Pupul Jayakar - Krishnamurti. a Biography

8/12/2019 Pupul Jayakar - Krishnamurti. a Biography

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Krishnamurti: A BiographyCopyright 1986 by Pupul Jayakar


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KRISHNAMURTI

A BIOGRAPHY

Pupul Jayakar


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Contents

Preface

A Song Bestoe! "pon a #ethere! Bir!$

Part 1% #he &oung 'rishna(urti 189)*19+6

1% ,n Space -ne ,s Born an! "nto Space -ne ,s Born%$.% #he #heosophical Society an! the -ccult /ierarchy0% #he rea(2 ,s #hat &ou 3y 4or!5$+% 3other Please #ouch 3y 7ace% ,s ,t Still #here5$)% -ur 4ife /ere ,s -ne of ,ntense ,nner Actiity%$

6% , an! 3y Brother Are -ne$% #he Personality of J% 'rishna(urti /as Been Salloe! "p in the

7la(es%$8% 'rishna(urti in -:ai2 #he 7orgotten &ears 1908*19+

Part .% 'rishna(urti in ,n!ia 19+*19+9

9% #he ;athering of the 7rien!s1t &ou Begin to Clean &our 7ront oorstep the Part of &ourStreet =hich ,s &ourself%$

1+% "n!er the 4ast ?ays of the Sun the =aters =ere the Color of @eborn7loers%$

1)% #he 3in! -perating as Part of the =hole ,s n!less%$

Part 0% #he "nfol!ing of the #eaching 19)


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.+% People =ho Are ithout Creatiity Buil! ea! ,nstitutions%$

.)% ,t ,s @ecessary to Ask Euestions to =hich #here Are @o Ansers%$

.6% 4oe oes @ot Suffer%$

.% #he -bserer ,s the -bsere!%$

.8% #he Pebble in the Pon!$

.9% ?i!ing the Back of a #iger%$0t /ol! 3e(ories of /er in &our 3in! that /ol!s /er to the arth%

4et /er ;o%$

Part 6% #he Su((ation of the #eaching 198*198)

0.% Can &ou fro( #o!ay 4ook at the #hirty &ears as the Past5 @ot fro( the#hirty &ears 4ook at #o!ay5$

00% nergy ,s Cos(os ,t ,s Also Chaos% #hat ,s the Source of Creation%$

0+% @egation an! the Ancient 3in!0)% -ne #ouche! the Source of the nergy of All #hings%$06% oubt as the ssence of ?eligious nuiry$0% , Su!!enly Sa the 7ace%$08% ,s ,t Possible to 'eep the Brain Fery &oung5$09% #he @ature of ;o!$+


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Preface

,n the late 19)s life in ,n!ia beteen 19+ an!198) but so(e recor!ing of his early life beca(e necessary as a back!rop to theunfol!(ent of the story of the young 'rishna(urti% So(e ne (aterial hithertounpublishe! has also been inclu!e!%

#he rea!er ill soon notice that 'rishna(urti is calle! by seeral !ifferent

na(es in this book% , hae referre! to 'rishna(urti as 'rishna hen he as ayoung person for so he as knonG as 'rishna:i fro( 19+ for by then he asto (e the great #eacher an! Seer%Jiis a ter( of respect a!!e! to na(es both of(en an! o(en in @orth ,n!iaG in an ol!*fashione! househol! een the chil!>sna(e has the suffi a!!e! for it is consi!ere! !iscourteous to a!!ress a person

by her or his first na(e% ,n South ,n!ia no suffi is a!!e! an!jiis unknon% ,t islikely that Annie Besant because of her close associations ith Faranasi a!!e!thejito 'rishna>s na(e as a ter( of en!ear(ent an! respect%

3ost religious teachers in ,n!ia hae a prefi a!!e! to their na(es such as3aharshi Acharya Sa(i or Bhagan% 'rishna:i neer accepte! any such title%'rishna:i referre! to hi(self in the !ialogues or in his !iaries either as '$ or asthe i(personal e$ to suggest an absence of the ,$ the ego>s sense ofin!ii!uality% ,n this book therefore hen , refer to the (an or the teacher in ani(personal (anner , refer to hi( as 'rishna(urti or as '%

'rishna:i agree! to hol! !ialogues ith (e an! these for( part of the book%3ost of the riting is fro( notes kept by (e !uring or i((e!iately afterconersations or !ialogues% 7ro( 19. onar!s so(e of the !ialogues ere ontape an! hae been taken fro( there%

Certain inci!ents !iscusse! in the bookH'rishna:i>s (eetings ith ,n!ira;an!hi his relationship ith Annie BesantHcoul! hae beco(e controersial%#hese chapters , rea! alou! to 'rishna:i for his co((ents% , also sent ,n!ira;an!hi the chapter on her (eetings ith hi(G she suggeste! so(e (inorchanges hich hae been incorporate!%

, ish to acknole!ge (y !eep gratitu!e to Sri ?a:i ;an!hi for per(issionto inclu!e the letters of ,n!ira ;an!hiG to the 'rishna(urti 7oun!ation nglan!for per(ission to publish the !ialogues hel! by (e ith 'rishna:i at Brockoo!ParkG to the 'rishna(urti 7oun!ation ,n!ia for per(ission to publish the!ialogues an! talks in ,n!iaG to S(t% ?a!ha Burnier Presi!ent #heosophicalSociety for all her kin!ness an! help in (aking aailable (aterial fro( thearchies of the #heosophical SocietyG to Sri Achyut Patar!han for his (anyconersationsG to S(t% Sunan!a Patar!han for giing (e access to her notes an!


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personal recor!sG to (y !aughter ?a!hika an! her husban! /ans /erDberger fortheir critical co((entsG to Sri 3urli ?ao for certain (anuscripts he brought to(y noticeG an! to the (any other frien!s ho hae share! their eperiences ith(e% , oul! also like to acknole!ge Sri Asoke utt for his frien!ship an!i((ense help in (aking the publication possibleG to 3r% Clayton Carlson of/arper I ?o for his aluable suggestions interest an! supportG to Sri BenoySarkar for his aluable help in sorting out an! collating the photographsG to the

@ational ,nstitute of esign Ah(e!aba!G to the heirs of 3itter Be!iG to AsitChan!(alG 3ark !ar!s an! A% /a(i! for per(ission to use their

photographsG to A% F% Jose for his oerall support an! superisionG an! to 3%Janar!hanan for bearing ith (e in preparing the (anuscript%


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A Song Bestoe! "pon a#ethere! Bir!$

Aake arise haing approache! the great teacher learn%#he roa! is !ifficult the crossing is as the sharp e!ge of a raDor%

'A#/A "PA@,S/A ,,,

, first (et 'rishna(urti in January 19+8% , as thirty*to years of age an! ha!co(e to lie in Bo(bay after (arrying (y husban! 3an(ohan Jayakar in190% 3y only chil! a !aughter ?a!hika as born a year later%

,n!ia ha! been in!epen!ent for fie (onths an! , sa a seet futurestretching ahea!% 3y on entry into politics as i((inent% ,t as a ti(e hen(en an! o(en inole! in the free!o( struggle ha! also turne! to hat asthen knon as social or constructie progra(s initiate! by 3ahat(a ;an!hi%#his coere! eery aspect of nation buil!ing particularly those actiities relate!to illage ,n!ia% 7ro( 19+1 , beca(e ery actie in organiDational (atters relate!to illage o(en>s elfare cooperaties cottage in!ustries% 7or (e it as atough an! rigorous initiation% =ith free!o( the after(ath of partition sa (e atthe center of the (ain relief organiDation set up in Bo(bay for refugees hoere pouring into the country fro( Pakistan%

-ne Sun!ay (orning , ent to see (y (other ho lie! in 3alabar /illBo(bay in an ol! ra(bling bungalo roofe! ith country tiles% , foun! her ith(y sister @an!ini getting rea!y to go out% #hey tol! (e that San:eea ?ao hoha! stu!ie! ith (y father in 'ing>s College Ca(bri!ge ha! co(e to see (y(other% /e sa that een after seeral years of (ourning she as still in greatsorro at (y father>s !eath% /e ha! suggeste! that she (ight be helpe! by(eeting 'rishna(urti% An i(age ca(e su!!enly to (y (in!2 the (i!*19.


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(y father her loe for hi( an! of her tre(en!ous loss hich she see(e! unableto accept% She aske! 'rishna(urti hether she oul! (eet (y father in the netorl!% By then the intensity of heightene! perception his presence ha! firsteoke! ha! starte! to fa!e an! , sat back to hear hat , epecte! to be aco(forting reply% , kne that (any sorroful people ha! isite! hi( an! ,assu(e! that he oul! kno the or!s ith hich to co(fort the(%

Abruptly he spoke% , a( sorry 3a!a(% &ou hae co(e to the rong (an% ,cannot gie you the co(fort you seek%$ , sat up beil!ere!% &ou ant (e totell you that you ill (eet your husban! after !eath but hich husban! !o youant to (eet5 #he (an ho (arrie! you the (an ho as ith you hen youere young the (an ho !ie! or the (an he oul! hae been to!ay ha! helie!5$ /e pause! an! as silent for so(e (o(ents% =hich husban! !o youant to (eet5 Because surely the (an ho !ie! as not the sa(e (an ho(arrie! you%$

, felt (y (in! spring to attentionG , ha! hear! so(ething etraor!inarilychallenging% 3y (other see(e! ery perturbe!% She as not prepare! to acceptthat ti(e coul! hae (a!e any !ifference in the (an she loe!% She sai! 3yhusban! oul! not change%$ 'rishna(urti replie! =hy !o you ant to (eethi(5 =hat you (iss is not your husban! but the (e(ory of your husban!%$ /e

pause! again alloing the or!s to sink !eep%3a!a( forgie (e%$ /e fol!e! his han!s an! , gre aare of the perfection

of his gestures% =hy !o you keep his (e(ory alie5 =hy !o you ant torecreate hi( in your (in!5 =hy !o you try to lie in sorro an! continue iththe sorro5$ , felt a uickening of (y senses2 his refusal to be kin! in theaccepte! sense as shattering% 3y (in! leapt to (eet the clarity an! precision ofhis or!s% , felt that , as in contact ith so(ething ast an! totally ne%#hough the or!s soun!e! harsh there as gentleness in his eyes an! a ualityof healing floe! fro( hi(% /e hel! (y (other>s han! hile he as speaking%

@an!ini sa that (y (other as !isturbe!% She change! the conersation an!began speaking to 'rishna(urti of the rest of the fa(ily% She tol! hi( that , asa social orker intereste! in politics% /e as grae as he turne! to (e an! aske!hy , !i! social ork% , respon!e! by telling hi( of the fullness of (y life% /es(ile!% ,t (a!e (e feel uneasy an! nerous% #hen he sai! =e are like the (anho tries to fill ater into a pail that has holes% #he (ore ater he pours in the(ore it pours out an! the pail re(ains e(pty%$

/e as looking at (e ithout intru!ing% /e sai! =hat is it you are trying torun aay fro(5 Social ork pleasure liing in sorroHare these not allescapes atte(pts to fill the oi! ithin5 Can this oi! be fille!5 An! yet to fillthe oi! is the hole process of our eistence%$

