Jiddu Krishnamurti was one of the
paramount spiritual leaders of the 20th century. When he was just a little boy,
he was pronounced as the ‘teacher who would deliver the world’. This
declaration was made by Dr. Annie Besant, the-then president of the
Theosophical Society.
To prepare the world for his
wisdoms, an organization called ‘Order of the Star in the East’ was formed and
young Krishnamurti was placed as the organization’s head. Despite enduring two
decades of laborious training for the role, he rejected the title and set out
on his psychic expedition.
For nearly 60 years after setting
out on his quest, he travelled the world, giving discourses to large audiences
and to individuals about the need for a fundamental alteration in the world. He
did not develop any attitude or religion, but rather discoursed about the
apprehensions of daily life and the necessity for mankind to free itself from
the encumbrances of fear, anxiety, sorrow, jealousy and anger.
He was not a part of any religious
group and desired to be diplomatic with his choice of words and even his
teachings. At the time of his death, he left behind a great legacy; one that
entailed all his teachings, discourses and literature in the form of recorded
talks, interviews, letters and publications.
Major Works
• ‘The First and Last Freedom’, written by Krishnamurti, was published in 1954. This was the second of his books published by a typical marketable publisher. The book became extremely popular for its themes of ‘belief’, ‘desire’, simplicity’ and ‘awareness and went on to spawn 36 editions, in 9 different languages and is housed in over 1,566 libraries around the world.
• ‘Freedom from the Know’ - my favourite K book - is a compilation of Krishnamurti's writings, edited by Mary Lutyens.
• ‘Krishnamurti’s Notebook’, published in 1976, is a publication about states of consciousness and is a part-autobiography. The work was expanded in 2003 after a few more pages of Krishnamurti’s diary were found. This book also became popular and produced two other editions; ‘Krishnamurti’s Journal’ and ‘Krishnamurti to Himself’.
Childhood &
Early Life
•
Jiddu Krishnamurti was born to a
Telugu-speaking Hindu Brahmin family in the town of Madanapalle, Madras
Presidency (now located in Andhra Pradesh).
•
He hailed from a spiritual family and had
ten siblings. Only six of his siblings however, survived childhood.
•
In 1903, the family moved to Cudappah and
resided there. He suffered from a number of illnesses as a young boy and was
often considered ‘mentally’ unstable. As a result, he was not a favorite with
his teachers and would be repeatedly beaten by them and his father at home.
•
His mother died when he was just 10 years
old, followed by his sister, which left him disturbed for a very long time. It
was during these periods of turmoil that he found peace with nature.
•
He came to face-to-face with a soothsayer,
Charles Webster Leadbeater, in 1909, who was astonished by Krishnamurti’s aura
and proclaimed that one day he would become a ‘World Teacher to guide the
evolution of humankind’.
•
He was later taken under Leadbeater’s wing
and was educated at the Theosophical Society at Adyar, later continuing his
education abroad. It was during this time, he developed a strong bond with Dr.
Annie Besant, whom he viewed as a motherly figure
Later Years
•
In 1911, the Theosophical Society
established the ‘Order of the Star in the East’, organizing the world for their
new head and teacher, in the form of Krishnamurti. He was taken to London the
same year, where he delivered his first public sermon and also published his
first writings.
•
From 1911 to 1914, Krishnamurti and his
brother visited a number of European countries, escorted by Theosophist
followers.
•
After World War I ended, he went on a tour
around the world, where he delivered a series of sermons regarding his duties as
the Head of OSE. In 1922, he traveled along with his brother to California,
where the duo resided in Ojai Valley. It was here, he was introduced to one of
his greatest influences, Rosalind Williams.
•
In 1922, he went through what he described
as the ‘most intense spiritual awakening’ and even experienced ‘mystical
union’.
•
After the sudden death of his brother due
to tuberculosis, Krishnamurti’s belief in Theosophy spiraled downwards. Over
the next few years, his life reached a new direction in 1929, which led to the
ensuing dissolution of the organization. Following his decision of splitting
from the organization, a lot of his followers began to resent him.
•
From 1930 to 1944, he went on a number of
world tours and engaged in several discourses. He also began issuing a number
of publications under the backings of ‘Star Publishing Trust’, which he founded
with close friend, Desikacharya Rajagopal. During this time, he also befriended
Aldous Huxley.
•
After a brief lull from public speaking, he
gave a series of talks in Ojai in 1944. These talks were subsequently collated
and published by ‘Krishnamurti Writings Inc’, the successor organization of
‘Star Publishing Trust’.
•
He started a speaking tour in India in the
autumn of 1947 and managed to attract a horde of young intellectuals to his
discourses.
•
In the 1960s, he became close to David
Bohm, whose systematic and metaphysical concerns regarding the corporal world
found close equivalents with Krishnamurti’s views.
•
From 1984 to 1985, he addressed an audience
at the United Nations, in New York.
•
He visited India for the last time before
1986, where he gave his final ‘talk’ in Madras (now Chennai).
Personal Life &
Legacy
•
In 1921, he fell in love with Helen Knothe,
an American. However, the relationship never progressed and the couple drifted
apart.
•
He later fell in love with Rosalind
Williams, who was the co-founder of Happy Valley School along with him (a piece
of information that was not disclosed for a very long time). However, the duo
could not be together and she ended up marrying his best-friend, Rajagopal.
•
He suffered from pancreatic cancer and
passed away, aged 90. His body was cremated and his ashes were scattered in
three countries where he held utmost influence; India, England and the United
States of America.
•
During his lifetime, he founded a number of
schools around the world, including Brockwood Park School, Happy Valley School
and the Krishnamurti Foundation. Today, the Krishnamurti Foundation runs a
number of schools in India and overseas.
•
His works and teachings have gone on to
influence conventional religious establishments in India. Following his death,
many books, audio clips, video and computer materials on him have been
published and/or released.
•
His supporters continue to work in
non-profit organizations and foundations run under his name and continue to
transliterate and distribute his talks and teachings from their archives.