Krishnamurti Foundation of America
- Categories:
- Continued Education
- Education
- Non-Profit
The Foundation preserves and disseminates Krishnamurti's teachings through publications, a school, an adult educational center, and international outreach.
J. Krishnamurti's life and work spanned the greater part of the 20th century. His teachings, timeless and universal, give a new meaning and direction to modern man's quest for truth, for the sacred. The Foundation exists to preserve and disseminate these teachings through publications, a school, an adult educational center, and collaboration with the international community of Krishnamurti Foundations.
The Krishnamurti Foundation of America
The Krishnamurti Foundation of America is located in Ojai, California. It was founded in 1969 by Jiddu Krishnamurti, who lived from 1895 to 1986, and is regarded as one of the greatest philosophical and spiritual figures of the twentieth century. There are also Krishnamurti foundations in England (Krishnamurti Foundation Trust); India (Krishnamurti Foundation India); Canada (Krishnamurti Educational Centre); and Spain (the Fundacion Krishnamurti Latinoamericana).
Krishnamurti’s lifetime body of work spans more than 60 years. The mission of the KFA is to preserve and disseminate his teachings, which it does through a variety of different programs. These include the operation of a publishing division (books, CDs, DVDs, audio/video tapes, and increasingly downloadable text, audio and video), the operation of Oak Grove School (pre-K through 12) in Ojai, California, residential seminars exploring topics in the teachings through interpersonal dialogues, and the opportunity to use the KFA’s retreat and library facility for contemplation and study.
The activities of the KFA are varied, but basically fall into two categories: disseminating the actual teachings of Krishnamurti; and providing contemporary programs that explore the implication of the teachings in every day life.
The Krishnamurti Foundation of America (KFA) is a non-profit organization, it is a Trust with a 501(c)(3) tax exemption status. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent of the law. Our tax ID 23-7018406.
Krishnamurti Educational Center
The Krishnamurti Educational Center attracts people from all over the world, who come to learn about themselves using Krishnamurti’s teachings as a basis for inquiry. The center hosts speaker panels, dialogue groups, conferences, and study programs within a context of cooperative, shared inquiry into the fundamental questions of human life. The center is a forum and takes no positions except to encourage a spirit of inquiry on the part of those who choose to come and participate.
Krishnamurti: “It must be a centre for those who are deeply interested in the teachings, a place where they can stay and study. In the very old days, an ashrama—which means retreat—was a place where people came to gather their energies, to dwell upon and explore the deeper religious aspects of life. Modern places of this kind generally have some sort of a leader, guru, abbot or patriarch who guides, interprets and dominates. Brockwood must have no such leader or guru, for the teachings themselves are the expression of that truth which serious people must find for themselves….This applies not only to Brockwood but to all the other Krishnamurti Foundations.”
Krishnamurti Library & Study Center
The Study Center & Library is located at Pine Cottage, the former home of Krishnamurti. Krishnamurti’s private residence is now open to the general public, functioning as part of the Educational Center. Krishnamurti lived at Pine Cottage between 1922 and 1986; in 1978 a new addition was attached to the original house.
The Pine Cottage addition will serve as the Educational Center’s large meeting hall and library. The original house will be used for small meetings, private video viewing, and as a quiet meditation space. All visitors are welcome to explore the Center’s grounds, tour Krishnamurti’s home, and browse the library. At Pine Cottage they may sip a fresh cup of coffee or tea on the patio. The Center’s host and librarian is Michael Krohnen, Krishnamurti’s friend and personal chef, who authored The Kitchen Chronicles: 1001 lunches with J. Krishnamurti.
The Krishnamurti library contains a comprehensive record of Krishnamurti’s teachings, including all of his books and an extensive selection of talks, discussions, and interviews in audio and video formats. There is a large reading room and facilities for video viewing. Krishnamurti books, CDs, DVDs, audio and video tapes may be purchased in the library bookstore. The library opened in 1984 at Krishnamurti’s urging, and is now located in Pine Cottage.
Contact us
Krishnamurti Foundation of America
PO Box 1560 Ojai CA 93024
Office Phone: (805) 646-2726
Tue-Fri 9:30am-4pm
Pepper Tree Retreat
1130 McAndrew Road, Ojai, CA 93023
Retreat Phone: (805) 646-4773
Krishnamurti Center and Library
1098 McAndrew Road, Ojai, CA 93023
Library Phone: (805) 646-2726 EXT 816
Opening times:
Wed, Thu & Fri 1pm-5pm
Sat & Sun 10am-5pm
On official US holidays 10am-4pm