Judy Croome: Author on the Prowl

Although I did not enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed “Freedom from the Known,” I still found it a useful, if somewhat difficult, read. My western trained mind baulked at some of the philosophical points posed, but Krishnamurti’s ideas are good for provoking thinking outside the box of our own beliefs.

In essence he discusses the concepts of “alone-ness” versus “loneliness” and how our ability (or lack of it) to embrace the freedom of “alone-ness” will determine how lonely we are in our relationships.

As with Freedom of the Known, I found Krishnamurti quite depressing at times. I also found myself wondering whether he did, in fact, practice what he preached in his own life. Did his arrogance, no doubt springing from his supreme intelligence, hide a soul that spoke so eloquently of loneliness from a deep, personal acquaintance with that state of being? I suppose we’ll never know.

There is enough wisdom in this book to make one overlook its flaws, and it is worth spending the time exploring “On Love and Loneliness” in depth.