, foun! his or!s ery !isturbing but felt they ha! to be eplore!% #o (eaction as lifeG an! hat he sai! as inco(prehensible% , aske! hi( hether heante! (e to sit at ho(e an! !o nothing% /e listene!G an! , ha! a peculiarfeeling that his listening as unlike anything , ha! eer perceie! oreperience!% #hen he s(ile! at (y uestion an! the roo( fille!% Shortly after

that e left% 'rishna(urti sai! to (e =e shall (eet again%$


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#he (eeting ha! left (e ery !isturbe!% , coul! not sleep his or!s keptarising in (y (in!% As the !ays passe! , began to atten! the talks he as giingin the gar!ens of Sir Chunilal 3ehta @an!ini>s father*in*la% , foun! it !ifficultto un!erstan! hat 'rishna(urti as saying but his presence !eastate! (e an!, continue! to go% /e spoke of orl! chaos as the pro:ection of in!ii!ual chaos%/e tol! us that all organiDations an! is(s$ ha! faile! an! that in our pursuit ofsecurity e buil! ne organiDations that in turn betray us%

, ha! the feeling that , as not (eeting hi( at the leel at hich he asspeaking% After a fe !ays , aske! for an interie%

, as !rien by the urge to be ith hi( to be notice! by hi( to probe intothe (ystery that pera!e! his presence% , as afrai! of hat oul! happen but ,coul! not keep aay% 7or to !ays before our interie , planne! hat , oul!say to hi( an! ho , oul! say it% =hen , alke! into the roo( , foun! hi(sitting straight*backe! an! cross*legge! on the floor !resse! in an i((aculatehite kurta that stretche! to belo his knees% /e sprang to his feet his long

petal*like fingers fol!e! in greeting% , sat !on facing hi(% /e sa , as nerousan! he aske! (e to sit uietly%

After a hile , began to talk% , ha! alays been sure of (yself so though ,hesitate! , soon foun! that , as speaking nor(ally an! hat , ha! planne! tosay poure! out% , spoke of the fullness of (y life an! ork of (y concern for theun!erpriilege! (y !esire to enter politics (y ork in the cooperatie(oe(ent (y interest in art% , as co(pletely absorbe! in hat , ha! to say thei(pression , as trying to create% After a fe (o(ents hoeer , ha! theunco(fortable feeling that he as not listening% , looke! up an! sa he asgaDing at (eG there as a uestioning in his eyes an! a !eep probing% , hesitate!an! gre silent% After a pause he sai! , hae notice! you at the !iscussions%=hen you are in repose there is a great sa!ness on your face%$

, forgot hat , ha! inten!e! to say forgot eerything but the sorro ithin(e% , ha! refuse! to allo the pain to co(e through% So !eep as it burie! that itrarely i(pinge! on (y conscious (in!% , as horrifie! of the i!ea that othersoul! sho (e pity an! sy(pathy an! ha! coere! up (y sorro ith layers ofaggression% , ha! neer spoken of this to anyoneHnot een to (yself ha! ,acknole!ge! (y loneliness2 but before this silent stranger all (asks ere septaay% , looke! into his eyes an! it as (y on face , sa reflecte!% 4ike atorrent long hel! in check the or!s ca(e%

, re(e(bere! (yself as a young chil! one of fie chil!ren ti(i! an! gentlebruise! at the slightest harshness% ark of co(pleion in a fa(ily hereeeryone as fair unnotice! a girl hen , shoul! hae been a boy liing in alarge ra(bling house being alone for hours rea!ing books that , sel!o(un!erstoo!% , re(e(ber sitting on a long eran!a facing ancient treesG listeningto legen!s of ogres an! heroes of /ati( #ai an! Ali BabaHthe oral tales of thisancient lan! tol! by the hite*bear!e! 3usli( tailor ,((a(u!!in ho sat ithhis seing (achine all !ay long on the eran!a% , re(e(bere! hearing #ulsi!as>s

Ram Charit Manas1sung by ?a( 'hilaan the blin! punkahcoolie ho fanne!

1Ram Charit Manasis the story of ?a( an! Sita fro( the epic Ramayanaco(pose! in the ernacular bypoet #ulsi!as in a four*line uatrain inserte! in the tet%


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us an! the fragrance of cool et khus(ats on a su((er !ay% , re(e(bere!going for alks ith (y ,rish goerness learning of plants an! the na(es offloersG !elighting in the history of British kings an! ueens Arthur an!;uineere /enry the F,,, an! Anne BoleynG neer playing ith !olls sel!o(ith other chil!ren% , re(e(bere! being afrai! of (y father yet secretly a!oringhi(%

, re(e(bere! at age eleen the bu!s opening in (y o(b the first blee!ingan! ith it a (iraculous blosso(ing% #o gro up an! to be young asintoication% #o be a!(ire! to lie intenselyHri!ing si((ing playing tennis!ancing% =ith il! aban!on , race! to (eet life%

, re(e(bere! going to nglan! to college an! the sti(ulation of the (in!G(eeting (y husban! the return to ,n!ia (arriage an! the birth of (y !aughter?a!hika%

,neitably , soon refuse! the role of a houseife% , plunge! into social orkplaye! bri!ge an! poker for high stakes lie! at the heart of the social an!intellectual life of Bo(bay% #hen another pregnancyG in the seenth (onth anattack of ecla(psia brought iolent conulsions an! total blin!ness%

, re(e(bere! the beil!ering anguish of !arkness an! the eplosie stor(sof color2 cerulian blue the color of the neelkantha bir! the color of blue fire% #he

brain raage! by the bo!y>s conulsionsG the en!ing of the heartbeats an! the!eath of the unseen babyG the heay !eath silence of the o(b% Sight returningthrough a (ist as gray !ots conerging to create for(%

3y (in! pause! or!s en!e! an! , looke! again at the beautiful stranger%But the racking pain of (y beloe! father>s !eath soon aakene! in (e an!again there as tearing unen!urable agony%

=or!s oul! not en!% , spoke of the (any scars of liing the struggle tosurie the groing ruthlessness the slo har!ening the aggression an!a(bition% #he !rie in (e !e(an!ing success% #hen another pregnancy the birthof a little girl beautiful of face but !efor(e!% #he !roning in anguish an!again the !eath of the chil!% ight years of barrenness of (in! heart an! o(bGan! then !eath%

,n his presence the past hi!!en in the !arkness of the long forgotten foun!for( an! aakene!% /e as as a (irror that reflecte!% #here as an absence of

personality of the ealuator to eigh an! !istort% , kept trying to keep backso(ething of (y past but he oul! not let (e% @o in the co(passionate fiel!there as a uality of i((ense strength% /e sai! , can see if you ant (e to%$An! so the or!s hich for years ha! been !estroying (e ere sai!% Sayingthe( brought (e i((ense pain but his listening as as the listening of in!s orthe ast epanse of ater%

, ha! been ith 'rishna:i1for to hours% As , left the roo( (y bo!y feltshattere! an! yet a healing ha! floe! through (e% , ha! touche! a ne ay of

Before electricity ca(e to ,n!ia eery bungalo ha! a long oo!en pole hung horiDontally fro( thehigh ceiling ith a heay cloth frill attache!% A rope connecte! the pole through a hole in the all to theouter eran!a here a (an sat pulling the rope an! so (oing the fan to create a slight breeDe in the

frightful heat of @orthern ,n!ia in the su((er (onths% #he fragrant khus(ats ere hung on !oors an!in!os% =hen et the hot in! bloing through the( as transfor(e! into a cool scente! breeDe%1See Preface for eplanation of the arious for(s of 'rishna(urti>s na(e use! in this book%


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obsering a ne ay of listening ithout reaction a listening that arose fro(!istance an! !epth% =hile , as speaking he appeare! aare not only of hatas being sai!Hthe epressions gestures attitu!esHbut also of hat ashappening aroun! hi(Hthe bir! singing in the tree outsi!e his in!o a floerfalling fro( a ase% ,n the (i!st of (y outcry he sai! to (e2 i! you see thatfloer fall5$ 3y (in! ha! stoppe! beil!ere!%

, ha! been listening to 'rishna(urti for seeral !ays% , ent to his talksatten!e! the !iscussions cogitate! !iscusse! hat he as saying ith (yfrien!s% -n the eening of January 0s house Achyut as calle! to the telephone% /e ca(e back hisface ashen%

;an!hi:i has been assassinate!$ he sai!% 7or an instant ti(e stoppe!%'rishna:i ha! beco(e ery still% /e see(e! to be aare of each one of us an! ourreactions% A(ong us a single thought arose2 =as the assassin a /in!u or a3usli(5 Achyut>s brother ?ao aske! ,s there nes of the killer5$ Achyut sai!he !i! not kno% #he conseuences that oul! follo if the killer ere a 3usli(ere clear to all of us% =e rose silently an! one by one left the roo(%

#he nes that ;an!hi ha! been (ur!ere! by a Brah(in fro( Poona septthe cityG anti*Brah(in riots broke out in Poona% &ou coul! hear the hisper ofrelief fro( the 3usli( resi!ents% =e listene! to Jaaharlal @ehru>s anguishe!oice a!!ressing the nation% #he country see(e! paralyDe!% #he unthinkable ha!happene! an! for a brief (o(ent (en an! o(en searche! their hearts%

-n 7ebruary 1 a hushe! au!ience gathere! to hear 'rishna:i speak% /e asaske! a !ifficult uestion2 =hat are the real causes of 3ahat(a ;an!hi>sunti(ely !eath5$

'rishna(urti replie! , on!er hat your reaction as hen you hear! thenes% =hat as your response5 =ere you concerne! oer it as a personal loss oras an in!ication of the tren! of orl! eents5 =orl! eents are not unrelate!inci!entsG they are relate!% #he real cause of ;an!hi:i>s unti(ely !eath lies inyou% #he real cause is you% Because you are co((unal you encourage the spiritof !iisionHthrough property through caste through i!eology through haing!ifferent religions sects lea!ers% =hen you call yourself a /in!u a 3usli( aParsee or ;o! knos hat else it is boun! to pro!uce conflict in the orl!%$

7or !ays after that e !iscusse! iolence its root an! its en!ing% 7or'rishna:i noniolence as an i!eal as illusion% #he reality as the fact ofiolence the rising of perception that un!erstoo! the nature of iolence an! theen!ing of iolence in the no$2 the present of eistence in hich alone actionas possible%

,n the talks that folloe! he spoke of the eery!ay proble(s that facehu(ankin!Hfear anger :ealousy the fierce thrust of possession% Speaking ofrelationships as the (irror for self*!iscoery he use! the ea(ple of husban!an! ife the (ost inti(ate relationship an! yet often the (ost callous an!hypocritical% 3en looke! ith e(barrasse! eyes at their ies% So(e tra!itional

/in!us alke! out of the talks unable to un!erstan! hat the relationshipbeteen husban! an! ife ha! to !o ith religious !iscourse% 'rishna:i refuse!


