J. Krishnamurti’s Concept of Truth and Reality: A Philosophical Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm2022.v02.n04.006Keywords:
Jiddu Krishnamurti, Truth, Reality, Thought, Self-knowledge, Philosophy of EducationAbstract
This paper examines Jiddu Krishnamurti’s distinctive understanding of philosophy through his reflections on truth, reality, thought, and self-knowledge. Unlike traditional philosophical systems that depend on doctrines, theoretical structures, or established traditions, Krishnamurti presents philosophy as a living inquiry grounded in direct perception and personal insight. For him, philosophy does not consist in the accumulation of knowledge or intellectual speculation but in the discovery of truth through attentive awareness of everyday life. A central theme of his thought is the fundamental distinction between reality and truth. Reality, according to Krishnamurti, is shaped by thought and therefore conditioned, limited, and fragmented, whereas truth lies beyond the field of thought and cannot be grasped through conceptual or psychological processes. He rejects the idea of any fixed path, religious authority, or philosophical system leading to truth, emphasizing instead individual understanding and inner freedom. The paper also explores his analysis of conditioning, illusion, and psychological conflict, showing how human suffering arises from the limitations of thought and the constructed sense of self. Krishnamurti connects the realization of truth with intelligence, self-observation, and freedom from accumulated beliefs and conditioning. Furthermore, his views on education highlight the need for a holistic awakening of the mind that encourages awareness rather than conformity. Ultimately, Krishnamurti redefines philosophy as a transformative process of self-knowledge in which truth is realized through direct insight rather than intellectual pursuit, offering a radical alternative to both traditional metaphysics and modern rationalism.
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