At the Feet of the Master
Encyclopedia
At the Feet of the Master is a book attributed to Jiddu Krishnamurti
(1895–1986), authored when he was fourteen years old. Written under the name Alcyone, it was first published in 1910. It has since gone through dozens of editions, and has been translated in many languages.
, one of Krishnamurti's mentor
s, was the actual producer of the work; Leadbeater had assigned him the pseudonym
(Alcyone). Krishnamurti's statements on the matter of authorship have been changeable and open to interpretation; his final position (decades after the original publication) was that he had no memory of writing it, although he did not discount the possibility.
The following is stated in the book's "Foreword": "These are not my words; they are the words of the Master who taught me." This statement is apparently related to Leadbeater's claim that the so-called Master Kuthumi
, a postulated embodied spiritual entity, was "releasing" (through a mystical
process) the spiritual instruction that makes up the work to young Krishnamurti while the latter was asleep. Upon waking, Krishnamurti "with great laboriousness" put the instructions into notes; these were spell-and-grammar-checked, and then arranged and typed by Leadbeater.
The original notes by Krishnamurti are missing; the extent of any differences with the typescript and the original published edition is not clear. The debate regarding the role of Krishnamurti in the production and promotion of this work persisted, a century after its original publication.
, was bound in blue cloth, with a limited number of copies bound in blue leather. The book includes a "Preface" by Krishnamurti mentor and legal guardian
Annie Besant
(then–President of the Theosophical Society
), and the previously mentioned "Foreword" by Alcyone. The work is then laid out in four parts, corresponding to its proclaimed requirements for disciples on the spiritual path:
The book is considered a theosophical
classic, and it had never been out of print
. As of the same year, early editions of the work were in the public domain
within several jurisdictions.
.
|author=Alcyone (J. Krishnamurti)|title=At the feet of the master|year=1911|edition=American|location=Chicago|publisher=Rajput Press|oclc=560831417|postscript=}} Edition is in the public domain. See External links below.
|author=Jiddu Krishnamurti (Alcyone)|year=2001|edition=Revised, expanded|title=At the feet of the master and towards discipleship|others=Add. material by John Algeo|location=Wheaton, Illinois
|publisher=Quest Books|isbn=978-0835608039|postscript=}} Expanded edition includes 1924 lecture by Krishnamurti entitled Towards Discipleship and background material by John Algeo, past president of the Theosophical Society in America
.
to the Internet Archive. 2008. San Fransisco: The Internet Archive.
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti or J. Krishnamurti or , was a renowned writer and speaker on philosophical and spiritual subjects. His subject matter included: psychological revolution, the nature of the mind, meditation, human relationships, and bringing about positive change in society...
(1895–1986), authored when he was fourteen years old. Written under the name Alcyone, it was first published in 1910. It has since gone through dozens of editions, and has been translated in many languages.
The identity of the author has been the subject of debate. It has been proposed that Charles Webster Leadbeater
Charles Webster Leadbeater
Charles Webster Leadbeater was an influential member of the Theosophical Society, author on occult subjects and co-initiator with J. I. Wedgwood of the Liberal Catholic Church...
, one of Krishnamurti's mentor
Mentorship
Mentorship refers to a personal developmental relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps a less experienced or less knowledgeable person....
s, was the actual producer of the work; Leadbeater had assigned him the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
(Alcyone). Krishnamurti's statements on the matter of authorship have been changeable and open to interpretation; his final position (decades after the original publication) was that he had no memory of writing it, although he did not discount the possibility.
The following is stated in the book's "Foreword": "These are not my words; they are the words of the Master who taught me." This statement is apparently related to Leadbeater's claim that the so-called Master Kuthumi
Kuthumi
The Master Kuthumi, sometimes spelled Koot Hoomi, Kut Humi, rarely Kut-Hu-Mi, Master K.H., or simply K.H. in Theosophy, is regarded as one of the "Masters of the Ancient Wisdom." According to Theosophy, Kuthumi is considered to be one of the members of the Spiritual Hierarchy called the Masters of...
