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Think on These Things
‘The material contained in this volume was originally presented in the form of talks to students, teachers and parents in India, but its keen penetration and lucid simplicity will be deeply meaningful to thoughtful people everywhere, of all ages, and in every walk of life. Krishnamurti examines with characteristic objectivity and insight the expressions of what we are pleased to call our culture, our education, religion, politics and tradition; and he throws much light on such basic emotions as ambition, greed and envy, the desire for security and the lust for power – all of which he shows to be deteriorating factors in human society.’ From the Editor’s Note
‘Krishnamurti’s observations and explorations of modern man’s estate are penetrating and profound, yet given with a disarming simplicity and directness. To listen to him or to read his thoughts is to face oneself and the world with an astonishing morning freshness.’ -- Anne Marrow Lindbergh
‘Krishnamurti’s observations and explorations of modern man’s estate are penetrating and profound, yet given with a disarming simplicity and directness. To listen to him or to read his thoughts is to face oneself and the world with an astonishing morning freshness.’ -- Anne Marrow Lindbergh
258 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
About the author
J. Krishnamurti
985 books3,858 followersJiddu Krishnamurti was born on 11 May 1895 in Madanapalle, a small town in south India. He and his brother were adopted in their youth by Dr Annie Besant, then president of the Theosophical Society. Dr Besant and others proclaimed that Krishnamurti was to be a world teacher whose coming the Theosophists had predicted. To prepare the world for this coming, a world-wide organization called the Order of the Star in the East was formed and the young Krishnamurti was made its head.
In 1929, however, Krishnamurti renounced the role that he was expected to play, dissolved the Order with its huge following, and returned all the money and property that had been donated for this work.
From then, for nearly sixty years until his death on 17 February 1986, he travelled throughout the world talking to large audiences and to individuals about the need for a radical change in humankind.
Krishnamurti is regarded globally as one of the greatest thinkers and religious teachers of all time. He did not expound any philosophy or religion, but rather talked of the things that concern all of us in our everyday lives, of the problems of living in modern society with its violence and corruption, of the individual's search for security and happiness, and the need for humankind to free itself from inner burdens of fear, anger, hurt, and sorrow. He explained with great precision the subtle workings of the human mind, and pointed to the need for bringing to our daily life a deeply meditative and spiritual quality.
Krishnamurti belonged to no religious organization, sect or country, nor did he subscribe to any school of political or ideological thought. On the contrary, he maintained that these are the very factors that divide human beings and bring about conflict and war. He reminded his listeners again and again that we are all human beings first and not Hindus, Muslims or Christians, that we are like the rest of humanity and are not different from one another. He asked that we tread lightly on this earth without destroying ourselves or the environment. He communicated to his listeners a deep sense of respect for nature. His teachings transcend belief systems, nationalistic sentiment and sectarianism. At the same time, they give new meaning and direction to humankind's search for truth. His teaching, besides being relevant to the modern age, is timeless and universal.
Krishnamurti spoke not as a guru but as a friend, and his talks and discussions are based not on tradition-based knowledge but on his own insights into the human mind and his vision of the sacred, so he always communicates a sense of freshness and directness although the essence of his message remained unchanged over the years. When he addressed large audiences, people felt that Krishnamurti was talking to each of them personally, addressing his or her particular problem. In his private interviews, he was a compassionate teacher, listening attentively to the man or woman who came to him in sorrow, and encouraging them to heal themselves through their own understanding. Religious scholars found that his words threw new light on traditional concepts. Krishnamurti took on the challenge of modern scientists and psychologists and went with them step by step, discussed their theories and sometimes enabled them to discern the limitations of those theories. Krishnamurti left a large body of literature in the form of public talks, writings, discussions with teachers and students, with scientists and religious figures, conversations with individuals, television and radio interviews, and letters. Many of these have been published as books, and audio and video recordings.
In 1929, however, Krishnamurti renounced the role that he was expected to play, dissolved the Order with its huge following, and returned all the money and property that had been donated for this work.
From then, for nearly sixty years until his death on 17 February 1986, he travelled throughout the world talking to large audiences and to individuals about the need for a radical change in humankind.
Krishnamurti is regarded globally as one of the greatest thinkers and religious teachers of all time. He did not expound any philosophy or religion, but rather talked of the things that concern all of us in our everyday lives, of the problems of living in modern society with its violence and corruption, of the individual's search for security and happiness, and the need for humankind to free itself from inner burdens of fear, anger, hurt, and sorrow. He explained with great precision the subtle workings of the human mind, and pointed to the need for bringing to our daily life a deeply meditative and spiritual quality.
Krishnamurti belonged to no religious organization, sect or country, nor did he subscribe to any school of political or ideological thought. On the contrary, he maintained that these are the very factors that divide human beings and bring about conflict and war. He reminded his listeners again and again that we are all human beings first and not Hindus, Muslims or Christians, that we are like the rest of humanity and are not different from one another. He asked that we tread lightly on this earth without destroying ourselves or the environment. He communicated to his listeners a deep sense of respect for nature. His teachings transcend belief systems, nationalistic sentiment and sectarianism. At the same time, they give new meaning and direction to humankind's search for truth. His teaching, besides being relevant to the modern age, is timeless and universal.
