Self-inquiry with Cynthia Overweg

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavilion

Victoria, BC

 

Ten participants were present for this Wednesday afternoon dialogue led by Cynthia Overweg with a quiet and gentle energy supporting group members in their exploration of significant issues in their study of J. Krishnamurti’s teachings.

The session began with a period of silence.

Cynthia then asked if anyone had a pressing question that had arisen during their reading of The Book of Life: Meditation with J. Krishnamurti or their reading the book of their own lives.

One person jumped in with a question. “What,” he asked, “was the difference for K between “feelings” and “the heart” when he used the two terms in his talks or writings?” This led to some extended discussion of the meaning of “love” in K’s teachings, including the art of seeing our conditioning moment by moment and thereby releasing our attachments to those aspects of our consciousness that create division and conflict. There was some examination of K’s ideas of “the observer is the observed” as well as the meaning of being a separate observer of the activities of thought. Are we other than what is observed?

Cynthia spoke of the blessing that we are receiving by sitting together to explore what we truly are and the value of sharing our insights and discoveries.

We acknowledged the value of interacting with nature as was made possible by holding our meetings in the lush setting of the Gorge Park with its beautiful flowers, trees, and bushes. Such an activity in such a setting seemed to diminish the sense of separateness. The exercise of looking at nature without labelling it could create a sense of wonder in our observation and even bring about a “mutation” in the brain so that the “old brain” could be dissolved and something new could appear.

Our explorations continued at some length, moving to the subject of “awareness”, until Cynthia pointed out that we could probably talk about awareness endlessly without ever grasping a clear description of its nature. Krishnamurti often used the terms “the benediction” and “the immeasurable”.

Another phrase often used by K was “the mirror of relationship”, which had a deep meaning when seeking to understand the secrets of life. Cynthia made a number of comments about the deep truths revealed by the application of the “mirror” perspective to our meditations on the totality of our lives.

The meeting was brought to an end with some minutes of silence, an appropriate closing to our delightful session.

 

DB

Self-inquiry with Cynthia Overweg

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

At Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavilion

 

Ten people were in attendance for this self-inquiry meeting or dialogue sponsored by the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada and held at the newly built pavilion at Esquimalt Gorge park on Tillicum Road. The building sits amidst lovely surroundings very conducive to quiet contemplation and discussion and our new facilitator, who will be visiting from Washington state for a month at least, seems to be drawing somewhat larger turnouts than we’ve had for some time now. Her mild and gentle manner apparently attracts people interested in the teachings of J. Krishnamurti.

Cynthia opened the session by asking participants to briefly introduce themselves and to speak of their interest in Krishnamurti. This was followed by a period of silence and an invitation to share any questions or insights concerning their readings of the recommended text, The Book of Life: Daily Meditations with Krishnamurti, or their own observations of themselves. One participant shared that he was interested in the difference between sensations and feelings, and this led to an interesting exploration of K’s idea of the new brain and the old brain, the need to merge the feelings with “the heart”, and the sense of awe which can arise when we are attentive in the present moment.

There was interest in the nature and “practice” of meditation, opening the conversation to look at the watching of our thoughts as opposed to the controlling of them. Fighting with our thoughts will not create silence, spaciousness, or peace, but observing them dissolves thoughts and reactive feelings or emotions. Some readings from The Book of Life supported the insights of group members and Cynthia commented that such inquiry brought forward “an energy which affects the rest of the world”.

The meeting was brought to a close with some “conscious breathing”, being attentive to the breath. The session appeared to be very much enjoyed by all.

 

DB

Self-inquiry with Jeff Brown

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

At Gorge Esquimalt Pavilion

Victoria, BC

 

Five participants were in attendance for this Wednesday afternoon meeting at the lovely Gorge Esquimalt pavilion on Tillicum Road in Victoria (Esquimalt). Four of us were very familiar with the teachings of J. Krishnamurti and the other less so. He had experience in other non-dual teachings, however, and was able to join in with the flow of the dialogue and to share his own understanding of self-inquiry. We delved into quite a number of topics, including the use of the mind in exploring the meaning of our lives, the engagement with self-observation and being with challenging feelings and aspects of our conditioned consciousness. There was quite a lot of interest in the issue of dealing with traumatic experiences which could have the power to take us down “rabbit-holes” that are difficult to negotiate. It was asked why certain people seem to emerge from trauma in their lives with a sense of wholeness and health while others are more negatively affected by such crises in their lives. The importance of facing our fears was explored in some depth.

Four of the group went for a light meal after the meeting, which was an enjoyable ending to the afternoon. It was Jeff’s last day facilitating the self-inquiry meetings – at least for now – and we are grateful for his input.

 

DB

Self-inquiry with Jeff Brown

April 28, 2024

At KECC, Metchosin, BC

 

Seven people were present for this Sunday afternoon meeting at the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada, facilitated by Jeff Brown and held at the Metchosin, BC location. After a period of silence, Jeff opened the floor to discussion of whatever was interesting to the participants. Somehow the use of the word “God” and related concepts was brought forward and a quite lengthy exploration followed with focus on the question of what is sacred and what do such words mean to us or to others. Is there a quality of experiencing which has a sense of depth and beauty, love and unity, and which could be called an expression of the heart when the thinking mind is in abeyance or in the background? Krishnamurti seemed to be open to such depths of awareness and to be pointing us towards such fullness and completeness of Being.

We asked what can give access to such realms of beauty and does the contact with the “heart” then enable one to live in a way that is attuned to the intelligence of the “heart”. To live in a more or less constant state of learning was mentioned by a few of us as a desirable state to realize or embody while at the same time not losing the humility and innocence of “not-knowing”.

Participants were invited to share a meal at the MyChosen Cafe, which proved to be an enjoyable experience of friendship and a lovely way to complete our afternoon

DB

Self-inquiry with Jeff Brown

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Esquimalt Gorge Pavilion

Victoria, BC

 

Eight people were present for this Wednesday afternoon meeting facilitated by Jeff Brown and attended by several new participants who added a unique flavour to the interactions making up the group dialogue process. The session began with a short meditation or quiet period; it was then followed by introductions. It was suggested that people bring forward any questions or topics of interest that the group might explore together. One of the first-timers explained that such self-exposure might prove challenging to him, but with encouragement he was able to speak of his persistent difficulty in sharing about himself in such a setting. Other group members found ways of responding that brought forth some interesting questions and comments. Jeff wondered if we might say what it was that each one of us was looking for when we engaged in a dialogue with others willing to explore together. The answer that came was that the individual was looking for a “free mind”.

The idea of a free mind triggered the question “What is freedom and why do we want to be free?” A number of responses were offered, one of which suggesting that freedom may be connected with having a sense of control over the mind. One person offered that Krishnamurti’s approach was perhaps more one of learning about ourselves from self-observation than one of controlling the behaviour of thought and emotion. Learning could bring an insight which might change our behaviour. It was stated that this might be what was “meditation” for Krishnamurti.

We explored in some depth the significance of attachment in relation to freedom, or the lack of it, and the importance of seeing the patterns of attachments and habits which keep us from being free. Does it work, we asked, when we seek to achieve an ideal, or is it more effective to see clearly the way things are and to be with the “fact” rather than the idea? This would imply dealing with our fears and resistances. For one participant it would likely require that he examine his sense of “despair”.

The meeting seemed to be enjoyable and valuable for al of those present.

 

DB