The Urgency of Change Dialogue Group, April 18, 2021

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The Urgency of Change Dialogue Meeting

Sunday, April 18, 2021

Zoom online

Three members of the group were unable to attend the meeting this month, but the rest of us – ten participants – enjoyed an excellent gathering. The material for assigned study was the two chapters in The Urgency of Change text by J. Krishnamurti entitled “Organization” and “Love and Sex”. The two topics were not as different as they might seem, for they both explored the facts of division and separation within human beings and in their relationships. The process of self observation and self-understanding was also looked into in both chapters in a way that provoked fundamental questions about how we live and how we set about looking at ourselves and our ways of organizing our daily activities.

After beginning with a guided meditation and some silence, we read the last paragraph of the first chapter out loud. We then entered into a discussion of some of the significant questions therein about our approach to self-knowledge. “Where are we going to start?” K asks. “You must start from freedom,” he answers. This stimulated a good deal of conversation and inquiry amongst the group in examining what is meant by these statements. The talk led into other material in the chapters, especially looking at some of the ways we divide our experience and perceptions into images and concepts about who or what we are. We create an “observer” and an “observed”, for example, which division K points out is the basis of all human problems. Other topics explored were the central place of “negation” in K’s approach and the emphasis on seeing what love and freedom are not rather than attempting to develop an intellectual understanding of what they are, which would put us in the limited realm of thought.

There were many insightful contributions from the participants and it seemed to be an interesting and fruitful dialogue, hopefully of benefit to all. The readings for next month are the two chapters “Perception” and “Suffering”, which appear to be linked by some common themes.

A New Mind and Heart with Cynthia Overweg, April 17, 2021

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A New Mind and Heart: Awakening to Inner Freedom

With Cynthia Overweg

Saturday, April 17, 2021.

Zoom online

 

This was the third of four presentations by Cynthia Overweg from Ojai, California, exploring the teachings of J. Krishnamurti and inspired by his statement that the world is in such a crisis that we need a “new mind and heart” in order to effectively meet the challenges facing us. This particular session was focused on “Authority and Fear”, both very central issues in K’s teachings, and was attended by 25 people in total. Cynthia’s format is to share a number of quotes by Krishnamurti and then speak of each one. Later in the meeting she opens the floor for discussion and dialogue. There are also a number of breaks for tuning in and relaxation, which are both essential in appreciating K’s approach to self-knowledge and inquiry. Central to the process is the seeing of our psychological reactions to what life presents. We may have to see the reactions many times before they fade away. Connections were made between our self-understanding and issues that the Covid pandemic provokes in us. What K suggests in terms of observation and being with our experiences can bring about a different quality of attention and awareness in which our problems may be resolved or dissolved.

During the discussion segment of the meeting a number of questions arose concerning love and fear. There are many kinds of fear, including the fear of losing love. And what is love? Seeing the fear ends it in that moment if we are not identified with it. There is no formula or technique, but compassion for ourselves and others can arise when we are able to stay with the fear. Love may then be a sense of total union. For Cynthia, a key statement (of K’s) is the following:

“When I understand myself, I understand you, and out of that arises love.”

From Delusion to Awakening with GP Walsh, March 26 – 28, 2021

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From Delusion to Awakening

With GP Walsh

March 26 – 28, 2021

Zoom Online

 

This was the third time GP has given a presentation at the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada and the first one online. GP is a spiritual teacher from New York, now living in Seattle. He has been teaching inquiry and self-awareness for over thirty years and is the founder of the MasterHEART Institute and the creator of Inner Reconciliation. GP’s website explains the central points of his teaching. The path to awakening is twofold: the path of inquiry or wisdom and the path of compassion or heart. Both are necessary in order to both know the reality of your true being and to live it in everyday life. We are always our true self, but we do need to have our own unique personal realization of it. And it doesn’t stop there. Once the awakening begins to dawn we can begin to integrate that inspiration and wisdom into every detail of our lives. Thus we become the living truth.GP offers satsangs or contemplative gatherings every week on his website.