Krishnamurti spoke not as a guru but as a friend, and his talks and discussions are based not on tradition-based knowledge but on his own insights into the human mind and his vision of the sacred, so he always communicates a sense of freshness and directness although the essence of his message remained unchanged over the years. When he addressed large audiences, people felt that Krishnamurti was talking to each of them personally, addressing his or her particular problem. In his private interviews, he was a compassionate teacher, listening attentively to the man or woman who came to him in sorrow, and encouraging them to heal themselves through their own understanding. Religious scholars found that his words threw new light on traditional concepts. Krishnamurti took on the challenge of modern scientists and psychologists and went with them step by step, discussed their theories and sometimes enabled them to discern the limitations of those theories. Krishnamurti left a large body of literature in the form of public talks, writings, discussions with teachers and students, with scientists and religious figures, conversations with individuals, television and radio interviews, and letters. Many of these have been published as books, and audio and video recordings.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
October 2, 2010
I read this at age 15, while ditching P.E. classes at school. Fair to say that it contributed significantly to my dropping out of school immediately, a choice by which I've not suffered in the least.
April 27, 2013
We all think. We all think a lot. There are myriad of thoughts that pervade the space of our mind. Everyday we confront them and are unable to either understand them or put a stop to them. Is thinking bad? No. We are what we believe. And our beliefs come from various sources: conditioning, books, education, experience, philosophies, religion, family values etc. But thinking is able to question them and if we are willing to shed them in the event of realizing their uselessness or take a mighty stand for them in the event of realizing their truth, then clearly thinking is of great help. Now, is it not important to know whether most of the thoughts we spend our time on are worth pondering or not? Is it not important to know that outside our so called contented shell of a life, there exists amazing opportunities that makes one feel closes to oneself and life? All that should be achieved with the effort of this thing called 'mind'.
This book is Mr.Krishnamurti's one attempt among countless others that urge one to think on certain important aspects of life. Why is it necessary? It is necessary so that an individual may lead a beautiful life; so that the mind is ever-young and is in tune with the dynamic truth of life. It is necessary so that one can be poetic, romantic and at the same time be completely alert and watchful to the sheer reality of life. A fearless, a happily discontented and a free individual is what he wants one to be and only that person can be a truly revolutionary.
With such simple language and immeasurable intensity of thought, this book is one of the greatest reads available out there. I shall recommend this book to one and all; to free thinkers it is a sheer delight and to those who think less it shall give their thought processes a new vitality. And thus, it surely paves a path for anyone out there to be more thoughtful, alert and in the process, a more considerate human being. It is one of those books whose purpose shall be served only when one will try to implement even the easiest of things said. And it is more important to know that you really understand what is being said and do not mould that according to your own notions and prejudices. Therefore, read this book with a silent, empty and open mind and you will learn as to so many treasures of the mind that seem lost to us in this whole confusion can be restored. Read it and then try to practice it. Let us try to be awake.
This book is Mr.Krishnamurti's one attempt among countless others that urge one to think on certain important aspects of life. Why is it necessary? It is necessary so that an individual may lead a beautiful life; so that the mind is ever-young and is in tune with the dynamic truth of life. It is necessary so that one can be poetic, romantic and at the same time be completely alert and watchful to the sheer reality of life. A fearless, a happily discontented and a free individual is what he wants one to be and only that person can be a truly revolutionary.
With such simple language and immeasurable intensity of thought, this book is one of the greatest reads available out there. I shall recommend this book to one and all; to free thinkers it is a sheer delight and to those who think less it shall give their thought processes a new vitality. And thus, it surely paves a path for anyone out there to be more thoughtful, alert and in the process, a more considerate human being. It is one of those books whose purpose shall be served only when one will try to implement even the easiest of things said. And it is more important to know that you really understand what is being said and do not mould that according to your own notions and prejudices. Therefore, read this book with a silent, empty and open mind and you will learn as to so many treasures of the mind that seem lost to us in this whole confusion can be restored. Read it and then try to practice it. Let us try to be awake.
February 28, 2022
Reading Krishnamurti among the mustard flowers. May 1982. Think on These Things was assigned as an independent reading in my philosophy class, but I didn’t have time for it all year. Now, with the beginning of summer, I finally had the leisure to read it.
I sat at the picnic table in the backyard. It was a small yard, fenced off from the shop yard next door. But it had grass and a picnic table and Mom’s laundry drying in the breeze. Yellow flowers bloomed everywhere they were not supposed to be. A consequence of living next to a mustard factory. I did not like mustard one bit. I still don’t. But mustard flowers are very pretty. Especially when they are not supposed to be there.
Those wild and wily flowers distracted me from my book so that I never received the wisdom of Krishnamurti. To this day, I know not the lessons taught by the great spiritual teacher. But I do know the lesson of the mustard flowers.
I sat at the picnic table in the backyard. It was a small yard, fenced off from the shop yard next door. But it had grass and a picnic table and Mom’s laundry drying in the breeze. Yellow flowers bloomed everywhere they were not supposed to be. A consequence of living next to a mustard factory. I did not like mustard one bit. I still don’t. But mustard flowers are very pretty. Especially when they are not supposed to be there.
Those wild and wily flowers distracted me from my book so that I never received the wisdom of Krishnamurti. To this day, I know not the lessons taught by the great spiritual teacher. But I do know the lesson of the mustard flowers.
August 3, 2018
There has been a vast canvas covered in this book. Understanding the nature of the problem then tried to provide a possible solution to those problems.
There is a very different approach to tackle any worldly question. Every time I start to read this book I came up with something new. A large sea of ideas floating within this book.
There is a very different approach to tackle any worldly question. Every time I start to read this book I came up with something new. A large sea of ideas floating within this book.
January 8, 2024
Every year I re-read this book, Just to remind myself I am just more corrupted. Read it again in 2024... Modern Life has become more comfortable, But it made us more insensitive and more restless..
