagian besar yang J.Krishnamurti sampaikan dalam buku ini, adalah sesuatu yang kuyakini. Berarti selama ini aku skeptis dengan keyakinanku sendiri, hahahah.
Poin utamanya adalah tentang kebenaran, truth. K memang cukup dikenal dengan adagiumnya tentang kebenaran, "Truth is a pathless land.". Intinya, kebenaran tidak pernah statis, dan ia tidak perlu dan tidak bisa dikejar. Ia harus dialami oleh masing-masing orang, bukan berpegangan pada pedoman apapun. Kebenaran tidak berada di kejauhan; ia dekat tetapi begitu tertutupi sehingga kita harus menyingkapnya sedemikian rupa. Untuk akhirnya "bertemu" dengan kebenaran, yang perlu dilakukan adalah untuk menyediakan semua indra kita untuk menerima dan memahami. Melihat, merasa, mendengar segala sesuatu sebagaimana adanya. Tidak melulu merespons sehingga kita justru mengabaikan apa yang ada saat ini. Saat ini. Yang kita punya adalah saat ini, gunakanlah untuk menerima.
Ada beberapa kontradiksi dari bunga rampai pemikiran K di berbagai tempat dan waktu ini. Namun, ia juga berhasil menguliti hal-hal yang mungkin selama ini aku coba untuk ingkari. Urusan keyakinan dengan Tuhan, urusan untuk mengakui hal-hal dan perasaan-perasaan, urusan keinginan atas sebuah keabadian sebab perubahan seringkali merupakan hal yang dihindari manusia, dan lainnya. Tapi semakin ke sini aku semakin "disadarkan"--oleh banyak hal, beberapa tanpa intensiku sendiri--bahwa yang permanen adalah kesementaraan. Dan itulah yang harus kuterima, itu yang harus kuinsafi sebab ia akan pergi begitu saja. Jangan berlari, cobalah untuk meresapi kesementaraan itu. Lepaskan pelan-pelan, mungkin aku bisa melihat sesuatu di sana.
Hehe buddhis sekali, ya. Mungkin inilah jalan ninjaku yang sadar tidak sadar aku percayai dan jalani entah sejak kapan??? Lega sekali karena mantra yang kuulang-ulang untuk diriku setiap saat, "be present, cherish the moment while it lasts" ternyata sejalan dengan apa yang K juga percayai. Dan harus kuakui, K membuatku ingin rutin bermeditasi lagi.
Buku ini membuatku pusing dan lega sekaligus. Pusing karena aku membandingkan epistemologi J.Krishnamurti (K) dengan teori-teori lainnya yang pernah kubaca. Aku terlampau skeptis. Lega karena sebenarnya, sebagian besar yang J.Krishnamurti sampaikan dalam buku ini, adalah sesuatu yang kuyakini. Berarti selama ini aku skeptis dengan keyakinanku sendiri, hahahah.
Poin utamanya adalah tentang kebenaran, truth. K memang cukup dikenal dengan adagiumnya tentang kebenaran, "Truth is a pathless land.". Intinya, kebenaran tidak pernah statis, dan ia tidak perlu dan tidak bisa dikejar. Ia harus dialami oleh masing-masing orang, bukan berpegangan pada pedoman apapun. Kebenaran tidak berada di kejauhan; ia dekat tetapi begitu tertutupi sehingga kita harus menyingkapnya sedemikian rupa. Untuk akhirnya "bertemu" dengan kebenaran, yang perlu dilakukan adalah untuk menyediakan semua indra kita untuk menerima dan memahami. Melihat, merasa, mendengar segala sesuatu sebagaimana adanya. Tidak melulu merespons sehingga kita justru mengabaikan apa yang ada saat ini. Saat ini. Yang kita punya adalah saat ini, gunakanlah untuk menerima.
Ada beberapa kontradiksi dari bunga rampai pemikiran K di berbagai tempat dan waktu ini. Namun, ia juga berhasil menguliti hal-hal yang mungkin selama ini aku coba untuk ingkari. Urusan keyakinan dengan Tuhan, urusan untuk mengakui hal-hal dan perasaan-perasaan, urusan keinginan atas sebuah keabadian sebab perubahan seringkali merupakan hal yang dihindari manusia, dan lainnya. Tapi semakin ke sini aku semakin "disadarkan"--oleh banyak hal, beberapa tanpa intensiku sendiri--bahwa yang permanen adalah kesementaraan. Dan itulah yang harus kuterima, itu yang harus kuinsafi sebab ia akan pergi begitu saja. Jangan berlari, cobalah untuk meresapi kesementaraan itu. Lepaskan pelan-pelan, mungkin aku bisa melihat sesuatu di sana.
