Indian
Philosopher
11 May 1895
17 Feb 1986
Jiddu Krishnamurti was born on May 11, 1895, in Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh, into a Telugu-speaking Brahmin family. His early life was marked by adversity, including the loss of his mother at ten and recurring malaria. Despite his frail health and academic struggles, Krishnamurti had a deep connection with nature and experienced profound psychic episodes. His life took a dramatic turn when, in 1909, Charles Webster Leadbeater of the Theosophical Society discovered him on the Adyar river beach, impressed by his aura and potential spiritual significance. Krishnamurti was groomed to become a World Teacher, leading the Order of the Star in the East. However, in 1929, he rejected this path, dissolved the Order, and embarked on a journey of independent thought and speaking.
Krishnamurti's teachings focused on the importance of personal insight and understanding, the problems of conditioning, and the concept of a "pathless" truth. He spent his life traveling the world, delivering talks that emphasized choiceless awareness and the necessity of a psychological revolution for true freedom. Krishnamurti authored several key works, including The First and Last Freedom and Freedom from the Known, contributing to his legacy as a profound thinker. His non-aligned stance on nationality, religion, or tradition underscored his message of universal mind liberation. Krishnamurti passed away on February 17, 1986, in Ojai, California, leaving behind a vast body of work and foundations in India, the UK, and the US to continue his teachings.