Every time I am disappointed with mundane routine and inevitable melodramas of life, Jiddu Krishnamurthy is the one I seek. His message has no message. But his words raise the question within questions to sharpen the swords that shape the idea of " Being Human".
I know It's idiotic to read a book to become Human. But in our conditioned and fearful society, Keeping untarnished humanity alive is difficult than keeping our physical body alive.
I often question and analyze friction of thoughts. Is any of my actions free of perpetual fear and desire?. Honest observation always tells " You are not, Mahesh". Life is always a question mark, Why do I even exist?
Some told me, Find a purpose and pursue it. But the question is, what's the point of having an achievable purpose.
What's next? Again I am trapped in a complex loop.
So I have reached out to scholars, gurus, and books, But they never guided me to figure out an answer. All the exploration might have made me another conditioned scholar, but they were not in my experience.
Like every Scholar I was also a learned Hypocrite, So I continued my search from one guru to another. But I ended my search for truth when I listened to the feminine voice of a gentle being in one of the lecture videos. That was "Krishnamurthy".
He answered all my questions by making me realize there are no fixed answers to life. Life is there for what it is, I was free at least for time being with that realization. But when I went back to society, Again I am rotten to the core with all its fear, insecurity, and conditioning. To free me from the tragedies of life, I go from one book to another book of Krishnamurthy. I know what he saying, But I refused to analyze every bit and piece in my mind. Because deep inside I know, I am one of the famous hypocrites in this society full of hypocrites. I ended up taking comfort in relating myself to all the hypocrites living in society.
I wish one day, I could live without any fear, insecurity, and desire. My words may look pessimistic, But I learned to acknowledge my hypocrisy after I have started reading Krishnamurthy's works.
When you finish any of his work, You do not learn new things. You learn who you are. It is scary to know who you are in real, But it's worth knowing it.
Read it, Think about all the things mentioned in the book. You gain nothing new, But you will revolt at least in the process of reading. This book will shake everything you believe, That's the beauty of this work.
Every time I am disappointed with mundane routine and inevitable melodramas of life, Jiddu Krishnamurthy is the one I seek. His message has no message. But his words raise the question within questions to sharpen the swords that shape the idea of " Being Human".
I know It's idiotic to read a book to become Human. But in our conditioned and fearful society, Keeping untarnished humanity alive is difficult than keeping our physical body alive.
I often question and analyze friction of thoughts. Is any of my actions free of perpetual fear and desire?. Honest observation always tells " You are not, Mahesh". Life is always a question mark, Why do I even exist?
Some told me, Find a purpose and pursue it. But the question is, what's the point of having an achievable purpose.
What's next? Again I am trapped in a complex loop.
So I have reached out to scholars, gurus, and books, But they never guided me to figure out an answer. All the exploration might have made me another conditioned scholar, but they were not in my experience.
Like every Scholar I was also a learned Hypocrite, So I continued my search from one guru to another. But I ended my search for truth when I listened to the feminine voice of a gentle being in one of the lecture videos. That was "Krishnamurthy".
He answered all my questions by making me realize there are no fixed answers to life. Life is there for what it is, I was free at least for time being with that realization. But when I went back to society, Again I am rotten to the core with all its fear, insecurity, and conditioning. To free me from the tragedies of life, I go from one book to another book of Krishnamurthy. I know what he saying, But I refused to analyze every bit and piece in my mind. Because deep inside I know, I am one of the famous hypocrites in this society full of hypocrites. I ended up taking comfort in relating myself to all the hypocrites living in society.
I wish one day, I could live without any fear, insecurity, and desire. My words may look pessimistic, But I learned to acknowledge my hypocrisy after I have started reading Krishnamurthy's works.
When you finish any of his work, You do not learn new things. You learn who you are. It is scary to know who you are in real, But it's worth knowing it.
Read it, Think about all the things mentioned in the book. You gain nothing new, But you will revolt at least in the process of reading. This book will shake everything you believe, That's the beauty of this work.
September 28, 2007
i was introduced to krishnamurti at a time when i was looking for closure in many painful aspects of my life (childhood). in his own way, he sat me down alone, and forced with a gentle push, to examine the quiet truths me all have access to if we slow our mind and open our eyes.
he's been a tremendous healer.
he's been a tremendous healer.
Read
December 8, 2011As a child, Krishnamurti had the bizarre experience of being chosen as the spokesperson/messiah of the Theosophists. He later renounced their group and his teachings are centered on mental freedom and non-allegiance to a creed or belief system. He is anti-guru, anti-mantra, anti-puja. He teaches that the purpose of education is freedom of the mind and people should do what they love and not get trapped in materialism. What strikes me as so ironic is that today higher and formal education is tightly bound with materialism, since so many people who go to college are a few years' gross income in debt by the time they get a degree. So education and freedom seem deeply divided at this point in time. Getting a degree means that your freedom is reduced and you are chained by debt. How can we reclaim education so that it truly leads to freedom?
May 14, 2016
This books forces you to keep an open mind. It completely changed my line of thinking and my life. I cannot recommend it enough. Just keep in mind that it's going to challenge you. Don't be afraid to consider things you don't believe in, just for the sake of considering them.
February 8, 2013
Perhaps the coolest Indian ever lived since the Buddha and Mahatma Ghandi. Perhaps.
November 30, 2019
The man has changed my life. His words have confirmed what I've already been learning, and given me a deeper logic and encouragement to continue breaking free from dogmatism, brainwashing, and the real "Matrix," "the world that is pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth" (Wachowski's).