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to (oe fro( hat is$ the actual% /e refuse! to !iscuss abstracts like ;o! oreternity hile the (in! as a hirlpool of lust hatre! an! :ealousy% ,t as atthis ti(e that so(e of his au!ience began to feel that he !i! not beliee in ;o!%

,n (i!*7ebruary , ent to see hi( again% /e aske! (e hether , ha! notice!anything !ifferent in (y thinking process% , sai! , as not getting as (anythoughts as , !i! before% 3y (in! as not as restless as it use! to be%

/e sai! ,f you hae been eperi(enting ith self*knoing you ill noticethat your thinking process has sloe! !on that your (in! is not restlesslyan!ering%$ 7or a ti(e he as silentG , aite! for hi( to continue% #ry orkingout each thought to its co(pletion carry it right through to the en!% &ou ill fin!that this is ery !ifficult for no sooner !oes one thought co(e into being than itis pursue! by another thought% #he (in! refuses to co(plete a thought% ,t escapesfro( thought to thought%$ #his is so% =hen , hae trie! to follo a thought ,hae alays note! ho siftly it elu!es the atcher%

, then aske! hi( ho one coul! co(plete a thought% /e sai! #hought canonly co(e to an en! hen the thinker un!erstan!s hi(self hen he sees that thethinker an! the thought are not to separate processes% #hat the thinker is thethought an! the thinker separates hi(self fro( thought for his self*protectionan! continuance% So the thinker is continually pro!ucing thought hich istransfor(ing an! changing%$ /e pause!%

,s the thinker separate fro( his thoughts5$ #here ere long pauses beteenhis sentences as if he epecte! the or!s to :ourney far an! !eep% ?e(oethought here is the thinker5 &ou ill fin! the thinker is not% So hen youco(plete eery thought to its en! goo! or ba!Hhich is etre(ely ar!uousHthe (in! slos !on% #o un!erstan! the self the self in operation has to beatche!% #his can only be hen the (in! slos !onHan! you can only !o this

by pursuing eery thought to its en! as it arises% &ou ill then see that yourcon!e(nations your !esires your :ealousies ill co(e out before aconsciousness that is e(pty an! co(pletely silent%$

4istening to hi( oer the course of a (onth (y (in! ha! gron pliableG itas no longer crystaliDe! an! soli! in its encrustations% , aske! But henconsciousness is fille! ith pre:u!ices !esires (e(ories can it then un!erstan!thought5$

@o$ he ansere! for it is constantly acting on thoughtHescaping fro( itor buil!ing on it%$ Again he as silent% ,f you follo each thought to itsco(pletion you ill see that at the en! of it there is silence% 7ro( that there isreneal% #hought that arises fro( this silence no longer has !esire as its (otieforce it e(erges fro( a state that is not clogge! ith (e(ory%

But if again the thought that so arises is not co(plete! it leaes a resi!ue%#hen there is no reneal an! the (in! is caught again in a consciousness hichis (e(ory boun! by the past by yester!ay% ach thought then to the net is theyester!ayHthat hich has no reality%

#he ne approach is to bring ti(e to an en!$ 'rishna:i conclu!e!% , !i! not

un!erstan! but ca(e aay ith the or!s alie ithin (e%


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@an!ini an! , so(eti(es took 'rishna:i for eening !ries to the /anging;ar!ens on 3alabar /ill or to =orli beach% At ti(es e oul! alk ith hi(fin!ing it !ifficult to keep pace ith his long stri!es% -ther ti(es he oul! alkalone an! return after an hour a stranger% uring the alks ith us he oul!occasionally speak of his youth his life in the #heosophical Society an! hisearly !ays at -:ai California% /e tol! us of his brother @itya of his co(panions?a:agopal an! ?osalin! an! the /appy Falley School% -ften hen he spoke ofthe past his (e(ory oul! be precise accurate% At other ti(es he oul! groague an! say he !i! not re(e(ber% /e as uick to s(ile an! his laughter as!eep an! resonant% /e share! :okes he aske! us uestions of our chil!hoo! an!our groing up% /e also spoke of ,n!ia eagerly seeking our ies on hat astaking place in the country% =e ere hesitant an! shyG a sense of (ystery an! hisoerhel(ing presence (a!e it !ifficult for us to be casual ith hi( or to speakof triialities in his presence% But his laughter brought hi( closer to us%

-n so(e !ays e !iscusse! thought% /e oul! ask /ae you atche! thebirth of a thought5 /ae you atche! its en!ing5$ Another !ay he oul! say#ake a thought stay ith it hol! it in consciousness you ill see ho ar!uousit is to hol! one thought as it is to en! thought%$

, tol! 'rishna:i that since , ha! (et hi( , ha! been aking in the (orningsithout thought but ith the soun! of bir!s an! the !istant oices of the streetfloing through (y (in!%

#o the ,n!ian the silent straight*backe! stranger the (en!icant ho stan!saiting at the !oorays of the ho(e an! (in! hol!ing an initation to othernessis a poerful sy(bol% ,t eokes in the house*hol!erHo(an or (anHpassionatelongings anguish an! a reaching out physically an! inar!ly to that hich isunattainable% But this seer laughe! an! :oke!G he alke! ith us as near an!yet ery far aay% /esitatingly e inite! hi( to (y (other>s house for !inner%

/e ca(e s(iling earing a dhoti a long kurta an! an angavastram1 an!as receie! ith floers by (y tiny (other% She ha! neer ha! a for(ale!ucation but her natural elegance of (in! her grace an! !ignity (a!e it

possible for her to (eet an! speak ith 'rishna:i% She as the i!o of a senior,n!ian ciil serant% =hile liing ith (y father she ha! share! in his intellectualan! social life ha! (et scholars an! social orkers an! as herself an ar!entsocial orker% #enacious an! shre! (y (other ha! broken free fro( tra!itionearly in her (arrie! life% She spoke nglish ith ease entertaine! ith lan an!cooke! !electably% ,n (y chil!hoo! e ha! to cooks one for egetarian;u:arati (eals an! another traine! in =estern cuisineG a ;oan butler aite! attable% 3y father>s !eath ha! broken her but (y (other>s house continue! to beresonant ith laughter in hich 'rishna:i :oine!% /e soon felt at ho(e an!ca(e freuently to !inner% By the en! of 3arch e coul! speak to hi( ith easeG1A dhoti is a forty*fie*inch i!e an! fie yar!s long cotton han!oen cloth unstitche! ith a plain

bor!er of burgun!y or black% ,t is tie! aroun! the aist pleate! in front an! tucke! beteen the legs tobe fastene! at the back falling ankle lenght% ,t is a graceful gar(ent for ear on cere(onial occasions%#he kurta is a stitche! loose collarless shirt ith long sleees an! it reaches belo the knees% An

angavastram is an unbleache! han!oen cotton shal ith a !ark re! in!igo or black bor!er oenith a gol! !esign% 7ol!e! an! thron oer the shoul!er it is orn on all cere(onial occasions

particularly in South ,n!ia%


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yet after each of his talks an! !iscussions e gre intensely aare of the!istances that separate! us an! the (ystery that e coul! neither touch norfatho(%

#oar! the en! of 3arch , tol! 'rishna:i of the state of (y (in! an! thethoughts that pursue! (eG of the (o(ents of uietness an! bursts of frenDie!actiityG of !ays hen (y (in! as caught in the pain of not beco(ing% , as!istracte! by this constant :u(ping backar!s an! forar!s of the (in!%

/e took (y han! an! e sat uietly% 7inally he sai! &ou are agitate!%=hy5$ , !i! not kno an! sat silently% =hy are you a(bitious5 o you ant to

be like anyone you kno ho has got on5$, hesitate! an! then sai! @o%$&ou hae a goo! brain$ he continue! a goo! instru(ent that has not been

use! rightly% &ou hae a !rie that has been rongly !irecte!% =hy are youa(bitious5 =hat is it you ant to beco(e5 =hy !o you ant to aste your

brain5$, as su!!enly alert% =hy a( , a(bitious5 Can , help hat , a(5 , a( busy

!oing achieing% =e cannot be like you%$/is look as uiDDical% 7or so(e ti(e he re(aine! ithout speaking letting

hat lay !or(ant ithin (e reeal itself% #hen he aske! /ae you eer beenalone ithout books the ra!io5 #ry it an! see hat happens%$

, oul! go (a! , cannot be alone%$#ry it an! see% 7or the (in! to be creatie there (ust be stillness% A !eep

stillness that can only co(e into being hen you hae face! your loneliness%&ou are a o(an an! yet you hae a great !eal of the (an in you% &ou

hae neglecte! the o(an% 4ook into yourself%$, felt a stirring !eep ithin (e the cru(bling of the (any crusts of

insensitiity% , felt again the tearing anguish%&ou ant affection Pupul an! you !o not fin! it% =hy !o you put out your

begging bol5$, !on>t$ , sai!% #hat is one thing , hae neer !one% , oul! rather !ie than

ask for affection%$&ou hae not aske! for it% &ou hae s(othere! it% &et the begging bol is

alays there% ,f your bol as full you oul! not nee! to hol! it out% ,t isbecause it is e(pty that it is there%$

7or an instant , looke! at (yself% As a chil! , ept so often% As an a!ult ,per(itte! nothing to hurt (e% , turne! fro( it fiercely an! attacke!% /e sai! ,fyou loe then you !o not !e(an!% #hen if you fin! the person !oes not loe youyou ill help the other to loe een though it is so(eone else%$

, sa (yself ith clarityHthe bitterness the har!ness% , turne! to hi(% ,t istoo horrible to look% =hat hae , (a!e of (yself5$

&ou are not soling the proble( by criticiDing yourself% #here is no floingrichness in you otherise you oul! not nee! sy(pathy or affection% =hy haeyou no richness5 4ook this is hat you are% &ou !o not con!e(n a (an ho hasa !isease% #his is your !isease% 4ook at it cal(ly an! si(ply ith co(passion% ,t

oul! be stupi! to con!e(n or :ustify% #o con!e(n is another (oe(ent of the


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past to strengthen itself% 4ook at hat takes place in your conscious (in!% =hyare you aggressie5 =hy !o you ant to be the center of any group5

As you look at the conscious (in! sloly the unconscious ill thro up itsinti(ationsHin !rea(s een in the aking state of thought%$

=e ha! been talking for oer an hour but that span as (eaningless% ,n hispresence there as a shrinking of one>s sense of ti(e as !uration% , spoke to hi(of the changes that ere taking place in (y life% , as no longer sure of (yself or(y ork% Although !esires an! urges still arose they ha! no itality%

, tol! hi( , realiDe! that a great !eal of the ork , as !oing as base! onself*aggran!iDe(ent% ,t no longer see(e! possible for (e to enter political life%3y social life as also changing ra!ically% -f all things , coul! no longer play

poker% , ha! trie! to play but foun! that the intention to outit the other playersas lacking% "nbi!!en , ha! (o(ents of aareness in the (i!!le of playing

poker that (a!e bluffing i(possible% 'rishna:i put back his hea! an! laughe!an! laughe! an! laughe!%

, tol! hi( that at ti(es , felt an i((ense inner balance like a bir! playingith the in!% All !esire !issole! in this intensity spent itself% At other ti(es ,as sa(pe! in beco(ings% 3y (oorings ere going an! , as a!rift% , !i! notkno hat lay ahea!% , ha! neer felt so unsure of (yself%

'rishna:i sai! #he see! has been plante! allo it to ger(inateHlet it liefallo for a hile% #his has been uite ne to you% Co(ing to it ith no

preconceptions no notions no beliefs the i(pact has been !irect the (in! noill nee! rest% on>t push it%$

=e sat uietly% 'rishna:i sai! =atch yourself% &ou hae a !rie fe o(enpossess% ,n this country (en an! o(en peter out so easily so early in life% ,t isthe cli(ate the ay of liing the stagnation% See that the !rie !oes not !ropaay% ,n freeing yourself fro( aggression !on>t beco(e innocuous an! soft% #o

be free fro( aggression is not to beco(e eak or hu(ble%$?epeate!ly he as to tell (e =atch your (in! let not a thought escape

hoeer ugly hoeer brutal% =atch ithout choosing eighing :u!gingithout giing !irection or letting thought take root in the (in!% =atchrelentlessly%$

As , left the roo( he rose to see (e to the !oor% /is face as in repose hisbo!y sli( uprising like a !eo!ar tree% 7or an instant oerhel(e! by his beauty, aske! =ho are you5$ /e sai! ,t !oes not (atter ho , a(% =hat you thinkan! !o an! hether you can transfor( yourself is alone i(portant%$

As , :ourneye! ho(e , su!!enly realiDe! that in the (any conersations , ha!ha! ith 'rishna:i he ha! neer sai! a or! about hi(self% #here ha! been noreference to any personal eperience not a single (oe(ent of the self ha!(anifeste! itself% ,t as this that (a!e hi( a stranger hoeer ell you knehi(% ,n the (i!st of a gesture of frien!ship casual conersation one felt itHasu!!en !istance silences that e(anate! fro( hi( a consciousness that ha! nofocal point% An! yet in his presence one felt the bounty of an infinite concern%


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Part 1

#he &oung 'rishna(urti

189)*19+6


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CHAPTER 1

,n Space -ne ,s Born an!"nto Space -ne ,s Born%$

7ire! by the sun sculpture! rocks a(ongst the ol!est in the orl! cra!le! theillage of 3a!anapalle in the Chittoor !istrict of An!hra Pra!esh South ,n!ia%7ro( the sacre! site of #irupati through ?ishi Falley to Anantpur stretche! hillstoppe! ith rocky boul!ers intersperse! ith s(all alleys% ?ainfall as(ini(al population sparse% #a(arin! an! gul (ohar trees proi!e! sha!e an!eplo!ing color% ,t as sacre! earthpunyastha here (ystics an! saints ha!

lie! an! taught for centuries their bo!ies burie! there to sanctify the soil% /ereon 3ay 1. 189) at thirty (inutes after (i!night a son as born toSan:eea((a the ife of Ji!!u @arianiah a (inor ciil serant%

#he ancestors of Ji!!u 'rishna(urti a Brah(in of the Felana!u subcasteoriginally ca(e fro( ;i!!u or Ji!!u a illage that lies in the (i!st of the fertile

pa!!y fiel!s of coastal An!hra% 'rishna(urti>s paternal gran!father ;uru(urtias also a (inor ciil serantG but his gran!father ?a(akrishna renone! forhis great learning his knole!ge of Sanskrit an! the !"das hel! a responsible

position in the :u!icial !epart(ent of the British ast ,n!ia Co(pany%#he house of @arianiah in 3a!anapalle one of the (ost !rought*prone areas

of South ,n!ia as tinyG ill*entilate! an! to*storie! it ha! a narro frontagethat opene! onto a lane along hich floe! an open !rain% All ater for

@arianiah>s ho(e as !ran fro( a nearby ell an! taken by ater carriers tobe store! ithin the house in large burnishe! brass essels or earthen pots%

'rishna(urti as born to San:eea((a in thepujaroo( of her ho(e%1#hesignificance of this has been (isse! by 'rishna(urti>s biographers% #o atra!itional /in!u liing a(ongst the sno*peake! /i(alayas or in 'anyaku(ariin the !eep South in urban !elling or illage hut the puja roo( as thesanctu( the heart of the ho(e here the griha d"vatas the househol! go!sere enshrine!G it as a roo( (a!e auspicious ith floers an! incense an! therecitation of sacre! (antras% #he roo( for the go!s coul! only be entere! after aritual bath an! the earing of fresh clothes% Birth !eath an! the (enstrual cycleere the focus of ritual pollution% At birth an! !eath the househol!er an! hisfa(ily share! in the pollution an! refraine! fro( perfor(ing the !aily pujaGinstea! a Brah(in fro( the local te(ple as inite! to perfor( the !aily rituals%#hat a chil! shoul! be born in this roo( as unthinkable%

@arianiah>s ife an! cousin San:eea((a as a !eout an! charitableo(an% She as consi!ere! psychic eperience! isions an! coul! see thecolors in people>s auras% As a (usician>s ear is tune! to a perfectly stringe!instru(ent so as a (other her ear as tune! to the heartbeats of the baby thataite! in the crucible of her bo!y soon to start its passage through the portals of


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life% ,nti(ations of the uniueness of this birth (ust hae gien her propheticision an! courage otherise she coul! not hae so challenge! the go!s%

arly in the eening of 3ay 11 San:eea((a felt inti(ations of thei((inent birth of the chil!% #his chil! oul! be her eighth an! she as ellaare of the routine preparations necessary for the natiity% So she prepare! theroo( sang #elugu1songs to her husban! in her (elo!ious oice an! reste! on a(at in the upper story of the buil!ing% #oar! the (i!!le of the night the painsstarte!% She oke @arianiah ent to the roo( she ha! prepare! an! lay !onon a (at for the birth% A local o(an a relatie ho as ell*erse! in theeperience of chil!birth ca(e to help hile her husban! aite! outsi!e%San:eea((a ha! little pain% #hroughout the perio! the only or!s she uttere!ere Rama# Rama# Anjan"ya#$ another na(e for /anu(an%.At 1.20< A%3% inthe early (orning of 3ay 1. the o(an atten!ant opene! the !oor an! sai! to

@arianiah $irsodayam the hea! is isible%$ Accor!ing to tra!ition that is theprecise (o(ent of birth%

,n this tiny roo( lit ith oil la(ps in the presence of the ishta !eata thehousehol! go! 'rishna(urti took his first breath% 7ro( the protecte! spaces ofthe o(b the baby entere! the spaces of the orl!%

,n space one is born an! unto space one is born%$.

#he chil!>s horoscope as cast the net (orning by 'u(ara Shrothulu aell*knon astrologer of that region% /e tol! @arianiah that this ne son oul!

be a ery great (an% #he astrological chart as co(pleG the chil! oul!encounter (any obstacles before he gre to be a great #eacher%

7or eleen !ays of the prescribe! perio! the baby reste! in an at(ospherethat recreate! the a(bience of the o(b% /e lay in se(i!arkness gently rocke!in a cloth cra!le net to his (other% As in all ortho!o /in!u births'rishna(urti>s entry into the !aDDling light of the sun an! the orl! as gra!ual%

-n the sith !ay after birth the na(e*giing cere(ony as hel!% ,t asineitable in this tra!ition*boun! fa(ily that the eighth son be gien the na(e'rishna(urti sy(bolic of 'rishna the coher!*go! ho as the eighth chil!%

#hree years later in 1898 another boy as born to San:eea((a% /e asna(e! @ityanan!a eternal bliss%$

=hen 'rishna as si years ol! the upanayanamaas perfor(e!% #his is acere(ony of initiation into %rahma&harya the perio! of chaste !iscipleship thatis the first stage in the life of a Brah(in% #he cere(ony took place at 'a!irihere @arianiah as poste!%

#he sacre! han!spun threa! as place! aroun! 'rishna>s shoul!ers an! thesecretgayatri(antra the inocation to the sun as hispere! into 'rishna>s ear

by his father% /e as taught to recite the (antra ith the correct intonationaccent an! gesture% /e (ust hae learne! to recite the gayatri(antra to the sunat !an an! perfor( the San!hya rituals at sunset to take ritual baths an! to be

1#elugu is a rai!ian language spoken by the people of An!hra Pra!esh in ,n!ia% ,t has a large nu(ber

of Sanskrit or!s inclu!e! in it%./anu(an the (onkey !eotee of the !iine hero ?a(a of the epic the Ramayana is a people>s go!i!ely orshipe! throughout ,n!ia% ,n South ,n!ia he is also knon as An:aneya%


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free of any for( of ritual pollution% /e (ust hae also been taught to recite the!"das%

Accor!ing to @arianiah>s !escription ,t is a cere(ony hich Brah(in boysgo through hen it is ti(e to launch the( out into the orl! of e!ucation% ,ttakes place beteen the age of fie an! seen years accor!ing to the health an!capacity of the chil!% So hen 'rishna ha! reache! that age a !ay as set apartfor this cere(ony% ,t is our custo( to (ake it a fa(ily festial an! frien!s an!relations are inite! to !inner%$

=hen all the people ere asse(ble! 'rishna as bathe! an! clothe! in neclothes% #he boy as then brought in an! place! upon his father>s knees hile

@arianiah>s outstretche! han! supporte! a siler tray stren ith grains of rice%/is (other sitting besi!e @arianiah then took the in!e finger of the boy>s righthan! an! ith it trace! in the rice the sacre! or! A"3 hich in its Sanskritren!ering consists of a single letterHthe first letter of the alphabet in Sanskritan! in all the ernacular languages%

#hen$ says @arianiah (y ring as taken fro( (y finger an! place!beteen the chil!>s finger an! thu(bG an! (y ife hol!ing the little han! againtrace! the sacre! or! in #elugu character ith the ring% #hen again ithout thering the sa(e letter as trace! three ti(es% After this (antra(s ere recite! bythe officiating priest ho blesse! the boy that he (ight be spiritually an!intellectually en!oe!% #hen taking 'rishna (y ife an! , !roe to the

@arasi(hasa(i te(ple to orship an! pray for the future success of our son%7ro( there e !roe to the nearest school here 'rishna as han!e! oer to theteacher ho perfor(e! in san! the sa(e cere(ony of tracing the sacre! or!%3eanhile (any of the schoolchil!ren ha! gathere! in the roo( an! e!istribute! a(ong the( such goo! things as (ight sere as a treat to the pupils%So e starte! our son on his e!ucational career accor!ing to our custo(% #hene !roe ho(e an! partook of !inner ith our relations an! frien!s%$ 0

'rishna an! his brother @itya ere ery close but by nature they ere totally!ifferent% @itya as re(arkably intelligent% en before he coul! talk hen hesa other boys going to school he oul! pick up a slate an! pencil an! follothe(%$+'rishna(urti as a eak chil! an! suffere! grieously fro( bouts of(alaria% At one stage he suffere! fro( conulsions an! for a hole year askept aay fro( school because of blee!ing fro( the nose an! (outh%

'rishna(urti took little interest in the school an! aca!e(ic ork but spentlong hours looking at the clou!s at bees at ants an! insects an! gaDing into theast !istance% /e has been !escribe! as sickly an! (entally un!eelope!% /isagueness fe or!s lack of interest in orl!ly affairs an! eyes that gaDe! outat the orl! seeing beyon! horiDons ere (istaken by his teacher for (entalretar!ation%

#he young 'rishna(urti !espite his see(ing agueness as greatlyintereste! in all (echanical contriances% -ne !ay 'rishna (isse! school%Seeking hi( his (other foun! hi( alone in a roo( totally absorbe! in opening

up a ti(epiece% /e oul! not (oe fro( the roo( an! refuse! all foo! an!


