The exact question appears in Krishnamurti’s first public discussion at Saanen on 1 August 1973. A related fuller formulation appears in his Bombay talk of 7 February 1971, so this is a recurring inquiry rather than a uniquely dated slogan.
“Is it possible to observe without the observer?” Jiddu Krishnamurti, first public discussion, Saanen, 1 August 1973; exact documented occurrence, not a first-use claim.
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Context
Why it mattered
In the Saanen discussion, audience questions about jealousy and relationships lead to an investigation of how people observe. Krishnamurti treats the observer as accumulated memory and images, asking whether those reactions can be noticed without letting them predetermine what is seen.
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Jiddu Krishnamurti rejected the World Teacher role prepared for him by the Theosophical movement and spent decades speaking about freedom from psychological authority and conditioning. His meetings included public talks, audience discussions and dialogues with scientists and teachers; he asked listeners to investigate rather than follow him.
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The primary source (Chicago)
Krishnamurti, Jiddu. “How does one observe?” 1st Public Discussion, Saanen, 1 August 1973. Official transcript, Krishnamurti Portal.
This verification page
Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘Is it possible to observe without the observer?’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/is-it-possible-to-observe-without-the-observer/