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Freedom, Love and Action
The core of the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti's teaching is contained in his statement, 'Truth is a pathless land'. Man cannot come to it through any organization, through any creed, through any dogma, priest or ritual, not through any philosophical knowledge or psychological technique. He has to find it through the mirror of relationship, through the understanding of the contents of his own mind, through observation and not through intellectual analysis or introspective dissection.
In the dialogues and reflections included in Freedom, Love, and Action, Krishnamurti points to a state of total awareness beyond mental processes. He discusses such topics as meditation as a path to personal and societal transformation, setting the mind free from its own conditioning, the possibility of finding enlightenment in everyday activities, and integrating freedom, love, and action.
In the dialogues and reflections included in Freedom, Love, and Action, Krishnamurti points to a state of total awareness beyond mental processes. He discusses such topics as meditation as a path to personal and societal transformation, setting the mind free from its own conditioning, the possibility of finding enlightenment in everyday activities, and integrating freedom, love, and action.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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About the author
J. Krishnamurti
1,336 books4,269 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 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 6, 2024
My honest opinion?
Meh.
This was my first time reading Krishnamurti.
I've heard his name for years. I've seen his books on the shelves of many book stores, located very near the books I am looking for. I've looked at the covers, considered checking one out, and always refrained.
Because my impression, whenever I'd take a look at the back cover or flip through a few pages, was always "meh."
Or, more accurately, my impression was always that the books looked kind of... flaky? Is that the right word? Something about them always emanated "cheesy guru," "excellent reading material for people who'd like to join a cult." Something about them always made me think of Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the Hare Krishna movement. I've read a bunch of his stuff. It's all... meh.
But I wanted to say that I'd given Krishnamurti a chance, and I've been super wrong about writers before, so I put I put this one on my "wish list" and my sister gave it to me for Christmas.. and... yeah.
Meh.
It was pretty much what I expected.
There's nothing terribly objectionable in this book.
There is, in fact, plenty that I think is perfectly accurate, important stuff. Not terribly original, but true.
Certainly there are bits reminiscent of Zen writers. The whole "looking" thing, direct awareness, the "just seeing" or "just noticing" of the Zen and other Buddhist traditions. That's all nice.
But overall, this just struck me as, well, everything that I thought it would probably be.
Cheesy guru stuff that made me expect to hear some George Harrison sitar playing. Vague platitudes about love. Lots of flowery language that seemed design to obscure the fact that very little of substance was actually being said.
I know people love Krishnamurti.
I'm not sure why.
I know there are plenty of very intelligent, very spiritual people that I deeply respect who claim that they have been inspired by Krishnamurti.
I'm not sure why.
I'll probably eventually try to read some of his other work, because not everything can be a writer's best stuff, and maybe this is just not his best stuff.
Meh.
This was my first time reading Krishnamurti.
I've heard his name for years. I've seen his books on the shelves of many book stores, located very near the books I am looking for. I've looked at the covers, considered checking one out, and always refrained.
Because my impression, whenever I'd take a look at the back cover or flip through a few pages, was always "meh."
Or, more accurately, my impression was always that the books looked kind of... flaky? Is that the right word? Something about them always emanated "cheesy guru," "excellent reading material for people who'd like to join a cult." Something about them always made me think of Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the Hare Krishna movement. I've read a bunch of his stuff. It's all... meh.
But I wanted to say that I'd given Krishnamurti a chance, and I've been super wrong about writers before, so I put I put this one on my "wish list" and my sister gave it to me for Christmas.. and... yeah.
Meh.
It was pretty much what I expected.
There's nothing terribly objectionable in this book.
There is, in fact, plenty that I think is perfectly accurate, important stuff. Not terribly original, but true.
Certainly there are bits reminiscent of Zen writers. The whole "looking" thing, direct awareness, the "just seeing" or "just noticing" of the Zen and other Buddhist traditions. That's all nice.
But overall, this just struck me as, well, everything that I thought it would probably be.
Cheesy guru stuff that made me expect to hear some George Harrison sitar playing. Vague platitudes about love. Lots of flowery language that seemed design to obscure the fact that very little of substance was actually being said.
I know people love Krishnamurti.
I'm not sure why.
I know there are plenty of very intelligent, very spiritual people that I deeply respect who claim that they have been inspired by Krishnamurti.
I'm not sure why.
I'll probably eventually try to read some of his other work, because not everything can be a writer's best stuff, and maybe this is just not his best stuff.
February 11, 2019
A must read for those who seek to find deeper answers as well as questions.
August 24, 2022
Perfect mix of mystic Zen bullshit and actual rhetorical philosophy
June 1, 2009
I don't think I understood what he was saying in this book...
November 27, 2023
I wouldn't recommend starting with these talks. But it would be fine to start with these talks.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews