Krishnamurti’s Insight: An Examination of His Teachings on the Nature of Mind and Religion

Krishnamurti (1895-1986) is internationally regarded as one of the eminent religious figures of our time. Although publications on his discourses abound, there have been few systematic analyses of his thought. In this volume, Prof. Hillary Rodrigues, a religious studies scholar with particular sensitivity to Krishnamurti’s critique of traditional scholarship, presents a lucid analysis of Krishnamurti’s metaphysics. After succinct, information sections on Krishnamurti’s remarkable life, his legacy to humanity, and the unique manner in which he conveyed his teachings, Rodrigues proceeds to examine Krishnamurti’s teachings on the nature of mind. Attending scrupulously to Krishnamurti’s own words, and with the aid of illustrative diagrams, the analysis reveals that "total insight" is the pivotal event which liberates the mind from the bondage of conditioning, to truth and genuine religion. An important component of the study is its appraisal of existing criticisms of Krishnamurti and his ideas in the light of the analysis. The book also points out similarities between Krishnamurti’s teachings and other religious philosophies, particularly Buddhism, highlighting the singular nature of Krishnamurti’s notion of religion.