Freedom from the Known by Jiddu Krishnamurti Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Freedom from the Known
Book Review: What a way to see the world!
Summary: 5 Stars
J. Krishnamurti is a unique voice. He describes a new way to view the world, and it really does lead to spontaneity and freedom. A terrfic book for people who really do want a new perspective for changing their lives.Book Review: Down-to-earth advice for seekers of truth
Summary: 5 Stars
Krishnamurti states with clarity and deep insight the truth that is sought so earnestly by many folowing the paths of various meditative practices, Buddhism, Zen, and the like. He does this without doctrine, without myth and mysticism, and with an uncanny directness. In these pages, and throughout his works, Krishnamurti reveals the essence of spirittuality as found within oneself, and clues to finding the truth you may be seeking, as long as you can detach yourself from the desire to seek. You can read Tich Nact Hahn, the Dalai Lama, Alan Watts, and the works of a dozen excellent and wise teachers, or you can read Krishnamurti and obtain direct access to the same wisdom with 20/20 vision. This book is a good introduction to Krishnamurti... you can find may more here on Amazon.com.Book Review: a fascinating read
Summary: 5 Stars
"First and Last freedom" is the simplest book of K i have gone through. It delineates his philosophy of life in the most lucid terms. He shares his views on love, freedom, relationship, nature which forces the reader to stop and think. I have read this book innumerous times since i bought it.
A must for everyone interested in learning Krishnaji, the man and his teachings.
Book Review: .
Summary: 4 Stars
Freedom from the Known I've found a great resource as part of my own explorations - taken other than strictly in the context of one's own, I know how it can lead persons way way up a garden path, as opposed to somehow help through a pathless land. Yet - underscoring the drives and processes of self-reinforcing self-deception - this is one of the book's own implicit warnings.
I strongly concur with F Barya's appraisal of Krishna. He knew the man well. Barya's review of this book is worth reading if you're looking at any of Krishna's works. I second the recommendation of Shankara, and would add Ramana Maharshi. The messiah ref plainly fits what the Theosophists & later K devotees tried to make of their Master. For anyone contemplating the 'Don't mistake the teacher with the teaching' question, Barya's hit the Krishnamurti configuration of it right on the head. And having done so he is naturally making a lot of people angry - ironically, of course, out of just the kind of inherent fear, disguised religiosity, etc etc - that Krishna's Freedom warns us of.
The subtle achievements and benefits of this book are extensive, and can only really be appreciated in the thick of reflective conscious activity. Likewise its crucial failures - which to the religiously persuaded of K himself, naturally, cannot be believed, cannot be seen. Much as the religiously persuaded against him may never appreciate his message at all.
I would suggest Chogyam Trungpa's Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, taken with some unprejudiced biography, as a useful comparative study to this book.
Book Review: He's not the messiah -
Summary: 4 Stars
- He's a very naughty boy. Though few get to see what goes on behind closed doors, get to see the teacher's dirty laundry. Still the powerful material in this book can serve well. At ultimate, like best medicine, it can help us get beyond leaning on such things, looking to them for models, alchemical formulae; to get beyond dependence, addiction. Won't go into the whole psycho bit. Won't go into this whole scene - the books, tours, Brockwood, the Foundation. Krishnamurti's court. All that was done to protect the kernel of his precious teaching. Lying. Abortion. Was K addicted to opiates of spouting his teaching about not-teaching, caught by delusional convictions like that he didn't NEED to orate as he was able to take a dose of time out from it? Hypocrisy, self-deception, sham. If you want the real essence of what he's trying to get at, supposedly talking about, try Sankara. Or take a doctoral combination like (Laszlo's) Universal Connectivity synthesis with Hog's Wholey Wash (Mitchell) & New Science of Life (Sheldrake). Apply own heart salt, see what emerges - using direct experience as reference - something from your own love and pain, not someone else's insight, abstraction, whatever. Maybe get to chat about it all with apt professor such as John Wren-Lewis. All equivocal advaita. The prof & that hog's wash both priceless on JK-ology. But why not listen to a woman for a change? Like Ann Faraday. Vandana Shiva. Andrew Cohen's mom. Not forgetting Brian's. Or just take J Krishnamurti ACTUALLY seriously for a moment - burn beyond the intellectual, leap trip rise or fall into life's throbbing paradoxical, perchance to implode, to supernova - follow his advice and stop following his advice! LISTEN to (WITH) the birds, the tree, the flower. Our nonduality. It's all there, here - interactive - mutually embedded - overlapping & ongoing.
No, Jiddu Krishnamurti wasn't the messiah. He wasn't like Jesus Christ is supposed to be (Was Jesus either?) Jiddu K was a pretty sharp trading type. New crutches for old. The trader might not be catching his own reflection in them too well, but still they could be of extraordinary utility. Old dilemmas for new in the search for truth. This legendary journeyer in a pathless land might have been more itinerant preacher than Avatar, but what he presented effectively offers double helpings to convert conceit, pretence, all false securities (matter) into fresh vistas of consciousness (energy)