Choiceless awareness is posited in philosophy, psychology, and spirituality to be the state of unpremeditated, complete awareness of the present without preference, effort, or compulsion. The term was popularized in mid-20th century by Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti; the concept is a central theme in his philosophy. Similar or related concepts had been previously developed in several religious or spiritual traditions. The term, or others like it, has also been used to describe traditional and contemporary meditation practices, both secular and religious. By the early 21st century,choiceless awareness as a concept or term had appeared in a variety of fields, including neuroscience, therapy, and sociology, as well as in art. However, Krishnamurti's approach to the subject was unique, and differs from both prior and later notions.
Choiceless awareness is a major topic in the exposition of Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986). [1] Beginning in the 1930s, he often commented on the subject, which became a recurring theme in his work. [2] He is considered to have been mainly responsible for the subsequent interest in both the term and the concept. [3]
Krishnamurti held that outside of strictly practical, technical matters, the presence and action of choice indicates confusion and subtle bias: an individual who perceives a given situation in an unbiased manner, without distortion, and therefore with complete awareness, will immediately, naturally, act according to this awareness – the action will be the manifestation and result of this awareness, rather than the result of choice. Such action (and quality of mind) is inherently without conflict. [4]
He did not offer any method to achieve such awareness; [5] in his view, application of technique cannot possibly evolve into, or result in, true choicelessness – just as unceasing application of effort leads to illusory effortlessness, in reality the action of habit. [6] Additionally, in his opinion all methods introduce potential or actual conflict, generated by the practitioner's efforts to comply. According to this analysis, all practices towards achieving choiceless awareness have the opposite effect: they inhibit its action in the present by treating it as a future, premeditated result, and moreover one that is conditioned by the practitioner's implied or expressed expectations. [7]
Krishnamurti stated that for true choicelessness to be realized explicit or implicit choice has to simply, irrevocably, stop; however, not as a result of decision-making, but through the ceasing of the functioning of the chooser or self as a psychological entity. He proposed that such a state might be approached through inquiry based on total attentiveness: identity is then dissolved in complete, all-encompassing attention. [8] Therefore, he considered choiceless awareness a natural attribute of non-self-centered perception, which he called "observation without the observer". [9]
Accordingly, Krishnamurti advised against following any doctrine, discipline, teacher, guru, or authority, including himself. [10] He also advised against following one's own psychological knowledge and experience, which he considered integral parts of the observer. [11] He denied the usefulness of all meditation techniques and methods, but not of meditation itself, which he called "perhaps the greatest" art in life; [12] and stated that insight into choiceless awareness could be shared through open dialogue. [13]
Krishnamurti's ideas on choiceless awareness were discussed by among others, influential Hindu spiritual teacher Ramana Maharshi (1879–1950) [14] and, following wide publication of his books, [15] they attracted the attention of psychologists and psychoanalysts in the 1950s; [16] in subsequent decades Krishnamurti held a number of discussions on this and related subjects with practicing psychotherapists and with researchers in the field. [17] His views on the subject have been included in scholarly papers on existential therapy, [18] education theory, [19] and peace research, [20] but they have also been discussed in less formal or structured settings. [21]
In late 1980, almost half a century after he started discussing it, Krishnamurti included the concept in "The Core of Krishnamurti's Teaching", a pivotal statement of his philosophy: "Freedom is found in the choiceless awareness of our daily existence and activity." [22] [23]
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In contrast with Krishnamurti's approach, other articulations commonly include choiceless awareness (or related ideas and terms) as part, or as the hoped-for result, of specific methodologies and meditation techniques. [24] Similar concepts and terms appeared or developed in various traditional and contemporary religious or spiritual doctrines and texts, [25] and also within secular disciplines such as psychotherapy, [26] rehabilitation medicine, [27] and counseling. [28] Choiceless awareness has been examined within the context of philosophy of perception and behavior, [29] while studies have cited its possible role in job performance. [30] Other studies have linked meditation based on the concept (among others), with neural activity consistent with increased attentiveness, considered a factor of well-being and happiness. [31]
One term that is often used as a near-synonym is mindfulness, which as a concept has similarities to or may include choiceless awareness. [32] Initially part of Buddhist meditation practice, it has been adapted and utilized for contemporary psychological treatment, [33] and has been applied as a component of integrative medicine programs. [34]
Related themes can be found in the doctrine and meditation practices (such as Vipassanā) associated with the Theravada school of Buddhism; [35] and also in 20th-century offshoots such as the Thai Forest Tradition and the Vipassana movement. [36] Within these and similar fields, for example the Shikantaza practice in Zen Buddhism, [37] choiceless (or effortless) awareness is considered to frequently be the result of a mature progression of practice. [38]
The concept has been included in the discourse of transpersonal philosopher Ken Wilber (b. 1949), [39] and also of independent Indian spiritual teacher Osho (Rajneesh) (1931–1990). [40] Tibetan Buddhism teacher Chögyam Trungpa (1939–1987), who engaged in dialogue with Krishnamurti, [41] used the term to describe the experience of shunyata (Śūnyatā) – in Sanskrit, "emptiness", or "ego-less perception". [42]
Among other fields, the term has appeared in dispute resolution theory and practice, [43] and has found application in artistic endeavors. In dramatic theory, theater criticism, [44] and acting, [45] it has been used to denote spontaneous creativity and related practices or attempts; it has additionally appeared in music works. [46] Author J. D. Salinger (1919–2010), who was interested in spirituality and alternative religions, was reputedly an adherent of Ramana Maharshi's ideas on choiceless awareness. [47]
Contrary to press reports published in the mid-20th-century, [48] later interest in practices related to, or influenced by, choiceless awareness, has resulted in unambiguously favorable mentions in the popular press. [49] Additionally, mass market general interest titles covering the subject have been published. [50]
Jiddu Krishnamurti was an Indian philosopher, speaker, writer, and spiritual figure. Adopted by members of the Theosophical tradition as a child, he was raised to fill the advanced role of World Teacher, but in adulthood he rejected this mantle and distanced himself from the related religious movement. He spent the rest of his life speaking to groups and individuals around the world; many of these talks have been published. He also wrote many books, among them The First and Last Freedom (1954) and Commentaries on Living (1956–60). His last public talk was in January 1986, a month before his death at his home in Ojai, California.
