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La révolution du silence
=The silent revolution
168 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
36 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
About the author
J. Krishnamurti
1,334 books4,266 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 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 17, 2011
this book literally changed my life.
July 31, 2019
این کتاب شامل مجموعه سخنرانی های جناب مورتی در هند، کالیفرنیا و اروپا بود. محوریت کتاب بر موضوع مراقبه و چیستی آن بود. به نظرم تکرار همان مطالب کتاب های دیگرش بود مثل رهایی از دانستگی و ... نکته ای که نمی توانم از نوشته هایش درک کنم بیان این مسئله است که مثلا وقتی به مراقبه فکر می کنین این دیگر مراقبه نیست و موضوعاتی از این قبیل...
May 28, 2010
UM.
If you want to know what it's like to be spiritual perhaps you should read this. (?)
Some gorgeous language, but mostly concepts that did cartwheels all over my non-believing little mind. I'd be engrossed for pages and then snap out of it, think "HUH?" and have to start all over again. That sucks to admit.
So. Krishnamurti is a bright man, and this is for somebody. Many bodies, probably. Just not me. I'll try again when I grow up.
Enjoy.
If you want to know what it's like to be spiritual perhaps you should read this. (?)
Some gorgeous language, but mostly concepts that did cartwheels all over my non-believing little mind. I'd be engrossed for pages and then snap out of it, think "HUH?" and have to start all over again. That sucks to admit.
So. Krishnamurti is a bright man, and this is for somebody. Many bodies, probably. Just not me. I'll try again when I grow up.
Enjoy.
November 16, 2024
L'auteur nous transporte avec lui sur un chemin spirituel pour nous émanciper des drogues qui rendent notre condition humaine pesante, à savoir les religions, l'accumulation de connaissances, les dogmes .. Le sage Jiddu Kirshnamurti nous propose une philosophie de vie selon laquelle vivre l'instant présent libéré de toute forme de conditionnement est la seule voie de salut .. mais c'est beaucoup plus que cela : c'est aussi une question de méditation( il y consacre des pages et des pages pour la décrire) , d'avoir une prise sur soi et sur le monde, de garder ses sens vifs pour contempler les merveilles de la nature ..
A part les réflexions de l'auteur, on trouve aussi des descriptions de la nature et c'est très beau. Je l'ai lu en 2019, mais l'envie m'a pris aujourd'hui de relire quelques passages.
A part les réflexions de l'auteur, on trouve aussi des descriptions de la nature et c'est très beau. Je l'ai lu en 2019, mais l'envie m'a pris aujourd'hui de relire quelques passages.
November 25, 2016
A great book
June 21, 2018
C’est le deuxième livre de Krishnamurti que j’ai lu. Certes, ses idées étaient parfois difficiles à comprendre, j’ai dû relire certains passages plusieurs fois afin de saisir ce qu’il veut dire, j’ai trouvé aussi que certaines de ses idées sont trop compliquées voire même irréalisable. Mais la façon dont Krishnamurti perçoit le monde (la connaissance de soi, les "drogues dorées", les doctrines, la méditation, ...) est très intéressante et très philosophique. Un extrait qui résume un peu une partie de ses idées: "Lorsque vous vous dites Indien, Musulman, Chrétien, Européen, ou autre chose, vous êtes violents. Savez-vous pourquoi ? C’est parce que vous vous séparez du reste de l’humanité, et cette séparation due à vos croyances, à votre nationalité, à vos traditions engendre la violence. Celui qui cherche à comprendre la violence n’appartient à aucun pays, à aucune religion, à aucun parti politique, à aucun système particulier. Ce qui lui importe c’est la compréhension totale de l’humanité.".
July 2, 2016
L'auteur explique amplement ce que ne représente pas la méditation, ce qu'il ne faut pas faire, l'attitude à éviter...mais ne donne aucune explication en retour! Le discours est évasif, lyrique et poétique..mais n'apporte pas de réponses concrètes et satisfaisantes.
Lu comme de la litterature au lieu d'un livre sur la spiritualité, ce livre aurait été un régal de simplicité harmonieuse et mélodieuse. Cependant, on ne peut point séparer le côté "éducatif/guide spiritualité" de la création littéraire dans ce cas-ci.
Lu comme de la litterature au lieu d'un livre sur la spiritualité, ce livre aurait été un régal de simplicité harmonieuse et mélodieuse. Cependant, on ne peut point séparer le côté "éducatif/guide spiritualité" de la création littéraire dans ce cas-ci.
July 8, 2019
[...]Η αλήθεια δεν ανήκει ποτέ στο παρελθόν. Η αλήθεια του παρελθόντος είναι οι στάχτες της μνήμης. Η μνήμη ανήκει στο χρόνο και στις νεκρές στάχτες του χτες δεν υπάρχει αλήθεια. Η αλήθεια είναι κάτι το ζωντανό, κάτι εκτός τις περιοχής του χρόνου.
