One Thousand Moons

One Thousand Moons - Krishnamurti at eighty five books #9.09 & 9.10

and

One thousand Suns

In 1984 Pupul Jayakar, a friend and biographer of Krishnamurti, put this question to him:

“Who is Krishnamurti? What is his lineage?”

K replied:

“ . . . keep the challenge – work with it – forget the person.

Look what religions have done: concentrated on the teacher and forgotten the teaching. Why do we give such importance to the person of the teacher? The teacher may be necessary to manifest the teaching, but beyond that, what? The vase contains water; you have to drink the water, not worship the vase. Humanity worships the vase, forgets the teacher”.

However, people continue to be fascinated by the person of Krishnamurti, and he did in fact approve the publication of several books of a biographical and descriptive nature. Some of these are held in the library (#9.). The one richest in photography is called: One Thousand Moons, Krishnamurti at Eighty-Five.

From the front piece of this book:

In One Thousand Moons, Krishnamurti is sensitively presented by Asit Chandmal, an India businessman, who has known him from childhood. Chandmal’s fascinating photo-essay and text reveal Krishnamurti at the age of eighty-five, vigorous and active, a source of continuing inspiration.

More than 150 illustrations, including 120 photographs in full colour, depict the private person behind the world renowned figure. Krishnamurti is seen in the activities of everyday life – with friends, walking and contemplating. Chandmal also tells of the reaction of crowds listening to Krishnamurti speak: the calmness he elicits, and the reverence he evokes. The phenomenon of Krishnamurti is here revealed intimately and respectfully, through the eyes of one who is profoundly convinced of the value of his teachings.

A revised version of this book, called “One Thousand Suns” was published at the centennial anniversary of Krishnamurti’s birth. This contains Chandmal’s moving and personal account “The Last Walk”, which includes a poignant look at Krishnamurti’s final days. He was with K until the end.