At the feet of the teacher . Work attributed to the Hindu Indian writerJiddu Krishnamurti (1895-1986), but written by its “creator”, theBritish theosophist Charles Webster Leadbeater (under the pseudonym Alcyone), whom Krishnamurti later rejected, along with his occult teachings.
In subsequent editions – the book was a bestseller in the UK and the US – the book was attributed to both: Alcyone and Krishnamurti. Krishnamurti’s biographers are skeptical about Krishnamurti’s true role in the production of the first books attributed to him. Leadbeater, the most influential theosophist, was the person who “discovered” Krishnamurti as a possible vehicle for the new Messiah of theosophy, and was in charge of preparing him for his mission. In 1933, Krishnamurti turned his back on both Leadbeater and his ” neo-Hinduism ” (based on the idea of the need for a guru and to stand at his feet).
Summary
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- 1 Synopsis
- 2 Preface
- 3 Plot
- 4 Sources
Synopsis
Alcyone continually emphasizes the need for a teacher, although she never puts herself in that role. This technique is widely used by the gurus of the East for two millennia:
—You don’t know what it is to have a teacher: he is the only one who can get you out of nescience.
“But you are my teacher!”
“I’m not anyone’s teacher, I’m humble.” At the feet of the One Master you must surrender. [1]
Preface
The writer Annie Besant (Alcyone / Leadbeater teacher) collaborated in the ploy of presenting this book as written by Krishnamurti himself.
The Teachings in this book were given to him by his Master when he was preparing him for the Initiation, and he has transcribed them from memory, slowly and laboriously, because the year before he knew much less English than now.
This book is, for the most part, a literal reproduction of the Master’s own words; and what is not is the Master’s thought expressed in the Disciple’s words.
The Master supplied two omitted sentences. In two other cases, another omitted word was added. Apart from this, this text is entirely Krishnamurti’s: it is his first gift to the world.
May this book help others as the Verbal Teachings helped him. With such hope he gives them. But the teachings can only bear fruit if we live them as he has lived them, since they sprouted from the lips of his Master. If the example is followed according to the Precept, then the Grand Portal will be opened for the reader as it was for the author, and his feet will tread the Path.
Annie Besant [1]
Argument
These words are not mine: they are from the Master who taught me. Without Him I would not have been able to do anything, but with His help I have set foot on the Path. You also wish to enter this Path; And thus, the very words that He spoke to me will help you if you want to obey them. It is not enough to say that these words are beautiful and true; whoever wants to be successful must do exactly what they imply. Looking at food and saying that it is tasty would not satisfy a hungry man: he must eat it. Thus, listening to the Master is not enough: you must practice what He advises, paying attention to every word and paying attention to every hint. If you do not obey a single indication, if you do not heed a single word, it will be lost forever, because He does not repeat them.
Alcyone (Charles Webster Leadbeater) [1]
The guru’s idea is presented in a digestible way for Western individualistic minds: “In the first steps of the journey, the help of those who have gone through similar experiences and achievements is always valuable, although each person is a small unrepeatable cosmos.” However, gradually the idea of complete surrender is presented “at the feet of the teacher”, under the concept that the teacher is not different from God, just as one is not different from God.
The rest of the text presents an endless list of platitude truths, typical of the writing of the theosophical authors of the 19th and 20th centuries.
- guidelines to follow a path of inner fulfillment,
- learn to listen,
- the constant choice of the just versus the unjust,
- follow these seemingly simple tips,
- guide to the development of consciousness,
- the basic qualities to be attained by the Seeker of Truth are discernment, desirelessness, good conduct and love,
- learn to see God in oneself,
- firmly abandon the need to attack others,
- the awakening in us of profound realizations,
- the constant choice of the useful before the useless,
- the control and complete control of our actions, our feelings and our thoughts,
- a slow and gradual work on himself,
- the natural abandonment of vulgar desires,
- not meddling in the affairs of others but concentrating on one’s own Path,
- the constant choice of the true before the false,
- learn to see God in all beings,
- really make an effort in what concerns us,
- develop true self-confidence,
- firmly abandon the need to defame others,
- systematically learn to be tolerant and cheerful,
- follow these tips difficult to be lived,
- learn to really serve others,
- sow a breath of light in our opaque world,
- learn to transmute our own behavior.
- the constant choice of everything that feeds the soul,
- the true metaphysical path is not the achievement of strange phenomena or pathetic magic (such as levitation, telepathy, telekinesis, ubiquity, easily achievable as mere by-products by the Seeker of Truth)