- Αλλά καθώς ό νους παρατηρεί, προσέχει την κίνηση της ζωής, την εσωτερική και την εξωτερική, σ' ένα τέτοιο νου έρχεται μια σιωπή πού δεν την έχει φτιάξει η σκέψις.
- Στοχασμός είναι η αποκάλυψις του καινούριου. Το καινούριο είναι πέρα και πάνω από το επαναλαμβανόμενο παρελθόν -και στοχασμός είναι το τέλος αυτής της επαναλήψεως.[...]
- Αλλά καθώς ό νους παρατηρεί, προσέχει την κίνηση της ζωής, την εσωτερική και την εξωτερική, σ' ένα τέτοιο νου έρχεται μια σιωπή πού δεν την έχει φτιάξει η σκέψις.
- Στοχασμός είναι η αποκάλυψις του καινούριου. Το καινούριο είναι πέρα και πάνω από το επαναλαμβανόμενο παρελθόν -και στοχασμός είναι το τέλος αυτής της επαναλήψεως.[...]
Read
November 7, 2019i don't think. thinking is old. thought, in its attempts to be honest, is comparative and therefore dishonest.
begin from that which you don't know, and live from there.
ha. what do you think?
begin from that which you don't know, and live from there.
ha. what do you think?
June 23, 2015
it could change your life if you let it! great book to read...be open while reading and concentrated
May 20, 2018
No words can do the mind of this great soul justice ... Please read his works for yourself, and make-up your own mind.
January 19, 2018
I find Krishnamurti's books difficult to read and many times I have to read the same chapter all over again to understand his point of view. But the effort is totally worth it.
May 4, 2025
This book has a lot to offer. I recommend it, but if I were to talk about it, I can only really think of the weaker points. The good, best, & primary point is its study of meditation, & I feel I got a lot out of it. My complaint, which may be imaginary, begins around the second half, particularly the last third of the book. Beside a bit of expected repetition, I felt two things:
1) Krishnamurti's suggestions did not seem entirely realistic or practical. I'd like to learn a bit more about the man himself & maybe read a few more of his books.
2) Krishnamurti's motive also began to become clearer.
The first point mostly speaks for itself. It is essentially not only a massive separation from what I'll call 'standard living' that Krishnamurti suggests, but also a seeming condescension toward it. All, outside of the Present, Seeing Truth is meaningless & a time-bound lie. In a way, it might be fair enough, but I'm not sure I'm convinced by his alternative. This probably isn't the place for a deeper speculation or study, but again, I'd like to learn more about the man himself & how he lived his life.
The second point started, I thought, as an effect of the first point. Bringing up condescension again, I found some things hypocritical. (e.g. beginning each chapter with a clear appreciation of nature, even specific happenings before him, & then systematically suggesting every single person he spoke to wasn't awake to it, or if they commented on it, it was only words, & they did not really understand the beauty - all the while, Krish is bringing attention to a large pheasant or a particular running stream, whereas I'd think in his All-Present state of Non-Consciousness (but of Being & Seeing) he himself would not need to specify this natural scene which, honestly, is the exact kind of thing your everyman would bring up as beautiful. Why not awareness to the whole scene, or bring attention to something your average nature-observer might not notice?)
For neatness, I'm abandoning that paragraph to that monstrous bracketed tangent, which is related. But the real point began seeping in by the second half of the book, & was made crystal clear in a scene towards the end involving a few 'older' people & one young university student. Throughout the book, every person who has come to talk with Krish has left with a discussion/lecture. This scene & this scene alone ends differently. The 'older' folk basically talk about how the younger generation wants nothing to do with them, & these older guys even understand, because they themselves are cognizant of their dependence on 'respectability', given them by an imaginary moral construct (that of society, Western or otherwise).
The aloof uni student eats spaghetti as they talk, then confirms that he & his generation have no desire for respectability, especially that gained through the moral lens of the old society, & that essentially, they are without morals. Krish then steps in with a quick paragraph or two saying "Yes, this is the way, abolish all morality, for that is the start of pure Seeing & then the pure Love morality," etc.
Seems like a convenient foot-in for a book published by a guru (from memory, he doesn't claim the title himself, seems condescending toward the idea of the guru, but for simplicity, I think it is what it is) in 1970. The publication year is important. All this then leads to the conclusion of the book. Without fanfare, without a summarizing speech or even a note of hope for the future, the book (notably, to me) ends during one his typical conversations. The final statement (literally) is that the Truth can't be attained by 'the golden drug'.