Everything we know, all that we believe, sifts through our view of reality. The problem: we are all taught from childhood by our parents, by our culture, by our environment, by sub-cultures we choose, what is real, what is true. These paradigms blind us from truth, which must be discerned in the moment.
A practical way to find this comes through meditation. Krishnamurti believed a person who does not meditate is not a complete person. He describes meditation this way: simply be still and observe your thoughts, without controlling them, without judging them, without thinking you should or not be thinking that, like clouds floating in the sky, like a movie or show you are watching outside of yourself. In the seeing of what is real, comes change.
"Do, or do not. There is no try" (George Lucas). Yoda said that, but in this book I learned Krishnamurti said it first.
I recommend reading Krishnamurti. It will lead you into a beautiful, life-changing experience, and guide you to initiate freedom simply by seeing and accepting what is real -- what is practical, what is common-sense.
Everything we know, all that we believe, sifts through our view of reality. The problem: we are all taught from childhood by our parents, by our culture, by our environment, by sub-cultures we choose, what is real, what is true. These paradigms blind us from truth, which must be discerned in the moment.
A practical way to find this comes through meditation. Krishnamurti believed a person who does not meditate is not a complete person. He describes meditation this way: simply be still and observe your thoughts, without controlling them, without judging them, without thinking you should or not be thinking that, like clouds floating in the sky, like a movie or show you are watching outside of yourself. In the seeing of what is real, comes change.
"Do, or do not. There is no try" (George Lucas). Yoda said that, but in this book I learned Krishnamurti said it first.
I recommend reading Krishnamurti. It will lead you into a beautiful, life-changing experience, and guide you to initiate freedom simply by seeing and accepting what is real -- what is practical, what is common-sense.
May 1, 2014
I have read several Krishnamurti books, among them there have been a few that have made a significant impact in my perception of many things and resonate with me onward in a very profound way; this is one of them...
March 29, 2010
Wonderfully thought-provoking, sometimes infuriatingly so!
Krishnamurti's mission is no less than the purging of the self from our thinking, so this is much more a "how to think" than a "what to do" book. The chapters are structured as Q & A sessions between Krishnamurti and his students which makes them all the more readable. Interestingly, Krishnamurti's teachings do not reduce well to soundbites so I won't quote them here - there's no witty aphorisms - it's his steady, unwavering gaze into the workings of the mind which makes him indispensable.
Krishnamurti's mission is no less than the purging of the self from our thinking, so this is much more a "how to think" than a "what to do" book. The chapters are structured as Q & A sessions between Krishnamurti and his students which makes them all the more readable. Interestingly, Krishnamurti's teachings do not reduce well to soundbites so I won't quote them here - there's no witty aphorisms - it's his steady, unwavering gaze into the workings of the mind which makes him indispensable.
October 5, 2015
When I read this book at the age of sixteen, it forever changed my life and perspective. I owe being my own philosopher and teacher to the fundamental wisdom found in this book.
March 11, 2012
The only way out of our trap of destructiveness is personal change. And the only way to change is to watch one's thoughts with a keen and open mind and learn how and why one thinks what one does. Doing so will help us drop the loads of useless social and cultural baggage that we are weighed down by. Baggage that comes from our parents and by our culture and by our schools and by our religions. It is this that Krishnamurti says will lead to a revolt because one will be able to see for the first time that it is precisely these pretensions and expectations that cause so much conflict and dissension in society.
He is really not asking much, just to watch and live and be in one's own mind. I think it's true that we all already hold within us the key to personal transformation, we are just not able to see it clearly due to the bog of belief. The antidote to "belief" is experience--I have experience 2+2=4 and so I do not believe it. Krishnamurti is saying that one can experience one's mind by watching, and it will lead to a positive personal transformation.
This liberation is what he claims that education should primarily focus on. Ironically education today does precisely the opposite: it indoctrinates. Krishnamurti posits that individuals have loads of energy that will be destructive if it is not devoted to seeking God, and so society crushes that energy and channels it into meaningless activities. We can only reclaim that energy by becoming aware of our limitations and channeling the energy back into seeking God, which I think is just watching the mind, as God is man in disguise.
He is really not asking much, just to watch and live and be in one's own mind. I think it's true that we all already hold within us the key to personal transformation, we are just not able to see it clearly due to the bog of belief. The antidote to "belief" is experience--I have experience 2+2=4 and so I do not believe it. Krishnamurti is saying that one can experience one's mind by watching, and it will lead to a positive personal transformation.
This liberation is what he claims that education should primarily focus on. Ironically education today does precisely the opposite: it indoctrinates. Krishnamurti posits that individuals have loads of energy that will be destructive if it is not devoted to seeking God, and so society crushes that energy and channels it into meaningless activities. We can only reclaim that energy by becoming aware of our limitations and channeling the energy back into seeking God, which I think is just watching the mind, as God is man in disguise.
June 2, 2014
No wonder Krishnamurti didn't have a huge following. He was brilliant, thought-provoking, intellectual, and a spiritual teacher who didn't like God much. If you want to have your views challenged, read this man who definitely had one of the best minds of the 21st century. If you were to categorize him (you shouldn't), Krishnamurti was a Buddhist who overdosed on Buddha.
PS (1). Yes, it's true, Krishnamurti would have HATED this review. He didn't believe in comparisons and would have blushed reading this five star review.
PS (2). Krishnamurti was humble, too. What is there not to like about this man?
PS (3) Eckhart Tolle is a fan. As he damn well should be.
PS (4) Don't buy this book. You can read it online.
PS (1). Yes, it's true, Krishnamurti would have HATED this review. He didn't believe in comparisons and would have blushed reading this five star review.
