Product Description

Discovered as a young boy in the early years of the 20th century, Krishnamurti was proclaimed a new world leader by Members of the Theosophical Society and, by the 1920s, was attracting worldwide press attention. Idealists, spiritual adventurers, intellectuals and philosopher alike flocked to his talks in their thousands, drawn to the idea of a new golden age and an esoteric Eastern saviour. Later Krishnamurti experienced a mysterious conversation, rejected the Theosophical Society that had moulded his identity and began to teach as a secular philosopher of spiritual nature, but with no affiliation to any sect. He rejected any claims to being a Messiah and indeed proved himself as capable of human weakness which gave rise to sexual scandal and accusations of chicanery. Krishnamurti died in 1986 having founded seven schools, published fifty books and toured the world talking and teaching.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #177790 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Customer Reviews

A re-evaluation of the life and work of Krishnamurti
Having been an interested (if lapsed!) student of Krishnanurti's work for 30 years I was delighted to read this newly released book. Vernon concentrates on the formative development of Krishnamurti from his discovery by Leadbeater and the Theosophists, provides a good critical eaxmination of these early experiences and how they shaped his early work and brought him to the total re-examination of his role as "World Teacher". In later chapters Vernon looks at K's development in his teachings and the underlying conflicts he faced with various supporters throughout his life. I applaud the writer's position as an historian of this unique individual, as he manages to avoid any sense of sentimentalism whilst keeping a clear balance of the facts he discovers.

The book has been very illuminating for me. I have not read too much of the other source material used so was intrigued by the details of K's life, including the analysis of his relationships with his lover as well as with key figures such as David Bohm. The book thus serves to bring to the fore Krishnamurti as a man whilst honouring his contribution as a teacher. With regard to this latter area of focus, Vernon summarises some of the key elements as he understands these whilst providing some interesting reflections on the paradoxes of the teaching as K sought to unfold them to his audience (myself incuded!) Anyone interested in the works of Krishnamurti will find pause to reflect on these paradoxes and how each of us relate to them.

I consider this to be a timely and valuable contribution which attempts to place Krishnamurti within his historical context whilst acknowledging the relationship of the teachings to the individual search for meaning. Krishnamurti may be, according to Vernon, more an Avatar than Messiah - but maybe this is his rightful place?

Definately worth reading.

20% longer would have been 100% better
This is an excellent book on K. However having read Lutyens (vastly longer) bio I have to say this one is weaker in one respect and that is that it does not quote the letters and the other records of K's life extensively. Instead we get "the letters around this time show a young man struggling with the yoke of expected greatness" or some such thing. It just isn't as effective in conveying what K was like as are direct quotes. In fact, so little do you have a sense of K himself that by the time, in the bio, he dies, you may be, as I was, completely unaffected.

On the other hand what this author has in abundance is dettachment from his subject and that delivers to the reader the great prize of hitherto suppressed facts and their obvious derivatives some of which do not reflect well on K if viewed from the pount of view of highly moralistic positions. These facts are absoutely essential. K was a man and K had very real human faults some of which appear at the very least to contradict his words. I found it absolutely LIBERATING to know these.

K life is an amazing set of enigmas and perhaps the best bits of the book are where the author grapples with these. You will rarely find a more lucid and detached treatment. Delightlful. Where I take him, or perhaps more likely his publisher, to task is that he fails to prove his concluding points with extensive quotes, along with the exact circumstances of the their utterence. Any assertion about K is bound to be considered important by an extensive readership, especially if is controversial. I would have happily paid another 5 pounds to have the book 20% longer and better evidenced.

A worth-while book.
If you've read some of Krishnamurti's teachings, this book will give you a wealth of insight into the man himself, where he came from, his childhood environment, and the main events of his adulthood. From birth to death, the author provides objective observations on Krishnamurti's life, and those who were a part of it. I definitely recommend this book.