True as it may be, I think books like this should be without motive, or with a positive motive, existing to show the way, independent of outside circumstance. Instead, I found a book that increasingly shows itself to be a covert agent sent into the midst of 60s students, to sound reasonable in its transcendental statement, yet sympathetic to the young, open intelligentsia who, with new psychedelic drugs at their disposal, found themselves in the largest Youth revolution of the 20th Century. In the last few pages in his quick PSA against drugs, Krish actually makes a few points I disagree with &, in fact, find self-contradictory (though I think this is unintentional - on this matter, Krish was not teaching from a place of experience), but this is of little importance to me or the narrative. My main gripe is that I feel the book is deceptive, & Krish could have been more straight-forward in expressing his goals.
Other than that - & I find it a common trait in my reviews to discuss only the bad, while loving the work - this is a great & useful book. I have little to say about the good, because it speaks for itself. Simply read, ponder, learn - & do.
A phrase that may be the most important I've ever found rang through my head throughout many crucial portions of this book: "Set yourself in Heaven at once." I believe that is what Krish's meditation is.
1) Krishnamurti's suggestions did not seem entirely realistic or practical. I'd like to learn a bit more about the man himself & maybe read a few more of his books.
2) Krishnamurti's motive also began to become clearer.
The first point mostly speaks for itself. It is essentially not only a massive separation from what I'll call 'standard living' that Krishnamurti suggests, but also a seeming condescension toward it. All, outside of the Present, Seeing Truth is meaningless & a time-bound lie. In a way, it might be fair enough, but I'm not sure I'm convinced by his alternative. This probably isn't the place for a deeper speculation or study, but again, I'd like to learn more about the man himself & how he lived his life.
The second point started, I thought, as an effect of the first point. Bringing up condescension again, I found some things hypocritical. (e.g. beginning each chapter with a clear appreciation of nature, even specific happenings before him, & then systematically suggesting every single person he spoke to wasn't awake to it, or if they commented on it, it was only words, & they did not really understand the beauty - all the while, Krish is bringing attention to a large pheasant or a particular running stream, whereas I'd think in his All-Present state of Non-Consciousness (but of Being & Seeing) he himself would not need to specify this natural scene which, honestly, is the exact kind of thing your everyman would bring up as beautiful. Why not awareness to the whole scene, or bring attention to something your average nature-observer might not notice?)
For neatness, I'm abandoning that paragraph to that monstrous bracketed tangent, which is related. But the real point began seeping in by the second half of the book, & was made crystal clear in a scene towards the end involving a few 'older' people & one young university student. Throughout the book, every person who has come to talk with Krish has left with a discussion/lecture. This scene & this scene alone ends differently. The 'older' folk basically talk about how the younger generation wants nothing to do with them, & these older guys even understand, because they themselves are cognizant of their dependence on 'respectability', given them by an imaginary moral construct (that of society, Western or otherwise).
The aloof uni student eats spaghetti as they talk, then confirms that he & his generation have no desire for respectability, especially that gained through the moral lens of the old society, & that essentially, they are without morals. Krish then steps in with a quick paragraph or two saying "Yes, this is the way, abolish all morality, for that is the start of pure Seeing & then the pure Love morality," etc.
Seems like a convenient foot-in for a book published by a guru (from memory, he doesn't claim the title himself, seems condescending toward the idea of the guru, but for simplicity, I think it is what it is) in 1970. The publication year is important. All this then leads to the conclusion of the book. Without fanfare, without a summarizing speech or even a note of hope for the future, the book (notably, to me) ends during one his typical conversations. The final statement (literally) is that the Truth can't be attained by 'the golden drug'.
True as it may be, I think books like this should be without motive, or with a positive motive, existing to show the way, independent of outside circumstance. Instead, I found a book that increasingly shows itself to be a covert agent sent into the midst of 60s students, to sound reasonable in its transcendental statement, yet sympathetic to the young, open intelligentsia who, with new psychedelic drugs at their disposal, found themselves in the largest Youth revolution of the 20th Century. In the last few pages in his quick PSA against drugs, Krish actually makes a few points I disagree with &, in fact, find self-contradictory (though I think this is unintentional - on this matter, Krish was not teaching from a place of experience), but this is of little importance to me or the narrative. My main gripe is that I feel the book is deceptive, & Krish could have been more straight-forward in expressing his goals.
Other than that - & I find it a common trait in my reviews to discuss only the bad, while loving the work - this is a great & useful book. I have little to say about the good, because it speaks for itself. Simply read, ponder, learn - & do.
A phrase that may be the most important I've ever found rang through my head throughout many crucial portions of this book: "Set yourself in Heaven at once." I believe that is what Krish's meditation is.
July 8, 2011
I don't think I actually understand Krishnamurti. His approach reminds me of "neti, neti"/"not this, not this" and it is more helpful for me to get to "I am that." He says himself, "Negation is the most positive action."
