J. Krishnamurti (1895-1986)

Jiddu Krishnamurti is regarded internationally as one of the great philosophers and educators of our time. He was born on 11th May 1895 in Madanapalle town in Andhra Pradesh, South India. Dr. Annie Besant, the president of Theosophical Society, adopted him in his youth. Mrs. Besant and others proclaimed that Krishnamurti was to be the vehicle of the World Teacher, whose coming the Theosophists had predicted.

To prepare the world for his coming, an organization called “The Order of the Star in the East” was formed in 1911 with the young Krishnamurti as its head. He was taken to England to be privately educated and trained for his future mission.

In 1922, Krishnamurti underwent certain mystical experiences that altered his vision of life. A few years later, he renounced the role that had been thrust on him, dissolved the Order with its huge following, and gave up all the money and property collected for this work.

“I maintain that Truth is a pathless land, and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect. Truth being limitless, unconditioned, unapproachable by any path whatsoever, cannot be organised; nor should any organisation be formed to lead or coerce people along any particular path. My only concern is to set man absolutely, unconditionally free.”

Then, for more than fifty years, until his passing away on 17th February 1986, he travelled ceaselessly all over the world giving public talks and private interviews, speaking, writing, and holding dialogues, not as a guru, but as a lover of truth. These have been compiled into several books, translated into more than fifty languages, and recorded on audio and videotapes.

Long recognized as one of the world’s foremost religious teachers, Krishnamurti dedicated his life to awakening man to his own conditioning and to the possibility of freedom. Staying nowhere for more than a few months at a time, he considered himself as not belonging to any country or religion.

Over the years, his annual gatherings at Ojai in California, Saanen in Switzerland, Brockwood Park in England, and several cities in India attracted thousands of people of different nationalities, occupations, and outlooks. He urged his listeners to examine the workings of their own minds and asked enduring questions about the source of all problems, the nature of the human mind, and the significance of Life itself.

The four Krishnamurti Foundations, in India, USA, England, and Latin America, came into being to arrange his travels and organize his public talks. Today, they continue to run the schools, study centres, and retreats, and to preserve and publish his teachings for posterity.

As the founder, Krishnamurti clearly defined the purpose, responsibility, and the non-sectarian nature of all the Foundations. “The Foundations have no authority in the matter of the teachings. The truth lies in the teachings themselves. The Foundations will see to it that these teachings are kept whole, are not distorted, and are not made corrupt. The Foundations have no authority to send out propagandists or interpreters of the teachings.”

One can familiarize oneself with Krishnamurti’s works with some books like: Freedom from the Known, The First and Last Freedom, Beyond Violence, Commentaries on Living Vol: I – III, Krishnamurti On Education, Krishnamurti for Beginners, You are the World, The Whole Movement of Life is Learning, Meditations, Wholeness of Life, etc.