Jiddu Krishnamurti knew a thing or two about fame. As a 13 year-old boy in India, he was not ‘discovered’ by a record producer or casting agent, but by one of the leaders of the Theosophical Society. The young boy was proclaimed as the next “World Teacher”, a Christ-like figure that the society had predicted would lead humanity to peace and understanding. The Society took legal guardianship of Jiddu and his brother and began preparing Krishnamurti for his destiny. He was named head of The Order of the Star in the East, an organisation specifically formed to ready the world for its new saviour and Krishnamurti spent the next 19 years travelling with the Theosophical Society, giving lectures and being an obedient Saviour in-waiting.

Then in 1929, speaking before the Order of the Star members, the 32 year-old Krishnamurti renounced his destiny and dissolved the organisation. In what must have been a legendary mic-drop moment, he said:

“I maintain that Truth is a pathless land, and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect. That is my point of view, and I adhere to that absolutely and unconditionally. Truth, being limitless, unconditioned, unapproachable by any path whatsoever, cannot be organized; nor should any organization be formed to lead or to coerce people along any particular path.” (Full speech is here.)

Not interested in fame or being worshipped, Krishnamurti cut ties with the Theosophical Society and spent the next 60 years travelling, writing and speaking – tied to no religion, philosophy or dogma. He left behind a huge body of writing and lectures, much of which can be found at Krishnamurti.org

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Comic excerpt from The Book of Life: Daily Meditations with Krishnamurti.