By Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895 – 1986).

171 Pages | Published in 1977, first published in Gollancz Paperbacks 1985; this edition was first published in 1991 | Softcover | Victor Gollancz Ltd., London | ISBN: 0575037652.

Truth and Actuality consists of both talks and dialogues by J. Krishnamurti. It opens with three discussions taken from a longer series with the eminent theoretical physicist Dr. David Bohm; these deal with the problem of truth, the actuality in which we live as perceived by the senses, reality as appears to our consciousness, and the relationship between them.

In the main part of the book, Krishnamurti considers how man’s consciousness is made up of all sorts of misconceptions about the ‘me’, or the ego centre; he also points out how solidly conditioned it is. ‘You cannot go through reality to come to truth; you must understand the limitation of reality, which is the whole process of thought’, he says. The book ends with some questions and answers which throw light on certain issues previously touched upon.

From Chapter 9 – ‘The Sacred, Religion, Meditation’ (p. 144 & 145):

” The many religions throughout the world have said that there is an enduring, everlasting truth, but the mere assertion of truth has little significance. One has to discover it for oneself, not theoretically, intellectually or sentimentally, but actually find out if one can live in a world that is completely truthful. We mean by religion the gathering together of all energy to investigate into something: to investigate if there is anything sacred. That is the meaning we are giving it, not the religion of belief, dogma, tradition or rituals with their hierarchical outlook. But we are using the word ‘religion’ in the sense: to gather together all energy, which will then be capable of investigating if there is a truth, which is not controlled, shaped, or polluted by thought. “

Door Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895 – 1986).

246 Pages | First edition 1999 | Softcover | Krishnamurti Foundation India, Chennai | ISBN: 8187326085.

The Revolution from Within is the second in the series titled ‘Selections from the Decades’ and consists of twenty-three public talks that Krishnamurti gave between 1952 and 1959. Whereas in the 1940s, Krishnamurti had to address a variety of contemporary social and political issues, here his focus is primarily, if not solely, on a radical change in the mind and heart of every human being. What brings about such a change is not knowledge or reason, nor new ideas or ideals, or the pursuit of some religious goals; nor does it come about through effort and will. It is only in understanding ourselves completely that this transformation takes place.

From Chapter – ’23 August’ (p. 23 & 24):

” Unless there is a transformation at the centre, not substitution, but a radical uprooting of the ‘me’, no fundamental change is possible. Realizing this, how is one to bring about a deep inner change? That is the problem, is it not? – for a serious person, not for the superficial who are seeking some comforting illusion, gurus, teachers and all the rest of the nonsense. So, how can that centre transform itself? Sirs, people who see that a change must take place, and do not know how it should come about, are easily caught by incentives, are they not? They are distracted by idealogical utopias, by the Masters, by worship, by churches, by organizations, by saviours, and so on and on and on; but when I put aside all distractions because they will not transform the centre, and I am concerned only with the transformation of the centre – when I really see the urgency, the necessity of that, then all these superficial reformations have very little significance. “

Door Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895 – 1986).

107 Pages | Published in 1982 | Softcover | Krishnamurti Foundation India, Chennai | ISBN: 8187326247.

How does one live sanely in this world of violence and corruption? Is it possible for man to find everlasting security? How does one deal with one’s anger, frustration, sexual desire, loneliness and fear? Is a human being a mere thinking machine or is there something beyond thought? What is true meditation. What is the place of religion in the modern world? Krishnamurti’s answers to these and many other questions put to him by his audiences form the contents of this book. Krishnamurti ‘answers’ are not readymade solutions; rather, they are meant to provoke more questions in the mind of the listener so that, out of that questioning and scepticism, he goes from the narrow field of problem-solving to the wider expanse of self-knowledge.

