Eight Conversations is a collection of Jiddu Krishnamurti conversations he had with people in 1967 while he worked in the United States.
Through his discussions with various individuals, Krishnamurti challenges the conventional notions of knowledge, authority, and conditioning, emphasizing that true understanding arises from direct observation and self-inquiry rather than reliance on external beliefs or ideologies. He urges the listener to go beyond the limitations of thought and the self, unveiling a deeper perception of reality that is free from fear, conflict, and illusion.
The themes covered in these conversations include:
- The nature of the self and how it creates suffering
- The limitations of knowledge and memory in understanding truth
- The psychological conditioning that shapes our beliefs and behaviors
- The role of thought in fear, division, and conflict
- The importance of observation without judgment
- The possibility of radical inner transformation
Krishnamurti’s approach is direct and uncompromising—he does not offer techniques or methods but instead encourages deep questioning and self-awareness. His words remain highly relevant today, providing insights for anyone seeking to understand the nature of their mind and the world around them.
From the book:
Questioner: Recently when I was in India I heard a temple bell ringing and it had a very
strange effect on me. I suddenly felt an extraordinary sensation of unity and
beauty such as I had never felt before. It happened so suddenly that I was rather
dazed by it, and it was real, not a fancy or an illusion. Then a guide came along
and asked me if he could show me the temples, and on that instant I was back
again in the world of noise and vulgarity. I want to recapture it but of course, as
you say, it is only a dead memory and therefore valueless. What can I do, or not
do, to get to the other shore?Krishnamurti: There is no way to the other shore. There is no action, no
behaviour, no prescription that will open the door to the other. It is not an
evolutionary process; it is not the end of a discipline; it cannot be bought or given
or invited. If this is clear, if the mind has forgotten itself and no longer says – the
other bank or this bank – if the mind has stopped groping and searching, if there
is total emptiness and space in the mind itself – then and only then is it there.
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Krishnamurti Eight Conversations
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