Meditative Self-Inquiry with Mukesh Gupta

Meditative Self-Inquiry

December 12, 2021

Zoom Online

This session of meditative self-inquiry led by Mukesh Gupta, who reached us online from India, was focused on a question asked by Krishnamurti: “Is there a single factor that can solve all our problems?” Sixteen people in total were in attendance for the presentation which consisted of a talk by Mukesh followed by a good amount of time for questions and group exploration. After a short period of silence, Mukesh asked a challenging question right from the beginning. “What is the dominant element in our daily lives? What occupies us most of the day?” He then suggested that it was thinking. Although thought has practical value and is necessary, it also brings fear into our consciousness. It creates problems and suffering in our relationships and then tries to solve the problems it has itself created. We live in a world of images which create division and separateness and are driven by self-centredness. Is it possible to let go of all the contents of our consciousness and see what is actually present in that state of emptiness in which it seems nothing is happening? Can we meet the living moment fully?

Mukesh expanded on these topics for about forty-five minutes then opened the floor to questions and dialogue. One participant asked about superstition or stories created by thought and Mukesh wondered if we could look at the phenomenon without judgement and explore the related issues of self-centredness and insecurity. In this way self-inquiry could help us.  Another group member brought up the fact that fear distorts our perceptions and closes the “heart”. “How can we love unconditionally?” he asked. Mukesh offered that thought must be looked at as a universal element that creates fear, which originates in “unawareness”, avoidance, and not facing the reality of what is. The key is to be attentive. Attention is not an expression of thought; it is, rather, a wholistic intelligence free of conditioning, free of the “me”, of the “centre”. It can unlock the heart and put thought in its right place. Attention-based living is living from the heart. This was explored in its different aspects and in greater detail. We touched on the nature of silence and the silence of nature.

The central place of love was brought forward and its significance for being attentive was looked at from a few angles. It was suggested that meditation is only meaningful when there is love, and in our inquiry we must ask ourselves why love is not present. St. Augustine’s saying, “love and do what you will” was explored along with Krishnamurti’s statement that “I don’t mind what happens”. It was an insightful two hours of dialogue and inward focus of attention. We look forward to more time with Mukesh in the new year.