Rating: 
Summary: Reviewing ourselves
Review: Written years ago, Krishnamurti's 'Freedom from the Known' is highly cleansing after the avalanche of recent writings, setting out this or that way of finding the truth. What he says touches the heart of all true spiritual awareness - all valid spiritual teachings, but with an almost surgical precision. In short, what we often IMAGINE to be a quest for spiritual truth, turns out to be a deluded game, playing with the same old monkey nuts which prevent us from opening our spiritual eye. We WANT SOMETHING, but the ultimate truth is not a 'something.' We want gratification, but this person who wants to be gratified (or justified) is the illusion which binds us to suffering.
The truth is unconditioned. It is not a 'known' thing. Let go of yourself, all your cherished clingings, including the idea of getting something - by letting go of them - and the truth will set you free.
Some people don't like this. They find it disturbing, they feel cheated or robbed. They don't get a 'system' to play with.Nor do they become members of the elect, by gaining access to a special 'in crowd.' But remember - that's the same old monkey nuts we tie ourselves to suffering with. The unconditioned truth is always there. You can't get it, because you didn't lose it. Even Krishnamurti has to go.
Rating:
Summary: Freedom from the Known
Review: "The world accepts and follows the traditional approach. The primary cause of disorder in ourselves is the seeking of reality promised by another; we mechanically follow somebody who will assure us a comfortable spiritual life." To understand ones self, Krishnamurti believed, is the beginning of wisdom. Understanding is not accepting a description of the view of the world mapped by another no matter how lofty the map maker. Krisnamurti encouraged making your own map:).This book should create a revolution within you. It is the start of a fantastic journey.
Rating:
Summary: a fearless examination of what it means to be alive.
Review: .In this book krishnamurti explains lucidly how all thoughts are conditional..In order to understand this a paradox needs to be understood-that is that truth or love cannot be known,however it can be experienced..This book is brilliant in it's clarity.It continues to have a profound effect on the way I view the world and my place in it.
Rating:
Summary: Search no more...
Review: 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!!)
Rating:
Summary: Search no more...
Review: I have never read anything so simple and clear in my life. I have read this book numerous numbers of times since my childhood. It draws our attention to the truth and nothing but the truth. Some people find K very hard to understand that's because it's so simple that they are unable to see things clearly, but of course the main culprit behind that is the deep conditioning of the mind. It's almost like a white dove that has been covered in many many different colors over the years that it does not even know what whiteness really is!
(It's such an amazing coincidence that in so many years I decided to write a review today only, May 11th, K's birthday!!)
Rating:
Summary: The clearest of Krishnamurti's work.
Review: I have read many of Krishnamurti's books and this was the one that put it all together for me. Krishnmurti expresses the fundamentals of his outlook and approach without compromising power or depth.
Rating: 
Summary: revolution inside
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Freedom from the known
Review: I started to read Krishnamurti's "Freedom from the Known" some time ago. The book was very difficult to understand. K 's statement "thought is time " I could not comprehend. Now, I fully understand what that statement means. My whole vocabulary and thinking process has been transformed. There has been a shift, a transformation, and "Freedom from the known "has been instrumental in this process. If you love Truth, then read this book. But dont expect to be enlightened overnight. If anybody wants to be challenged and be radically changed I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Full of Wisdom
Review: I've never read a book that was so short (less than 150 pages) that contained so much wisdom. From beginning to end, Krishnamurti's words capture your attention as he leads you through a discussion of the most important issues that face mankind. The manner in which he explores the extremely complex topics like freedom, love, violence, and ideology is more like conversation than lecture, which makes reading the book that much more enjoyable. If you approach his words with an open mind and an honest heart, it is one of those rare books that can change your entire outlook on life. As I read it for the fourth time, I continue to find the subtle points of wisdom that are scattered throughout, and each read brings a greater understanding of what "freedom from the known" is all about.
Rating:
Summary: Best single K book
Review: I've read (and re-read) about 15 of K's books. This is the single best, most concise, most thorough of the them all, in my humble opinion. I bought 20 copies of it and gave them all to friends, family, co-workers, and some of my students (I teach at a college). I probably will buy 20 more (at least) of this book to give to others. I would also highly recommend "The First and Last Freedom" and "Total Freedom" for good, more in-depth and relatively thorough overviews of K's teachings; as well as "On God" (for those seeking "god"); "On Relationship" (for those looking for relationship advice); "On Right Livelihood" (for those considering career choices) "On Education" (for teachers and students) and "Think on These Things" or "Life Ahead" as two simply-worded introductions that even children can read and undertand (K was speaking to schoolchildren and their parents). "Krishnamurti's Journal", "Commentaries on Living, First Series", "Krishnamurti's Notebook" and "Krishnamurti to Himself" all offer beautifully poetic descriptions of nature and people, as well as answers to questions, all of which are fabulous for meditation. "Freedom, Love and Action" is a relatively short read compared to most of K's books, but I've found it to be particularly touching. But then, I would *strongly* recommend *all* of K's books for those so inclined! But if I had to pick ONE K book to share with the world (as I have done) THIS is that book. And every time I read it (about half a dozen times now) it speaks volumes every time. But as other reviewers have warned, don't read anything by K unless you are ready and willing to have your entire current belief system cut to shreds, as all your most "sacred" beliefs and values are exposed for the false, conditioned ideas that they are . . .
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