Jiddu Krishnamurti

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Introduction

Jiddu Krishnamurti was one of the most influential spiritual thinkers of the twentieth century. He was born on 11 May 1895 in Madanapalle, a small town in Andhra Pradesh, India, and he died on 17 February 1986 in Ojai, California, United States. Krishnamurti is remembered not as the founder of a religion or a sect but as a philosopher who urged people to think freely, without dependence on authority, tradition, or dogma. He believed that truth is a pathless land and that human beings must discover it for themselves through observation, awareness, and inner freedom.

Early Life

Krishnamurti was born into a middle-class Brahmin family. His father, Jiddu Narianiah, worked as a clerk with the British colonial administration, and his mother, Sanjeevamma, was deeply religious. From childhood Krishnamurti was considered a sensitive and dreamy child, often sickly and withdrawn.

In 1909 he was discovered on the beach in Adyar, near Madras, by Charles Leadbeater, a prominent member of the Theosophical Society. Leadbeater claimed that Krishnamurti had an extraordinary aura and was destined to become a great spiritual teacher. Soon after, Krishnamurti and his younger brother, Nityananda, were taken under the guardianship of Annie Besant, the president of the Theosophical Society.

The Theosophical Society and the “World Teacher”

The Theosophical Society believed that Krishnamurti would become the “World Teacher,” a messianic figure who would guide humanity towards spiritual enlightenment. In 1911 they established the Order of the Star in the East, with Krishnamurti as its head.

Krishnamurti was educated in both India and England, where he was trained to fulfill this role. He was exposed to Western philosophy, science, and culture, while also being shaped by Indian traditions. For many years he travelled and gave speeches under the guidance of the Theosophical Society.

Break with Organized Religion

In 1929 Krishnamurti made a dramatic break with the Theosophical Society and the Order of the Star in the East. At a gathering in the Netherlands, before thousands of followers, he dissolved the order and declared that truth cannot be organized. His famous statement was: “Truth is a pathless land. You cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect.”

From that moment Krishnamurti rejected all religious authority, spiritual organizations, and systems of belief. He began his lifelong journey as an independent thinker, dedicated to awakening human consciousness.

Philosophy and Teachings

Krishnamurti’s philosophy was not based on scriptures, tradition, or religious authority. Instead, it was rooted in direct observation of the human mind and the problems of daily life.

Freedom from Authority

Krishnamurti emphasized that true freedom comes when individuals free themselves from dependence on authority, tradition, or external guidance. He believed that teachers, scriptures, and organizations often prevent people from discovering truth for themselves.

The Nature of the Mind

He explored the workings of thought and consciousness. According to him, thought is mechanical and limited because it is based on memory and past experience. True understanding arises when the mind is free from the constant activity of thought.

Awareness and Meditation

Krishnamurti did not teach any particular method of meditation. Instead, he spoke of awareness as a way of observing life without judgment or distortion. He said that meditation is not concentration but a state of choiceless awareness in which the mind is completely quiet and open.

Love and Relationships

He believed that human relationships are often corrupted by fear, desire, and dependency. True love, according to him, exists only when the mind is free from attachment and possessiveness.

Education and Society

Krishnamurti was deeply interested in education. He founded schools in India, England, and the United States where the emphasis was not only on academic learning but also on self-understanding and the development of free, responsible human beings.

Violence and Conflict

He analyzed the roots of violence, which he saw as arising from nationalism, organized religion, and psychological conditioning. He believed that peace could not be achieved through political systems but only through inner transformation in each individual.

Writings and Talks

Krishnamurti wrote many books and gave countless talks and dialogues across the world. Some of his famous works include The First and Last Freedom, Commentaries on Living, Freedom from the Known, and The Awakening of Intelligence. His conversations with scientists, philosophers, and spiritual leaders, including physicist David Bohm, revealed his ability to engage deeply with both scientific and spiritual questions.

Personal Life

Krishnamurti remained unmarried and lived a simple life. Despite being surrounded by followers, he maintained that he was not a guru and that no one should follow him. He moved frequently between India, Europe, and the United States, giving talks and meeting people from all walks of life.

Influence and Legacy

Krishnamurti’s influence extended far beyond religious or philosophical circles. He inspired educators, scientists, artists, and ordinary people who were searching for truth and clarity. His insistence on self-inquiry and freedom from authority made him a unique voice in the modern world.

The schools he founded continue to function, spreading his vision of holistic education. His books and recorded talks are widely read and studied. Philosophers and psychologists have acknowledged his insights into the human mind, while spiritual seekers admire his clarity and honesty.

Death

Krishnamurti died on 17 February 1986 in Ojai, California, at the age of ninety. In his final message he insisted once again that no one should turn him into an authority and that each person must find truth for themselves.

Conclusion

Jiddu Krishnamurti was not a guru, prophet, or founder of a religion. He was a thinker, teacher, and philosopher who urged people to live with awareness, freedom, and love. His message was simple yet profound: truth cannot be found through external authority but only through direct observation and understanding of oneself. His life and teachings continue to inspire people across the world to look inward, to question, and to discover for themselves the meaning of life.

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