SDSU Library Hosts Multimedia Exhibit on Philosopher J. Krishnamurti
The life of United Nations Peace Medal-winner and world-renowned religious philosopher J. Krishnamurti will be chronicled via a multimedia exhibit in the reference services area of the San Diego State University Library from April 1 to May 23.
"Krishnamurti was a pivotal figure of the 20th century," said Sandra A. Wawyrtko, an SDSU philosophy professor currently teaching a course on Krishnamurti. "His philosophy was wide-ranging; he was concerned with issues at the core of human existence, including conflict resolution, freedom, transformation and compassion."
The circular educational exhibit, titled "The Mind of Krishnamurti: World Citizen, World Teacher," will present a timeline juxtaposing Krishnamurti’s life with major events of the 20th century, alongside kiosks depicting videos of him explaining his philosophy. A meditation space with music exclusively created for the exhibit by American composer Philip Glass will be featured in the center of the exhibit.
Additionally, at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 10 Library and Information Access will host an opening reception in Love Library, room 430. The reception will feature Krishnamurti-related items from the Library’s Special Collections, as well as an unveiling of newly donated materials from the Krishnamurti Foundation of America.
J. Krishnamurti was a popular writer and speaker on philosophical and religious subjects, including the purpose of meditation, the development of human relationships and how to enact positive change in a global society. At the age of 34, he publicly renounced the fame and messiah-like status he had gained from being proclaimed the new incarnation of the Maitreya Buddha and spent the rest of his life publishing regularly and holding public talks, mostly in South Asia, Europe and the United States. At age 90, he addressed the United Nations on the subject of peace and awareness, and was awarded the 1984 U.N. Peace Medal.
The traveling exhibit is presented in partnership with SDSU Library and Information Access, SDSU’s Department of Religious Studies, the SDSU Common Experience program, the Krishnamurti Foundation of America based in Ojai, Calif. and the San Diego-based Charles Wei-hsun Fu Foundation.
