Book Review
“The Book of Life – Daily Meditations with
J. Krishnamurti”, Edited by R.E. Mark Lee,
Krishnamurti Foundation of America
(Harper, San Francisco, 1995)
Despite our unprecedented material well-being
and life imbued in physical comforts, we, at
least most of us, are suffering from
insurmountable ‘psychic’ pain, for which we
take recourse to “fast cures” in the form of
books and lectures. Readers who resort to
“The Book of Life – Daily Meditations with
Krishnamurti” in search of quotidian answers
to life’s daily problems will be disappointed.
This master piece contains not instant
solutions but probing questions into
relationship of human beings with each other
– with loved ones, friends, enemies – and even
creation itself. The Book of Life presents 365
timeless daily meditations culled from the
beloved teacher’s lectures and writings. In
the words of a prominent philosopher, J.
Krishnamurti (or J.K.) was to the world of
philosophy what Einstein was to the realm of
modern science.
Readers will be richly rewarded by the day-
by-day unfolding of Krishnamurti’s thought
and insight. Whether for newcomers or for
people already acquainted with Krishnamurti,
“The Book of Life” provides a welcome new
presentation of this remarkable teacher’s life
work. The format is simple and it can be used
as a “daily reader” or, through more
concentrated readings, as a provocative and
accelerated introduction to his thought which
will encourage many readers to delve deeper
into the extensive legacy of Krishnamurti’s
talks and writings.
An excerpt from the book: “Have you ever
sat very silently, not with your attention on
anything, not making an effort to concentrate,
but with the mind very quiet, really still? .….
Approached with fresh mind each day, “The
Book of Life...” will be a pearl of great price
for every reader.
*********************************
49
Book Review – “The Post Office”, Vol. 1 by
Rabindranath Tagore Andrew Robinson
(Translator) Anita Desai (Introduction), St.
Martin’s Press, Inc. (1998)
One of Tagore’s greatest inspirational works,
“The Post Office” has been recently published
in the North America in this handsomely
illustrated new edition, offering pleasure for
us all. Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore,
the greatest writer of modern India, wrote The
Post Office in 1911, following a deep personal
loss. In beautiful, simple prose, Tagore tells
the story of a young boy, Amal, confined to
his sickbed on doctor’s orders. Seated beside
his window, he longs to join the world outside,
where children play in the street and others
scurry about, preoccupied with their daily
routines. Greeting everyone who passes by his
house, from the local yogurt seller, to the town
watchman, to the lovely flower girl, Shudha,
Amal - with his touching curiosity – teaches
others life’s simple but essential truths while
awaiting his own spiritual liberation.
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), Indian poet,
philosopher, and Nobel laureate, was born in
Calcutta, into a wealthy family. He began to
write poetry as a child; his first book appeared
when he was 17 years old. After a brief stay
in England (1878) to study law, he returned to
India, where he rapidly became the most
important and popular author of the colonial
era, writing poetry, short stories, novels, and
plays. He composed several hundred popular
songs and in 1929 also began painting. Tagore
wrote primarily in Bengali, but translated
many of his works into English himself. He
was awarded the 1913 Nobel Prize in
literature, and in 1915 he was knighted by the
British king George V. Tagore renounced his
knighthood in 1919 following the Amritsar
massacre of 400 Indian demonstrators by
British troops. Two of his songs are national
anthem of India and Bangladesh.
Dr. Ravi Subramanian