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Before co(ing to A!yar (y brothers an! , atten!e! (any schools the pleasantest of hichas the school in 3a!anapalle% , first ent to this school hen uite a chil! for , as born in3a!anapalle% 3y father being a goern(ent officer he as continually being transferre! fro(one place to another an! so our e!ucation as (uch interrupte!%

After (y (other>s !eath (atters ere orse for there as really nobo!y to look after us%,n connection ith (y (other>s !eath , (ay (ention that , freuently sa her after she !ie! ,re(e(ber once folloing (y (other>s for( as it ent upstairs% , stretche! out (y han! an!see(e! to catch hol! of her !ress but she anishe! as soon as e reache! the top of the stairs%"ntil a short ti(e ago , use! to hear (y (other folloing (e as , ent to school% , re(e(berthis particularly because , hear! the soun! of the bangles hich ,n!ian o(en ear on theirrists% At first , oul! look back half*frightene! an! , sa the ague for( of her !ress an! partof her face% #his happene! al(ost alays hen , ent out of the house%


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CHAPTER 2

#he #heosophical Societyan! the -ccult /ierarchy

3a!a(e /elena Petrona Blaatsky M1801*1891N often calle! /% P% B% as byall accounts an etraor!inary o(an% =ith her psychic ision an! piercing(es(eric eyes an! ith a personality that prooke! controersy she ha!appeare! on the ,n!ian scene in 189% A ?ussian by birth she clai(e! to haelie! in #ibet for seeral years in close contact ith the 3ahat(as1or 3asters ofthe occult brotherhoo!% ,t as there that she learne! fro( her guru her teacher

the ell*guar!e! !octrines of the #ibetan sages% =hile she as in urope in 180her 3asters aske! her to seek out Colonel /enry Steele -lcott a fello psychicresearcher in the "nite! States% -be!iently she ent there (et Colonel -lcottan! by 18) the #heosophical Society ha! been conceie!% #hey ere soon totrael togetherHfirst to Bo(bay an! then to Ceylon here they took Bu!!histinitiation an! later to 3a!ras% By 188. the #heosophical Society>s /ea!uartersha! been establishe! at A!yar 3a!ras%

#he #heosophical Society as base! on the tenets of a "niersal Brotherhoo!of hu(anity hich sought to stu!y ancient is!o( an! to eplore the hi!!en(ysteries of nature an! the latent poers of (an% ,t establishe! an occulthierarchy !raing fro( the /in!u an! Bu!!hist tra!itions in particular the#ibetan tantric tets an! teachings%

At the hea! of the hierarchy as Sanat 'u(ar (entione! in the #antras inthe Bhagat an! in early alche(ic riting as a youth of siteen eternallyyoung free of all ti(e as past present an! futureG he as regar!e! in the#heosophical hierarchy as the lor! of the orl!% Belo 'u(ar as the Bu!!ha%An! belo the Bu!!ha ere the three hea!s of the logos of the solar syste(2 the

bo!hisatta 3aitreya the Bu!!ha to beG the 3ahachohan a figure not to befoun! in any /in!u or Bu!!hist scripturesG an! the 3anu one of the fathers ofhu(ankin! accor!ing to theRig !"da% ?espectiely they sy(boliDe! the heartas co(passion the hea! as intellect an! the han!s as skill in action% Belo the(ere the 3ahat(as or 3asters ho in years to co(e oul! the(seles eoleto be bo!hisattas an! 3ahachohans% 3aster 'oot /oo(i Mor 3aster '% /% as heas knonN ha! the bo!y of a 'ash(iri Brah(in hile 3aster 3orya M3aster3%N ha! the bo!y of a ?a:put prince% #hese to 3asters gui!e! the affairs of the#heosophical Society an! the !isciples ho ent through arious initiationsun!er their benign gui!ance%

#oar! the en! of the nineteenth century hispers of the co(ing of the3essiah or the =orl! #eacher ha! sprea! a(ongst occult co((unities% /% P% B%

1Mahatma a Sanskrit ter( (eaning great spirit$ great soul$ a!ept$ or (aster%$


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atten!e! a conention in Faranasi an! sa Colonel -lcott ith his hite bear!%=ith the young @ehru>s !eparture for /arro #heosophy pro(ptly fa!e! fro(his consciousness% But the three years of his contact ith it oul! leae ani(pression on hi( an! his character hich he oul! later acknole!ge in hisa!(iration for Annie Besant%0

=ith the !eath of Colonel -lcott in 19


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oul! one !ay beco(e a spiritual teacher an! a great speaker% =oo! aske!/o great5 As great as 3rs% Besant5$ 4ea!beater is sai! to hae replie! 3uchgreater%$+

'rishna(urti !escribe! his (eeting ith 4ea!beaterHho as uitepossibly the first uropean he ha! eer (etHin his autobiography2

=hen e first ent to A!yar e lie! in a house close to the ne printing press% ery !ay ealke! to the 3ylapore high school% ,n the early (ornings an! in the eenings e prepare! ourho(e lessons% After so(e ti(e e began to pa!!le in the sea ith so(e other boys ho lie!near% -n one of these occasions in the year 19s bungalo earlyin the (orning stu!ie! until hat (ight be calle! breakfast hich e took at ho(e an! thenreturne! to hi(% ,n the afternoon e playe! tennis or ent to the sea to learn si((ing% 3yfather as ery please! ith the progress e ere to (ake an! on August 1+th it as finally!eci!e! that e shoul! not go to school any (ore%)

'rishna(urti ha! co(e to be notice! by 4ea!beater at a ti(e hen thenglish(an as un!ertaking a clairoyant inestigation into the for(er lies ofhis associates% Soon he began to probe into the for(er incarnations of'rishna(urti% #hese forays into 'rishna>s occult past ere later publishe! as thelies of Alcyone%$ #he na(e Alcyone as !erie! fro( the halcyon$ the

brightest star in the Pleia!es% #he inestigations reeale! a lu(inous array of pastbirths here 'rishna ha! been a !isciple of the Bu!!ha an! other on!rousbirths here his co(passion an! is!o( ha! heale! an! illu(ine!%

At the ti(e the boys ere foun! they ha! the front of their hea!s shaen Masas the custo( in south ,n!iaNG 'rishna(urti ha! long hair !on to his knees%/e as thin an! ill*nourishe!% Soon 'rishna(urti an! his brother @itya ha!starte! their stu!ies in A!yar% At first strict caste rules on foo! ere (aintaine!

but they ere relae! as 4ea!beater>s i(patience gre an! he began eaning theboys aay fro( their father>s influence% @arianiah in turn began to create!ifficulties% ,((e!iately 4ea!beater rote to 3rs% Besant that the (an ha! lost

his sanity an! fallen un!er the influence of the Blacks%$ ,t as then that


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instructions ere receie!$ by 4ea!beater fro( 3aster 'oot /oo(i% #he(essage as as follos2

#hey hae lie! long in hellG try to sho the( so(ething of para!ise% , ant the( to haeeerything the opposite of those preious con!itions% ,nstea! of hostility !istrust (isery

sualor irregularity carelessness an! foulness , ant the( to be surroun!e! by an at(osphereof loe an! happiness confi!ence regularity perfect physical cleanliness an! (ental purity%%%'eep the( as far as you can ithin your aura an! Annie>s so that they (ay be protecte! fro(eil an! carnal thoughts%%% , ant you to ciilise the(G to teach the( to use spoons an! forksnail brushes an! tooth brushes to sit at ease upon chairs instea! of crouching on the groun! tosleep rationally on a be! not in a corner like a !og%6

,t is inconceiable that a 3aster of is!o(Hho as also a 'ash(iriBrah(inHcoul! hae ritten this letter loa!e! as it is ith colonial oertonesan! ith its obious Fictorian bias% #he conte(pt ith hich the British in ,n!iaregar!e! ,n!ian culture an! liing habits is ei!ent in this letter% ,t as ritten at

a ti(e hen the South ,n!ian (an o(an an! chil! rich or poor sat an! slepton a (at on the floor an! here the :oint fa(ily proi!e! ar(th an! a sense ofbelonging rare in the =est%

,t is also !ifficult to beliee that the brothers ere !irty in their habitsG asBrah(ins they (ust hae bathe! seeral ti(es a !ay% ?itual bathing prece!e! byan oil bath as a !iscipline closely folloe!% #he teeth ere regularly cleane! bythe tig of a nee( tree perhaps the best !isinfectant that eistsG !aily clothesashing (ust also hae been part of the regular chores of the househol!%

,n the first half of the tentieth century the ,n!ian as regar!e! by the Britishrulers of ,n!ia as a necessary part of the lan!scapeHto be kept at a sufficient

!istance to be at best tolerate!G but un!er no circu(stances as an ,n!ianencourage! to be fa(iliar an! an attitu!e of con!escension pera!e! (ostrelationships% ,t as in this (ilieu that the boy 'rishna born a Brah(in but to afa(ily ery lo in the official hierarchy ca(e to be recogniDe! by an eccentricBritish (ystic in a flash of psychic insight as a great being an! later as theehicle for the a!ent of the Bo!hisatta 3aitreya%

'rishna an! @itya ere taken fro( the confines of their tiny house into thegran!eur of the #heosophical Society hea!uarters buil!ings an! its astgroun!s% #hey ere taken oer by C% =% 4% a long*bear!e! enerable*lookinghite (an ho spoke an esoteric language of lu(inous 3asters an! initiates

past lies an! splen!i! incarnations% #he etra*sensitie nerous syste( an!perceptions of 'rishna keye! to a state of epectancy possibly !i! touchtreasures of the racial unconscious% /is Brah(inic backgroun! an! itsiconography proi!e! the arp to the oof of #heosophical Society i(agery%#hought for(s an! isual i(ages circulating in the at(osphere of A!yarcharge! ith occult truths an! illusions ere (a!e (anifest to the youngneophyte% As the boy 'rishna ha! seen isions of the !iine chil! 'rishna in the!eout ho(e of his (other so he no sa the 3asters the Bu!!ha an! Sanat'u(arHthe s(iling sun*fille! youth ho as the hea! of the #heosophicalSociety hierarchy% #he esoteric forces if they eiste! an! certainly 4ea!beater

!e(an!e! for their ehicle a Brah(in bo!y ith its heritage of sensitiityegetarianis( an! cleanliness ith a brain that through centuries ha! been


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concerne! ith otherness ith the subtlety strength an! perception necessary tocleae into the ithin of (in! an! (atter ith the capability of receiing theast olu(es of energy it oul! be calle! upon to hol!%

,ronically once they ha! been accepte! into the #heosophical fol!eerything possible as !one to see that 'rishna an! @itya ere strippe! of all,n!ianness% ,t is al(ost certain that 'rishna(urti>s (entors !eci!e! that he an!his brother ere to speak only nglish so the (elo!ious #elugu language assloly forgottenG the !"dasan! the hy(ns learnt in chil!hoo! ere ipe! aay%#heir hair as cut an! hale! by a central parting% #hey ere taught nglishGthey learne! ho to eat ith a spoon an! fork an! to keep their elbos close totheir bo!y hen they raise! their forks to their (outhsG to ear =estern clothesith easeG to see that the crease of their trousers as presse! an! to polish theirshoes till they shone% #hey ere taught ho to bathe the British ay% #he boysere to beco(e nglish gentle(en because in 4ea!beater>s sche(e of eolutionnglish gentle(en represente! the pinnacle of hu(an !eelop(ent%$

7ortunately the outer eneer an! e!ucation left no (ark on the (in! that layin abeyance untouche!% Perhaps it as right that the boy !estine! to be a#eacher ho oul! alk the orl! ha! to be free! fro( a con!ition of birth an!country% #o fulfill his !estiny no frontiers coul! contain or restrain hi(%

Accor!ing to C% Jinara:a!asa later to be presi!ent of the #heosophicalSociety the training as strictly regi(ente!% 3eals stu!y an! ga(es ere on anabsolute sche!ule inten!e! to teach the boys alertness to ti(e an! circu(stances%Bicycling as not for fun but to teach self*reliance an! resistance to fatigue% -none occasion they ere (a!e to cycle to Chingelpet an! back a total of sity*four (iles% #o eli(inate fear 4ea!beater rea! the( bloo!cur!ling ghost stories% 8

Speaking to us of this perio! of his life seenty*fie years later 'rishna(urtispoke of the boy 'rishna an! his relationship to 4ea!beater% #he boy ha!alays sai! O, ill !o hateer you ant%> #here as an ele(ent ofsubserience obe!ience% #he boy as ague uncertain oollyG he !i!n>t see(to care hat as happening% /e as like a essel ith a large hole in ithateer as put in ent through nothing re(aine!%$ #hey calle! hi( theehicle he accepte! that ithout any uestion% #here as no resistance in hi(no !oubt nor uestioning% 'rishna(urti also spoke of the boy>s psychic poers%/e coul! rea! hat as in a close! letter rea! people>s thoughts see fairies% Buthe appeare! totally unaare of the significance of these etrasensory facultiesGfor hi( they ere of no account%

