Self-inquiry

Sunday, August 20, 2023

With Mukesh Gupta

At KECC, Metchosin, BC

The nine people who attended this Sunday afternoon meeting were able to take full advantage of the lovely outdoor setting in front of the main house. We sat in a circle with some turned away from the sun and some choosing to face the sun as well as the ocean and mountain views. We spoke of the teachings and philosophy of J. Krishnamurti relative to those of other non-dual “teachers” with whom we were familiar and found the conversation deepening spontaneously as we explored the nature of the (separate) self and its illusions or misunderstandings. If the self is an illusion, in what sense is it so? How does fear and anxiety arise in an illusory self and what are the elements and causes of such fear? The fear of death was broached. Is this fear based on the unreality of a manufactured ego self or identity which is always looking for security and a safe existence?

Some participants felt that it is important not to deny the reality of suffering around death and loss. Somehow these must be acknowledged and dealt with in a direct manner which does not seek to pretend that they are not real and needing to be included in our living. Such questioning of opposing points of view produced a lively examination of attitudes towards our lives and the content of our thoughts and feelings. Can we face the difficult, even brutal, realities of life and pain without dismissing them as mere projections of illusory thought? Some felt that such attention to the real problems of our lives was absolutely essential in approaching our lives honestly and without escape.

It seemed that somehow there was truth in the sharing of questions and insights. The process of attentive inquiring, along with present-moment presence and attention, seemed to be interesting and meaningful in its own way.

DB

Self-inquiry

Sunday, August 13 2023

With Mukesh Gupta

Krishnamurti Educational Centre, Metchosin, BC

Nine people were in attendance for this Sunday afternoon meeting at the Esquimalt Gorge park Pavilion. Mukesh Gupta began the session with his usual guided relaxing meditation, followed by an introduction to the self-inquiry process that we usually engage with. He asked us to bring forward any fundamental question that is significant to us in our lives at the present time so that we can look at its challenges, discuss the issues, and learn about ourselves from our investigation as a group. To go deeply into such exploration requires a quality of silence and quietness in our minds, Mukesh said – a deep quality or ground of listening from the heart, not merely from the thinking mind. This involves qualities of love and compassion, including non-judgement of others and ourselves. Each moment is important, not just some future goal or resolution, and we are invited to focus on what is most alive in us and what is existential rather than intellectual.

One question that can open up our exploration is to inquire what brought each of us to this particular meeting, especially if we are new to this type of dialogue within the context of looking at the teachings of J. Krishnamurti. An issue that arose in asking this question was the sense of separateness, with its loneliness and isolation, that almost all of us experience from time to time (or more often). We discussed how our identification as individuals and members of separate groups can both create a sense of fragmentation as well as a feeling of togetherness. Is the feeling of separateness or fragmentation a construct of thought?

We explored the possibility that by observing or watching the way thought creates fragmentation, this could bring about a diminishment of the feeling of separateness and consequently a greater sense of wholeness and harmony between people. An awareness of the mind as well as the body could generate a state of Presence which gives less importance to images and to a focus on the separate self which feels isolated and apart. The possibility of being a “nobody” was raised and given serious attention. The actuality of such a happening was explored but, at the same time, some people seemed to feel that the discussion was becoming too abstract and “intellectual”. It was not clear to what extent this was seen as a limitation in the dialogue, but it seemed that participants had varying degrees of appreciation of the way the group dialogue had unfolded.

DB

Self-inquiry

With Mukesh Gupta

Sunday, August 6, 2023

At the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada

Six people in total were present for this Sunday afternoon self-inquiry dialogue at the Metchosin location. One participant was new to what we were doing but quickly seemed to pick up on the kind of questioning and communicating we were making use of in exploring our natures and being aware of or “seeing” our habits and tendencies of thought and conditioning. We began investigating the fact of disharmony in us and what is the cause or source of it. We shared the central importance of learning about our inner conflicts and used the story of Adam and Eve in Paradise to discuss the functioning of “right” and “wrong” in our living. Authority often tells us how we should live and we may follow that direction rather than listening to our own inner essence or intuition. Can we look at the source of our activities and see if it is from our inner truth or from our conditioning?

We explored the source of “seeing”. What is seeing? Is there a formula or solution for clear seeing? We spent a good deal of time exploring such questions. It was pointed out that the identification with the sense of “I” is the source of most of our problems. It involves an investment in the past, in a dead image, and thus creates many conflicts and much disharmony. The dialogue was a lively one which was felt to be insightful and relevant to the pursuit of self-understanding.

DB

Self-inquiry

Sunday, July 30, 2023

With Mukesh Gupta

At KECC, Swanwick Rd., Metchosin, BC

Ten people in total were present for this Sunday afternoon meeting at the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada in Metchosin, BC. Mukesh Gupta, the resident support person, facilitated the session in his usual skillful manner. He began with a silent meditation, then shared some of the basic principles and characteristics of the dialogue format as opposed to an intellectual discussion of concepts and beliefs. There was then a space for participants to bring forward any important question that was on their mind. The first one to share asked about the nature of understanding, which initiated a series of observations on the subject of knowing. How do we know anything? Is normal understanding not a limited conclusion about something, a judgement of good or bad, right vs. wrong, and so on. It is often an assertion of the self and therefore an expression of a kind of arrogance rather than of humility. It was asked if words are always limited. Can anything actually be said about truth or understanding? Are words anything more than pointers and symbols? It was suggested that a certain kind of recognition can accurately represent what is true or false. Is this connected with a curiosity and desire to learn?

Sometimes it is said in “Non-dual” circles that there is only awareness, but this was questioned. Is this a reality for us or just a concept? Can we go beyond hurt and pain? Is there knowing without a knower? Can we give up or surrender the self? What is involved in “letting go”? What does “allowing things to be as they are” actually mean? Can love and hate co-exist? These were some of the questions arising within the dialogue.

Krishnamurti’s style of questioning and discussing was looked at. Was he given the status of an authority or a guru and would that be helpful in our inquiries? One participant commented that K asked if we were really seeing what he was pointing to or did people mainly just accept what he said as the truth?

It was a very interesting session made even more enjoyable due to the sunny weather and the lovely outdoor setting in front of the main house.

DB