J. Krishnamurti : A Life

An intimate and insightful portrait of a remarkable teacher and spiritual leader

J. Krishnamurti (1895–1986) was born in Madanapalle, a small town west of Chennai, to Brahmin parents. In 1909, at the age of fourteen, he was proclaimed as a saviour and subsequently taken to England by Annie Besant. There, he was educated privately and groomed for the role of World Teacher. In 1929, however, he rejected the mantle and disbanded the organization of which he was the head, declaring that he did not want disciples, thereby unleashing a storm of controversy. A gentle, unassuming teacher, over the next half-century Krishnamurti would travel the world bearing his message, inspiring the likes of Jawaharlal Nehru, Aldous Huxley, George Bernard Shaw and the Dalai Lama.

For the first time, the complete biography of J. Krishnamurti is available in one volume: The Years of Awakening, 1895 to 1935 recounts his childhood days and grooming for his messianic role; The Years of Fulfilment, 1935 to 1980, a comprehensive account of the years he spent spreading his extraordinary philosophy of enlightenment and truth; and The Open Door, 1980 to 1986, the final chapter of an epic life.

Mary Lutyens, who had known Krishnamurti since she was three years old, has drawn on the unpublished letters and personal recollections of the great man to bring us an unforgettable and affecting account of the life of this beloved religious figure who touched the hearts and minds of millions.