From Chapter 23 – ‘Enlightenment’ (p. 48 & 49):

” The Eastern and Western gurus all quote the old saying: ‘You must be a light unto yourself’. It is an ancient and very famous saying in India. And they repeat it, adding, ‘You cannot be a light unto yourself unless I give it to you’. People are so gullible; that is what is wrong. They all want something – the young and the old. For the young the world is too cruel, for them what the older generations have made of the world is too appalling. […] Equally, the older generation are in the same position, only they express it with more sophistication. They are the same, the young and the old all over the world. But nobody can give guidance, can give light, to another. Only yourself can do that; but you have to stand completely alone. That is what is frightening for the young and the old. If you belong to anything, follow anybody, you are already entering into corruption. Understand that very deeply, with tears in your eyes: when there is no guru, no teacher and no disciple, there is only you as a human being living in this world – the world, the society, which you have created. And if you do not do something for yourself, society is not going to help you. On the contrary, society wants you to be what you are. Do not belong to anything, not to any institution or organization; do not follow anybody; be not a disciple of anybody. You are human being living in this terrible world; a human being who is the world and the world is you. You have to live there, understand it, and go beyond yourself. “

By Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895 – 1986), edited by David Skitt.

254 Pages | Published in 1996, first Indian edition 2001 | Softcover | Krishnamurti Foundation India, Chennai | ISBN: 8187326212.

In the last two decades of his life, Krishnamurti engaged in several discussions with scientists, Buddhist scholars, philosophers, artists, and a Jesuit priest. This Volume contains his conversations with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Renee Weber, David Bohm, Jonas Salk, Walpola Rahula, Bernard Levin, Huston Smith, Iris Murdoch, and Pupul Jayakar. These offer a profound insight into his philosophy of life.

In his Foreword to the book, editor David Skitt says: For the first-time reader, the range and vocabulary of these conversations may seem daunting. Is this philosophy, psychology, or religion? Or all three? Krishnamurti himself did not like giving a name to what he talked about. His agenda was very open-ended, always totally free to cover any aspect of the human condition. For Krishnamurti, a religious view of life is inseparable from exploring whether we mistakenly apply the biological model of evolution to the psychological sphere; and whether the computer is an accurate simulation of the human brain. For him, these are not incidental but crucial issues that determine the quality of our lives, not just topics of intellectual ‘interest’.

From Chapter – ‘What is Your Secret’ (p. 198)?:

“K: Again, what do you mean by ‘individual’?

BL: Well, we’re all independent, separate personalities.

K: Are we?

BL: Well, aren’t we?

K: I doubt it. We’re not individuals, we are the result of a million years of collective experiences, memories, all that. We think we are individuals, we think we are free, we are not. To us, freedom means choice. Choice means confusion, you don’t choose if you are clear.

BL: You said once, one of your most striking phrases as I remember, that your purpose was to set Man free.

K: Yes, it sounds . . . (laughs). “

By Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895 – 1986).

Softcover | First edition 1979, reprints 1982, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1996 & 1997. This edition was published in 2001| Krishnamurti Foundation Trust Ltd., Hampshire. With permission of the Krishnamurti Foundation India | ISBN: 8187326328.

Exploration into Insight is a series of dialogues that Krishnamurti held in India over many decades with friends and serious enquirers. Among them were Achyut Patwardhan, Pupul Jayakar, Maurice Friedman and others, who had gathered around him since the forties. The dialogues cover a wide range of subjects. The concern in these dialogues is the freedom of the mind from the bondages of memory and time, a mutation in consciousness and the arising of insight that gives deep roots of steadiness to the mind. The processes of self-knowing are investigated with rare vigour and intensity. There is in these dialogues a relentless questioning, probing, a ‘listening’ and a ‘seeing’. The way in which these dialogues unfold is unique in itself. They are not questions and answers or even just an exhange of opinion. They form a new genre of communication typical of Krishnamurti – that of a deep listening, a tentative beginning and an exploration that leads to fresh perceptions. For those interested in delving into the processes of self-understanding, this is an extraordinary book.

From Chapter ‘How Deep Can One Travel?’ (p. 37 & 38):

” Krishnamurti: I live a very, very superficial life and I want to found out for myself if there is any depth which is not measurable and I see thought cannot reach it because thought is a measure, thought is time, thought is the response of the past; therefore thought cannot possibly touch it. Then, what will bring this about? If thought cannot touch it and that is the only instrument man has, then, what is he to do? Thought, in its movement, in its function, has created this world which is superficial in which I live, of which I am. That is obvious. Now, is it possible for the mind without the usage of thought, to touch something which is fathomless? Not just some moments in my sleep of when I am walking by myself, but to live there. My mind says the depth must be discovered, to let the mind be of the quality of that – I must be aware of that strange fathomless depth of something which is unnamed. ” 

By Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895 – 1986).

