The New Primal Scream

The Awakening of Intelligence by Jiddu Krisnamurti

Book reviews & Comments

from the Krisnamurti Foundation and www.amazon.com.

From the Krisnamurti Foundation

This is one of the most comprehensive texts of Krishnamurti's teachings, containing discussions with various individuals, including Professor Jacob Needleman, Alain Naud? Swami Venkatesananda, and David Bohm, a professor of theoretical physics. Jacob Needleman asks about the present situation of the young, the role of the teacher, of tradition and its relation with direct perception, and the need for awareness of a "cosmic dimension". With Alain Naud? Krishnamurti discusses the problem of good and evil, the fragmentation of consciousness and the possibility of psychological revolution. Swami Venkatesananda puts questions to Krishnamurti on the Hindu scriptures. David Bohm, and Krishnamurti investigate the true meaning of intelligence and discuss the intricacies of the mind. Krishnamurti goes on to talk about love and suggests that one must come into contact with the disorder in oneself, "Then out of this order there comes into being love."

Customer Reviews

This is the most comprehensive commentary on living *****

This book summarizes the teachings of J. Krishnamurti. If any human being could read one book in their lives this should be the one. After reading the book one can get the sense of immense potential in terms of freedom, love, and joy. One can see for oneself the influence of culture and tradition on our thought process at a fundamental level. One can see how this influence conditions our mind and distorts the perception of facts. At the same time the human mind has an inner demand to be free from this influence. Our desire to be free is pacified by organized religions, gurus, psychologists, and propaganda by the politicians. However, it does not die until an answer is found. So, if the desire to be free is present even the minutest of forms then this book can be a true beginning in life of freedom and happiness.

Revolution Inside ****

I have read several Krishnamurti books, all of them great. After reading them I lend them out and usually don't get them back. But that's good because those people will probably lend them to other people, and so on. One need only read a single Krishnamurti book because they all contain the same themes, most important of which is the idea that "truth is a pathless land." He states that if one wants peace in the world, TRULY wants peace, he/she must abandon the following: organized religion, nationalism, sociological ideology (capitalism, communism, socialism, etc.), leaders, teachers, the past, and more. That doesn't sound possible, does it? As well, he claims that true meditation is not sitting in the lotus position and pushing away thoughts or chanting mantras. Rather, true meditation is "choiceless awarness," meaning simply observing life without judgment. Don't ever judge at all? That doesn't sound possible either, does it?

He says that love is all important, and we must learn to be more sensitive and compassionate. Often, he talks about sitting and looking at a beautiful sunset, or a tree, or a bird in flight. These are simple things that are full of meaning if we just take the time to admire them. They are so beautiful that just for a moment you forget about yourself, and your "self" is the cause of all your suffering. Though he rejects all organized religion, it just so happens that his remarks are quite similar to what a Buddhist would say. He's big on compassion, "meditation," and living in the present. But what is refreshing about Krishnamurti is his bluntness. He doesn't hesitate to call all religions "stupid" or "foolish" because they separate people, and that separation causes conflict. The most profound thing that I have read by Krishnamurti is about forgiveness. He said that feeling insult and then trying to forgive the offender is USELESS! If you are hurt it is already too late. Instead, let go of your own precious self- image and such attacks lose their effect. No one has ever put it like that before! It is such wisdom that makes reading Krishnmurti so enjoyable. The trouble is that his advice works beautifully in one's own mind, but not so well in action. One still feels angry, jealous, and afraid. There is still war, starvation, and malice in the world. And just when you think you've stopped following leaders or gurus, you realize you have not. Your guru is in fact Krishnamurti.

Search no more... *****

I have never read anything so simple and clear in my life. I have read this book numerous number of times since my childhood. It draws our attention to the truth and nothing but the truth all around us, and to be able to see things as they really are. Some people find K very difficult to understand. That's because his teachings are way too simple. It may be possible for a child to understand him better than a grown up highly conditioned mind. (It's such an amazing coincidence that in so many years I decided to write a review today only, May 11th, K's birthday!!)

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