This is the biography of J. Krishnamurti, one of the great spiritual leaders of the 20th century. When he was just 14 in 1909, Krishnamurti was proclaimed the world teacher-to-be in which Maitreya, the Bodhisattva of compassion, would manifest. This proclamation was made by Annie Besant, the then president of the Theosophical Society, a movement that combined Western occult philosophy with Buddhist and Hindu teachings. But, despite undergoing 20 years of training, Krishnamurti rejected the Messianic role and set out alone on his spiritual quest. As a contemporary of Krishnamurti, the author, Pupul Jayakar, offers an insider's view of his life. She discusses Krishnamurti's thoughts and ideas on the mind, on meditation, on awareness and on religion, placing them in a historical context.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Okay, too many discussions,
By A Customer
This review is from: J. Krishnamurti: A Biography (Arkana) (Paperback)
This book has some reasonable insights, I especially liked the end part, "Krishnamurti at 90", plus there are some wonderful anecdotes here that I won't ever forget.Trouble is, the book is much, much too long (516 p.) Towards the end of the book are many pages of discussions, in fact almost every chapter is a discussion! This is boring for those familier with the teaching. There is simply not much about K himself or what he was actually doing in the later years of his life. I was skipping whole pages! Another difficulty I have is the constant need for Pupul to interpret the teachings and to make K seem more mystical than he was by using misleadingly poetic/spiritual language. You would almost think Pupul was talking about some sort of God! She does not seem objective in her language. The best, most objective biographies on K are the 3 volume trilogy by Mary Lutyens, called Years of Awakening, Years of Fulfillment, and The Open Door, even though Lutyens will make some annoying excuses for some of K's irrational behaviour like when he tried to supress a sympathetic book about him by Lady Emily. Despite this, these books have the most information about who K actually was, plus also look for "Krishnamurti and Rajagopals" if you are interested in the whole Rajagopal thing.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a remarkble biography.,
By Michael Bellinger (Utica, New York, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: J. Krishnamurti: A Biography (Arkana) (Paperback)
No book is perfect and this one has some minor flaws in the author's perspective here and there, but overall it is comprehensive and has a depth of understanding that is truly masterful. I have read other excellent biographies and reminisces of Krishnamurti, but this one is different. It conveys something beyond mere words on a page- I sensed something I would call "sacred" beyond even K while reading this book, which led to an opening of the floodgates of my own conciousness. Since that experience I've lived a process of continual self discovery and fundamental change. Now I won't say that this will necessarily happen to you, but if you can't stand anything but the most uncontaminated, unexploited and uncompromising version of what life really is, then this book is for you. My life and experiences have led me to believe that when you are ready for the truth, it will find YOU...so if you've found this book (or maybe vice versa), then read on, my friend, for you've just taken a step towards the first taste of real freedom. As a final statement, let me give you a cue on understanding K's basic message. All real change is instantaneous, and it occurs at the non-verbal level- where direct perception always takes place. When it happens, that particular problem (or "negative emotional layer" or "conditioned reaction") you had is released and it is gone forever! Passive, non-verbal awareness of yourself in the action of relationship with others/things/ideas/thoughts/your environment, ect. is what will lead you to these perceptions if you're really serious about it...And that's what it takes; the absolute refusal to be deluded, exploited, or lulled into the stupor of life's mundane pleasures and escapes. Beyond all that nonsense there is something that you absolutely must experinece...it is the essence of beauty, of serenity, of love itself; and if you don't find it before you die, then you will have wasted your short time on this earth. This book is like an owners manual of the human mind...learn how to use it!
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Integrates Krishnamurti's teaching and his history,
By
This review is from: J. Krishnamurti: A Biography (Arkana) (Paperback)
Other biographies, although necessary for their time line chronological recording, do not match this wonderful book by P. Jayakar. She has an penetrating insight that pulls us along on her own quest to understand that which is so hard too grasp with our conditioned and structed approachs to learning and seeing. I first read this book about 6 years ago when I first became interested in Krishnamurti. I was grasping with many of the comprehensive problems that Pupal describes in her early personal association with Krishnamurti. I've read the book twice since then and I continue to pick up more and see more of what is going on in a different way. This is an important book! Not just a good book. Let American students read this before they read 'The Crucible' for instance, (which is one of the books I had to read in school). Lets open our self-imposed limitation we've put on our minds and a wake up. Time is running out. Krishnamurti's life, although interesting, is not important. Or better put, it is only important to the extent that he left the teachings. This is what is important. Read this book and be intrigued, but better yet, be changed for the better. Without trying. There is no need to become anything. But, there is a dire need to change. What am I talking about? Are you confused? Read the book. Then don't take mine or Krishnamurti's word for it. See the truth for yourself. J. Krishnamurti: A Biography, is a great place to start.
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