J. Krishnamurti
Self-Inquiry, Awakening, and Transformation

This Element shows J. Krishnamurti as a teacher of nondual philosophy of personal freedom and transformation through self-inquiry.

Constance A. Jones (Author)

9781009494717, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 27 February 2025

88 pages
23.5 x 16 x 1 cm, 0.267 kg

This Element explores the life, teaching, and legacy of philosopher and spiritual teacher Jiddu Krishnamurti. From an obscure childhood in south India, he was 'discovered' at age fourteen by the Theosophical Society as the vehicle for the prophesied World Teacher of this cosmic age. At age 34, he disaffiliated from the Society, became an independent teacher, and, for sixty years, traveled widely and addressed thousands of audiences on the need to develop awareness and attention for transformation of consciousness. His teaching defines the human condition as perilous, dominated almost completely by cultural and personal conditioning, fear, and negative emotions. Freedom from these perils, his teaching states, occurs through rigorous self-observation and inquiry in the search for truth. While extremely popular, Krishnamurti rejected the mantle of authority invariably attributed to spiritual masters and teachers. He created schools in his name to implement his pedagogy of non-authoritarianism and freedom from conditioning.

Introduction
1. Boyhood and early life with the Theosophical society
2. An Independent teacher (1929–1986)
3. The context: teacher and teaching
4. The religious life
5. Meditation in everyday life
6. Transformation
7. Scholarly encounters
8. Education as religion
9. Krishnamurti's legacy
References
Acknowledgments.

Subject Areas: History of religion [HRAX]