Self-inquiry with Cynthia Overweg 

October 17, 2024 

At Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavilion 

Esquimalt, BC 

Five people were present for this Thursday meeting at the lovely Gorge Park site. The event was sponsored by the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada. Cynthia Overweg began the event by holding up a book wherein J. Krishnamurti addressed the topic of How to Find Peace. She highly recommended it to the group. Speaking of the contents, we were led into a discussion of why change does not happen in our world in terms of finding a more peaceful way to live with each other. The way we use words can pit people against each other and small disagreements can produce conflict and violence. Krishnamurti himself was not involved with politics but, still, he spoke against war and conflict for his whole life. The conversation moved into aspects of human behaviour which seem essential to examine. We must question authority, as K did, and learn to be at ease in being alone rather than identifying with groups and nations that emphasise their differences and exaggerate them to the point of combat. He made himself unpopular during his lifetime by questioning the tendency to live in conflict. 

We explored in the group whether or not the message of peace was spreading in the world and we noted the movement in human beings towards more harmony and cooperation. The phenomenon of the hundredth monkey was taken to be a sign of hope in the world, for example. Generally there seems to be a movement towards a mutation in the human brain, something much needed. Participants expressed the necessity for a radically new intelligence to arise and the signs that such may be happening. 

The session was closed with a quiet meditation with a focus on the breath, which can effectively calm the mind. We acknowledged our appreciation of Cynthia’s presence with us and wished her well on her way. 

DB 

Self-inquiry 

With Cynthia Overweg 

October 6, 2024 

At KECC Metchosin 

Eight people attended our October 6 Sunday meeting sponsored by the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada and held at the Metchosin, BC, location. Cynthia Overweg was the facilitator. Subjects we explored in the meeting included the fact that nothing is permanent and the existence of the “old” brain vs. the “new brain. Interestingly, the awareness of the old brain is the new brain. In our exploration we touched upon such subjects as the tendency to overthink and the attempt to stop over-thinking. Thought wants to get involved in the transformation, but seeing is the key more than purposeful action. And being in touch with the body is very helpful, for it brings a different quality of attention which could be called “blossoming”. We are the teacher and the student. 

We explored the willingness to surrender to the unknown and to put the mind in the heart, thus creating compassion for ourselves. We need patience in order to unravel our “selves” and “flower”. Making an authority of Krishnamurti is not helpful but trusting the body more than the mind may be of value. 

DB 

Self-inquiry with Hillary Rodrigues 

September 19, 2024 

At Gorge Pavilion  

Esquimalt, BC    

This meeting began with a short period of silence wherein participants were able to be with their own thoughts and feelings. There were only four of us at the gathering, but still we could share and explore together as we looked into some of the teachings of J. Krishnamurti, that being perhaps the main purpose of such meetings along with looking into the understanding of ourselves. As it turned out, one group member was interested in a phrase often presented by K himself: “the observer is the observed.” It is a saying which seems to be only partially grasped by many inquirers and often causes some difficulty in comprehension. In this case we examined a number of angles to the mystery and questions were raised which seemed to be unresolved. A few such issues were as follows: “Is silence the ultimate reality”? And, also, it was asked, “Is it beneficial to understand the nature of the self and the nature of the activities of our consciousness?” Several participants asserted that Krishnamurti indicated in his talks and writings that such understanding is crucial. Some debate about the questions took us to the end of the meeting. 

DB       

Self-inquiry 

Thursday, September 26, 2024 

With Hillary Rodrigues 

At Gorge Park Pavilion 

Esquimalt, BC 

Five people in total were present for Hillary’s last Victoria meeting. We began with a reading from The Book of Life: Daily Meditations with Krishnamurti in which K speaks of the relation between the brain and the conditioned mind. His explanations were found by the group members to be complex and challenging. As a group we explored the fundamental relationship of the human being to the rest of life and the relationship of all life. Other topics explored were the question “Can the conditioned mind examine itself?”, the emptying of the content of consciousness, being with the “facts” and the movements of the self, the possibility of living with an open vulnerability, and total attention without effort. We closed with the appreciation that our “imperfections are opportunities for discovery and “enlightenment”.  

Self-inquiry with Hillary Rodrigues 

Sunday, September 15, 2024 

At KECC Metchosin, BC 

Ten people in total were present for this Sunday afternoon meeting sponsored by the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada and held at the Swanwick Road location in Metchosin, BC. It was a warm, sunny day, good for sitting outdoors on the front lawn with the gorgeous ocean and mountain views. Our facilitator, Hillary Rodrigues, opened the meeting with a period of silence followed by a verbal description of the main features of “dialogue” meetings. Dialogue, Hillary offered, involves a sensitive observing of what is arising in others as the group interacts with each other and also a sensitive observing of what is arising within ourselves. What is observed can be shared with the group and explored in greater detail. 

One participant mentioned his noticing of a tendency in himself to look for some sense of stability or security as communication moved on. Another questioned whether there is, in fact, any stability or security to be found. Can we remain in a place of stability? This led into an examination of thinking and the creation of a “self” and, in turn, to an inquiry into the possibility of knowing emptiness. We circled around a few questions and came to what seemed like a central issue: the death of the self. Can an “I” or a self-image be aware of its own death? There were a number of issues that group members brought forward, including what was often said by Krishnamurti, that when the self is present love is not – and vice versa. It seems that a kind of psychological death is necessary in order to realise the deeper states of consciousness. 

One group member said that he would like to understand more deeply the meaning of another of K’s sayings: “the observer is the observed”. Participants offered various points of view regarding the issue and it seemed that there was some deepening of understanding concerning it. The discussion went on for some time before time ran out and we dispersed for some snacks and further friendly talk. Most of us seemed to be anticipating our next meeting with some enthusiasm. 

DB