#he 3asters ha! instructe! 3rs% Besant an! 4ea!beater to protect the bo!y of'rishna(urti for to years an! so prepare it for the (anifestation% erythingas !one to ensure thisG 'rishna:i oul! later say that although 4ea!beater an!others !eter(ine! the con!itions in hich the outer life of 'rishna(urti oul!!eelop no atte(pt as (a!e to interfere ith the boy>s psyche or to (ol! his

brain for they sai! #he 4or! is preparing it%$4ea!beater as often i(patient ith 'rishnaHthe boy>s agueness irritate!

hi( particularly the habit of stan!ing ith his (outh open% -n one occasion he

hit 'rishna sharply on the chin to force hi( to close his (outh% 'rishna:i as to


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say later that this act of iolence broke all relationship beteen 'rishna an!4ea!beater%

Just before 3rs% Besant>s return to ,n!ia 'rishna as put on probation by the3asters% =hen 3rs% Besant arrie! in 3a!ras in @oe(ber 19s oice sai! #his is our 'rishna%$9

=ith her co(ing a protectie all as sloly built aroun! the boy% A specialgroup of boys as selecte! to play ith hi(G no one else as per(itte! to sit onhis chair or to use his tennis racket% erything he !i! as closely (onitore!%

#o ensure that @arianiah oul! not interfere in the training a (essage assoon receie! fro( the 3asters that the boys shoul! go as little as possible totheir father>s house% 3rs% Besant preaile! on the father to han! oer theguar!ianship of the boys to her% Soon all isits of the boys to @arianiah>s househa! en!e!%

=hile 3rs% Besant as in A!yar she (et ith 'rishna eery !ay% ,t as!uring this perio! that the see!s of the relationship ith hi( base! on loe an!infinite trust ere son% ,n the (onths prior to 3rs% Besant>s return to ,n!ia4ea!beater clai(e! to hae taken 'rishna eery night on the astral plane to beinstructe! by the 3asters% #he boy ha! been brought in contact ith the esotericlife of the Society as iee! by 4ea!beater an! the language that surroun!e! theoccult (ysteries% Portraits of the 3asters an! 3ahat(as hung in the shrine roo(the (e!itation hall of the soteric SectionG faces an! na(es ere absorbe! by'rishna to fuse an! gro one ith his eery!ay reality% 3rs% Besant first (et'rishna on @oe(ber . 19


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(eetings ith the gurus of Faranasi% #his hole area of enuiry thros nelight on the (anner in hich (any secret insights an! !octrines entere! thesoteric Section of the #heosophical Society% ,t is possible that 3rs% Besant>stotal faith that the Bo!hisatta 3aitreya oul! (anifest through the bo!y of'rishna(urti as !ue to these early contacts ith Faranasi gurus an! their linksto the occult hierarchy% 4ea!beater ith his obious psychic gifts as heaily

bur!ene! by occi!ental occult sy(bologyG the sources that proi!e! the ,n!ianstrea( to the occult orl! of #heosophy coul! only hae co(e fro( sourcessteepe! in ,n!ian an! #ibetan tra!ition%

=ithin three eeks of 'rishna>s :oining the soteric Section 4ea!beater ha!telegraphe! 3rs% Besant that the boy ha! been accepte! by 3aster 'oot /oo(ias his !isciple% -nly fie (onths ha! passe! since 'rishna ha! been !iscoere!

by 4ea!beater%=riting to 3rs% Besant in a beautiful script possibly the result of intense

copybook practice 'rishna !escribe! the cere(ony of acceptance on January 0191s house e foun! hi( an! 3aster3orya an! the 3aster :al 'ul all stan!ing talking an! they spoke ery kin!ly% =e all

prostrate! ourseles an! the 3aster !re (e onto his knee an! aske! (e hether , oul!forget (yself entirely an! neer hae a selfish thought but think only ho to help the orl!an! , sai! in!ee! , oul! an! , ante! only to be like hi( so(e!ay% #hen he kisse! (e an!

passe! his han! oer (e an! , see(e! to be so(eho part of hi( an! , felt uite !ifferent an!

ery ery happy an! , hae ha! that feeling eer since% #hen they all three blesse! (e an! eca(e aay% But net (orning in the Shrine ?oo( hen , thanke! hi( again , felt his han!

press strongly on (y hea! again :ust as in the night%, hae ri!!en .)+ (iles no an! , en:oy the ri!es ery (uch% /o soon ill you co(e

back to us5 , sen! you ery (uch loe (any ti(es each !ay%

&our loing son'rishna.

#he perio! of probation as short an! unusual eents soon folloe!% Ane(inent astrologer ;% % Sutcliff ha! foreseen a ery unusual positioning of

planets for January 11% #elegra(s ere echange! beteen 4ea!beater an! 3rs%Besant an! she as finally infor(e! that the first initiation of 'rishna as totake place on the night of January 11 to 1.% 3rs% Besant as unable to be present

but she issue! instructions that the !oors of the shrine roo( of the sotericSection an! the eran!a hich opene! onto her roo( ere to be close! an! that'rishna an! 4ea!beater ere to occupy her roo( !uring this (o(entousoccasion%

,t as sai! later that 'rishna an! 4ea!beater ere out of their bo!ies !uringto nights an! a !ay co(ing back into the( occasionally for so(e nourish(ent%'rishna lay on 3rs% Besant>s be! 4ea!beater on the floor% -n January 1. they

e(erge! fro( the roo( to fin! so(e of the el!ers of the Society aaiting the(%


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A(ongst the( as 'rishna>s father @arianiah an! his brother @itya% 'rishnarote to 3rs% Besant i((e!iately !escribing the (ysterious happenings2

=hen , left (y bo!y the first night , ent at once to the 3aster>s house an! , foun! /i(there ith the 3aster 3orya an! the 3aster :al 'ul% #he 3aster talke! to (e ery kin!ly for

a long ti(e an! tol! (e all about the initiation an! hat , shoul! hae to !o% #hen e all enttogether to the house of the 4or! 3aitreya here , ha! been once before an! there e foun!(any of the 3astersHthe Fenetian 3aster the 3aster Jesus the 3aster the Count the 3asterSerapis the 3aster /ilarion an! the to 3asters 3orya an! '% /% #he 4or! 3aitreya sat in the(i!!le an! the others stoo! roun! /i( in a se(i*circle% K/ere 'rishna !re a !iagra( to (akethe positions of the gathere! Brotherhoo! clear%L #hen the 3aster took (y right han! an! the3aster :al 'ul (y left an! they le! (e in front of the 4or! 3aitreya you K3rs% BesantL an!uncle K4ea!beaterL stan!ing close behin! (e% #he 4or! s(ile! at (e but /e sai! to the 3aster2=ho is this that you bring before (e5$ An! the 3aster ansere!2 #his is a can!i!ate fora!(ission to the ;reat Brotherhoo!%$

K#he 3asters ho ha! gathere! agree! to his a!(ission into the

Brotherhoo!%L

#hen the 4or! turne! aay fro( (e an! calle! toar!s Sha(balla2 o , this - 4or! of4ife an! 4ight in #hy @a(e an! for #hee5$ An! at once the great Siler Star flashe! out oer/is hea! an! on each si!e of it in the air there stoo! a figureHone for the 4or! ;auta(aBu!!ha an! the other the 3ahachohan% An! the 4or! 3aitreya turne! an! calle! (e by the truena(e of (y go an! lai! /is han! upon (y hea! an! sai!2 ,n the na(e of the -ne ,nitiatorhose Star shines aboe us , receie you into the Brotherhoo! of ternal 4ife%$ K#he net nightthey ere taken to isit Sanat 'u(ar%L

%%%for /e is a boy not (uch ol!er than , a( but the han!so(est , hae eer seen all shiningan! glorious an! hen /e s(iles it is like sunlight% /e is strong like the sea so that nothing

coul! stan! against /i( for a (o(ent an! yet /e is nothing but loe so that , coul! not be inthe least afrai! of /i(%0

3rs% Besant>s reply to 'rishna is not aailable but she rote in gloingor!s to 4ea!beater confir(ing the eent% #he correspon!ence beteen 3rs%Besant an! 'rishna reeal the i((ensity of her loe an! concern for the chil!%/er or!s reach out to hi(2

01 3arch 191s biographers !escribing hi( at the ti(e of !iscoery by4ea!beater speak of hi( as backar! een (oronic !irty unke(pt ith onlyhis large eyes to !istinguish his face% Astonishingly there are no co((ents onhis aeso(e beauty%

By Septe(ber 191< 3rs% Besant ho as in A!yar took the brothers ithher to Faranasi% ,t as here that 'rishna sent for the notes he is sai! to haeritten in A!yar an! hich ere to for( the (aterial for his first bookAt th"

(""t of th" Mast"r%#he appearance of the book arouse! a (a:or controersy% Specially boun! in

blue leather an! autographe! by 'rishna a copy (eant for 3aster 'oot /oo(ian! place! un!er 'rishna>s pillo as to !isappear by (orning% A ast nu(berof copies of the book sol!% 'rishna>s nglish at the ti(e as feeble an! (anycritics (aintaine! that the book ha! been ritten by 4ea!beater% #he book as

luci! co(bining #heosophical teaching ith certain basic tenets of /in!uis(%#here is little !oubt that een if the notes ha! been originally ritten by

'rishna un!er the gui!ance of 3aster '% /% the final ersion bore a !efinite4ea!beater i(print% Euestione! by his father 'rishna is reporte! to hae !enie!haing ritten the book%

So(e fifty years later the physicist ;eorge Su!arshan aske! 'rishna:i aboutthe authorship of At th" (""t of th" Mast"r% 'rishna:i replie! #he (an horote the book has !isappeare!%$/e refuse! to say anything further about it%

,n 1911 3rs% Besant traele! to nglan! ith her to ar!s% /er ol! frien!s

an! a!(irers in ,n!ia ha! been ery critical about hat they referre! to as thehole 3essiah business$ an! she ha! been attacke! relentlessly by Th" )indu


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entry to -for!% /earing hoeer that 3rs% Besant on reaching urope ha!taken the boys to #aor(ina in ,taly here 4ea!beater as aiting to help'rishna un!ergo his secon! initiation @arianiah finally file! a case for therecoery of custo!y of his sons% 3rs% Besant returne! to ,n!ia an! fought the suitith her enor(ous energy !iligence an! sheer illpoerG she appeare! in

person in the courts an! argue! ith great skill against so(e of the best legaleperts of the country% She lost the case both in the loer court an! in the /ighCourt of 3a!rasG but eentually she on in her appeal to the Priy Council%

'rishna an! @itya !i! not see ,n!ia fro( 191. to 19..%#he contact beteen 3rs% Besant an! 'rishna coul! only be (aintaine!

through letters% 'rishna rote to her eery eek !escribing his stu!ies his!rea(s his proble(s% /e starte! collecting (oney for 3rs% Besant>s ork in,n!ia an! pro(ise! to contribute .s 6! a eek fro( his pocket (oney% uring aisit to a !entist in the last eek of August 191. a (il! application of cocaine tohis is!o( tooth le! to an etraor!inary !rea( that night of the 4or! 3aitreya%/e !escribe! the !rea( in a letter to 3rs% BesantHthe han!riting spralsacross the page or!s are cut out the lines crooke!2