, a postulated embodied spiritual entity, was "releasing" (through a mystical
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
process) the spiritual instruction that makes up the work to young Krishnamurti while the latter was asleep. Upon waking, Krishnamurti "with great laboriousness" put the instructions into notes; these were spell-and-grammar-checked, and then arranged and typed by Leadbeater.
The original notes by Krishnamurti are missing; the extent of any differences with the typescript and the original published edition is not clear. The debate regarding the role of Krishnamurti in the production and promotion of this work persisted, a century after its original publication.
The original edition, featuring a then-recent photograph of "Alcyone" in its frontispiece
Book frontispiece
A frontispiece is a decorative illustration facing a book's title page. The frontispiece is the verso opposite the recto title page. Elaborate engraved frontispieces were in frequent use, especially in Bibles and in scholarly books, and many are masterpieces of engraving...
, was bound in blue cloth, with a limited number of copies bound in blue leather. The book includes a "Preface" by Krishnamurti mentor and legal guardian
Legal guardian
A legal guardian is a person who has the legal authority to care for the personal and property interests of another person, called a ward. Usually, a person has the status of guardian because the ward is incapable of caring for his or her own interests due to infancy, incapacity, or disability...
Annie Besant
Annie Besant
Annie Besant was a prominent British Theosophist, women's rights activist, writer and orator and supporter of Irish and Indian self rule.She was married at 19 to Frank Besant but separated from him over religious differences. She then became a prominent speaker for the National Secular Society ...
(then–President of the Theosophical Society
Theosophical Society
The Theosophical Society is an organization formed in 1875 to advance the spiritual principles and search for Truth known as Theosophy. The original organization, after splits and realignments has several successors...
), and the previously mentioned "Foreword" by Alcyone. The work is then laid out in four parts, corresponding to its proclaimed requirements for disciples on the spiritual path:
- Discrimination
- Desirelessness
- Good conduct
- Love
The book is considered a theosophical
Theosophy
Theosophy, in its modern presentation, is a spiritual philosophy developed since the late 19th century. Its major themes were originally described mainly by Helena Blavatsky , co-founder of the Theosophical Society...
classic, and it had never been out of print
Out of print
Out of print refers to an item, typically a book , but can include any print or visual media or sound recording, that is in the state of no longer being published....
. As of the same year, early editions of the work were in the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
within several jurisdictions.
Later editions may be listed as co-authored, or solely authored, by Jiddu Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti or J. Krishnamurti or , was a renowned writer and speaker on philosophical and spiritual subjects. His subject matter included: psychological revolution, the nature of the mind, meditation, human relationships, and bringing about positive change in society...
.
|author=Alcyone (J. Krishnamurti)|title=At the feet of the master|year=1911|edition=American|location=Chicago|publisher=Rajput Press|oclc=560831417|postscript=}} Edition is in the public domain. See External links below.
|author=Jiddu Krishnamurti (Alcyone)|year=2001|edition=Revised, expanded|title=At the feet of the master and towards discipleship|others=Add. material by John Algeo|location=Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton is an affluent community located in DuPage County, Illinois, approximately west of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County...
|publisher=Quest Books|isbn=978-0835608039|postscript=}} Expanded edition includes 1924 lecture by Krishnamurti entitled Towards Discipleship and background material by John Algeo, past president of the Theosophical Society in America
Theosophical Society in America
The Theosophical Society in America is a member-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the teaching of Theosophy and affiliated with the international Theosophical Society based in Adyar, Chennai, India. The name "Theosophical Society in America" was legally adopted by the American Theosophical...
.
External links
, contributed by the University of California LibrariesUniversity of California Libraries
The University of California operates the largest academic library system in the world. It manages more than 34 million items in 100 libraries on ten campuses. The purpose of these libraries is to assist research and instruction on the University of California campuses...
to the Internet Archive. 2008. San Fransisco: The Internet Archive.