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 Jean Klein is one of the greatest Western Advaita teachers of the twentieth century. For over forty years, Dr. Klein traveled throughout Europe and the United States, teaching and inspiring people. All who met him were struck by the quiet manner and the sense of peace which radiated from him. He was strongly influenced by the thoughts of Gandhi, Lao Tze, Chuang Tzu, Tagore, Coomaraswamy, and Aurobindo. Later, he also became interested in the writings of Rene Guenon on cosmology. During his life he authored several books (in English) on Advaita philosophy.Dr. Klein taught that: “You are primal awareness. Life is only primal awarenss. Between two thoughts or two perceptions you are. You know moments in your life when a thought completely disappears into silence, but still you are." (The Ease of Being, 13) |
Date of Birth: 02 Jan, 1916
Location: United States
State: California
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Views: 284
Summary
Little is known about Dr. Klein’s early life. He is said to have been born in 1916 in Brno, Czech Republic. He spent his childhood between Prague and Vienna. Several members of his family were musicians and at the age of seven, he himself, took up the violin. As a young man, he studied music and medicine in Vienna and then Berlin. Jean was a restless youth who had, as he described, “A strong urge for freedom.” He read the works of great minds such as: Nietzsche, Gandhi, Aurobindo, and Krishnamurti. However, it was the writing of Rene Guenon, which had the greatest impact on him. In 1933, he left Germany and moved to France. During World War II he spent his time secretly helping thousands escape from Germany. After the war, he journeyed to India in search of greater self-wisdom. In Bangalore, he met a Pandit, a Sanskrit professor, who became his teacher and initiated him into the wisdom of Advaita. Over time, the teachings became a living reality and he in turn became the teacher. He died in February of 1998 in Santa Barbara, California.
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Related Links:
www.omalpha.com/jardin/klein-en-imp.html
www.gujaratvidyapith.ac.in
www.bluedove.com/advaita_klein.htm
www.nonduality.com/klein.htm
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