, re(e(bere! being in a roo( aboe an % S% Ksoteric SectionL roo( ith Clarke% 1#hereas an % S% (eeting hich 3other hel!% #he (eeting as oer an! Clarke an! , ent upstairsinto (y roo(% 3y in!o looke! into the % S% roo(% , ent to the in!o casually an! sa a

person in the % S% roo(% , as rather startle! at first because , sa that eery person as outafter the (eeting an! , ha! (yself locke! the !oor% , felt rather uneasy about it an! as ratherafrai! but , sai! to (yself hat is there to be afrai! about5$ #herefore , calle! Clarke an!ent !on% , alke! !on rather uickly an! hen , as at the botto( , looke! up to see

Clarke but he as not there% , hear! a sort of noise an! , sa as follos2 A for( see(e! toco(e out of the 4or! 3aitreya>s picture an! those of the 3aster>s% , sa a (an>s legs an! onlyup to his neck as , coul! not see hose face it as as it as coere! ith a sort of gol! cloth% ,kne ho the person as as he ha! long hair an! pointe! bear! an! , ante! to (ake sure an! ,sai! ery hu(bly I the or!s are eact% , sai! ,s that &ou (y 4or!5$ %%%/e took aay thecoer fro( /is face an! , kne for certain it as the 4or! 3aitreya% #hen , prostrate! (yselfan! /e stretche! /is han! oer (e in blessing% #hen /e sat on the groun! cross*legge! an! ,also sat !on cross*legge! on the floor% #hen /e began to talk to (e an! tol! (e things hich ,!o not re(e(ber% #hen , prostrate! an! /e as gone%

A fe hours later , an! an ,n!ian boy frien! ere alking along a roa! an! on both si!esthere ere (ountains an! riers an! , sa a (an alking toar!s us he as tall an! ell built%As the for( approache! us , kne ho it as an! tol! (y frien! to go aay% 3y frien! sai! heante! to see ho it as% By this ti(e the for( as ery close to us an! , as going to

prostrate (yself hen /e put up /is han! not to !o it% 3y frien! as behin! (e% #he 4or!turne! to (y frien! an! sai! to hi( =hat !o you ant here5$ 3y frien! !i! not anser /i(%#hen the 4or! sai! to hi( again if you !o not ant anything you ha! better go aay%$ 3yfrien! still stoo! there ithout ansering% #hen the 4or! lifte! /is han! an! pointe! it toar!s(y frien! an! as , as close to /is han! , hear! a sort of ru(bling noise as if a train ha!

passe! by% , turne! toar!s (y frien! an! , sa hi( sloly falling !on% 3y frien! as(otionless as though he as !ea!% #hen , prostrate! an! the 4or! 3aitreya sai! #hat boy ofyours is rather inuisitie$ an! , coul! not anser /i( an! , as sorry that , brought (y frien!along%

1?ussel B% Clarke MickN as an engineer an! a #heosophist ho ca(e to stay in A!yar in 191< an! asassisting C% =% 4ea!beater in his ork% =hen the boys 'rishna an! @itya ere !iscoere! Clarke

beca(e their tutor%


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PR,!AT-

#he 4or! sai! , think this is hat /e sai!H?a:a KC% Jinara:a!asaL as to go to A(ericaafter ;eorge KArun!ale 'rishna>s tutor in nglan! beteen 191. an! 191+L has co(e net yearan! Clarke as to stay%$ /e tol! (e that , as getting on ell an! so(ething else hich , !onot r"m"m%"r% , re(e(ber the 4or! ery clearly% /is face as like a glass coere! ith a thin

piece of gol!G in other or!s as 3other sai! like ripe corn% /is face as ra!iant an! lu(inous%/e as ery kin! to (e% /e once or tice put /is han! oer (y shoul!er% /e talke! about

3other an! ;eorge% =e talke! for a ery long ti(e% At the en! , aske! hi( ,s there any or!er(y 4or!5$ an! /e sai! you nee! not be so for(al%$ #hen , prostrate! once (ore% /e sai! eshall (eet often%$

, felt as though , coul! talk ith /i( for eer an! , sa 4or! 3aitreya>s for( !isappear%#hen , aoke an! it as half past fie% #hen also , rote out all this%%% 'rishna%11

#hrough the years of separation 3rs% Besant continue! to rite to 'rishnaregularly !escribing her life teaching hi( to spell an! so forth% /er letters

reflect her concern for hi( an! her re(arkable ualities as a teacher% -n -ctober9 191. she notice! his appalling spelling an! rote2

, a( gla! you are !oing lessons regularly% Please try to pay attention to the( hile you are!oing the( an! (ake your (in! stea!y an! think as you !i! ith (e% ,t is ery i(portant thatyou shoul! (aster these or!inary things an! !o us all cre!it at -for!% , shoul! like parallel

bars better ithout to ?sG you hae the ll>s rightG unparallele! is one of the puDDle or!s oftengien for spelling% , !o not think there is any rule about r$ being single or !ouble for e riteharass ith one an! e(barras KsicL ith to% ,n rea!ing books e learn to kno ho a or!ooks an! if it is rongly spelt it looks like a la(e (an%

, leae for A!yar on the .


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-n April 1) 1910 Justice Blackell of the /igh Court of 3a!ras passe!:u!g(ent on the case brought by @arianiah for the return of the custo!y of hissons 'rishna an! @itya%

#he honorable :u!ge conclu!e! that although the ei!ence of @arianiah thefather as not to be truste! the plaintiff as not aare hen he signe! theguar!ianship agree(ent that his son as to be brought up as a ehicle ofsupernatural poers$ an! therefore ha! a right to change his (in! hen he solearne!%

/is lor!ship refuse! to pass or!ers of custo!y as the boys ere resi!ents ofBritish ,n!ia an! only te(porary resi!ents of nglan!% /e therefore !eclare!the( ar!s of the court an! or!ere! the boys to be turne! oer to their father onor about 3ay .6 1910%

A stay of eecution hoeer as grante! to 3rs% Besant ho !eci!e! toappeal to the Priy Council% She ha! telegraphe! 'rishna an! ha! receie! acable in reply fro( ?a:a @itya an! 'rishna epressing their total confi!ence inher%

She rote to 'rishna on April 12

3y beloe! son

&our nice telegra( signe! by you ?a:a an! @itya gae (e (uch pleasure% &ou an! @ityaare perfectly safe% @o one can touch you% , protect%$ An! oer us all shines the Star of the greatking an! the han! of the 4or! 3aitreya guar!s you% i! not /e /i(self bi! (e protect you5 ,tis (y priilege an! pri!e to !o so (y blesse! boy%

, a( uite en:oying (yself an! a( re(e(bering ho you Kan!L , galloppe! along the/i(alayan alleys hen e ca(e !on into ,n!ia%

&our on loing (other%

o you think gallope! or galloppe! look better5 , a( not sure% People spell it both ays% , thinkthe to pps look (ore like the leaps of a horse%1+

=ith the outbreak of ar in 191+ 'rishna>s tutor ;eorge Arun!ale ha!olunteere! for the ?e! Cross an! foun! a senior position in 'ing ;eorge>s/ospital% 'rishna an! @itya eager to ork ha! also offere! their serices but tono aail% espite the fact that a large nu(ber of ,n!ian troops ere fighting forthe British racial pre:u!ice as at its peak% #he presence of !ark*skinne! ,n!ians

in a hite (an>s hospital as frone! on by the authorities% After great pressurefro( influential sources 'rishna foun! ork in a hospital near the #heosophicalSociety but as only per(itte! to scrub floors% /e rote to 3rs% Besant on July1 191)2

3y !earest 3other

#hank you so ery (uch for your letter% -f course , shall !o hat you ish an! , shall nottouch (eat or anything of that sort% =e are no orking in a hospital near the #heosophicalSociety ith r% ;uest% , like orking there an! , a( kept busy fro( (orning till nearly in theeening% , think ;eorge likes his ork too an! , think he is happier% =e are of course orking

un!er r% ;uest an! , like it ery (uch%, think eerything is going on ery ell%


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frien!ly ith 'rishna ho as beil!ere! an! lonely in alien surroun!ings% Atfirst her husban! !in 4utyens as a(use!% 4ater he beca(e !eeply upset ashe felt 4a!y (ily as neglecting hi( an! the chil!ren% 3rs% Besant as ery!istresse! because she felt that any e(otional at(osphere aroun! 'rishna as!etri(ental to the (ission for hich he as inten!e!% ,n the letters 'rishnacontinue! to rite 3rs% Besant hoeer he referre! to 4a!y (ily as being(uch better (ore serious an! trying ery har!%

#he brothers> na(es ha! been entere! for Balliol at -for!% But the (aster ofBalliol concerne! about the controersies that ha! arisen aroun! 'rishnare:ecte! hi( on the general principle that his college !i! not ant to haeanything to !o ith a bron 3essiah%$.s accountii!ly !escribes his brother>s agony% 'rishna as in pain fainting calling out in#elugu for his (other asking to be taken to the oo!s in ,n!ia co(plaining of!irt asking @itya an! ?osalin! not to touch hi(% 'rishna spoke of the presenceof (ighty BeingsG an e(ptying of the 'rishna*consciousness as ei!ent an!

ith it there as so(eti(es a feeling of great presence% 7inally 'rishna ent outof the house an! sat un!er a pepper tree% @itya>s !escription though con!itione!by #heosophical ter(inology reeals beil!er(ent an! aniety an! !eepconcern for his el!er brother% 'rishna(urti also rote an account of thehappenings to 3rs% Besant2

-n the 1th of August , felt acute pain at the nape of (y neck an! , ha! to cut !on (y(e!itation to fifteen (inutes% #he pain instea! of getting better as , ha! hope! gre orse% #hecli(a as reache! on the 19th% , coul! not think nor as , able to !o anything an! , asforce! by frien!s here to retire to be!% #hen , beca(e al(ost unconscious though , as ellaare of hat as happening aroun! (e% , ca(e to (yself at about noon each !ay% -n that first

!ay hile , as in that state an! (ore conscious of the things aroun! (e , ha! the first (ostetraor!inary eperience% #here as a (an (en!ing the roa!G that (an as (yselfG the pickaehe hel! as (yselfG the ery stone hich he as breaking as a part of (eG the ten!er bla!e ofgrass as (y ery being an! the tree besi!e the (an as (yself% , al(ost coul! feel an! thinklike the roa!(en!er an! , coul! feel the in! passing through the tree an! the little ant on the

1#he kundainienergy principle !or(ant until aakene! by the yogi is likene! to a serpentG it arises atthe base of the spine behin! the generatie organs an! ascen!s through the sushumna nadi piercing an!aakening &hakraby &hakratill it eits through the center of the scalp the aperture of Brah(a% #he si&hakras of kundainiyoga are regar!e! as si centers of eplosie but !or(ant cos(ic energy of thenature of fire% #he route along hich these centers are place! is the spinal colu(n% #he &hakras arelikene! to a lotus2 aakene! by the rising kundainior serpent poer it opens an! faces upar!s%

-n either si!e of thesushumnaor (e!ian nere are the solar an! lunar channels idaan!pingaacoile!

like serpents aroun! thesushumna% #he point beteen the eyebros is the sith &hakraor no!al point ofenergy% =ith the opening of the thousan!*petale! lotus in the scalp the yogi is liberate!G ithin hi( hehol!s an inehaustible source of energy that !oes not !issipate%


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bla!e of grass , coul! feel% #he bir!s the !ust an! the ery noise ere a part of (e% Just thenthere as a car passing by at so(e !istanceG , as the !rier the engine an! the tyresG as the carent further aay fro( (e , as going aay fro( (yself% , as in eerything or rathereerything as in (e inani(ate an! ani(ate the (ountain the or( an! all breathing things%All !ay long , re(aine! in this happy con!ition% , coul! not eat anything an! again at about si, began to lose (y physical bo!y an! naturally the physical ele(ental !i! hat it like!G , asse(i*conscious%

#he (orning of the net !ay Kthe .


