Krishnamurti Study Group Saturday, August 20, 2016      Three of us gathered to look into Chapter 18 of The First and Last Freedom by J. Krishnamurti entitled “Self-Deception”. He points out that the basic factor of self-deception is the desire to “be something in this world or the world hereafter.” As a group we inquired, as we progressed through the chapter, into the meaning of self-deception in our own lives. We discussed how the mind tends to have completely contradictory desires and intentions without realizing how it works against itself and against clear seeing and action. The belief in the reality of a separate identity was looked into, along with the challenge of facing and ending the identification with the thought-created “me”. It seemed to be a meaningful exploration into some important issues in our own and in human consciousness.

The late July meetup profiled a number of audience Qs and As from a recent retreat, as well as a guided type meditative Eckhart talk.  There were some interesting points made: – Deep suffering can lead to a deep shift in consciousness but suffering is not essential to awakening. – We sometimes hold the objective of realisation or ‘freedom’ – as a future end point.  This can be a barrier and ET pointed out that we are already in an unfolding awakening process.   – In the presence of each moment, facets of deep truth of our essential being was are evident when obsessive thinking begins to subside. – There seems to be a relationship between the degree of unconsciousness and the degree of seriousness in people;  as one becomes less consumed by thinking and past ‘programming’, a lighter world view also seems to emerge. – Finally, Eckhart offered practical advice that if we can observe the world around us without labels, judgements or even naming, we will begin to sense the essential true nature of all that we encounter (this can be applied internally as well when we sense notice an emotion or habitual impulse… – Simple observation without analysis will lead to a deeper seeing or a shift in the internal experience itself. – When asked how and when he meditates, Eckhart described a way of being in the world that is comprised of many small spaces throughout the day, with a constant awareness of an undercurrent of stillness.  While there are times when a longer pause or deepened state is expressed, Eckhart has come to feel that life as a whole is a moving meditation of sorts. – The group enjoyed discussing many of these points, and I later mused that Krishnamurti and Eckhart could have been great friends given their similar outlook on so many dimensions of the human experience.  This includes many of the points above:  neutral observation, release from thought or judgement, and the inherent truth that will reveal itself to us without effort. Thanks to the KECC team for their contribution of space for these valued meet ups.  

  Inquiry Sunday August 7, 2016   For the morning session we showed a video of Timothy Freke, spiritual teacher from England. He is a very energetic and open-hearted man who seems to lack any dogmatism or rigidity in his vision of the spiritual journey. The seven participants enjoyed his inclusiveness and the absence of perfectionism in his views. He pointed to the fact that very often in this realm of things it’s not a case of one idea being right and the other wrong, but more that  both are right – or the truth is beyond right and wrong. Love was a central proposition in his presentation. His  message seemed to have a strong effect on the listeners, which was shared in the group dialogue which followed. In the afternoon four of us watched a couple of videos of Krishnamurti speaking first on freedom and then on meditation. The stillness that comes naturally from observing oneself contains the sense of freedom that humans are looking for. This was explored in group discussion before we went on to look at two clips from Rupert Spira about abiding as awareness and addressing a question, “Why am I not enlightened after all these years of study and inquiry?” His guidance was experiential and direct. It was discussed that it may take some viewings to get accustomed to the language used by each teacher before one will grasp the real meaning. Those who have seen him several times before found his pointers very useful.

  Krishnamurti Study Group Saturday, July 16, 2016   This session we looked into chapter 17 in The First and Last Freedom, “The Function of the Mind”. K speaks of the importance of looking at ourselves without judgement and without opinions about how things “should” be. When we look through thought we enter a process of isolation, as thought is always seeking to sustain and promote the “me”, the separate individual. This leads to loneliness – the sense of being cut off from others. The five participants spoke up with comments and observations as we made our way through the first part of the chapter. The discussion was very interesting, perhaps insightful, and appeared to be much enjoyed by all. We were able to sit out on the lawn and be inspired by nature.