The Mirror Of Relationship: Love, Sex, And Chastity: From the talks and writings of J. Krishnamurti [Paperback]

Jiddu Krishnamurti (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1992

Looking at relationship, Krishnamurti delves into topics close to each one of us. He discusses his views on sex and love, and explores the word and delusion of chastity. In Chapter 5 he says, The person who has taken the vow of celibacy knows no love, because he is concerned with himself and his own fruition. This is a great book for anyone in a relationship.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A comprehensive collection of extracts on the subject of sex and love." -- John Duncan

"Relationship is something I always struggle with, here is a book that suggests I stop struggling and start loving." -- Jayne Cramer

About the Author

Krishnamurti, Jiddu (b. May 12, 1895, Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh, India, d. February 18, 1986, Ojai, California) born of middle-class Brahmin parents, was recognized at age fourteen by the Theosophists Annie Besant and C.W. Leadbeater as the coming World Teacher and proclaimed to be the vehicle for the reincarnation of Christ in the West and of Buddha in the East. Mrs. Besant adopted the boy and took him to England, where he was educated and prepared for his coming role. He was made head of her newly formed worldwide religious organization, the Order of the Star in the East in 1911, but in 1929 after many years of questioning himself, he dissolved the Order, repudiated its claims and returned all the assets given to him for its purpose. Out of his own spiritual “process” experienced from 1922 onwards, he declared:

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 organized; nor should any organization be formed to lead or to coerce people along any particular path. My only concern is to set humanity absolutely, unconditionally free. Man cannot come to it through any organization, through any creed, through any dogma, priest or ritual, not through any philosophic knowledge or psychological technique. He has to find it through the understanding of the contents of his own mind, through observation and not through intellectual analysis or introspective dissection.

Krishnamurti claimed allegiance to no caste, nationality or religion and was bound by no tradition. He traveled the world and spoke spontaneously to large audiences until the end of his life at age ninety. He said man has to free himself of all fear, conditioning, authority and dogma through self-knowledge and this will bring about order and psychological mutation. The conflict-ridden violent world cannot be transformed into a life of goodness, love and compassion by any political, social or economic strategies, but only through this mutation in individuals brought about through their own observation without any guru or organized religion.

The rejection of all spiritual and psychological authority, including his own, is a fundamental theme. His major concern is the social structure and how it conditions the individual. The emphasis in his talks and writings is on the psychological barriers that prevent clarity of perception. In the mirror of relationship, each of us can come to understand the content of one’s own consciousness, which is common to all humanity. We can do this, not analytically, but directly in a manner Krishnamurti describes at length. In observing this content we discover within ourselves the division of the observer and what is observed. He points out that this division, which prevents direct perception, is the root of human conflict.

Krishnamurti's stature as an original philosopher, attracted non-traditional and traditional thinkers and philosophers alike. Heads of various religious organizations held discussions with him, only to hear him repeat his central theme that authority in whatever form—religious, psychological or political—is a hindrance to seeing the truth; man has to be his own guru to bring about psychological transformation. Attending Krishnamurti's talks in 1961, Aldous Huxley said, "It was like listening to a discourse of the Buddha—such power, such intrinsic authority...." In 1984 he spoke to nuclear scientists at the National Laboratory Research Center at Los Alamos, New Mexico, U.S.A. David Bohm Ph.D., the quantum physicist and friend of Einstein, recognized in Krishnamurti’s teachings parallels with his own revolutionary theories of physics. This led to many years of dialogue between the two men, which helped form a bridge between so-called mysticism and science. Other scientists found his discussions of time, thought and death to be thought provoking.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Krishnamurti Publications of America (December 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888004053
• ISBN-13: 978-1888004052
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,715,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the mirror, January 20, 2008

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This review is from: The Mirror of Relationship: Love, Sex, and Chastity (Paperback)

The mirror is always there. Wanting to wrap your head around that in times where it is essential is another thing. I adore the way this is conveyed by Krishnamurti, the authenticity and warmth. He is simply wonderful!