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#he seuence of eents see(s to hae been as follos2 ery eening'rishna (e!itate! un!er the pepper tree% -n Septe(ber 0 after he ha! finishe!his (e!itations he entere! the house in a se(iconscious state an! lay !on% /estarte! to (oan an! to co(plain of great heatG he shu!!ere! a little an! collapse!on the couch% =hen he recoere! full consciousness he !i! not re(e(ber hatha! occurre! though he felt a ague general !isco(fort% #he net eening thereas a recurrence of the sy(pto(s% -n Septe(ber ) he ent !on to /ollyoo!to see a !ra(atiDation of the life of Christ% /e ha! arrange! to !o this a long ti(eago an! !i! not ant to break the engage(ent% 'rishna tol! @itya afterar!s thathile he as at the play in the eening he felt hi(self gra!ually losingconsciousness an! it as ith a great effort that he aakene! hi(self% /ereturne! to -:ai on the eening of the 6th% -n the night of Septe(ber the !ayafter the full (oon it as still ery bright% @itya continue!

As 'rishna ca(e up fro( the tree e coul! see hi( clearly% /e looke! a spectral figure in his

,n!ian clothes as he alke! ith a heay !ragging step saying a little scarcely able to hol!hi(self up% As he ca(e nearer e coul! see his eyes they ha! a curiously !ea! look in the(an! though he sa us he kne none of usG he coul! still speak coherently but he as fast

beco(ing unconscious% ,t looke! so !angerous to see hi( alking unstea!ily that ?osalin! or3r% =arrington trie! to go near to support hi( but he oul! cry out please !on>t touch -h

please it hurts%$ #hen he oul! go into the porch an! lie !on on the be!% =e ha! !ran allthe blin!s so it as !ark in there though there as the brilliant (oon% ?osalin! oul! sitnearby% After a little he oul! get up an! say to so(eone ho( none of us coul! see hatQyes ,>( co(ing$ an! start alking out an! ?osalin! oul! try to restrain hi( but he oul! say,>( alright please !on>t touch (e% ,>( perfectly alright$ an! his oice oul! soun! nor(although a little irritate!% eceie! by this ?osalin! oul! leae hi( an! scarcely ha! he takento steps there oul! be a frightful crash an! he ha! fallen full length on his face un(in!ful

of here he fell or ho% -ut on the porch there ere boes protru!ing fro( un!er a long benchthat runs the length of the porchG but he as absolutely unconscious of all this an! he oul! fallhereer he as fall unrestraine!ly :ust as if he ere faintingG so(eti(es he oul! sit up onthe be! an! after (ur(uring so(ething he oul! fall backar! ith a crash on the be! an!so(eti(es it as forar! on the floor% /e nee!e! close attention eery (o(ent an! yet henhe realiDe! this he see(e! annoye! an! oul! affir( in a clear oice ,>( alright please

beliee (e ,>( perfectly alright%$ But een as he sai! it his oice oul! trail off% All this ti(ehe as groaning an! tossing about unable to sit still (ur(uring incoherently an! co(plainingof his spine%

Any noise een lo*tone! talk oul! !isturb hi( an! he oul! beg his

co(panions not to talk about hi( to leae hi( aloneG for eery ti(e they talke!about hi( it hurt hi(% An! so it ent until eight o>clock% A little before eight heoul! beco(e (ore peaceful (ore restful an! so(eti(es he oul! go to sleepGgra!ually he oul! beco(e conscious an! nor(al%

-n the night of Septe(ber 1< 'rishna starte! calling for his (other% /ecalle! seeral ti(es then he sai! @itya !o you see her5$ =hen he returne! tonor(al consciousness he tol! @itya that hen his eyes reste! on ?osalin! theface of their (other ca(e in beteen an! ?osalin!>s face oul! (erge ith their(other>s face% 3e(ories of his early chil!hoo! arose an! he relie! hischil!hoo! eperiences%

@itya an! =arrington soon realiDe! that 'rishna as un!ergoing ery!angerous transferences of consciousness or aakening of kundaini an! felt the


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he oul! say ith a great !eal of assurance Oyes rather , can stan! a lot (oreG!on>t (in! the bo!y , can>t stop it fro( eeping%> $

-n the night of Septe(ber .< the pain as een (ore acute an! 'rishnatrie! to run aay fie or si ti(es% /is bo!y oul! contort in !angerous an!akar! positions !ue to the aful pain% @itya rote that on one occasion'rishna sobbing an! eeping su!!enly put his hea! oer his knees on the flooran! turne! oer nearly breaking his neckG but luckily ?osalin! as there to turnhi( oer si!eays% /e beca(e totally still an! for a (o(ent they coul! har!lyfeel his heart beating%

#he net !ay ?osalin! ha! to go aay for a fe !ays% uring her absence theprocess slackene! but he continue! to co(plain of a strange pain lo !on onthe left si!e of his spine%

-n one occasion 'rishna appeare! !istraught an! felt that so(eone aslurking aroun! the house% /e insiste! on alking to the lo surroun!ing all an!sai! in a lou! oice ;o aay hat !o you (ean by co(ing here5 ;o aay% ,!on>t kno here you go go behin! the hills but go right aay fro( here%$#hen he ca(e back an! lay !on% Soon he starte! calling out Please co(e back'rishna%$ /e kept on calling for 'rishna until he lapse! into unconsciousness%#his as the first ti(e he ha! calle! out his on na(e% #hat night there as anincrease of pain in the back of his neck%

-n ?osalin!>s return the pain gre orse an! he co(plaine! of a burning inthe spine an! he coul! not bear too (uch light een the light of the rising (oon%Again in the (i!!le of the process he got up to repel so(e unseen person% /eappeare! angry an! the inisible presence !i! not return% As soon as the light

beca(e unbearable they ha! to bring hi( in!oors% -ne eening toar! ) P%3%the at(osphere in the house change!G it gre uieter peaceful an! soon theycoul! feel a great Presence ho as in charge% @itya sai! it as as if ;reatengines ere orking an! for a fe hours the house ibrate!%$

By -ctober . a ne phase began% #he pain ha! shifte! to 'rishna>s face an!eyes% /e felt that they ere orking on his eyes an! sai! 3other please touch(y face is it still there5$ an! a little later 3other (y eyes are gone feel the(they hae gone%$ As he sai! this he ha! starte! sobbing an! (oaning% #hiscontinue! till 8 P%3%By 9 P%3%he as shiering an! shu!!ering an! coul! har!ly

breathe%,t appeare! as if the real 'rishna$ foun! it intensely har! to get back into his

bo!y% Accor!ing to @itya ery ti(e he trie! to ake up it brought on thisshiering%$

-n -ctober 0 he sai! to ?osalin! 3other ill you look after (e ,>( goinga long ay off$ an! then fell unconscious% So(e ti(e later he began to speak to?osalin! asking her here 'rishna as% /e tol! her that he ha! left her incharge an! no she !i! not kno here 'rishna as% An! he began to eepfor he ha! lost 'rishna% /e refuse! to sleep before 'rishna ca(e back hichas after an hour an! a half%

-ne (orning hile they ere at 3r% =arrington>s house 'rishna ent out of

his bo!y% /e ha! tol! ?osalin! that he ha! to go a long ay an! she ha! to lookafter hi(% #o hours later he began to talk% Seeing ?osalin!>s han! he appeare!


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astoun!e! an! aske! 3other hy is your skin hite5$ /e looke! at her an!sai! &ou hae gron younger hat has happene!5$ #hen 3other 'rishna isco(ing in look he is stan!ing there%$ An! hen ?osalin! aske! hat he looke!like he sai! /e is a fine tall (an ery !ignifie!% /e frightens (e a little%$ #henhe sai! But !on>t you kno hi( 3other he is your son he knos you%$

-n the night of -ctober + 'rishna suffere! (ore than usual the agony asconcentrate! in his face an! eyes% /e kept saying -h please hae (ercy on(e$ an! , !on>t (ean that of course you are (erciful%$

4ater he tol! @itya that they ere cleansing his eyes so that he (ight bealloe! to see /i(%$ ,t as he sai! 4ike being tie! !on in the !esert one>sface to the blaDing sun ith one>s eyeli!s cut off%$

4ater that night @itya foun! 'rishna sitting up in (e!itation an! again feltthe throbbing presence of a great Being floo!ing the roo(% All suffering ha! beenashe! aay% 'rishna$ @itya rote !i! not see /is face only /is bo!y inshining hite%$

#he net (orning 'rishna as in a rebellious (oo! he as se(iconsciousbut insiste! on going out% #hey ha! to stop hi(% 4ater he sai! that he ha! felt afrightful burning in his spine an! ante! to fin! the creek in the canyon so thathe coul! sink his bo!y in it to reliee the burning%

Shortly afterar! his co(panions again felt the great Presence% 'rishna>seyes ere etraor!inary brilliant an! his hole face transfigure!% =ith his entrythe at(osphere as (arelously change!% =e felt the presence of a supre(ely(a:estic Being an! 'rishna ha! a look of great bliss on his face%$ 'rishna tol!

@itya ?osalin! an! =arrington to prepare the(seles for a great isitor oul!co(e that night% /e aske! for the picture of the 4or! Bu!!ha to be put in hisroo(%

4ater hen 'rishna ca(e in fro( his (e!itation he tol! the( that the ;reatBeing ha! left after 'rishna>s (e!itation ha! en!e!%

#hat night as a ghastly night of suffering an! hen , look upon it it see(s to (e that it asthe (ost agonising night that 'rishna eer ent through% /e suffere! terribly the folloingnights an! they see(e! (uch orse but , think this as !ue to the piteously enfeeble!con!ition brought on by this night% Before the suffering actually starte! e hear! hi( talking tothe 3aster in charge% /e as tol! not to say anything of hat as being !one to hi( an! hegae his pro(iseG then he as tol! that the isitor oul! return later at 8%1)% 'rishna sai! /e isco(ing at 8%1) then let us start uickly%$ #hen :ust before it as starte! he ha! been stan!ing

up an! e hear! hi( fall ith an aful crash an! then e hear! 'rishna apologising ,>( sosorry , fell , kno , (ust not fall%$ All through the eening he as (ore conscious of his

physical bo!y than he ha! eer been before% #hey tol! hi( that he (ust (ake no (oe(ent forgenerally he as rithing an! tisting ith the pain% But no he pro(ise! #he($ he oul!not (oe an! oer an! oer again he sai! , on>t (oe , pro(ise , on>t (oe%$ So heclaspe! his fingers tightly an! ith his knotte! han!s un!er hi( he lay on his back hile theaful pain continue!% /e foun! it ery !ifficult to breathe that night an! he gaspe! for breathcontinuously an! choke! repeate!ly an! hen the pain gre beyon! en!urance an! he coul! nolonger get his breath he :ust fainte!% #hree ti(es he fainte! that night an! the first ti(e he !i!it e !i! not kno hat ha! happene!G e ha! hear! hi( choking an! gasping an! sobbingith the pain an! su!!enly after a long !ran gasp there as !ea! silence% =hen e calle! tohi( there as no anser an! hen e ent into the roo( an! felt our ay toar!s hi( for theroo( as inky bla

Pupul Jayakar - Krishnamurti. a Biography

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Transcript of Pupul Jayakar - Krishnamurti. a Biography