Can the Mind Ever Be Quiet? with Mukesh Gupta, September 19, 2020

Can the Mind Ever Be Quiet?

With Mukesh Gupta

September 19, 2020

Mukesh joined us from Varanasi, India, for another in a series of online presentations highlighting key aspects of J. Krishnamurti’s teachings. There were 23 participants in total for the afternoon meeting via Zoom. Mukesh began with a summary of the current state of most people’s minds, which contains a significant amount of disorder. Disorder creates a wastage of energy. Thought tries to solve the problems that it itself creates in its lack of awareness. Thought creates fear and then it is afraid to die, to come to an end. There is a deep fear of being nothing or a nobody, of not achieving. This constant self-concern creates a small world in which we are neurotically searching for security. Mukesh pointed out that we must look into the mechanisms of thought rather than trying to control them. The “I” who would control thought is thought-created but does not realize this fact and therefore lives in contradiction.

The question of what is a silent mind was then approached. Mukesh suggested that some of its qualities are that it does not suffer, is not identified with the images of thought, or the “me”, when it is not necessary. Being aware and watchful slows down the mind and breaks the identification with images, the source of our suffering. Quietness in the mind is a product of interest in observing and the understanding that comes from such choiceless awareness.

Questions were invited from the audience and a lively discussion took place which clarified a number of issues, including a question about the difference between thought and pure seeing where there is no seer distorting the perceptions. It was another skillful presentation by Mukesh which was apparently appreciated and enjoyed by all present.