David Joseph Bohm was an American scientist who has been described as one of the most significant theoretical physicists of the 20th century and who contributed unorthodox ideas to quantum theory, neuropsychology and the philosophy of mind. Among his many contributions to physics is his causal and deterministic interpretation of quantum theory known as De Broglie–Bohm theory.
Mindfulness is the cognitive skill, usually developed through meditation, of sustaining meta-attentive awareness towards the contents of one's own mind in the present moment. Mindfulness derives from sati, a significant element of Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and is based on Chan, Guān, and Tibetan meditation techniques. Though definitions and techniques of mindfulness are wide-ranging, Buddhist traditions describe what constitutes mindfulness, such as how perceptions of the past, present and future arise and cease as momentary sense-impressions and mental phenomena. Individuals who have contributed to the popularity of mindfulness in the modern Western context include Thích Nhất Hạnh, Joseph Goldstein, Herbert Benson, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and Richard J. Davidson.
Jon Kabat-Zinn is an American professor emeritus of medicine and the creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Kabat-Zinn was a student of Zen Buddhist teachers such as Philip Kapleau, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Seung Sahn, and a founding member of Cambridge Zen Center. His practice of hatha yoga, Vipassanā and appreciation of the teachings of Soto Zen and Advaita Vedanta led him to integrate their teachings with scientific findings. He teaches mindfulness, which he says can help people cope with stress, anxiety, pain, and illness. The stress reduction program created by Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), is offered by medical centers, hospitals, and health maintenance organizations, and is described in his book Full Catastrophe Living.
Edith Penelope Mary Lutyens was a British author who is principally known for her biographical works on the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti.
Krishnamurti's Notebook is a diary of 20th-century Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986). Written during 1961–62, it is best known for its first hand accounts of persistent, unusual physical experiences and states of consciousness, but also for poetic and penetrating descriptions of nature. It has been called "a remarkable mystical document" in press reports, while an authorized Krishnamurti biographer described it as containing "the whole essence" of his philosophy. Reputedly it was not intended for publication; the manuscript also became entangled in copyright and custody disputes. The work – one of few books Krishnamurti wrote himself – was eventually published in 1976 over objections of Krishnamurti associates. An expanded edition with additional material was published in 2003; it includes previously unpublished diary entries from 1962.
The First and Last Freedom is a book by 20th-century Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986). Originally published in 1954 with a comprehensive foreword by Aldous Huxley, it was instrumental in broadening Krishnamurti's audience and exposing his ideas. It was one of the first Krishnamurti titles in the world of mainstream, commercial publishing, where its success helped establish him as a viable author. The book also established a format frequently used in later Krishnamurti publications, in which he presents his ideas on various interrelated issues, followed by discussions with one or more participants. As of 2022 several editions of the work had been published, in print and digital media.
Commentaries on Living: From the notebooks of J. Krishnamurti is a series of books by Jiddu Krishnamurti. It consists of 3 volumes, originally published in 1956, 1958 and 1960.
At the Feet of the Master is a book attributed to Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986), authored when he was 14 years old. Written under the name Alcyone, it was first published in 1910. The work was closely related to the World Teacher Project, a contemporary messianic endeavor launched by the Theosophical Society. The book is considered a spiritual classic and was still in print in 2012. By that time it had been published in dozens of editions and had been translated in many languages; by 2004 early editions were in the public domain. Throughout its publication history the work has also generated controversy, regarding the author's identity.
