A New Mind and Heart with Cynthia Overweg, March 20, 2021

A New Mind and Heart: Awakening to Inner Freedom

With Cynthia Overweg

March 20, 2021

Zoom online

 

This was the second of a series of three presentations by Cynthia Overweg from Ojai on the topic of the “new mind and heart” deemed necessary by J. Krishnamurti throughout his years of teaching. In this session Cynthia focused on energy and attention, core elements of K’s talks and writings. Twenty-six people in total were in attendance for the one and a half hour presentation, appropriately scheduled on the first day of Spring. Cynthia began by stating that K had said the mind and heart are one, and therefore our question is “why does the mind divide?” Other key questions are, “Can we attend to what is right in front of us without wasting energy on anxiety and stress? and “Is there anything beyond thought?”

Cynthia discussed a few aspects of energy including the tremendous energy of the big bang, the beauty of energy, the healing quality of the earth and of stillness, relaxation, and sleep. How are we spending energy and how can we conserve it? The activities of the self or ego create conflict and use up energy. Krishnamurti points out that anything which divides is a wastage of energy.

A different kind of energy arises when there is attention, which is different than concentration. Attention allows silence to come into the mind. It was recommended that we make times in the day to be attentive and to observe ourselves and our bodies, including our breathing. It is also important to release self-criticism and judgement and to simply be with “what is”. The talk, with the questions and discussion that followed, touched on issues of fear and attention, being attentive to physical and emotional pain and shock, being aware of inattention, and the difference or sameness of attention and awareness. Participants obviously enjoyed and felt benefitted by the event and the sharing of insights that took place.