One Thousand Suns depicts the private person behind the world-renowned philosophical figure, Jiddu Krishnamurti. The phenomenon of this brilliant teacher is here revealed intimately and respectfully, through the eyes of Asit Chandmal, who for most of his life knew Krishnamurti as a close friend. Krishnamurti is seen in everyday activities—with friends, in his home and garden, walking, and contemplating. Chandmal also describes and depicts the reactions of crowds listening to Krishnamurti speak, the calm he elicited, and the reverence he evoked.
Jiddu Krishnamurti lived from 1895 to 1986, and is regarded as one of the greatest philosophical and spiritual figures of the twentieth century. Krishnamurti claimed no allegiance to any caste, nationality or religion and was bound by no tradition. His purpose was to set humankind unconditionally free from the destructive limitations of conditioned mind. For nearly sixty years he traveled the world and spoke spontaneously to large audiences until the end of his life in 1986 at the age of ninety. He had no permanent home, but when not traveling, he often stayed in Ojai, California, Brockwood Park, England, and in Chennai, India. In his talks, he pointed out to people the need to transform themselves through self knowledge, by being aware of the subtleties of their thoughts and feelings in daily life, and how this movement can be observed through the mirror of relationship.