Nevertheless, a few points of clarity:
- He speaks of the mind itself becoming measureless via meditation. This began to be for me a description of what It Is/what We Are.
- "Thought is always old; thought can never be new. Modern art is the response of thought, the intellect, and thought it pretends to be new it is really as old, though not as beautiful, as the hills."
- Become independent of challenges - we rely on them to keep us awake, to pull us out of our routine, tradition, established order. Each revolt, though, has within the seeds of the new social order.
- I loved this explanation of why mind-expanding drug experimentation is a false approach: "the shadow is not the real; the symbol is never the fact. No drug invented by man will give the highest intelligence."
Nevertheless, a few points of clarity:
- He speaks of the mind itself becoming measureless via meditation. This began to be for me a description of what It Is/what We Are.
- "Thought is always old; thought can never be new. Modern art is the response of thought, the intellect, and thought it pretends to be new it is really as old, though not as beautiful, as the hills."
- Become independent of challenges - we rely on them to keep us awake, to pull us out of our routine, tradition, established order. Each revolt, though, has within the seeds of the new social order.
- I loved this explanation of why mind-expanding drug experimentation is a false approach: "the shadow is not the real; the symbol is never the fact. No drug invented by man will give the highest intelligence."
May 18, 2018
One of my favorite Krishnamurti books, having started to read his books in 1993.
If you read his books without analyzing or judging than it can help you to review how you handle things in your life. His views on meditation are original and bring you to the very source of things.
Krishnamurti definitely changed my life, from being a young, depressed, insecure man in early nineties, to being a youngish, self-assured and creative man of 50y now.
If you read his books without analyzing or judging than it can help you to review how you handle things in your life. His views on meditation are original and bring you to the very source of things.
Krishnamurti definitely changed my life, from being a young, depressed, insecure man in early nineties, to being a youngish, self-assured and creative man of 50y now.
November 9, 2011
Excellent, potentially life changing if you are, as Krishnamurti suggested, inquiring for yourself the nature of conscious thought and awareness.
June 17, 2018
This book is very deep, need to read again to absorb.
Read
July 19, 2020Awareness is the lamp of the soul. That is what meditation is: I call that lamp meditation. Meditation is remaining constantly aware of what happens in one’s life, aware of all the aspects of one’s life. That alone is the lamp, that alone is the flame. Light your lamp and watch, and you will find that darkness goes on disappearing step-by-step. And one day you will find that darkness does not exist at all. One day you will find that your whole being is filled with luminosity, a luminosity that is otherworldly, a luminosity that is of the whole of existence – not just of this world, this time, this age.
You will find a light that comes from a far off place, from a fundamental source. And in that very luminosity, life is filled with dance, with music. Only then is there silence, only then is there truth. Before that, all is wandering in darkness. In that darkness, it doesn’t matter what you do. Nothing will happen. Light the lamp and only then will the lamp be of any use to you. Once lit, the flame of awareness, and only the flame of awareness will do something. Awareness brings revolution.
You will find a light that comes from a far off place, from a fundamental source. And in that very luminosity, life is filled with dance, with music. Only then is there silence, only then is there truth. Before that, all is wandering in darkness. In that darkness, it doesn’t matter what you do. Nothing will happen. Light the lamp and only then will the lamp be of any use to you. Once lit, the flame of awareness, and only the flame of awareness will do something. Awareness brings revolution.
November 13, 2024
Découverte de l auteur et philosophe et pour bien le découvrir, j ai 7 autres livres à lire .
Le concept du temps- pensée est longuement expliqué avec des chapitres courts permettant dd bien assimiler l information.
Pour ma part, j zi pris le temps de relire certains passages afin de bien comprendre !
Enfin cette lecture oermet de découvrir des notions, termes et mots sous d autres aspects et significations
Le concept du temps- pensée est longuement expliqué avec des chapitres courts permettant dd bien assimiler l information.
Pour ma part, j zi pris le temps de relire certains passages afin de bien comprendre !
Enfin cette lecture oermet de découvrir des notions, termes et mots sous d autres aspects et significations
November 15, 2024
Peter Cook sure looks old
with that suntan
March 18, 2021
This book had a profound and lasting impact on me, influencing greatly the way that I've come to process love and loss. Krishnamurti's rejection of conscious thought, and lack of empathy, is not meant as an affront on our human experiences, but as a means to help us to better understand ourselves in relation to the world around us, so that we may be liberated from the ego, and this, as the title suggests, is truly a revolution. It is typical for humans to be led by grief and fear, and without our knowing, this can cause us to inflict further pain and suffering into the world and unto our loved ones. To release our attachment to our emotions is to open the path for love and compassion to reign. An important, life-altering read for anyone seeking self-improvement.
June 8, 2022
Every moment is a meditation of what is.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews