Self-Inquiry
With Jackie McInley
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Gorge Park Pavilion, Victoria, BC
Ten people were present at the new building close to the lovely Japanese flower garden in Esquimalt Gorge Park off of Tillicum Road. We had gathered in order to engage in a “dialogue”, or group inquiry, aimed at coming to understand our own true nature and living more fully from the “truth” of that very nature. In practice the endeavour turns out to be largely an exercise in bringing forth the love within ourselves and engaging with others in our lives from that “place” of love or from “the heart”. It is firstly a challenge for the individual to realise himself or herself in a deeper way and to live a meaningful life of compassion and intelligence which can, at the same time, bring about a radical change in the way we relate with others and create our society. The teachings of Indian philosopher J. Krishnamurti are taken as valuable guidance as we seek to understand and transform ourselves through careful observation of our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Our life thus becomes a kind of meditation wherein we are looking and listening to ourselves and others and gaining insight into the workings of our minds and hearts. The insights can spontaneously change us and our world.
Jackie McInley from the UK is visiting the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada in Metchosin, BC, for the month of April. While here, she is facilitating a series of dialogue meetings where people can come together to consider these issues and share the process of self-exploration recommended by Krishnamurti in his talks and writings while he was living (1895 – 1986). This meeting, as her meetings usually are, was begun with an explanation by Jackie of what she feels to be the purpose and the way of going about the project of self-observation that can awaken an intelligence in us which can guide our living. What we find in our own exploration, Jackie said, can be shared with others in a group situation in such a way that can bring greater insight and understanding of our “conditioning” and the possibility of freedom from that conditioning. This is not merely an intellectual exercise but is a direct seeing of the contents of our minds as they are revealed in our interactions with each other, in “the mirror of relationship”.
The session was about ninety minutes in length. As it progressed the participants gradually shared more and more intimate details of sensitive aspects of their inner and outer world and the issues and challenges that were most important to them. We went quite deeply into the workings of fear in our thinking and felt experience and came to see that most or all of us have basically the same psychological problems and challenges that we struggle with and would like to resolve if possible. Jackie skillfully invited every member of the group to share what brought them to such a meeting and what issues they were deeply interested in exploring and learning to deal with in an effective way. This was the third such meeting offered in the past couple of weeks and it seemed to indicate a real possibility of meaningful inquiry.
DB
Self-inquiry May 7, 2023
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauSelf-inquiry Meetup
Sunday, May 7, 2023
With Harshad Parekh
At KECC
This meeting was held on the front lawn at the Metchosin location of the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada. It was the first time this year that the weather had supported an outside meeting. The facilitator was Harshad Parekh, who is visiting the Centre from his usual place of residence in India. There were six of us present to enjoy the sunshine, the gentle breeze (a little cool sometimes), and the sounds of nature, including many bird songs. It was remarked that being outdoors induced a sense of connection with a larger space of the environment than could be experienced at indoor meetings, which usually feel more limited and less expansive.
Harshad opened the meeting by asking if participants had any pressing questions they would like to discuss or would they like to have him read a passage from a Krishnamurti book and talk about what K’s meaning is when he writes or talks about self-knowledge and self-understanding. One participant said she would like to explore the application of spiritual teachings to the living of them in our everyday life. This seems to be a very common question for spiritual “seekers” who wish to make the teachings real for themselves. This led to a discussion of meditation and what K is referring to if and when he uses the word. Harshad and others shared some of their understandings about the value of a quiet mind and the beauty that can be experienced when there is silence in the consciousness and one can then be in closer contact with nature and one’s own beingness. Several people spoke about Krishnamurti’s use of the “negative” approach when he talks about what something is not rather than what it is. Participants gave examples of their realisations of this truth and how it had affected their lives. They expressed appreciation for the benefits of such “meditation” and its place in the unfolding of their lives. There was also some appreciation for Harshad’s capacity to speak of such things in an effective manner.
We look forward to more such dialogues on the grounds of the Krishnamurti Centre.
DB
Self-Inquiry with Harshad, May 3, 2023
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauSelf-Inquiry
With Harshad Parekh
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Esquimalt Gorge Pavilion
Jackie has departed and Harshad has arrived from India to spend a month at the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada in Metchosin, BC. While he is here, Harshad will be guiding meetings at the Centre and in Victoria at the Gorge Pavilion on Sundays and Wednesdays respectively. Nine of us were present for his first session at the pavilion. He began with an introduction of his own person and his long-time interest in the teachings of J. Krishnamurti and their value to him. As K has often explained, one can be born in India and carry an Indian passport but need not identify oneself as an Indian. One is a human being with traits and tendencies similar to all humans, and all humans have shared experiences of suffering and joy. We are all conditioned in similar ways, Harshad noted, and we may have an interest in inquiring into our ways of behaving and experiencing in relationship with the world. In that endeavour we may look to Krishnamurti as a source of wisdom and insight. Harshad shared that he finds K’s investigations with the observation of our minds and feelings, and the consequent “renewal of the mind”, particularly relevant. Developing a capacity to see things freshly and to observe with a silent mind that does not judge is important.
Why does the mind deteriorate? Harshad asked. The question provoked some discussion in which we looked at the issue of conflict and competition in communicating with others and the desire to be something or someone we are not. The fear of silence and being alone was explored, along with the need to start looking inwards in order to understand ourselves. Harshad read a passage written by Krishnamurti about renewing the mind, which was followed by some discussion. There was a good amount of participation from the group in the discussion/dialogue. It seemed like an auspicious beginning to Harshad’s stay in Canada
DB
Self-Inquiry, April 26, 2023
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauSelf-Inquiry in Victoria
With Jackie McInley
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Esquimalt Gorge Pavilion
Eleven participants attended this in-person meeting at the new Gorge Pavilion. This was Jackie’s last session with us before her return to the UK, but we are hoping she will return before long for more dialogues and friendship. We soon began to explore the quality of our listening and sharing as well as how we listen to ourselves. There was some acknowledgement of the sometimes intense and deep meaning of silence in the midst of the dialogue. We then moved into quite an engaged conversation about what was arising for people in the group as we interacted and noticed our reactions and responses. How did insight and revelations about ourselves show up, and did these bring a greater depth and meaning to our inquiry?
One participant asked if what we were reporting to be our experience was mostly mental or was it significantly “somatic”, or feeling-based. We seemed to sense that it was both bodily based and also a function of what we might call “awareness”, which notices what is going on but may itself be beyond the physical sensations and the thoughts that are arising.
As we continued with the verbal exchange some dialoguers began to take note of something that they called “compassion”. It seemed to be an aspect of “listening carefully” to what others are saying. Even if what they are saying contains some amount of confusion, still the listening transforms it into something that could be called “thinking together” and which brings more “heart” into the communication. Some called the experience of such sharing “meditative” and seemed to be surprised at the heightened sensitivity and sense of closeness that was infiltrating the conversation.
It seemed that everyone felt a great deal of appreciation for the quality of the sharing that had taken place within the meetings during the month of April. It will be interesting to see how things take form in May.
DB
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/in Event Summaries /by David Bruneau992a7757e6c7beee9d8a72c5811634a1
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/in Event Summaries /by David Bruneau992a7757e6c7beee9d8a72c5811634a1
Self-Inquiry, April 23, 2023
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauSelf-Inquiry
With Jackie McInley
Sunday, April 23, 2023
In-person at Swanwick Rd.
Nine people attended this meeting at the Metchosin location of the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada. The session was facilitated by Jackie McInley, who was visiting the Centre from the UK and facilitating a variety of events during her one month stay. She opened the meeting by bringing up the topic of “responsibility” which was often mentioned by Krishnamurti in his talks and writings. After some discussion of ideas and feelings around the idea of responsibility, one participant introduced a question about our sense of separation and the importance of looking into how we separate ourselves from each other and the world around us. We spent a good deal of time exploring various aspects of the topic, including the difference between solidity and flow in our experience of ourselves in our daily lives. The significance of space in our consciousness was mentioned and the question was asked “What creates space in us?” It was offered that insight is what creates space and the question naturally followed “What is insight?”
The exploration of insight engaged us for some time, with looking at such ideas as the relationship between words, insight, and attention. The possibility was brought forward that the human being may have a capacity to see the truth or falseness of something that is said immediately and directly. At least it seemed to be a shared “truth” that insight is not a doing. There is also the possibility that our listening may always be distorted and conditioned in some way and that clear seeing is a rare happening.
We spoke further about the nature of inquiry and the process of manufacturing an identity or sense of self and the process was apparently experienced by everyone as a worthwhile sharing and exploration of our thinking – and perhaps something of what is beyond.
DB
Exposing Ourselves to Ourselves, April 21 – 23, 2023
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauExposing Ourselves to Ourselves
With Jackie McInley
April 21 – 23, 2023
Zoom Online
While Jackie was visiting us at the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada, located in Metchosin, BC, she was most willing to facilitate a number of meetings both in-person and online. This particular offering consisted of three two hour sessions online and was attended by fourteen people, including staff as well as participants from various locations in North America. To begin the workshop, Jackie gave an opening talk on the nature of dialogue or group inquiry. She shared that her intention was for the participants to be directly aware, as the event unfolded, of what is happening in the present moment in their thoughts and feelings. She also invited the participants to question ourselves in a way that could reveal ourselves to ourselves or bring insight and understanding about how our consciousness is operating as we interact and relate with other members of the group. She then questioned what is “understanding” and how it is different from interpretation of what others are saying. This led to some sharing of fears about exposing ourselves and some discussion of the place self-images play in such experiences of fear. The sharing moved on to wondering what produces cohesion in a group and how we know that we are understanding each other. It was an interesting first engagement of the group with the process of dialogue.
For the second meeting there was an attendance of 16 people. The dialogue focused on a number of issues that were of primary interest to participants:
Many other questions were raised on the third day related to awareness and observation. A few of the participants asked if we are not missing something essential in the inquiry when we give thought the power to block the exploration? Are we not ignoring the presence of something beyond thought which is part of our capacity to see clearly? Could we call that “thing” (or no-thing) awareness without giving its power away to the label “awareness”? Can that awareness see the truth or falseness of our concepts?
Participants expressed appreciation for the quality of inquiry generated by the group and supported by Jackie’s facilitation without her being a “leader”. It was a very interesting weekend.
DB
Self-Inquiry, April 19, 2023
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauSelf-Inquiry
April 19, 2023
With Jackie McInley
At Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavilion, Victoria, BC
Ten people were present for this dialogue meeting with Jackie McInley who is visiting the Krishnamurti Centre in Metchosin for the month of April. She is facilitating a good number of events, both online and in-person, in town and out in Metchosin. The lovely new facility at Gorge Park has been booked for group meetings in Victoria.
As she usually does, Jackie gave an informative presentation about the nature of dialogue and its foundation in questioning our conditioned beliefs and ideas. Krishnamurti has spoken and written at length about the suffering and conflict created by our attachment to accepted concepts and beliefs and this has inspired the practice of inquiring into the truth or falseness of them, both on our own and in a group format. Jackie launched us into a very interesting hour and a half of sharing what each of the participants finds most significant in K’s teachings and in their own self-exploration. It proved to be a very challenging and revealing process of looking as deeply as we could into the structures of our own thinking, the possibility of being free of them, and what that might imply as we live our daily lives. The issue of instability of the self was investigated quite exhaustively, along with numerous related aspects of our experience of daily life and the challenges of such. We explored what we understand by letting go of the known and entering into the “Unknown”. It was a group inquiry with a great attention to the details of our ways of responding to our relationships both in the room and beyond.
DB
Self-Inquiry, April 16, 2023
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauSelf-Inquiry
With Jackie McInley
Sunday, April 16, 2023
KECC 538 Swanwick Rd., Metchosin, BC
This was our second meeting with Jackie at the Metchosin location and sponsored by the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada. She is visiting us from the UK and is in residence at the Swanwick Centre for the month of April. Nine people in total were present for the gathering in the Gatehouse. Cold and wet weather prevented us from meeting outside on the lawn.
As she usually does, Jackie gave a thorough introduction to the practice of “dialogue” as a means of exploring our ideas and understandings of ourselves and our lives. She explained the place of J. Krishnamurti’s teachings in our observation of ourselves and in our persistent questioning of beliefs and concepts that arise in the group interactions that unfold as we communicate about what is important to us and how we can gain wisdom concerning such highly relevant issues.
As the conversation became more focused on questions from the individual participants deeper questions and challenges arose from the group. One participant was very interested in how trust could develop in a group of people who hardly knew each other. Another wondered if it might be more fruitful to approach the question negatively as Krishnamurti often suggested. Could we ask what the impediments to trust might be, or how we create a lack of trust? In looking at how we create mistrust, perhaps a sense of trust might spontaneously arise.
The dialogue then turned to some personal sharings concerning the feeling of self-consciousness and the fear of being judged or criticised. It was acknowledged that most likely we all felt some of those uncomfortable feelings and Jackie pointed out that there was often a deep resistance to feeling the discomfort of fear and insecurity. Is it not necessary, if we are going more deeply into our authentic natures, to expose the more sensitive aspects of our personalities? Is it not necessary to clear the habitual responses that prevent us from responding to the world with love? When the focus seemed to turn towards the “self” and what the self could do, it was asked, “What is the self?” This led to the idea of ”Being” and its significance.
The session went on for over two hours and people seemed reluctant to bring it to an end. There seemed to be a deeply shared interest in the inquiry process and a positive anticipation of future dialogue meetings.
DB
Self-Inquiry, April 12, 2023
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauSelf-Inquiry
With Jackie McInley
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Gorge Park Pavilion, Victoria, BC
Ten people were present at the new building close to the lovely Japanese flower garden in Esquimalt Gorge Park off of Tillicum Road. We had gathered in order to engage in a “dialogue”, or group inquiry, aimed at coming to understand our own true nature and living more fully from the “truth” of that very nature. In practice the endeavour turns out to be largely an exercise in bringing forth the love within ourselves and engaging with others in our lives from that “place” of love or from “the heart”. It is firstly a challenge for the individual to realise himself or herself in a deeper way and to live a meaningful life of compassion and intelligence which can, at the same time, bring about a radical change in the way we relate with others and create our society. The teachings of Indian philosopher J. Krishnamurti are taken as valuable guidance as we seek to understand and transform ourselves through careful observation of our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Our life thus becomes a kind of meditation wherein we are looking and listening to ourselves and others and gaining insight into the workings of our minds and hearts. The insights can spontaneously change us and our world.
Jackie McInley from the UK is visiting the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada in Metchosin, BC, for the month of April. While here, she is facilitating a series of dialogue meetings where people can come together to consider these issues and share the process of self-exploration recommended by Krishnamurti in his talks and writings while he was living (1895 – 1986). This meeting, as her meetings usually are, was begun with an explanation by Jackie of what she feels to be the purpose and the way of going about the project of self-observation that can awaken an intelligence in us which can guide our living. What we find in our own exploration, Jackie said, can be shared with others in a group situation in such a way that can bring greater insight and understanding of our “conditioning” and the possibility of freedom from that conditioning. This is not merely an intellectual exercise but is a direct seeing of the contents of our minds as they are revealed in our interactions with each other, in “the mirror of relationship”.
The session was about ninety minutes in length. As it progressed the participants gradually shared more and more intimate details of sensitive aspects of their inner and outer world and the issues and challenges that were most important to them. We went quite deeply into the workings of fear in our thinking and felt experience and came to see that most or all of us have basically the same psychological problems and challenges that we struggle with and would like to resolve if possible. Jackie skillfully invited every member of the group to share what brought them to such a meeting and what issues they were deeply interested in exploring and learning to deal with in an effective way. This was the third such meeting offered in the past couple of weeks and it seemed to indicate a real possibility of meaningful inquiry.
DB