158 Pages | First published in 1954, this is the 1998 edition | Softcover | Krishnamurti Foundation, India | ISBN: 818732600X.

This book is the outcome of talks and discussions held by Krishnamurti with the students and teachers of Rishi Valley School in Andhra Pradesh and Rajghat Besant School in Varanasi. Krishnamurti regards education as of prime significance in the communication of that which is central to the transformation of the human mind and the creation of a new culture. As the topics in these stimulating talks and discussions reveal, he questions the very roots of our culture so that a comprehensive view on education emerges.

Krishnamurti’s challenge is addressed not only to the structure of education, but to the very nature and quality of man’s mind and life. Unlike all other attempts to salvage or suggest alternatives to the educational system, his approach breaks through the frontiers of particular cultures and establishes an entirely new set of values. To Krishnamurti, a new mind is possible only when the religious spirit and the scientific attitude form part of the same consciousness. While he gives emphasis to the cultivation of the intellect, he lays far greater stress on a heightened critical awareness of the inner and outer world.

From page 9:

” If you begin to think, to observe, to learn, not from books, but learn for yourself by watching, listening to everything that is happening around you, you will grow up to be a different human being. One who cares, who has affection, who loves people. Perhaps if you live that way, you might find a truly religious life. “

Door Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895 – 1986).

224 Pages | Published in 2005 | Softcover | Krishnamurti Foundation, India | ISBN: 8187326573.

Many have considered Buddhism to be the religion closest in sprit to J.Krishnamurti’s spiritual teaching– even though the great teacher was famous for urging students to seek truth outside organized religion. This record of an historic encounter between Krishnamurti and a group of Buddhist scholars provides a unique opportunity to see what the great teacher had to say himself about Buddhist teachings. The conversations, which took place at Brockwood Park in England in the late 1970s, focus on human consciousness and its potential for transformation. Participants include Walpola Rahula, the renowned Sri Lankan Buddhist monk and scholar, author of the classic introductory text What the Buddha Taught.

From Chapter – ‘Are You Not Saying What The Buddha Said’? (p. 7):

” Walhula Rahula: Scriptures and all our knowledge condition human beings, there is no doubt about that. But I should say that knowledge is not absolutely unnecessary. Buddha has pointed out very clearly that if you want to cross the river and there is no bridge, you build a boat and cross with its help. But if, on the other shore, you think, Oh this boat has been very useful, very helpful to me, I can’t leave it here, I will carry it on shoulders, that is a wrong action. What you should say is: Of course this boat was very helpful to me, but I have crossed the river, it is no more use to me, so I’ll leave it here for somebody else. That is the attitude toward knowledge and learning. Buddha says that even the teachings, not only that, even the virtues, the so-called moral virtues, are also like the boat and have a relative and conditioned value. “

Door Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895 – 1986).

269 Pages | Published in 1991 | Softcover | Krishnamurti Foundation India, Chennai | ISBN: 818732614X.

At a time of unprecedented outer change in the political and social spheres, is there a fundamental inner change that is demanded of each one of us? In the eighteen dialogues with Professor Allan W. Anderson, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at San Diego State University, J. Krishnamurti indicates that pinning our hopes on organized religion, science, political idealogy or the market economy not only fails to address basic human problems but actually creates them.

The way out of our difficulties, Krishnamurti states, can only start in the mind of each one of us, in an awareness of the way we actually perceive life, ourselves and others. Professor Anderson, throughout these dialogues, refers to many passages of Western and Eastern religious scriptures that he believes have been misunderstood and which in fact support Krishnamurti’s statements. The dialogues reproduced in an edited and slightly abridged version in this book, took place at San Diego State University from 18 to 28 February 1974.

From Dialogue XIV – ‘Death, Life and Love are Indivisible – The Nature of Immortality’ (p. 193):

Krishnamurti:

” That’s the most absurd thing. Now what we are discussing, sir, is the understanding of death, its relation to living and this thing called love. One cannot possibly understand the immensity – and it is immense – of this thing called death unless there is real freedom from fear. That’s why we talked sometime ago about the problem of fear. Unless the mind really frees itself from fear there is no possibility of understanding the extraordinary beauty, strength, and vitality of death. “