Jiddu Krishnamurti 1895-1986
Jiddu Krishnamurti came from a family of Telugu-speaking Brahmins. His father, NarianiahJiddu, was employed as an official of the then colonial British administration. Krishnamurti was very fondof his mother, Sanjeevamma, who died when he was ten. His parents were second cousins, having a total of eleven children, only six of whom survived childhood. They were strict vegetarians, and were known tothrow away any food that the "shadow of an Englishman had crossed".He was born on May 11, 1895 (May 11 according to the Brahminical calendar), in the small townof Madanapalle in Chittoor District in Andhra Pradesh, about 150 miles (250 km) west of Madras (nowChennai). As the eighth child, who happened to be a boy, he was, in accordance with common Hindupractice, named after Sri Krishna.In 1903, the family settled in Cudappah, where Krishnamurti during a previous stay hadcontracted malaria, a disease with which he would suffer recurrent bouts over many years. He was asensitive and sickly child; "vague and dreamy", he was often taken to be mentally retarded, and was beatenregularly at school by his teachers and at home by his father. Several decades later, Krishnamurtireminisced about his state of mind during childhood: "No thought entered his mind. He was watching andlistening and nothing else. Thought with its associations never arose. There was no image-making. He oftenattempted to think but no thought would come." Writing about his childhood and early adolescence inmemoirs he composed when he was eighteen years old, Krishnamurti described psychic experiences, suchas "seeing" his sister, who had died in 1904, and also his mother, who had passed away in 1905.Krishnamurti's father Narianiah retired at the end of 1907, and, being of limited means, wrote toAnnie Besant, then president of the Theosophical Society, seeking employment at the Theosophicalheadquarters estate at Adyar. (Even though an observant orthodox Brahmin, Narianiah had been a memberof the Theosophical Society since 1882). He was eventually hired by the Society as a clerk, and he movedhis family there in January, 1909. Narianiah and his sons were at first assigned to live in a small cottagethat lacked adequate sanitation and which was located just outside the Theosophical compound. As a resultof poor living conditions, Krishnamurti and his brothers were soon undernourished and infested with lice.It was in April 1909, a few months after the last move, that Krishnamurti first met C.W.Leadbeater, who claimed clairvoyance. During his forays to the Theosophical estate's beach at the nearbyAdyar river, Leadbeater had noticed Krishnamurti (who also frequented the beach with others), and wasamazed by the "most wonderful aura he had ever seen, without a particle of selfishness in it". This strongimpression was notwithstanding Krishnamurti's outward appearance, which, according to eyewitnesses,was pretty common, unimpressive, and unkempt. The boy was also considered "particularly dim-witted";he often had "a vacant expression" that "gave him an almost moronic look". Leadbeater remained"unshaken" that the boy would become "a great teacher".
Pupul Jayakar, in her biography of Krishnamurti, quotes him speaking of that period in his lifesome 75 years later: "The boy had always said, 'I will do whatever you want'. There was an element of subservience, obedience. The boy was vague, uncertain, woolly; he didn't seem to care what washappening. He was like a vessel, with a large hole in it, whatever was put in, went through, nothingremained."Following his "discovery", Krishnamurti was taken under the wing of the leadership of theTheosophical Society in Adyar and their inner circle. Leadbeater and a small number of trusted associatesundertook the task of educating, protecting, and generally preparing Krishnamurti as the "vehicle" of theexpected World Teacher. Krishnamurti (or Krishnaji as he was often called) and his younger brother Nityawere privately tutored at the Theosophical compound in Madras, and later exposed to a comparativelyopulent life among a segment of European high society, as they continued their education abroad. In spiteof his history of problems with school work and concerns about his capacities and physical condition, thefourteen year old Krishnamurti was within six months able to speak and write competently in English.During all this time, Krishnamurti had developed a strong bond with Annie Besant, and came toview her as a surrogate mother. Apart from his early close relationship with his mother, this was the first of several important and intimate relationships that Krishnamurti established with women during his lifetime.His father, pushed into the background by the swirl of interest around Krishnamurti, sued the TheosophicalSociety in 1912 to protect his parental interests. After a protracted legal battle, Besant took custody of Krishnamurti and his brother Nitya. As a result of this separation from his family and home, Krishnamurtiand his brother became extremely close, and in the following years they often traveled together.The Theosophical Leadership in 1911 established a new organization called the Order of the Starin the East, in order to prepare the world for the aforementioned "coming". Krishnamurti was named as itshead, with senior Theosophists in various positions. Membership was open to anybody who accepted thedoctrine of the coming of the World Teacher. Controversy erupted soon after, both within the TheosophicalSociety and without, in Hindu circles and the Indian press.Mary Lutyens, in her biography of Krishnamurti, states that there was a time when he fullybelieved that he was to become the World Teacher after correct spiritual and secular guidance andeducation. Another biographer describes the daily program imposed on him by Leadbeater and hisassociates, which among other things included rigorous exercise and sports, tutoring in a variety of schoolsubjects, theosophical and religious lessons, yoga and meditation, as well as instruction in proper hygieneand the ways of British society and culture. Unlike sports, where he showed natural aptitude, Krishnamurtialways had problems with formal schooling and was not academically inclined. He eventually gave upuniversity education after several attempts at admission. He did take to foreign languages, eventuallyspeaking several (French and Italian among them) with some fluency. In this period, he apparently enjoyedreading parts of the Old Testament, and was impressed by some of the Western classics, especially Shelley,Dostoyevsky and Nietzsche. He also had, since childhood, considerable observational and mechanicalskills, being able to correctly disassemble and reassemble complicated machinery.His public image, as originally cultivated by the theosophists, "...was to be characterized by awell-polished