Robert Epstein, a licensed psychologist and published haiku poet, has been drawn to iconoclastic thinkers since first being introduced to Henry D. Thoreau and Lao Tzu nearly 40 years ago. Robert has been reading and studying J. Krishnamurti's writings for more than thirty years. With Sherry Phillips, he co-edited a book of selected quotations by Henry Thoreau, The Natural Man, published by Quest, which is still in print. He co-authored with Stacy Taylor a self-help book called, Living Well with a Hidden Disability, and another, on facing chronic illness and pain from a spiritual perspective, Suffering Buddha: The Zen Way beyond Health and Illness. Robert edited a collection of recovery-oriented haiku entitled, The Breath of Surrender, published in 2009. Robert is currently working on a book of death awareness haiku, Checkout Time is Noon, and is editing an anthology of death awareness poems by international poets, Dreams Wander On. Robert lives with his partner Stacy Taylor in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Quotable Krishnamurti is an alphabetized anthology, culled by psychologist Robert Epstein, and arranged by topic, encompassing the jewels of Krishnamurti's insights. Jiddu Krishnamurti (12 May 1895 - 17 February 1986) born in (colonial) India was truly larger than life, and by that I mean he lived life to teaching and writing ideals and spiritual philosophies that transcended the ordinary person's life. Prepared as a child by the Theosophical Society to be a World Teacher, Krishnamurti eventually denounced his role and disbanded the organization founded to honor him, more concerned with the teachings rather than the teacher. His dialogues continued to evolve throughout his long life and yet the underlying message is timeless and perhaps even more relevant today: an uncompromising faith in humanity that thinking clearly and independently can effect enlightened consciousness and positive social change. To that end, he spoke passionately about many real world concerns: violence, self-illusion, environmental consciousness, education, love, organized religion, and politics, and espoused meditation in particular as a path of liberation --New Consciousness Review -- Reviews Krishnamurti's writings, like his life, are a puzzling labyrinth. People tend to respond to both the man and the literature in diverse ways. For Krishnamurti fans, this collection of brief quotations is a useful way of seeing what he had to say on a variety of subjects. For those unfamiliar with the Krishnamurti writings (which are mainly transcriptions of talks he gave), this little volume is an excellent introduction.The book consists of several hundred topics with one or more sentences or short paragraphs setting forth Krishnamurti's comments on those topics, which range from acceptance to you are the world. The book also has an informative introduction by Epstein on Krishnamurti, the man and his teachings --Theosophy Forward -- Reviews Many readers will find Krishnamurti's message of radical freedom and idiosyncratic self-realization more timely than ever; excellent for individual seekers and libraries starting a collection of non-Western spirituality. --Graham Christian, Library Journal -- Reviews Robert Epstein has culled key quotations from Krishnamurti's talks and writings. Conveniently organized from A to Z, topics range from acceptance and anger to consciousness, fear, fulfillment, God, hope, joy, love, nonviolence, reincarnation, relationship, self-understanding, sex, suffering, vegetarianism, war, and wisdom. You are the world, and the world is you, said Krishnamurti. If there is a radical transformation in the structure of an individual's psyche, it will affect the whole consciousness of man. This small jewel of a book contains enormous power to inspire readers to just such a change. When you are open, there is unending help in all things, from the song of a bird to the call of a human being, from the blade of grass to the immensity of the heavens. --Branches of Light -- Reviews Truth is not an absolute, and it certainly does not come from a sheltered understanding. The Quotable Krishnamurti looks to the work of philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti, who threw away the pressures of his Theosophist teachers and came to pursue his own philosophy free from teachings of others. Robert Epstein compiles his quotes on a grand slew of subjects that speak on many levels of our lives and society, from sex to anger, to the very concept of truth and what it really means. The Quotable Krishnamurti is profound, thoughtful, and very highly recommended to philosophy collections. --James A. Cox, July 2011 issue of Wisconsin Bookwatch and The Midwest Book Review -- Reviews