Freedom from the Known (Paperback, 144 pages) by J Krishnamurti

Born into hardship in India, Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986) emerged as one of the most original and influential spiritual thinkers of the twentieth century. George Bernard Shaw once described him as the most beautiful human being he had ever encountered, and Aldous Huxley maintained a long and meaningful friendship with him. Krishnamurti moved with ease between worlds: discussing politics with Nehru, exchanging ideas with Rupert Sheldrake and Iris Murdoch, and urging his students never to accept his words—or anyone else’s—without question. Many of today’s well-known spiritual teachers regard him as a visionary whose insights profoundly shaped their own thinking; Joseph Campbell, Alan Watts, Eckhart Tolle and Deepak Chopra all cite his influence.

Freedom from the Known remains one of the clearest gateways into Krishnamurti’s teachings. In these pages, he explores how we can break free—immediately and decisively—from the conditioning and assumptions that govern our lives. He insists that genuine transformation begins within the individual, and that by understanding ourselves we can reshape our relationships, our societies and the world we create together. The pressing need for personal renewal, and the realisation that such renewal is entirely within reach, form the heart of this powerful and enduring work.