PS (2). Krishnamurti was humble, too. What is there not to like about this man?
PS (3) Eckhart Tolle is a fan. As he damn well should be.
PS (4) Don't buy this book. You can read it online.
July 22, 2012
One of the best books I read!! Great narration by Mr.Krishna murti!! Though some of the points are different from what I believe, I liked the way he presented and respect his opinion!!
I feel Mr. Krishna murti and swamy vivekananda are like two sides of a coin!! Both have their own perceptions but focus on the same point, inspiring youth and stressing on how to leave fear and achieve goals!!
In the middle, few chapters went on with a dull note but on the whole, this is one of the best inspiring books!!
I feel Mr. Krishna murti and swamy vivekananda are like two sides of a coin!! Both have their own perceptions but focus on the same point, inspiring youth and stressing on how to leave fear and achieve goals!!
In the middle, few chapters went on with a dull note but on the whole, this is one of the best inspiring books!!
October 24, 2017
Don’t agree with everything in it. However, love the concept of the book, encouraging free thinking
July 14, 2020
This is an extraordinary book by J krishnamurti, it is a compilation of his his talks with school children.His emphasises on the need to look at another way of leading the life which is not dictated by the age old traditions, beliefs, dogma and try to see the truth of it by oneself and radically change this terrible and miserable way of living with increasing divisions.
He explains the real function of education is much beyond just making an individual self reliant ,it has to teach the student "how to think" not tell them "what to think". He says to understand the whole process of living from day to day so that you can grow in freedom and create a new world. Krishnamurti touches upon many other existential topics with students and also the role of educators to bring about a complete individual ,whose is a fountain of love and he does not seek anything in return for his love, as what he possesses is pure love which comes out of inward beauty.
The book makes you think deeply on how thoughtlessly we have perceived certain things in life and makes an appeal to change the way to lead towards joy, gay and affection.
It condemns the societal pattern ,which is always adhering to mere confirming of already existing ideals, so on and chains the young ones intellect and restricts one to become sensitive towards oneself as well as others around.
I recommend everyone who wants to read philosophy or spiritual to definitely try this book ,it's thought provoking and makes one see the depth rather than just giving conventional formulas ,exercises and rest of it. which are all in reality mere escapes from what is to what should be.
The real education according to J Krishnamurti is to help the young to awaken his intelligence, which is beyond his subject knowledge ,this is explosive and the student can make it continuous, passionate and strong. So that it becomes spontaneously restrained and employs this in discovery of reality ,the energy that comes from this is immense and boundless as it is not corrupt and ambitious.
He explains the real function of education is much beyond just making an individual self reliant ,it has to teach the student "how to think" not tell them "what to think". He says to understand the whole process of living from day to day so that you can grow in freedom and create a new world. Krishnamurti touches upon many other existential topics with students and also the role of educators to bring about a complete individual ,whose is a fountain of love and he does not seek anything in return for his love, as what he possesses is pure love which comes out of inward beauty.
The book makes you think deeply on how thoughtlessly we have perceived certain things in life and makes an appeal to change the way to lead towards joy, gay and affection.
It condemns the societal pattern ,which is always adhering to mere confirming of already existing ideals, so on and chains the young ones intellect and restricts one to become sensitive towards oneself as well as others around.
I recommend everyone who wants to read philosophy or spiritual to definitely try this book ,it's thought provoking and makes one see the depth rather than just giving conventional formulas ,exercises and rest of it. which are all in reality mere escapes from what is to what should be.
The real education according to J Krishnamurti is to help the young to awaken his intelligence, which is beyond his subject knowledge ,this is explosive and the student can make it continuous, passionate and strong. So that it becomes spontaneously restrained and employs this in discovery of reality ,the energy that comes from this is immense and boundless as it is not corrupt and ambitious.
June 29, 2019
"Το να κατανοείς αυτό που είσαι στ'αλήθεια είναι πολύ πιο σημ��ντικό από το να επιδιώκεις να γίνεις κάτι που θα έπρεπε να είσαι."
March 7, 2012
I believe liberal arts colleges should be giving copies of this book to every prospective student they come into contact with. One of the many things described is the nature and value of what we would call a liberal arts education in the United States.
The book is a transcription of questions and answers between a group of students-and-teachers and the author Jiddu Krishnamurti. The type of audience within the book determined its primary focus of grappling with questions of education. However, those questions lead to discussions of how to live one's life, how to be sensitive to beauty and abundance in the world--leading to a relationship with God, and the changes that come about by having a quiet mind.
I would characterize the book as a blend of a very readable presentation of Sartre's bad_faith/authenticity/philosophy_of_mind with C.S. Lewis' description in "The Great Divorce" of how the world is already functioning within eternity but we lose perspective of that relationship/we only have to open our eyes to experience a life of joy/ and we serve up our own hell to ourselves.
You put these together and you get "Think on These Things" by Jiddu Krishnamurti.
The book is a transcription of questions and answers between a group of students-and-teachers and the author Jiddu Krishnamurti. The type of audience within the book determined its primary focus of grappling with questions of education. However, those questions lead to discussions of how to live one's life, how to be sensitive to beauty and abundance in the world--leading to a relationship with God, and the changes that come about by having a quiet mind.
I would characterize the book as a blend of a very readable presentation of Sartre's bad_faith/authenticity/philosophy_of_mind with C.S. Lewis' description in "The Great Divorce" of how the world is already functioning within eternity but we lose perspective of that relationship/we only have to open our eyes to experience a life of joy/ and we serve up our own hell to ourselves.
You put these together and you get "Think on These Things" by Jiddu Krishnamurti.
