Biography
Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986) was an Indian philosopher, spiritual teacher, and influential world thinker. Although he was born in India to Indian parents, he repeatedly stated that he had no nationality, followed no tradition, and belonged to no organized group or religion.He was born on May 11, 1895, in Madanapalle, near Madras (present-day Chennai). His mother died in 1905, and the following year his father moved with his four sons to Adyar, where the headquarters of the Theosophical Society was located. Theosophy is a spiritual and philosophical movement based on the belief that elements of divine or eternal truth can be found in all religions of humanity.
Shortly after their arrival in Adyar, Krishnamurti was taken under the care of Annie Besant, the president of the Theosophical Society, who became convinced that the young boy was the long-awaited “World Teacher” foretold by the Theosophists. Three years later, he was taken to England to receive his education.
In 1929, however, Krishnamurti rejected the leadership role prepared for him by the Theosophical movement. He dissolved the organization that had been created in his name and returned all money and property that had been collected for this purpose.
From that time onward, and for nearly sixty years, he traveled throughout the world giving public talks on the need for a radical transformation of human consciousness. He did not establish a philosophy, religion, or belief system. Instead, he spoke about the problems of modern life and the necessity of freeing the mind from fear, anger, psychological wounds, and sorrow. He explored the workings of the human mind and emphasized the importance of bringing a deep meditative and spiritual quality into everyday life.
Krishnamurti spoke wherever he was invited — to individuals, schools, universities, clubs, and public gatherings. He authored around eighty books, many of which have been translated into numerous languages. In addition, hundreds of his public lectures and personal discussions with scholars, scientists, and students were recorded on video and audio.
He also founded schools in different parts of the world, based on three fundamental principles:
A holistic global outlook free from prejudice, Care for humanity and the environment, A religious spirit combined with a scientific temperament.
In October 1985, after giving talks in England, Krishnamurti traveled to India feeling exhausted and noticeably weakened. He struggled to continue the scheduled talks in Madras and soon returned to California. Medical examinations revealed that he was suffering from pancreatic cancer.