The Art of Observation with Mukesh Gupta, September 12, 2021

Meditative Self-Inquiry: The Art of Observation

With Mukesh Gupta

Sunday, September 12, 2021

Zoom Online

This was the first session in a Fall series on “Meditative Self-Inquiry” to be presented by Mukesh. Each session will be two hours in length with a portion being assigned to breakouts into small groups. There were thirteen participants including the presenter and two staff. After a short silent sitting, Mukesh introduced the meeting by saying that the art of observation is a very important aspect of Krishnamurti’s teachings. What is usually dominant in our daily lives is past memories and the thoughts associated with them. These are useful on one level but they tend to be active even when not needed. Psychological thought – such as comparing ourselves with others – is not useful; it creates division and conflict. Why, he asks, is thought so powerful, even though limited?

As soon as we pay attention, Mukesh pointed out, there is a different kind of energy that is not a part of the thinking process. This quality of attention is important in terms of self-transformation and is available at any moment. Real listening is this quality of attention. Nothing can block this observation which happens in a still mind. This attention reveals what is false and what is true. In this observing there is no judgement and no active “centre” or “me”.  We can pay attention to whatever is arising. Can we be attentive to inattention? This is the first step. Freedom is to see our conditioning as it arises. It is not a reaction and there is no effort in it. Things arise in consciousness, flower, and die: it is a natural process.

There were a number of questions from the attendees. Should our conditioning be kept somehow in abeyance? Is it possible not to use thinking in our response to what arises in us? What prevents this quality of observation and attention? In dialogue can we enter into states of beauty, love, and compassion beyond thought? These questions were then taken into smaller groups for more intimate exploration. After forty minutes everyone returned to the main group and continued with further discussion and closing words. The meeting was felt to be insightful and of value.