November 4, 2017
It's for me one of the most liked books from Krishnamurti.
"Real life is doing something which you love to do with your whole being so that there is no inner contradiction, no war between what you are doing and what you think you should do. Life is then a completly integrated process in which there is tremendous joy. But that can happen only when you are not psychologically depending on anybody, or any society, when there is complet detachment inwardly, for only then is there a possibility of really loving what you do.It does not matter whether you garden, or become a prime minister, or do something else; you will love what you do and out of that love comes an extraordinary feeling of creativness."
J.Krishnamurti:Think on these things chap.8
"Real life is doing something which you love to do with your whole being so that there is no inner contradiction, no war between what you are doing and what you think you should do. Life is then a completly integrated process in which there is tremendous joy. But that can happen only when you are not psychologically depending on anybody, or any society, when there is complet detachment inwardly, for only then is there a possibility of really loving what you do.It does not matter whether you garden, or become a prime minister, or do something else; you will love what you do and out of that love comes an extraordinary feeling of creativness."
J.Krishnamurti:Think on these things chap.8
March 25, 2007
Wow! Krishnamurti is one of my favorite Indian philosophers. He gives penetrating observations on everything around us. Education, life, love, freedom, discipline, the mind, he touches so many subjects. He gives insight coming from a delicate balance of mind, heart and soul. Some of his passages still give me chills of realization when I read them. I have read many of the books from his library, but this is by far the most profound to me. Although it is an easy read, the messages contained within its pages are heavy with truth and love and may take a while to fully contemplate and absorb...Namaste...
January 5, 2009
Very powerful book. It points out societal flaws and gives suggestions as to how we may alter our thoughts/behaviors to lead a more meaningful life.
September 9, 2012
One can never have enough Krishnamurti. He makes one think on these things not because he ordains it but because it is sanity, if one lives and loves honestly.
May 2, 2021
In this magnificent book, K talks about the true purpose of education and how the current educational system is in urgent need of a revolution. The true purpose of education is to provide students an environment that is not driven by fear, sets them free to investigate, inquire, rather than conforming them into a pattern so that they do not revolt against society or discover anything new. Of course, education needs to also provide the students with the best instructions and subject matter expertise to enable them to build new things and make them curious individuals.
This book is a collection of K's talks with kids and he answers their most fundamental questions in the simplest of language and with profound insight. Across 27 chapters, K answers more than 100 questions such as "Why do we want to be famous?", "What is shyness?", "Why am I never satisfied with anything?".
After reading 5 books by K, I have come to an understanding that the answers to these fundamental questions lie in the questions themselves and can be unraveled with self-knowledge, with silent observation. While K's language is verbally easy to understand, it's much more difficult to "feel" it and actually understand its deep significance.
Would definitely recommend it to everyone who is interested in finding answers to the important questions that concern human lives. Don't expect "how-to" solutions though, because there are none.
This book is a collection of K's talks with kids and he answers their most fundamental questions in the simplest of language and with profound insight. Across 27 chapters, K answers more than 100 questions such as "Why do we want to be famous?", "What is shyness?", "Why am I never satisfied with anything?".
After reading 5 books by K, I have come to an understanding that the answers to these fundamental questions lie in the questions themselves and can be unraveled with self-knowledge, with silent observation. While K's language is verbally easy to understand, it's much more difficult to "feel" it and actually understand its deep significance.
Would definitely recommend it to everyone who is interested in finding answers to the important questions that concern human lives. Don't expect "how-to" solutions though, because there are none.
April 30, 2022
Is this a good book? You do not understand what you are asking. What I think about this book is not important, but what is important is for you to find out for yourself whether this book is good or not.
February 2, 2022
The ideas in this book are inspiring. I wish I had read this when I was younger. I see a lot of what he is saying but it does seem to appeal to the younger gen. I have many questions about how he thinks which is probably the point. If I get a chance to read more of his writings in the future I will def take a look.
September 16, 2012
http://okudumdanoldu.blogspot.be/2012...
Yine Krishnamurti ve yine uzuuun süren okuma dönemi. Bilinenden Kurtulmak'taki gibi sindire sindire okudum. Açıkçası bu daha kolay okunan bir kitap. Okullarda küçük çocuklarla, anne babalarla ve eğitmenlerle yapılan söyleşiler konuları üzerinden bir araya getirilmiş. Baştan sona okumak yerine hayatınızın o döneminde sizi ilgilendiren bir konuyu seçip o bölümü okuyabilirsiniz. Her bölüm önce bir açıklama metni arkasındansa her yaştan dinleyenlerin soruları ve cevapları şeklinde.
Kitabın ana fikriyse eğitim sisteminin (sistemlerinin) çocukken sahip olduğumuz açık enerjiyi nasıl söndürüp, sıradan sorgulamayan insanlara dönüştüğümüz. Bu noktada çocukları erken yaşta uyarmak kadar eğitmenleri de yönlendirmesi açısından çok önemli ve en beğendiğim yönü de bu oldu.
