Jiddu Krishnamurti

Jiddu Krishnamurti was born into a Brahmin family in May 1895 in Madanapalle, a small village near Madras. His mother passed away in 1905, and the following year, his father moved with his four sons to Adyar, where he was employed at the headquarters of the Theosophical Society. Shortly thereafter, Krishnamurti was adopted by Annie Besant, the president of the Theosophical Society, who was convinced that the boy was the World Teacher awaited by Theosophists worldwide. Three years later, he was taken to England for education, and the "Order of the Star in the East" was founded in his name, amassing thousands of followers. However, in 1929, after 18 years, Krishnamurti dissolved the order and returned all its assets to the donors. The announcement of the dissolution began with: "I maintain that truth is a pathless land, and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect...". From then on, Krishnamurti continued to travel the world until his death in February 1986, speaking, discussing, and listening to hundreds of people who wanted to meet him. He spoke wherever he was invited—at private gatherings, small schools, universities, the Los Alamos Nuclear Research Center, and the United Nations, which honored him for his work shortly before his death in 1985. Krishnamurti developed his unique teachings from his own existence and life, as he had not read any philosophical or religious books. To date, around 80 of his books have been published, most of which have been translated into more than 10 languages worldwide. His public talks and personal discussions with various scientists and spiritual individuals are also recorded on videotapes and audio cassettes. Writings about him have been penned by Aldous Huxley, Henry Miller, Iris Murdoch, among others. Krishnamurti was ultimately a global teacher. Despite being born to Indian parents, he consistently declared that he had no nationality, followed no tradition, and belonged to no organization. He experienced everything he hoped his listeners would learn. Krishnamurti left behind a vast collection of public talks, discussions (with teachers, students, scientists, prominent representatives of various religions, private individuals), television and radio interviews, written texts, and letters. A significant portion of this material has been recorded in books, audio cassettes, and DVDs.