Rating: 
Summary: Excellent starter book for those interested in Krishnamurti
Review: For those interested in exploring a non-authoritative speaker in the realm of 'spirituality'. Krishnamuti is among the finest. The First and Last Freedom includes a preface written by Aldous Huxley. Krishnamurti explores many different topics of our daily lives in a practical approach. This is not 'new age' and read best if not treated as just another philosophical view of life. Enjoy! This is definitely a favorite of mine! :
Rating:
Summary: J. Krishnamurti's 2nd book
Review: I am reading these books in sequence so that I will be aware of any shifts in this philosophy as he progresses. The reading here is easy, but the thinking is more difficult. Krishnamurti doesn't attempt to speak what people might want to hear, but speaks from his heart, from his innermost being. So he doesn't give an easy path to follow nor does he promise such a path. Actually, to provide a path for others to follow would contradict his philosophy. The answer according to him is in self-knowledge, but that knowledge can not be gained through effort. Nor, says he, can it be passed on to you by a guru. It won't be found in books. (I can't help but be amused by those who emphasize that the Truth isn't revealed in the printed word, and of course they use the printed word to share this message with us.) The first half of the book is comprised of writings and portions of talks. The second half consists of questions asked after his talks, and in his answers you will find repetition sometimes as he clarifies. He has a way of emphasizing the main points by asking "Is it not?" or words to that effect. I admit to having difficulties with much of what he says, but this isn't criticism as much as a compliment. The very difficulties I might have benefit me so so that I learn through resolving them. If you don't get this book, do at least read some of his other material. You will be rewarded.
Rating:
Summary: J. Krishnamurti's 2nd book
Review: I am reading these books in sequence so that I will be aware of any shifts in this philosophy as he progresses. The reading here is easy, but the thinking is more difficult. Krishnamurti doesn't attempt to speak what people might want to hear, but speaks from his heart, from his innermost being. So he doesn't give an easy path to follow nor does he promise such a path. Actually, to provide a path for others to follow would contradict his philosophy. The answer according to him is in self-knowledge, but that knowledge can not be gained through effort. Nor, says he, can it be passed on to you by a guru. It won't be found in books. (I can't help but be amused by those who emphasize that the Truth isn't revealed in the printed word, and of course they use the printed word to share this message with us.) The first half of the book is comprised of writings and portions of talks. The second half consists of questions asked after his talks, and in his answers you will find repetition sometimes as he clarifies. He has a way of emphasizing the main points by asking "Is it not?" or words to that effect. I admit to having difficulties with much of what he says, but this isn't criticism as much as a compliment. The very difficulties I might have benefit me so so that I learn through resolving them. If you don't get this book, do at least read some of his other material. You will be rewarded.
Rating: 
Summary: compelling questions
Review: I am thoroughly impressed with the depth of insight presented within this book. However, I have questions that are unanswered whenever I reread the books. He mentions several times how meditation, such as deliberately calming the mind through observing the breath, for example, cannot possibly lead to liberation. He calls discipline silly and limited. All methods and traditions are conditioned in themselves and lead to the result in which that particular method advocates. This would mean that every one of the patriarchs of Zen, including the masters of other sects with the traditional "methods" (koans, contemplation of non-self, meditation on emptiness, samatha-vispassana) are all false and that krishnamurti alone realized the real. I beg to differ. From where we are now, some, perhaps not all, need a teacher, "methods" to help us get in touch with our own minds. He actually admits his "non-method" of choiceless awareness is very difficult. "The task is arduous and requires an extremely quick mind." he says. It follows that people who are deeply conditioned by habit at present, do "not" have quick and observative minds. My contention is that this is where the forms of attention training as "methods", are needed. In Theravedin tradition we have "mindfulness." In Zen we have the same attention training to whatever one is doing. I have tried to observe my own mind with choiceless awareness like Krishnamurti says but it is extremely difficult to start this from ground zero. Besides, Krishnamurti has reasoned through logic resulting in the dismissal of the other buddhist and taoist traditions. Is that not reaching a conclusion through "thought" and dismissing the entire practice without actually experiencing such practices as Zen? In the end it seems that the truth most likely will not be obtain by direct "searching" as a subject searches for its object. But it is logical that the conditions for the flash of insight that obliterates subject and object (self and other) can be improved through "deliberate and willed action." In other words we need to cultivate our power of attention-observation in order to catch up with the level of "choiceless awareness" that K advocates.
Rating:
Summary: A Humble Student of Life
Review: I refer to this book more than any other - it is for me a great source of learning about myself. K cuts to the heart of every human fear, joy, search and struggle. If I could recommend only one book to all those I love it is this one. I have read at least a half a dozen of K's books and for me this one says it all. In many aspects this book is VERY hard work. It is not light reading by any stretch but the work pays off many times over...
Rating:
Summary: Lucidity at last...
Review: Krishnamurti should be taught in all the schools as an example of how to think clearly. The effect would be astonishing. This is an excellent introduction to his methods, and you will be well-rewarded if you read this book and take it to heart. If you were to break with tradition and attempt to explain Zen in logical terms, this book could be yours. K's robust sanity is a symbol of hope for an ego-ridden humanity.
Rating:
Summary: Lucidity at last...
Review: Krishnamurti should be taught in all the schools as an example of how to think clearly. The effect would be astonishing. This is an excellent introduction to his methods, and you will be well-rewarded if you read this book and take it to heart. If you were to break with tradition and attempt to explain Zen in logical terms, this book could be yours. K's robust sanity is a symbol of hope for an ego-ridden humanity.
Rating:
Summary: The one eternal moment
Review: Read this review and don't remember it. Buy the book and see what i mean. The time is now, now is the time. There is nothing else after this book.
Rating:
Summary: This book could change your life
Review: The First and Last Freedom is one of the first books I read by Krishnamurti and I didn't like it at first. I guess you have to get used to this type of philosophy. It's a way of thinking and living that is hard to put into daily practice. I recommend this book to everyone. This is one of my favorite books by Krishnamurti.
Rating:
Summary: Krishnamurti among the great philosophers
Review: This book is an excellent introduction to the mind of J. Krishnamurti. A profound thinker and perhaps the twentieth century's greatest philosopher. I was left with the impression that he speaks much the same as the original buddha when discussing life and our relation to it. This is a very important book.
| 