Hehe buddhis sekali, ya. Mungkin inilah jalan ninjaku yang sadar tidak sadar aku percayai dan jalani entah sejak kapan??? Lega sekali karena mantra yang kuulang-ulang untuk diriku setiap saat, "be present, cherish the moment while it lasts" ternyata sejalan dengan apa yang K juga percayai. Dan harus kuakui, K membuatku ingin rutin bermeditasi lagi.
October 7, 2025
This was an interesting read, but overall is somewhat confusing and there isn’t really a line of logic in the way this book was put together.
First of all Krishnamurti’s thing where he doesn’t write anything down, just goes across the world speaking and people record him is an interesting approach to teaching. It leads (in this book at least) to a lot of jumping around. I’m not sure he’s presenting to the best audiences, as a lot of the questions are repeated and a lot of the discussions go in circles and never amount to much.
Krishnamurti also comes off as super condescending almost all of the time, and I think this is a little his fault, but also the audience. He’s trying to convey this idea that humans need to break free (become aware) of the conditioning that is pressed upon us at birth in order to achieve freedom and truth, while the audience is worried about “how to make a good living” and “how to break free of an abusive relationship”. They’re asking him questions about life within the illusions of this conditioning, and they’re missing his message.
Second, I think this whole book could be reduced down to a chapter of writing. Basically Krishnamurti is saying that truth is outside the realm of our human conditioning. When we become aware of the conditioning and attempt to study ourselves and how we are effected by the conditioning, we can gain some distance from it and begin to study the human experience and the relevance of truth to this. It’s something has come up in different realms of study, philosophy and religion (the nothingness of Buddhism), but it’s not exactly a novel concept. He hammers his point home many times throughout the 140 pages of this book, but I feel it could have been explained better in direct writing.
Overall, it was a decent read, and there’s thoughts to contemplate, but not a fan of the style and format of this, or of the speaker (Krishnamurti) and his way of conveying ideas.
First of all Krishnamurti’s thing where he doesn’t write anything down, just goes across the world speaking and people record him is an interesting approach to teaching. It leads (in this book at least) to a lot of jumping around. I’m not sure he’s presenting to the best audiences, as a lot of the questions are repeated and a lot of the discussions go in circles and never amount to much.
Krishnamurti also comes off as super condescending almost all of the time, and I think this is a little his fault, but also the audience. He’s trying to convey this idea that humans need to break free (become aware) of the conditioning that is pressed upon us at birth in order to achieve freedom and truth, while the audience is worried about “how to make a good living” and “how to break free of an abusive relationship”. They’re asking him questions about life within the illusions of this conditioning, and they’re missing his message.
Second, I think this whole book could be reduced down to a chapter of writing. Basically Krishnamurti is saying that truth is outside the realm of our human conditioning. When we become aware of the conditioning and attempt to study ourselves and how we are effected by the conditioning, we can gain some distance from it and begin to study the human experience and the relevance of truth to this. It’s something has come up in different realms of study, philosophy and religion (the nothingness of Buddhism), but it’s not exactly a novel concept. He hammers his point home many times throughout the 140 pages of this book, but I feel it could have been explained better in direct writing.
Overall, it was a decent read, and there’s thoughts to contemplate, but not a fan of the style and format of this, or of the speaker (Krishnamurti) and his way of conveying ideas.
September 30, 2018
This is the first book I've read by Krishnamurti. This is a collection of truth related talks he gave throughout the years. He asks us to question for ourselves the ideas he brings forth. Ideas relating to truth, what it is, and how do we see it? Is truth static or changing? Can we observe it without judging, acting or reacting?
It's not a quick read. With these type of philosophy books I find it beneficial to read just a little bit each day, preferably before or after meditation.
On another note, I appreciate his take on gurus,teachers and religion much more than Osho or Ram Dass. I'll be checking out some of his other books in the future.
It's not a quick read. With these type of philosophy books I find it beneficial to read just a little bit each day, preferably before or after meditation.
On another note, I appreciate his take on gurus,teachers and religion much more than Osho or Ram Dass. I'll be checking out some of his other books in the future.
April 26, 2023
Negate all untruths and what remains will be the only offering of some reflection of god in this realm which is inseparable from the truth.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews