Freedom from the Known: A Study of Conditioning, Freedom, and the Nature of the Self

For those who seek a fundamentalChange .This book should be read as slow as possible . Few paragraphs a dayAnd let the material be digested.To implement krishnamuty trainingIt’s a life time work and this book shouldRead again and again over the years.To change old habits and refresh your brain takes time , observation and awareness. It’s like rewiring your brain.If you happened to be a philosophyLover ,the roots of krishnamurty comes from the non dual practiceAnd it goes back to two greatIndian philosophers - NagarjunaAnd Shankara.However no need to read those philosophers in order to practice whatIs written in Freedom from the known.As the name implies with time you willRealize that our old habits of thinkingAnd what we are conditioned which cause us anger , frustration etc..Are non existence in the real world,t’s all part of our scattered mindThat deceive us .That’s why you should go very slowly with each paragraph and spend time thinking about it as you go trough the day.The observing I which is the main themeOf the book is a powerful toolTo practice as you go trough the day.That’s the freedom of knownTo realize those things.Excellent reading for life practice!

K answers many of life's questions in a way that is careful and engaging. After I read this title, I went out and bought a few copies and lent them out to friends. Many of them didn't get around to reading it, and after a year or so, I casually began asking them what they thought. Most said they had read some of it, found it uninteresting or offensive, and then had put down.At first, I thought K's book was an earth-shattering title that everyone should read. I began reading many books on Buddhism, and practicing meditation. A few years later, I came back to FFTK with a different view. K is a man who reached enlightenment, but when he puts his ideas into words, much is lost in translation. He feels that he can't explain enlightenment, so he explains what it isn't. He even points this out in his book. He says can't point to the right way, because that's up to the listener, he can only point out the wrong ways. Unfortunately, this makes his views come across as negative or nihilistic.What's important in reading K or any book on Buddhism is to try and understand the experience of the writer. If one day, you read this title and go around quoting K, trying to prove others wrong because you've read K and he hasn't read K, then you're defeating the purpose of reading the book altogether. You have to see beyond the words and ask yourself: what kind of person says something like K says? What drives these words, these ideas? What understanding has he come to that brings him to this point?That said, I don't know how effective K is at helping one learn "the Way", "Zen", or whatever you'd like to call it. The important thing is he doesn't give it a name. FFTK is a an engaging read which encourages new viewpoints, and if you are ready to ask yourself many questions when you read it, then you can learn many things. If you read it like a pulp novel, then you'll get little out of it. If you're reading it to compare and contrast with your own viewpoints, then K will become very vicious and you'll probably put it down. The way you read this book will probably be the way you approach many things in your life, so watch carefully.Transformation and Healing: Sutra on the Four Establishments of MindfulnessZen Mind, Beginner's Mind (Shambhala Library)Zen Flesh Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen WritingsEssays in Zen Buddhism, First Series

- Best read ever, so simple, yet so complex when it comes to your understanding, in some degree, because he is trying to get you to question yourself, and not accept any ideals. Its truly amazing, and I already find myself wanting to read this book again after finishing it just because it is such a nice read, and the process isn't always fully grasped the first or second time even. It is a perspective on life I have never quite ever approached before. and It is through my own understanding and not Jiddu's.- Definitely recommend this book! Something else amazing in the book, is that it is approached by understanding, not so much thought or concepts that you cling onto with thought and memory. If you truly learn and understand from the book, you will see so many ways in which thought takes over, and how you can get yourself trapped. This book clears up a lot about our habits and nature of the mind, and our impulses, and if you can approach them with a better understanding you will be able to know what you'd wanna do from there with a more clearer mind, instead continually obscured by the past and future of fear and pleasure, desire and thought. This is a concept even, but he puts it in such an open way, where there is still the journey you must take to go into it.- He practically lays out a palette for you to explore on your own, based off of your own understanding.If you're not trying to understand or work the process of relating to what he says, then the whole read is a blur. It is only when you apply yourself, and question yourself as you read, and take moments of understanding and awareness, that you become engaged in the reading and can actually feel a grasping of the words.

Finally understood what true "freedom" of thought meant. Not the Meme that's portrayed in media by conspiracy college students "THE MAN IS CONTROLLING YOU!!!" mantras. His philosophies are not "RELIGIOUS" or "super natural" in anyway. It's a critical analysis on independent human decision making.Are we really free from conditioning from literally hundreds of years of formation by culture? He poses the question and elegantly shares his perspective on it. Are we the ones making the decisions or have our decisions been made already through our environment / local culture / ideas (i behave like a green person and make green person actions, because i was born in a green area--- and so on) Are our thoughts truly free or is it limited/controlled by culture, beliefs, and systems.Fundamentally changed my views on life and becoming a contrarian---- but not in a snobby way. It's necessary to always take a step back and view things (much similar to a fish in a fish bowl not knowing that it is in water, because it has been in water all its life). North Korea comes to mind immediately. Even in 1st world countries our thoughts are shaped in certain ways by systems without knowing it by cultural systems, organizations, and people. Is it bad? Well, possibly. Are we truly independent decision makers? I'd say no.The book is worth checking out. It's a work of art.In the end, I can't fulfill what he asks of being 100% true freedom of thought. The world would be paradise if that were the case, but I do not live in a world that's built for that.

This read is a riddle. It goes up and down. It gives joy and sorrow, sweet and sour. I read the book twice, some parts more. Best to say, when the author asks you a question it is best to say “I don’t know”.

I don't have any idea how many of K's books I have bought and given away. They are probably not given more than a cursory glance and I doubt that a skim read will change anything. I read all the time and I retain very little of what I have read. K was an occultist from age 14 until his early 30's and that is what I read about and since the occult is interwoven with practically everything it is a very wide subject. My question is "how did he go from that", not from that to that. From that implies a beginning but, to that, is the end, the conclusion. Once you have reached a conclusion then all investigation has ended. There is no answer to the question, that is opinion and opinions are not facts which is contrary to what we have been told, and taught in schools. Therefore school has nothing to do with education, it is programing. Why do you think it is mandatory? The door is open, but due to our conditioning we cannot even see the opening. There is no how to? All we have to do is see the open door but I doubt reading one, two or three of K's books will change anything. This is a fundamental and total change, a total rejection of everything we have been told. Authority is the most destructive thing! When I read those 6 words a wave of excitement and relief came over me. It is such an obvious fact and somewhere inside my head I knew it to be true since I was a child, but the conditioning, the whitewash prevented me from seeing this fact. If you want to really investigate this total revolution then Google JKonline, and every day you will be emailed one of his quotes. It will be 5 or 10 lines. Read K every day not to achieve anything not as a means to an end, just as an experiment and buy this book too, it is my favorite, very short and concise. The other one to get is The Book of Life. This book has 365 quotes, one for every day of the year. Put it by your bed and read a quote every day. I have to read my emails every day but plenty of people do not so JKonline may not work for you..

A friend turned me on to this book and it changed my whole perspective on life in general and my life personally.I think that this is the kind of book that will change you and open up your mind if you are ready for it, open to new ideas, and not too attached to your ego and your "self". If you're not at the point spiritually, then from my experience you will dismiss it as hogwash and/or be threatened by and hate the ideas that the book presents.I say this after discussions with a few friends at various levels of spiriual awareness. Some of my friends who are more "average -thinking" or into particular religious dogmas hated the book and said that it was simply BS. They violently opposed many of the ideas presented in the book. And they couldn't get past some of the contradictory ideas that Krishnamurti presents. (Yes he does contradict himself in places. He is human after all.) I understand (but am saddened by) their reaction because I know where they are spiritually. I think some of this comes from these people's need for absolute "rules" and "answers".On the other hand, those friends of mine who are more spiritually driven absolutely loved the book and said it really opened their minds and hearts and allowed them to free themselves of some of the baggage and rules and perceptions that we humans are want to acquire. That was my reaction too.So I think if you are a spiritual seeker and open to new and sometimes challenging ideas then you will love this book. If you're not then don't buy it.

