Inquiry with Javier Gomez Rodriguez, October 8, 2026
We met at the Pavilion for a dialogue with Javier Gómez Rodríguez, beginning with the question, “What is our deepest interest in life?” Javier invited everyone to share what felt most central to them, whether a concern, an intention, or a question that had stayed with them over the years.
The conversation touched on many aspects of life: the desire for greater inner order, the importance of learning, compassion, social justice, and contributing to a more peaceful world. Some reflected on the gap between what we know and how we live, while others asked whether we can understand sorrow and suffering more deeply rather than simply learning to live with them.
Javier brought attention to the relationship between our inner lives and the wider world. Can we create a different society without examining the greed, aggression, and division within ourselves? He shared Krishnamurti’s challenge to be the demonstration of the change we wish to see, suggesting that transformation involves more than opposing what happens around us.
Gradually, the discussion turned towards love. If our deepest concern is to love and be loved, what do we mean by love? Is it the same as attachment, pleasure, or the desire to be loved in return? We explored Krishnamurti’s suggestion that love is not personal or exclusive, and his statement that “wherever the me is, love is not.” What this means in our relationships remains a question worth exploring.
We ended with a sense that these questions cannot be settled through ideas alone. They invite us to look closely at our lives, relationships, and the movements of thought and emotion, continuing our inquiry into love, sorrow, and the possibility of living with greater freedom and understanding.
- Anastasia Shtamina
