A New Mind and Heart: Beauty and the Sacred, November 20, 2021
A New Mind and Heart: Beauty and the Sacred, an Inquiry into Inner Freedom
With Cynthia Overweg online
November 20, 2021
When introducing each installment of the “New Mind and Heart” series of presentations, Cynthia usually quotes J. Krishnamurti to the effect that in order to respond adequately to the current crisis in the world and in consciousness, there must be a new mind and heart. K’s approach, she explains, is a negative one in the sense that we must strip away whatever is inhibiting our awareness of the beauty of love and Being. A divided mind and heart create a divided world.
Sixteen people were in attendance for this “inquiry into inner freedom” which invited looking and listening with a quiet mind. Such perception energetically connects the brain and the heart and can access the wisdom of the latter. Heart and mind are then one. It is the conditioned mind that distorts our perception of ourselves, others, and the world.
Cynthia makes use of short quiet meditations interspersed with her talks, the question periods, and group discussion. She recommends quiet intervals during one’s daily activities to create a space of perception wherein beauty can be experienced. But what is beauty? The word beauty is not beauty, and an image of beauty is also not beauty. A deeper sense of beauty reveals itself when the “self” is absent. K calls this quality “sensitivity” and without it there is no beauty. Beauty is only possible when there is silence or stillness. In bringing about such silence in the mind, he maintains that “the act of seeing is the only truth”. Seeing brings transformation and awareness of the sacred, which is love and beauty. A serious man or woman, Cynthia said, must find out what is truly sacred. She shared more quotes from Krishnamurti’s teachings elucidating more fully his perspectives on love, compassion, and the sacred – and the fact that in order to know these qualities we must know the “total content of oneself.” K, she suggested, was always talking about love and what stood in its way.
The last half hour of the meeting was taken up with further group exploration of the central themes of Cynthia’s presentation. With her guidance there was an inquiry that was obviously enjoyed and valued by the participants. Much appreciation was expressed as the session came to a close.
