Krishnamurti and Modern Nondual Teachings
With Hillary Rodrigues
May 24 – 26, 2024
Zoom online
A long-time contributor and friend of the Krishnamurti Centre, Hillary, formerly a professor at the University of Lethbridge, was welcomed back to the Krishnamurti Educational Centre to present a three day online workshop exploring the teachings of J. Krishnamurti in contrast to modern and ancient nondual teachings which have been attracting a great deal of interest in recent years. Twelve people were in attendance for the event. Hillary began with the essential issue he wanted to consider with us: the possibility of having a transformative realisation that is more real and experiential than mere knowledge, which has its own place. Over the three sessions of 1 ½ hours he went into some of the history of nondual teachings such as Advaita Vedanta and the Upanishads in the Hindu tradition, including the teachings of Shankara, Buddhist teachings such as Zen, modern offshoots such as Ramana Maharshi, and current teachers such as Rupert Spira, Adyashanti, Mooji, Eckhart Tolle, Joan Tollifson, and Francis Lucille. Hillary emphasised that he was not so much making a comparison between the different teachers but was, rather, presenting triggers which might stimulate our own “seeking” or inquiry. He then led an investigation of Krishnamurti’s teachings along similar lines and where there were at least apparent differences and emphases. He made use of the short summary called “the core of the teachings” which K himself shared with Mary Zimbalist when requested by her.
In examining the various teachings, Hillary asked four questions concerning each approach which might reveal interesting perspectives:
1) What is the problem?
2) What is the goal?
3) What are the methods employed?
4) What are the obstacles?
For example, when addressing “the problem”, Rupert Spira seems to have considered that the main problem is that, given our essential nature is happiness, why is it not experienced all the time? Eckhart Tolle maintains that most of us have a superficial understanding of who we really are and Joan Tollifson says that the idea that we are an
encapsulated unit is the basis of our suffering. For Adyashanti, we have deceived ourselves such that we do not experience our divinity. Krishnamurti starts not with our divine nature but rather with our conditioned self which is not experiencing freedom or the unchanging awareness that Mooji suggests is our true nature. For K, we must see that there is actually no division between the observer and the observed, the thinker and the thought. The division is an illusion. Pure observation brings an insight which in turn brings about a radical mutation in the mind.
Along the way we touched on various questions of identity, knowledge, and awareness, as well as some of the paradoxes that arise as the mind attempts to understand something which essentially cannot be grasped through thought.
When it came to looking at Krishnamurti’s expression of self inquiry, we spent some time exploring his approach to being with pain and suffering. K gives great emphasis on not moving away from our suffering and not creating a duality between the observer and the observed or the “me” and the “other”. It is our movement away from “what is” that is the problem in that it creates a duality which results in conflict. When we stay with “what is”, it changes. This change leaves no residue and there is a transformation. These ideas were explored, sometimes very seriously and sometimes with a sense of humour and lightness which did not detract from the depth of the inquiry and the resulting sense of freedom and uncaused joy felt by some. Krishnamurti’s emphasis on nature was rare and his communication with scientists like David Bohm was unusual for his time. His message was global.
Hillary’s integration of academic skillfulness and logic, along with his depth of direct realisation of that which he speaks, created a space where it was possible to touch at least a somewhat different dimension of consciousness. We are grateful for his ongoing participation in the life of the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada. He will be available at the Centre in the months to come.
DB
Self-inquiry with Cynthia Overweg, May 29, 2024
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauSelf-Inquiry with Cynthia Overweg
May 29, 2024
At Gorge Park Pavilion
Victoria, BC
Nine people were present, including staff, at the Gorge Park pavilion in Esquimalt for a dialogue meeting sponsored by the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada. Cynthia began the event with a reading from a Krishnamurti Foundation of America newsletter which featured a question asking ”What is the cause of our confusion?” The questioner wondered if we are actually looking deeply and completely at ourselves when we approach the “practice” of self-inquiry. And do we ever listen totally to each other? One of our group had an inquiry which he felt to be related and significant for him in his own desire for self-understanding. He asked if people in the group could describe what is meant by the word “ego” and what Krishnamurti might say about it. There followed some discussion of the way in which most human beings give greater importance to themselves than to the self of others and how such self-importance can cause conflict and even war in the world.