Nisargadatta Maharaj (of "I am That") is reported to have said "Those who do not understand Krishnamurti, do not understand themselves". I whole-heartedly agree.I had been reading bits and pieces of Krishnamurti for many years and for the most part could not make much of it. However, after having gone through circumstances that compelled me to delve deep into my inner self, I can say that I am now qualified to read Krishnamurti. His teachings are now clear as day and I can now relate to them fully."Freedom from the Known" is an astonishingly short book for the profound message it carries. Krishnamurti's central "teaching" remains the same - Be in unison with the everchanging universe, flow with the river of life....it's when you create your own little pool separate from this river [to nurture your ego enhancing goals like most people do], you create trouble for yourself and for others. Kishnamurti considers spontaneous experience (without the interference of thought) as genuine. However he cautions that this state cannot be brought about by following any steps-oriented instruction. This has to come from within through understanding, never by conscious effort.In conclusion - I think one has to be "eligible" to understand and appreciate Krisnamurti. Most people are so deep in their worldly ego-fest (pursuing career goals, big house, expensive car etc etc) that it would be futile for them to try to comprehend Krishnamurti, much less write a review of his book.

Wow, you made it!This is the perfect book.I was looking for Truth for a long time, divided and lost, very very hurt. I was longing freedom, pure happiness, true love and peace. I did not understand who I am anymore, why am I here, what is happening to me and why, why, why. Why am I suffering? Why me? Why others? Reincarnation, heaven, day of judgment, different so-called religious books and enlightenment systems, so-called types of meditations, therapy, transmutations, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, inner child, constellations, systems, systems, methods, paths, experts, these new methods or old modifications everybody shouts about and all the rest of it made very little sense to me. Of course, it felt like I discovered something so new and it kept me busy for some time but as soon as I went through, it became meaningless and I was left again and again more confused and more hurt, more uncertain, and more lost. Separating myself from people around me was more suffering, getting closer was suffering again. What is right, what is wrong, and why. Why are we against each other? Why so much violence? Why living in continuous conflict? Is this living at all? What shall I do? Joining more groups, more programs, involving more in family affairs or going and living in mountains. What is the right action?The moment I started to read this book everything changed, every page is so deep, exactly what is needed to enquire, to go deep at the very root of yourself. Understanding that no real change can happen at any level of the mind (nor conscious, subconscious or unconscious) is crucial. I don’t recommend you reading any book apart of the book of life you are now but if you are serious enough, and you are if you made it so far and if you are to go deep, to change fundamentally well this is the greatest start.The way every word is written is like a light to everything I am not so I am. If you only can listen, if you just look for a moment everything lights up and is so clear. It’s almost a year since I bought this book, and with another Krishnamurti’s books and YouTube videos, with that enquire into the living book, life itself, there is a tremendous understanding that no words can describe. You don’t need to live your whole life hurt in misery, contradictions and confusion. You don’t need to wait for another life or spend years, or any time for a fundamental change. Because from that understanding love is and everything is so different: action, relationship, nature, the whole of you and I, is actually as it is. So, only then thought understands itself, not you telling it what it is, only then everything is in its right place, freedom is. And that freedom, the freedom is happiness or intelligence or love or truth, not the word but what actually is.

This is the perfect antidote for a know it all This guy has a whole new angle on how to react to any kind of situationNot a book to be read It’s a study!

Turbilhão inicial. Inspirador. Adorei!

Love this book in its simplicity and clarity. Negate everything and ask yourself the hard questions but the trick is not to answerThank you

The "teaching" of Krishnamurti is surely absolutely unique in int clarity. Unfortunately, it is not very easily accessible for many people who do not come with great patience or willingness to dive into it. Many times when telling friends or families and wanting to show them certain of his marvellous points, I failed to bring K close to them, because it was "too complicate" or simply "too long". This book is a summary of his teaching which can easily be entered and provokes to dive into it further. It is a small yet very powerful book. I tend to give it as a gift to friends and so on now, because if you havent heard K, understood what he is saying, 'this book will give you insights in the teaching even without a lot of effort. In my experience even people who are not familiar with "all that" are amazed by the book.