Artık bu söyleşileri yapma olanağımız olmadığına göre tavsiyem anne babaların bu kitabı okuyup daha sonra küçük çocuklarına okumaları veya okutmaları. Tabii ki küçük bir çocuk tüm kitabı okumaktan sıkılacaktır ama okurken sizi ilgilendiren kısımları işaretleyin ve çocuğunuza okuyun derim. Hele ki okulla başı belada olan ailelere çok yardım olacaktır. Onun dışında eğitmenler ve okul tamam ama anne babaların da çocuklarını eğitirken ki yaptığı istemsiz hataları görmelerini sağlayacaktır. Örneğin gençlerin sıklıkla "annem babam benim böyle olmamı istiyor ama ben istemiyorum." gibi sorular sordukları görülüyor. Din, meslek veya evlenilecek kız/adamla ilgili olabilir. Anne baba olarak kendi yatkınlıklarını çocuklarına dayatıp özgürlüklerini kısıtlamanın hatası vesaire gibi aydınlatmalar var. Aynı şekilde aile akraba veya arkadaşlık ilişkileri için de geçerli. Her insana istekleri, hedefleri, eğilimleri konusunda saygı göstermek ve gösterebilmek üzerine sohbetler var.
Okuyun derim.
..Mevcut eğitim sistemimiz bize yaptığımız işi değil, başarıyı sevmeyi öğrettiği için kötüdür. Eylemin sonucu eylemden daha önemli hale gelmiştir..Sayfa130
..Mükemmeliyet önceden tasarlanmış bir anda yaşanan bir şeydir ve bu anın bir sürekliliği yoktur; bu nedenle de ne mükemmeliyeti tasarlayabilirsiniz ne de onu kalıcı hale getirecek bir yol bulabilirsiniz..Sayfa159
..Fakat bilgi zihni, aklı, iç dünyayı yönlendiren bir geleneğe, bir inanca dönüştüğünde bir engeldir ve aynı zamanda insanları böler. Bütün dünyada insanlar gruplara bölünüp kendilerine Hindu, Müslüman, Budist ve Hristiyan gibi isimler takıyor fark ettiniz mi? Onları bölen nedir? Bilimsel keşifler, tarıma, bir köprü yapmaya, uçakları uçurmaya dair bilgiler değildir. İnsanları bölen, zihni belli bir yönde koşullandıran gelenekler ve inançlardır..Sayfa174
..Gerçek Brahman, gururlu olduğu için değil, kendi ışığı kendine yettiği için kimseden bir şey istemeyen biridir..Sayfa207
..Yalnızca içi boş olan doldurulmak ister ve boş bir kalp, guruların peşinde koşmakla ya da başka bir yoldan sevgiyi aramakla doldurulamaz..Sayfa242
..Oysa kendimizi Hindular, Amerikalılar ya da İngilizler veya beyaz, kahverengi, siyah ya da sarı olarak görmekle aramızda gereksiz engeller yarattığımızı anlamamız çok önemlidir..Sayfa246
Yine Krishnamurti ve yine uzuuun süren okuma dönemi. Bilinenden Kurtulmak'taki gibi sindire sindire okudum. Açıkçası bu daha kolay okunan bir kitap. Okullarda küçük çocuklarla, anne babalarla ve eğitmenlerle yapılan söyleşiler konuları üzerinden bir araya getirilmiş. Baştan sona okumak yerine hayatınızın o döneminde sizi ilgilendiren bir konuyu seçip o bölümü okuyabilirsiniz. Her bölüm önce bir açıklama metni arkasındansa her yaştan dinleyenlerin soruları ve cevapları şeklinde.
Kitabın ana fikriyse eğitim sisteminin (sistemlerinin) çocukken sahip olduğumuz açık enerjiyi nasıl söndürüp, sıradan sorgulamayan insanlara dönüştüğümüz. Bu noktada çocukları erken yaşta uyarmak kadar eğitmenleri de yönlendirmesi açısından çok önemli ve en beğendiğim yönü de bu oldu.
Artık bu söyleşileri yapma olanağımız olmadığına göre tavsiyem anne babaların bu kitabı okuyup daha sonra küçük çocuklarına okumaları veya okutmaları. Tabii ki küçük bir çocuk tüm kitabı okumaktan sıkılacaktır ama okurken sizi ilgilendiren kısımları işaretleyin ve çocuğunuza okuyun derim. Hele ki okulla başı belada olan ailelere çok yardım olacaktır. Onun dışında eğitmenler ve okul tamam ama anne babaların da çocuklarını eğitirken ki yaptığı istemsiz hataları görmelerini sağlayacaktır. Örneğin gençlerin sıklıkla "annem babam benim böyle olmamı istiyor ama ben istemiyorum." gibi sorular sordukları görülüyor. Din, meslek veya evlenilecek kız/adamla ilgili olabilir. Anne baba olarak kendi yatkınlıklarını çocuklarına dayatıp özgürlüklerini kısıtlamanın hatası vesaire gibi aydınlatmalar var. Aynı şekilde aile akraba veya arkadaşlık ilişkileri için de geçerli. Her insana istekleri, hedefleri, eğilimleri konusunda saygı göstermek ve gösterebilmek üzerine sohbetler var.
Okuyun derim.
