Swanwick Star Issue No. 2 (2009)

A Brief History of Krishnamurti

J. Krishnamurti was born to Brahmin parents on May 12th 1895 in South India. He was discovered at the age of 14 by Leadbeater while walking on Adyar Beach in Madras. He was adopted by Dr. Annie Besant (an influential Englishwoman) and taken to England along with his younger brother, Nitya, for education and to prepare him for the role of World Teacher for which he had been chosen by the Theosophical Society, a worldwide organization whose primary purpose was to attain “Universal Brotherhood”.

In 1911, he was ordained as the head of the religious organization known as The Order of the Star in the East and travelled extensively giving lectures to audiences all over the world.

However, on August 2, 1929 he shocked a gathering of 3000 people at a camp in Ommen, Holland by giving an impromptu, electrifying speech in which he dissolved The Order of the Star and renounced his role in it. He had come to this conclusion after profound introspection.

He began by proclaiming: Truth is a pathless land and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, any religion, or, any sect; truth, being limitless, it is unapproachable. It cannot be organized, nor should any organization be formed to lead or coerce people along any particular path. My only concern is to set humanity absolutely and unconditionally free.

Throughout his 90 years, Krishnamurti travelled to various countries and continents including Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australia. He refused to have followers and, often repeated in his lectures, I am not your Guru and you are not my disciples.

Many eminent thinkers, scientists and scholars came to listen and delve deeply into psychological questions with him. Foremost among these were Aldous Huxley who said, “It was like listening to a discourse of the Buddha”. Another very close relationship was with Dr. David Bohm, one of the foremost theoretical physicists of our time who had worked with Einstein and Oppenheimer. Together, they had numerous dialogues over the years and most of these were recorded. In 1984, Krishnamurti was invited to give a lecture to nuclear scientists at the National Research Centre at Los Alamos, New Mexico. He was accompanied by Dr. David Bohm. Among the other notables were Professor Allan W. Anderson of Columbia University and the Nobel Laureate, Jonas Salk.

Krishnamurti established Foundations and schools in Britain, India, USA, and Canada. He was keen on educating the young mind before it is conditioned into dogmatic routines. He wanted people to think for themselves rather than parroting others.

Until the end of his life in 1986, he stressed the need for self-exploration in order to discover the Intelligence that exists within each one of us. In other words, “Know thyself”.

For more information contact Luis at (250) 474-1488 or visit our website at: www.krishnamurti-canada.ca