J. Krishnamurti -

An Explosion of Insight

- by Anilkumar

 

"....Those who really desire to understand, who are looking to find that which is eternal, without beginning and without an end, will walk together with a greater intensity, will be a danger to everything that is unessential, to unrealities, to shadows. And they will concentrate, they will become the flame, because they understand. Such a body we must create, and that is my purpose. Because of that real understanding there will be true friendship. Because of that true friendship–which you do not seem to know–there will be real cooperation on the part of each one. And this not because of authority, not because of salvation, not because of immolation for a cause, but because you really understand, and hence are capable of living in the eternal. This is a greater thing than all pleasure, than all sacrifice."

August 3, 1929, (Truth is a Pathless Land)

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J. Krishnamurti was born in 1895 at Madanapalli, (Andhra Pradesh.) He lost his deeply religious mother Sanjivamma when he was young. His father Narayanaiah was a Tahasildar there. The latter was a member of the Theosophical Society, a movement given to the idea of Universal brotherhood, the study of the central truths in all religions and exploration of the unknown powers in man. After his retirement Narayanayya had shifted to work in the Headquarters of the Society, situated in a vast land of 250 acres near Adyar river, Madras.

In 1905 an incident of an unusual nature occurred when Krishna was just 10 years old. He was seen on the banks of Adyar River by Charles W. Leadbeater, a noted clairvoyant and the leader of Theosophical Society. He saw that the child's aura showed unselfishness and predicted that Krishnamurti would be the mouthpiece or the vehicle of the Coming Messenger, who would be guiding the new race of humanity which is in formation, and would charecterize the qualities of intuition and co-operation.

There is no parallel in the world history to the incidents which took rapidly place one after another, soon after the leaders in the Theosophical Society got convinced that Krishnamurti would be the vehicle of the Coming World Teacher. Krishnamurti and his younger brother Nityanand were taken legally into custody by Mrs. Annie Besant, then the President of the Theosophical Society. An organisation called the Order of the Star was established with branches all over the world, for preparation for the future work of the Messenger. Young Krishna and Nitya were growing together, staying at Madras and later at various places in Europe. Krishnamurti was being educated privately.

 As he was seeing the world around, an independent vision of truth was growing in Krishna. In spite of the comforts of the modern life, he saw great inner misery existing among all. He felt that everyone is under bondage and is helpless. ‘How could one be of help to others if one himself is not free?’ - growing discontent made him feel.

Krishnamurti underwent a profound spiritual experience in 1922 at Ojai, California, which opened a vast and strong vision of his own. In 1925 there came an unexpected death of his dear brother Nityanand, due to tubercolasis after a long illness, He  went through a period of a deep shock and an explosive change, eventually resulting in a consciousness of full freedom and realisation in 1926-27. He saw that theories, gurus and organization would not help man to be free of all sorrow. He saw how the root of all misery lies in attachment, whether for a material thing or an idea, a belief.

He saw the futility of all shelters, the self centered activities and ideas, he saw how these prevent man from seeing the truth and keep him in illusion of safety and permanence. He disclaimed any authority of himself and in 1930 dissolved the ‘Order of the Star’, saying that the truth is a pathless land, no sect can lead to it, rather it puts man in the cage of illusions. He said his only concern was to set man unconditionally and absolutely free.

Krishnamurti travelled throughout the world and gave public talks for about 60 years. He discussed the fundamental issues of life with common men, intellectuals religious heads, children. With the young his language was lucid, simple. He talked about nature, relationship to each other, fear, death, authority, competition, love, freedom. He asked the child to watch every movement of thought process in the mind, as well as the things in the nature. He spoke of the awakening of intelligence and compassion which arise out of observation, self knowing.

He said that we approach the life with response of the old, with psychological records. We respond to any challenge, person, situation with an idea, comparative judgements.

Initially a smaller movement, later on it grew into a large one. Krishnamurti Foundations in India, USA, UK were set up to preserve and disseminate the teachings of Krishnamurti and to run the schools founded by him after 1960s. Their chief intention was and is to ensure that the people concerned keep the spirit of K's teachings alive in their own lives and to help bringing about a new mind in the young minds in formation.

Krishnamurti passed away on 17th February 1986 after an illness of pancreatic Cancer.

Krishnaji’s presence is still with us in the form of written and recorded teachings, and it is creating a steadly growing interest among the serious persons in the world.

Krishnamurti Foundation India is a registered educational and charitable organization. It has its headquarters at ‘Vasanta Vihar’, Madras, which houses a Study Center, an Archives, and the Publications and Audio-Video departments.

KFI runs a few schools - at Rishi Valley in Andhra Pradesh, at Rajghat in Varanasi, The Valley School in Bangalore, The School-KFI in Chennai, Sahyadri School near Rajgurunagar District near Pune. It also runs the Vasanta College for Women in Varanasi and Bal Anand, an after-school center in Mumbai. Some of these places have rural schools, free hospitals for the neighboring villagers, farms and dairies, and environment conservation schemes, Study Centres, Retreats and Publication activities.

There are also a few Krishnamurti groups / Retreats independently functioning at various places in various parts of India.