A Star in the East: The Story of Jiddu Krishnamurti - Hardcover

Roland Vernon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0094764808 ISBN 13: 9780094764804

Publisher: Constable Robinson, 2000

Synopsis

Discovered as a young boy in the early years of the 20th century, Krishnamurti was proclaimed a new world leader by Members of the Theosophical Society and, by the 1920s, was attracting worldwide press attention. Idealists, spiritual adventurers, intellectuals and philosopher alike flocked to his talks in their thousands, drawn to the idea of a new golden age and an esoteric Eastern saviour. Later Krishnamurti experienced a mysterious conversation, rejected the Theosophical Society that had moulded his identity and began to teach as a secular philosopher of spiritual nature, but with no affiliation to any sect. He rejected any claims to being a Messiah and indeed proved himself as capable of human weakness which gave rise to sexual scandal and accusations of chicanery. Krishnamurti died in 1986 having founded seven schools, published fifty books and toured the world talking and teaching.

About this title

Review:

Roland Vernon's biography of Krishnamurti, subtitled The Invention of a Messiah, could also have been called simply Understanding the Man. Krishnamurti's life has been well chronicled, but Vernon keeps his sights on the people and events that shaped Krishnamurti's life. We learn about Charles Leadbeater, the allegedly pedophilic discoverer of and tutor to Krishnamurti; Annie Besant, the notorious social activist and Krishnamurti's second mother; and the mysterious and painful "process" that brought Krishnamurti to enlightenment. Besides the influences on his public persona, Vernon is also fascinated by the sometimes contradictory and less well-known private side of Krishnamurti. He had close ties to his brother Nitya, whose death galvanized Krishnamurti to forsake the organization that created him. And he carried on an extended clandestine affair with Rosalind Williams Rajagopal, his early companion and later wife of his friend and business partner. Not quick to pass judgment, Vernon looks at various perspectives of these people and events, unafraid finally to come down with his own well-reasoned opinions. Star in the East depicts Krishnamurti as a complex man who encouraged everyone to think for themselves. --Brian Bruya

About the Author:

Roland Vernon lives in Somerset, England with his wife and children. This is his first book.

About this edition

• Publisher: Constable Robinson
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0094764808
• ISBN 13: 9780094764804
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320