Krishnamurti's Journal, republished as The Beauty of Life: Krishnamurti's Journal is a diary of 20th-century Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986). Originally published in print in 1982, it was republished under the new title in an extended edition in 2023. The diary, a handwritten journal that eschews the first person, is composed of entries dated in 1973, 1975 and 1981. The entries touch on favorite Krishnamurti topics like meditation, the dangerous effects of identification and of conditioned thinking, and the need for radical individual psychological reset. The diary is also known for poetic and nuanced descriptions of nature, and of nature's relationship with human consciousness. The published work is considered one of the very few books Krishnamurti wrote himself.
Freedom from the Known is a book by Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986), originally published 1969.
Rosalind Edith Rajagopal was a long-time director of the Happy Valley School in Ojai, California. She co-founded the school in 1946 with Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti, Italian literary critic Guido Ferrando, and English author Aldous Huxley.
The Order of the Star in the East (OSE) was an international organization based at Benares (Varanasi), India from 1911 to 1927. It was established by the leadership of the Theosophical Society at Adyar, Madras (Chennai) to prepare the world for the arrival of a reputed messianic entity, the World Teacher or Maitreya. The OSE acquired members worldwide as it expanded in many countries; a third of its diverse membership c. 1926 was unaffiliated with the Theosophical Society. The precursor of the OSE was the Order of the Rising Sun and the successor was the Order of the Star. The precursor organization was formed after leading Theosophists discovered a likely candidate for the new messiah in the then–adolescent Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986), a South Indian Brahmin who was installed as Head of the Order. Almost two decades later Krishnamurti rejected the messianic role, repudiated the Order's mission and in 1929 disbanded the OSE's successor. The founding and activities of these organizations as well as the largely unexpected dissolution of the OSE's successor, attracted widespread media attention and public interest. They also led to crises in the Theosophical Society and to schisms in Theosophy. Krishnamurti's later multi-decade career as a notable independent philosopher has been a factor in evaluations of the OSE and its mission.
Lives in the Shadow with J. Krishnamurti is a 1991 memoir by Radha Rajagopal Sloss (b. 1931). It chronicles aspects of the long, intimate, and ultimately contentious relationship of the author's family with the Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti. Originally published five years after his death, the book's descriptions of facets of Krishnamurti's life generated a degree of controversy.
Jiddu Krishnamurti or J. Krishnamurti, was a writer and speaker on philosophical and spiritual issues including psychological revolution, the nature of the mind, meditation, human relationships, and bringing about positive social change. He came to early prominence thanks to claims, made on his behalf, that he was to be a Messiah. As a young man he repudiated these claims and declared himself unbound by any tradition or philosophy. He spent the rest of his life presenting a uniquely expressed philosophy of life around the world in talks, discussions, and writings.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) therapy is a mindfulness-based program (MBP) designed for stress management and used to treat other conditions. It is structured as an eight to ten week group program.
Krishnamurti to Himself, subtitled His Last Journal, is a book based on a spoken diary of 20th-century Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986). It discusses psychological, social and spiritual issues he addressed throughout his long career, and like previous diaries includes observations of nature remarked for their originality and nuance; it is however unique in being the only one of his works in this format. Originally recorded in 1983–84, it was first published in print in 1987.
Mindful Yoga or Mindfulness Yoga combines Buddhist-style mindfulness practice with yoga as exercise to provide a means of exercise that is also meditative and useful for reducing stress. Buddhism and Hinduism have since ancient times shared many aspects of philosophy and practice including mindfulness, understanding the suffering caused by an erroneous view of reality, and using concentrated and meditative states to address such suffering.
Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness is a book by Jon Kabat-Zinn, first published in 1990, revised in 2013, which describes the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program developed at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center's Stress Reduction Clinic. In addition to describing the content and background of MBSR, Kabat-Zinn describes scientific research showing the medical benefits of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), and lays out an approach to mind-body medicine emphasizing the depth of the interconnections between physical and mental health. The book has been called "one of the great classics of mind/body medicine", and has been seen as a landmark in the development of the secular mindfulness movement in the United States and internationally.
Includes access to online guided meditations.
Nothing seems to be known about the author, though tradition ascribes it to the Sage Ashtavakra.
The Poem behind the Poem: Literary Translation as American Poetry.
[Foot of transcript title:] 14 May 1961.
[Foot of transcript title:] 9 May 1965.
Special Issue: Mindfulness: diverse perspectives on its meaning, origins, and multiple applications at the intersection of science and dharma.
Jiddhu [variant family name spelling; listed by given name ].
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)[P]assages ... from dialogues and from his writings (published as The Collected Works of Ramana Maharshi ... ).
The passages in this Study Book have been taken directly from Krishnamurti's talks and books from 1933 through 1967.
Papers presented at the 2013 ASI will appear in a special issue of Transcultural Psychiatry.
[Variant spelling:] Krishnamurthi.