Cynthia read a passage from The Book of Life: Meditations with Krishnamurti in which K spoke of the significance of listening, which, he said, effortlessly brings about an extraordinary change in us which has great beauty and depth of insight. What happens, Cynthia wondered, when listening starts to happen in us? One participant offered that there is an immediate awakening of interest, which creates a different space between the dialoguers. It was offered that Krishnamurti spoke somewhat of feelings which had a reactive and emotional content but seemed to give more significance to feeling as a sensitivity and “presence” or “attention”, a kind of global awareness which might well include a flavour of kindness such as that displayed by the Dalai Lama. Also included would likely be an awareness of one’s judgements and resistances.
The meeting was brought to a close with a period of silence and some casual conversation before heading out of the building.
DB
Self-inquiry with Cynthia Overweg, May 24, 2024
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauSelf-inquiry with Cynthia Overweg
Sunday, May24, 2024
At Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada
Metchosin location: Gatehouse
Eight participants in total were present in the Gatehouse at Swanwick Road for this Sunday afternoon meeting facilitated by Cynthia Overweg. She began the meeting with a quiet sit feeling our feet on the floor and noticing the movement of our breathing. After some time she asked if anyone had an issue they would like to explore with the group. When noone responded to the invitation, Cynthia read a selection from The Book of Life: Daily Meditations with Krishnamurti. In the quote K spoke of knowing the whole content of one thought, including the source. This seemed at least a little challenging to understand but most of the group was willing to probe into the issue. We explored another quote of Krishnamurti’s to the effect that it is fear that makes us accept our conditioning. We spent a good deal of time with the issue of fear and how to be with it. It was suggested that it had something to do with facing the fear that underlies all thought and a question was asked about the reality of making thought and feeling two separate things. One participant wanted to make a clear distinction between loneliness and aloneness, leading to some deep inquiry into the nature of the images we tend to carry with us at most times and which may be the source of all our conflict. We investigated the key role of attachment in shaping our experience.
It was an interesting and revealing dialogue; the meeting finished with a sense of some insight having been realised.
DB
Krishnamurti and Nondual Teachings, May 24 – 26, 2024
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauKrishnamurti and Modern Nondual Teachings
With Hillary Rodrigues
May 24 – 26, 2024
Zoom online
A long-time contributor and friend of the Krishnamurti Centre, Hillary, formerly a professor at the University of Lethbridge, was welcomed back to the Krishnamurti Educational Centre to present a three day online workshop exploring the teachings of J. Krishnamurti in contrast to modern and ancient nondual teachings which have been attracting a great deal of interest in recent years. Twelve people were in attendance for the event. Hillary began with the essential issue he wanted to consider with us: the possibility of having a transformative realisation that is more real and experiential than mere knowledge, which has its own place. Over the three sessions of 1 ½ hours he went into some of the history of nondual teachings such as Advaita Vedanta and the Upanishads in the Hindu tradition, including the teachings of Shankara, Buddhist teachings such as Zen, modern offshoots such as Ramana Maharshi, and current teachers such as Rupert Spira, Adyashanti, Mooji, Eckhart Tolle, Joan Tollifson, and Francis Lucille. Hillary emphasised that he was not so much making a comparison between the different teachers but was, rather, presenting triggers which might stimulate our own “seeking” or inquiry. He then led an investigation of Krishnamurti’s teachings along similar lines and where there were at least apparent differences and emphases. He made use of the short summary called “the core of the teachings” which K himself shared with Mary Zimbalist when requested by her.
In examining the various teachings, Hillary asked four questions concerning each approach which might reveal interesting perspectives:
1) What is the problem?
2) What is the goal?
3) What are the methods employed?
4) What are the obstacles?