exterior, a sobriety of purpose, a cosmopolitan outlook and an otherworldly, almost beatificdetachment in his demeanor." And in fact, "...All of these can be said to have characterised Krishnamurti'spublic image to the end of his life." It was apparently clear early on that he "...possessed an innate personalmagnetism, not of a warm physical variety, but nonetheless emotive in its austerity, and inclined to inspireveneration." However, as Krishnamurti was growing up, he showed signs of adolescent rebellion andemotional instability, chafing at the regimen imposed on him, and occasionally having doubts about thefuture prescribed him.Krishnamurti and Nitya were taken to England for the first time in April 1911. Between that timeand the start of World War I in 1914, they also visited several other European countries, alwaysaccompanied by theosophist chaperones. After the war, Krishnamurti (again accompanied by his brother)embarked on a series of lectures, meetings, and discussions around the world relating to his duties as thehead of the Order Of The Star. In 1922, Krishnamurti and Nitya travelled from Sydney to California ontheir way to Switzerland. While in California, they lodged at a cottage in then relatively secluded OjaiValley, offered to them for the occasion by an American member of the Order. At Ojai, the brothers alsomet Rosalind Williams, the sister of a local Theosophist, who eventually became close to them both. Forthe first time the brothers were without immediate supervision from their Theosophical Society minders;they spent their time in nature hikes and picnics with friends, spiritual contemplation, and planning theircourse within the "World Teacher Project". Krishnamurti and Nitya found the Ojai Valley to be very
agreeable, and eventually a trust, formed by supporters, purchased for them the cottage and surroundingproperty, which henceforth became Krishnamurti's official place of residence.It was in Ojai, in August 1922, that Krishnamurti went through an intense, "life-changing"experience. It has been simultaneously, and invariably, characterised as a spiritual awakening, apsychological transformation, and a physical conditioning. Krishnamurti and those around him would referto it as "the process", and it continued, at very frequent intervals and varying forms of intensity, until hisdeath. According to witnesses, it started on the 17th, with Krishnamurti complaining of extraordinary painat the nape of his neck, and a hard, ball-like swelling. Over the next couple of days, the symptomsworsened, with increasing pain, extreme physical discomfort and sensitivity, total loss of appetite andoccasional delirious ramblings. Then, he seemed to lapse into unconsciousness; actually, he recounted thathe was very much aware of his surroundings and while in that state, he had an experience of mysticalunion. The following day the symptoms, and the experience, intensified, climaxing with a sense of "immense peace"."...I was supremely happy, for I had seen. Nothing could ever be the same. I have drunk at theclear and pure waters and my thirst was appeased. ...I have seen the Light. I have touched compassionwhich heals all sorrow and suffering; it is not for myself, but for the world. ...Love in all its glory hasintoxicated my heart; my heart can never be closed. I have drunk at the fountain of Joy and eternal Beauty.I am God-intoxicated."Similar incidents continued with short intermissions until October, and later eventually resumedregularly, always involving varying degrees of physical pain to mark the start of "the process",accompanied by what is variably described as "presence", "benediction", "immensity", and "sacredness",which was reportedly often felt by others present.Several explanations have been proposed for the events of 1922, and "the process" in general.Leadbeater and other theosophists, although they expected the "vehicle" to have certain paranormalexperiences, were mystified by the developments, and were at a loss to explain the whole thing. The"process", and the inability of Leadbeater to explain it satisfactorily, if at all, had other consequencesaccording to biographer R. Vernon:"The process at Ojai, whatever its cause or validity, was a cataclysmic milestone for Krishna. Upuntil this time his spiritual progress, chequered though it might have been, had been planned with solemndeliberation by Theosophy's grandees. ...Something new had now occurred for which Krishna's training hadnot entirely prepared him. ...A burden was lifted from his conscience and he took his first step towardsbecoming an individual. ...In terms of his future role as a teacher, the process was his bedrock. ...It hadcome to him alone and had not been planted in him by his mentors...It provided Krishna with the soil inwhich his newfound spirit of confidence and independence could take root."Finally, the unexpected death of his brother Nitya on November 11, 1925 at age 27 fromtuberculosis after a long history with the disease, fundamentally shook Krishnamurti's belief in Theosophyand his faith in the leaders of the Theosophical Society. According to eyewitness accounts, the news"...broke him down completely". He struggled for days to overcome his sorrow, eventually "...goingthrough an inner revolution, finding new strength". The experience of his brother's death apparentlyshattered any remaining illusions, and things would never be the same again:"...An old dream is dead and a new one is being born, as a flower that pushes through the solidearth. A new vision is coming into being and a greater consciousness is being unfolded. ...A new strength,born of suffering, is pulsating in the veins and a new sympathy and understanding is being born of pastsuffering - a greater desire to see others suffer less, and, if they must suffer, to see that they bear it noblyand come out of it without too many scars. I have wept, but I do not want others to weep; but if they do, Iknow what it means.""You must become liberated not because of me but in spite of me." [Krishnamurti speaking at theannual Order of the Star Camp, Eerde (Ommen), Holland, June 30, 1927].In the next few years Krishnamurti's new vision and consciousness continued to develop andreached a climax in 1929, when he rebuffed attempts by Leadbeater and Besant to continue with the Orderof the Star. Krishnamurti dissolved the Order at the annual Star Camp at Ommen, the Netherlands, onAugust 3rd, 1929 where, in front of Annie Besant and several thousand members, he gave a speech sayingamong other things:"You may remember the story of how the devil and a friend of his were walking down the street,when they saw ahead of them a man stoop down and pick up something from the ground, look at it, and putit away in his pocket. The friend said to the devil, 'What did that man pick up?' 'He picked up a piece of the