..Mevcut eğitim sistemimiz bize yaptığımız işi değil, başarıyı sevmeyi öğrettiği için kötüdür. Eylemin sonucu eylemden daha önemli hale gelmiştir..Sayfa130
..Mükemmeliyet önceden tasarlanmış bir anda yaşanan bir şeydir ve bu anın bir sürekliliği yoktur; bu nedenle de ne mükemmeliyeti tasarlayabilirsiniz ne de onu kalıcı hale getirecek bir yol bulabilirsiniz..Sayfa159
..Fakat bilgi zihni, aklı, iç dünyayı yönlendiren bir geleneğe, bir inanca dönüştüğünde bir engeldir ve aynı zamanda insanları böler. Bütün dünyada insanlar gruplara bölünüp kendilerine Hindu, Müslüman, Budist ve Hristiyan gibi isimler takıyor fark ettiniz mi? Onları bölen nedir? Bilimsel keşifler, tarıma, bir köprü yapmaya, uçakları uçurmaya dair bilgiler değildir. İnsanları bölen, zihni belli bir yönde koşullandıran gelenekler ve inançlardır..Sayfa174
..Gerçek Brahman, gururlu olduğu için değil, kendi ışığı kendine yettiği için kimseden bir şey istemeyen biridir..Sayfa207
..Yalnızca içi boş olan doldurulmak ister ve boş bir kalp, guruların peşinde koşmakla ya da başka bir yoldan sevgiyi aramakla doldurulamaz..Sayfa242
..Oysa kendimizi Hindular, Amerikalılar ya da İngilizler veya beyaz, kahverengi, siyah ya da sarı olarak görmekle aramızda gereksiz engeller yarattığımızı anlamamız çok önemlidir..Sayfa246
May 30, 2011
At times I grew frustrated in reading Krishnamurti’s “Think on These Things,” but I’m glad I stuck with it and finished it. While there may be holds and voids in Krishnamurti’s theories, ultimately his message of love and search for God are uplifting.
The book’s basic premise, reiterated countless times over its 247 pages, is that we should free ourselves of any religion, ideology, belief system or even past experience and view reality with a totally open, unclouded mind. He is especially contemptuous of organized religion.
I can’t help but think Krishnamurti’s own perceptions were clouded by his own experience, in this case of religious strife in his native India.
As a Jew, I would be a fool to shun the wisdom of the prophets and sages and their insights into the nature of human existence. Those ancestors gave us excellent guideposts to help us on our own quest for Truth.
I also was unimpressed with Krishnamurti’s vague prescription for societal revolution. While he is certainly correct in stating that “the world is a projection of what is happening inside each one of us,” he doesn’t describe what revolution might look like, or how it might unfold, in a society engaging in mass mindfulness meditation.
Despite these serious limitations, there are still many pearls sprinkled throughout the book.
Krishnamurti does us a favor by reminding us that we can learn – should learn – from everything: the fallen leaf, the river’s current, the ghetto’s blight, the busy ant.
And who can argue with this: “The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed.”
The book’s basic premise, reiterated countless times over its 247 pages, is that we should free ourselves of any religion, ideology, belief system or even past experience and view reality with a totally open, unclouded mind. He is especially contemptuous of organized religion.
I can’t help but think Krishnamurti’s own perceptions were clouded by his own experience, in this case of religious strife in his native India.
As a Jew, I would be a fool to shun the wisdom of the prophets and sages and their insights into the nature of human existence. Those ancestors gave us excellent guideposts to help us on our own quest for Truth.
I also was unimpressed with Krishnamurti’s vague prescription for societal revolution. While he is certainly correct in stating that “the world is a projection of what is happening inside each one of us,” he doesn’t describe what revolution might look like, or how it might unfold, in a society engaging in mass mindfulness meditation.
Despite these serious limitations, there are still many pearls sprinkled throughout the book.
Krishnamurti does us a favor by reminding us that we can learn – should learn – from everything: the fallen leaf, the river’s current, the ghetto’s blight, the busy ant.
And who can argue with this: “The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed.”
December 11, 2021
I won't pretend to know everything Krishnamurti said, but I don't think that was the point anyway.
This book is a tidy compilation of treatises on a variety of subjects, with great proportion dedicated to society and constraints. Fundamentally, the author values individuality: revolt, rebellion, thinking for yourself, being free, unchained, disciplined to the self, etc... In this, I find great resonance.
However, the author clearly has his own chains, but he fails to see them. In his own way, he has rebelled so hard that he has fallen onto the other path. He rejects all social conventions, in a way, but his own rigidity to certain ideas makes his conclusions dubious (even if his methods are laudable).
This book may be helpful to very many, so long as you apply the author's teachings to his book.
I can't rate this higher because I think too many people would read this and think that this applies to them in a way that it doesn't, because it doesn't. The context in which it was said, and the things Krishnamurti fought against are very different than the modern, albeit very similar as well. For one, many of the words he uses have a very different context in America or even the English language generally. Religion, for example, is confused with spirituality and faith; knowledge and intelligence very confused with wisdom and understanding. Beyond semantics, there is a clear undertone of the book that really embraces that which he claims to be against.
This is all to say, that I find this a fascinating character study and useful in gaining a different perspective, but I fear others might take it to literally, and I find the author's own issues to be a little off-putting and, quite frankly, boring at times.
This book is a tidy compilation of treatises on a variety of subjects, with great proportion dedicated to society and constraints. Fundamentally, the author values individuality: revolt, rebellion, thinking for yourself, being free, unchained, disciplined to the self, etc... In this, I find great resonance.
However, the author clearly has his own chains, but he fails to see them. In his own way, he has rebelled so hard that he has fallen onto the other path. He rejects all social conventions, in a way, but his own rigidity to certain ideas makes his conclusions dubious (even if his methods are laudable).
This book may be helpful to very many, so long as you apply the author's teachings to his book.
I can't rate this higher because I think too many people would read this and think that this applies to them in a way that it doesn't, because it doesn't. The context in which it was said, and the things Krishnamurti fought against are very different than the modern, albeit very similar as well. For one, many of the words he uses have a very different context in America or even the English language generally. Religion, for example, is confused with spirituality and faith; knowledge and intelligence very confused with wisdom and understanding. Beyond semantics, there is a clear undertone of the book that really embraces that which he claims to be against.
This is all to say, that I find this a fascinating character study and useful in gaining a different perspective, but I fear others might take it to literally, and I find the author's own issues to be a little off-putting and, quite frankly, boring at times.
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