For example, when addressing “the problem”, Rupert Spira seems to have considered that the main problem is that, given our essential nature is happiness, why is it not experienced all the time? Eckhart Tolle maintains that most of us have a superficial understanding of who we really are and Joan Tollifson says that the idea that we are an
encapsulated unit is the basis of our suffering. For Adyashanti, we have deceived ourselves such that we do not experience our divinity. Krishnamurti starts not with our divine nature but rather with our conditioned self which is not experiencing freedom or the unchanging awareness that Mooji suggests is our true nature. For K, we must see that there is actually no division between the observer and the observed, the thinker and the thought. The division is an illusion. Pure observation brings an insight which in turn brings about a radical mutation in the mind.
Along the way we touched on various questions of identity, knowledge, and awareness, as well as some of the paradoxes that arise as the mind attempts to understand something which essentially cannot be grasped through thought.
When it came to looking at Krishnamurti’s expression of self inquiry, we spent some time exploring his approach to being with pain and suffering. K gives great emphasis on not moving away from our suffering and not creating a duality between the observer and the observed or the “me” and the “other”. It is our movement away from “what is” that is the problem in that it creates a duality which results in conflict. When we stay with “what is”, it changes. This change leaves no residue and there is a transformation. These ideas were explored, sometimes very seriously and sometimes with a sense of humour and lightness which did not detract from the depth of the inquiry and the resulting sense of freedom and uncaused joy felt by some. Krishnamurti’s emphasis on nature was rare and his communication with scientists like David Bohm was unusual for his time. His message was global.
Hillary’s integration of academic skillfulness and logic, along with his depth of direct realisation of that which he speaks, created a space where it was possible to touch at least a somewhat different dimension of consciousness. We are grateful for his ongoing participation in the life of the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada. He will be available at the Centre in the months to come.
DB
Self-inquiry with Cynthia Overweg, May 22, 2024
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauSelf-inquiry with Cynthia Overweg
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavilion
Nine people in total attended this afternoon meeting sponsored by the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada and facilitated by Cynthia Overweg. It was a lovely, sunny day, but perhaps we needed the protection afforded by the recently constructed building where we could be sheltered from the slight breeze blowing through the trees. Cynthia began the meeting with a period of silence which was followed by three short readings from The Book of Life: Meditations with J. Krishnamurti and offered to the group by volunteers from the dialoguers. The readings were samples of Krishnamurti’s teachings recommended by Cynthia and dealing with the subjects of listening, conditioning, and freedom from conditioning. The group then launched into a discussion of these subjects and the challenge of finding freedom while having been affected more or less by events that took place in the past. Some of the sharing was difficult to follow and to understand fully, but most participants seemed able to make sense of it and to engage in the communication that was taking place. The discussion carried on beyond the allotted time but came to a close with the group members seemingly content with the experience of the afternoon.
DB
Self-inquiry with Cynthia Overweg, May 19, 2024, at KECC
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauSelf-inquiry with Cynthia Overweg
Sunday, May 19, 2024
Metchosin, BC
There was a turnout of twelve (all included) for this meeting at the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada in Metchosin, BC. The weather was sunny and the wind was very mild, so we were able to sit outside on the front lawn without getting cold and without the problems in hearing each other when speaking that have been an issue at recent gatherings. The meeting began with self-introductions by participants, after which our facilitator, Cynthia, asked us to observe a few minutes of silence, listening to what was happening around us and within us. Following the silence She asked if anyone had a question or insight to share from their reading of the Krishnamurti text The Book of Life: Daily Meditations with Krishnamurti, which we are using as a reference for these self-inquiry sessions, or from their “reading” of the book of their own lives. Several group members expressed that the process of looking at ourselves involved an exposure of vulnerabilities which often made it quite challenging. It was agreed that the process involves a peeling away of layers of our consciousness which are not our true identity and in that process fear can easily be awakened. Krishnamurti has spoken of this awakening of fear and its transcendence. We opened up and examined a variety of fears which can arise and questioned the reality or “realness” of them. It was said that Krishnamurti felt it was most important to examine our psychological fears rather than ones related to physical harm or danger, which could be dealt with on a different level.
We discussed the importance of “being with” our fears and being authentic in our sharing of them and their effects on us. When it comes to dealing with our fears it was questioned whether the search for “answers” to our problems is effective or helpful. It was an interesting and revealing dialogue in which we attempted to gain an understanding which could bring a greater freedom into our daily lives.
