From the Archives, Vol. 9

Krishnamurti Photographs Part 4

Written by THE FOUNDATION STAFF

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6-minute read

The fourth set of photographs from the archives highlights places associated with Krishnamurti during his lifetime. From the 1910s, Krishnamurti travelled extensively to all continents (barring Antarctica), at first as part of his education and then to hold talks and discussions. He spoke in over 600 locations, at first travelling by ship and train, then early passenger aircraft, and later by commercial airlines and car. Whilst not having a home as such, many of the schools and centres he established served this purpose over the decades, with Krishnamurti staying at each for a few weeks or months at a time. Krishnamurti never retired and continued to speak until the month before his death in the United States in February 1986. The photographs presented here are displayed according to location, principally Ojai in California, Brockwood Park in the UK, Adyar, Rajghat and Rishi Valley in India, Ommen in The Netherlands and Saanen in Switzerland.

Krishnamurti at Brockwood Park School, 1969. Photographer unknown. The school was founded by Krishnamurti that same year, and it became his home in Europe when visiting each spring and autumn.

A small group discussion at Brockwood Park, 1970. Photograph by Mark Edwards. Along with discussions with staff and students, guests were also invited at weekends. Discussions took place in the sitting room pictured here and later in the assembly hall.

Tents for the Brockwood Gatherings, Hampshire, UK, 1970s. Photographer unknown. The tent nearest the camera was used for Krishnamurti’s talks from 1969 until 1985. The rear tent was for catering and is on the site of the current Krishnamurti Centre.

Krishnamurti giving a talk at Brockwood, 1980s. Photographer unknown. The public meetings took place in September each year, with many attendees camping in the grounds.

Rishi Valley, Madanapalle, India, 1969. Photograph by Mark Edwards. Rishi Valley is home to a Rishi Valley School and The Krishnamurti Study Centre. The school was one of the first to be founded by Krishnamurti, in 1926.

Krishnamurti holding a small group discussion in Rishi Valley 1969. Photograph by Mark Edwards. Krishnamurti visited Rishi Valley most years and held over 350 discussions here with staff, students and visitors.

The house where Krishnamurti was born, Madanapalle. Photographer unknown. This is the earliest known photograph of Krishnamurti’s first home. He was born here on 11 May 1895.

Marquee, Star Camp, Ommen, The Netherlands

Marquee at the Ommen Camp, The Netherlands. Photographer unknown. Krishnamurti gave talks at Ommen from 1924 until 1938. This picture, taken in the 1930s, shows the main tent for the camps.

Krishnamurti speaking at the Ommen Camp, 1933. Photographer unknown. A view from inside the tent pictured above. Until the 1950s, Krishnamurti stood when talking, after which he always sat on a simple chair.

Campfire at the Ommen Star Camp, 1926. Photographer unknown. Talks were also held around the fire, which tended to be about practical matters rather than the teachings of Krishnamurti (facing away from the camera here, with Annie Besant).

Castle Eerde, Ommen, The Netherlands. Photograph by G. Terra. Krishnamurti stated in 1926: ‘It is primarily the place of the Order of the Star, and on that understanding only was it given, and on that understanding only was it taken.’ The castle was returned to the donor when Krishnamurti dissolved the Order in 1929.

Krishnamurti with students at the Rajghat Besant School. Photographer unknown. Krishnamurti founded the school in 1926, on the banks of the River Ganges near Benares (Varanasi). He visited many times over the years and also held public talks here.

Krishnamurti near the River Ganges at Rajghat, 1978. Photograph by Evelyne Blau, who wrote: ‘It is said that the Buddha walked along this path from Benares to Sarnath.’

Saanen, Switzerland, 1968. Photograph by Mark Edwards. Krishnamurti first visited Saanen, a village in the Alps, in 1957. He began speaking here four years later and continued every summer until 1985.

Krishnamurti speaking in Saanen, Switzerland, 1985. Photograph by Mark Edwards. The first tent used for the talks was a geodesic dome, later replaced by the large tent seen here.

Krishnamurti walking near Gstaad, 1980. Photograph by Asit Chandmal. During the public meetings in Saanen, Krishnamurti would stay at Chalet Tannegg in nearby Gstaad. He enjoyed the local walks, the fast pace of which is evident in this photo.

Theosophical Headquarters, Adyar, India, 1911. Photographer unknown. Krishnamurti’s father worked for the Theosophical Society at Adyar, Madras (Chennai), and Krishnamurti was ‘discovered’ playing on the beach nearby.

Krishnamurti, his brother and C.W. Leadbeater in Adyar, 1910. Photographer unknown. This picture was taken soon after Krishnamurti’s discovery, at the beginning of his grooming as the World Teacher and before his life of travelling commenced.

Vasanta Vihar, Madras (Chennai), 1980s. Photographer unknown. Constructed in the mid-1930s, Vasanta Vihar is home to the Krishnamurti Foundation India. Krishnamurti resided here each year he visited Madras.

Krishnamurti speaking in Madras (Chennai), 1983. Photographer unknown. Krishnamurti gave talks and held discussions in Madras for over 60 years, starting in 1925. It was the site of his last ever talks in early 1986.

Arya Vihara, Ojai, USA, 1929. Photographer unknown. Krishnamurti first came to Ojai in 1922. The former ranch house became his first home when in California. It now forms part of the Krishnamurti Retreat in the Ojai Valley.

Krishnamurti at Pine Cottage, Ojai, 1978. Photograph by Ralph Gardner. Pine Cottage, located near Arya Vihara, was expanded in the 1970s. It became Krishnamurti’s home in the USA and was the place of his death.

Krishnamurti speaking in the Oak Grove, Ojai, 1930s. Photographer unknown. This shaded green space was the location for most of Krishnamurti’s Ojai public talks and discussions from 1928.

A Krishnamurti talk, Oak Grove, Ojai, 1980. Photograph by Asit Chandmal. The area is now dedicated to quiet meditation and retreat.

The Oak Grove School, Ojai, 1985. Photograph by Rita Zampese. Krishnamurti founded the school in 1975, stating: ‘A school is a place where one learns about the totality, the wholeness of life.’

Krishnamurti at the Pepper Tree, Ojai, 1980. Photograph by Asit Chandmal. Located next to Pine Cottage, the tree was the site of Krishnamurti’s mystical experiences in 1922 and 1923.

Krishnamurti also held talks in major cities around the world. The following photographs highlight some of these venues and give an idea of the atmosphere at the talks.