DB
Self-inquiry with Cynthia Overweg, May 15, 2024
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauSelf-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, May 12, 2024
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauSelf-inquiry with Cynthia Overweg
Sunday, May 12, 2024
At KECC Metchosin location
538 Swanwick Road
Fourteen people attended this Sunday gathering at the Krishnamurti
Educational Centre of Canada location in Metchosin. The session was
facilitated by Cynthia Overweg who is visiting the Centre and will be
available for an uncertain length of time. We are fortunate to have a
dedicated student of Krishnamurti’s teachings like Cynthia with us and
able to support interested students of K who can choose to stay with her
at the Centre.
We began the meeting with a period of silence. Then Cynthia spoke of
her conviction that love is the essence of all Krishnamurti’s teachings,
although expressed in different ways. She asked a number of questions
about love, wondering if it is always immediately available to us and
asking what gets in the way of love and what kind of conditioning blocks
the love in us. It was suggested that our habit of comparing people with
each other can certainly prevent the flow of love between humans as it
brings memories of being hurt to the fore. On the other hand, as
Krishnamurti said, being aware moment to moment of our conditioned
thoughts as they arise can keep us open to the presence of love and
compassion. One participant expressed that when “because” loses its
significance then love appears. And the desire for security with the fear
of being threatened work together to suppress the flow of love. These
are real issues for human beings.
We discussed Krishnamurti’s ideas about those who love radically being
“dangerous”. He seems to be saying that stepping outside of
conventional behaviour may be thought of as “dangerous” by those
attached to the status quo and hesitant to explore other possibilities. In
this sense memory, although necessary, can keep love away. There was
mention of the difference between being alone and being “lonely”.
It was inquired if we could come up with a question that we could carry
with us as a reminder of the importance of staying with the “practice” of
self-observation. Can there be a continuous compassionate curiosity in
our self-observation? One person recommended Cynthia’s book Silent
Awareness because of its depth and beauty of expression.
We ended with a short silence that completed the experience for this
event. The sunny afternoon had been somewhat disturbed by wind and
cold, but most seemed to have valued the opportunity to sit outside in
nature where, although we sometimes had difficulty hearing each other
speak, we could enjoy the pure, clear sounds of the bird songs and the
lovely view of the Juan de Fuca Straight with the Cascade Mountains in
the background.
DB
Self-inquiry with Cynthia Overweg, May 8, 2024
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauSelf-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 Cynthia Overweg, May 5, 2024
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauSelf-inquiry with Cynthia Overweg
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada
Metchosin, BC
Fourteen people in total were present at the Metchosin location of the Krishnamurti Educational Centre on Swanwick Road for this Sunday meeting. We were happy to welcome Cynthia, who formerly lived in Ojai, California, and now lives in Washington state. She is joining us as a guest facilitator for about one month. Cynthia has offered her skills to the Krishnamurti Centre for some years now in leading online gatherings and workshops which have been greatly enjoyed by participants. In this current series, Krishnamurti’s text, The Book of Life: Daily Meditations with Krishnamurti, is being used as a reference for the study of K’s perspectives on important issues in life and self-understanding.
After a period of silence, Cynthia read from the first section of the book entitled “Listening” and invited group participants to bring forward their observations and questions stimulated by the readings. Individuals offered their difficulties and issues with the “practice” of listening, including the barriers they sometimes or often came up against. There was a good deal of discussion concerning the difference between hearing and listening and the importance of sensitivity and receptivity. It was said that really effective listening has a certain energy to it which is a factor of a silent mind and the operation of insight rather than an intellectual comprehension of what is being communicated. The sense of separateness disappears in the listening when there is a quality of full attention in the present moment. It was suggested that the presence of genuine interest is an important element, as is also awareness of one’s body and its sensations. The existence of an awareness that is prior to all manifestation was explored and affirmed. Beliefs and ideas were to be considered as possible blocks to listening.
It was an interesting and revealing sharing of insights and discoveries which kept us engaged for a full hour and a half or more.
DB
Self-inquiry with Jeff Brown, May 1, 2024
/in Event Summaries /by David BruneauSelf-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