Thirty-seven people in total were in attendance for the three-day workshop entitled “From Delusion to Awakening”. Each of the three sessions was two hours in length and included a talk followed by a Q & A period. GP opened the first session on Friday morning with an acknowledgement of J. Krishnamurti’s status as a “giant” in the world of spirituality and a guided meditation in honour of K’s famous statement that “Truth is a pathless land.” He then discussed the essential points of self-inquiry as he understands it. Questions he asks include “Who am I?”, “Am I an object?”, “How can I know myself directly as the pure subject?”, “Can I know myself first-hand and not just as others see me?”, “What is Presence or Being made of?”, “What is ego: is it a thing? A problem?”

GP pointed out that we are learning to distinguish between what is true and what is false. Self-inquiry brings us to the point where there is no self-referencing. You are the ultimate without any definition – and not an object of perception. The truth is that which is not subject to perception, the one unchanging element. Using guided meditations and clear expositions, GP explored various aspects of the self-knowledge process, the end of which, he asserted, was the disappearance of all questions. Questions from the participants arose, however, in response to the talks and were dealt with in a skillful manner that involved an ever-deepening investigation of the issue being explored. Some of the ideas were no doubt challenging to participants but at the same time were of great value.

 

 

The Urgency of Change Dialogue Group Meeting, March 21, 2021

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The Urgency of Change Dialogue Group

Sunday, March 21, 2021

Zoom online

For various reasons three of the regular group members were unable to attend the Sunday morning meeting online. There were ten of us present, which was enough for a lively discussion of the chapter in The Urgency of Change entitled “The Seeker”. Picking up where we had left off in our February meeting, we investigated some of the challenging questions raised in Krishnamurti’s inquiry with the “questioner” in the book. The first question we took up was about our capacity to receive “the immensity” of that which is beyond thought and beyond the seeking of the egoic consciousness. The exploration touched on the resistance of thought to silence and stillness, which Krishnamurti deems essential for self-discovery and which, he says, are far more important than our usual activities of thought. We cannot do anything to create love, but there is another kind of action which opens our “minds” to the beauty and immensity of that state or experience. What that “action” is and what are the obstacles thrown in by the thinking mind or “ego” were perhaps considered to be the most significant issues needing understanding or insight, and the energy directed towards such inquiry seemed to be of value and worth.

In the next meeting we will look at the chapter entitled “Organization” and explore the ways in which thought creates division. Perhaps we can get a sense of what it means to transcend such division with its inevitable conflict.

A New Mind and Heart with Cynthia Overweg, March 20, 2021

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A New Mind and Heart: Awakening to Inner Freedom

With Cynthia Overweg

March 20, 2021

Zoom online

 

This was the second of a series of three presentations by Cynthia Overweg from Ojai on the topic of the “new mind and heart” deemed necessary by J. Krishnamurti throughout his years of teaching. In this session Cynthia focused on energy and attention, core elements of K’s talks and writings. Twenty-six people in total were in attendance for the one and a half hour presentation, appropriately scheduled on the first day of Spring. Cynthia began by stating that K had said the mind and heart are one, and therefore our question is “why does the mind divide?” Other key questions are, “Can we attend to what is right in front of us without wasting energy on anxiety and stress? and “Is there anything beyond thought?”

Cynthia discussed a few aspects of energy including the tremendous energy of the big bang, the beauty of energy, the healing quality of the earth and of stillness, relaxation, and sleep. How are we spending energy and how can we conserve it? The activities of the self or ego create conflict and use up energy. Krishnamurti points out that anything which divides is a wastage of energy.

A different kind of energy arises when there is attention, which is different than concentration. Attention allows silence to come into the mind. It was recommended that we make times in the day to be attentive and to observe ourselves and our bodies, including our breathing. It is also important to release self-criticism and judgement and to simply be with “what is”. The talk, with the questions and discussion that followed, touched on issues of fear and attention, being attentive to physical and emotional pain and shock, being aware of inattention, and the difference or sameness of attention and awareness. Participants obviously enjoyed and felt benefitted by the event and the sharing of insights that took place.

Meditative Self-Inquiry with Mukesh Gupta, March 13 & 14, 2021

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Meditative Self-Inquiry with Mukesh Gupta

Saturday and Sunday, March 13 and 14, 2021

Zoom online

 

This was the second in a series of four presentations by Mukesh on meditative self-inquiry. The weekend events feature a talk on the Saturday followed by a dialogue on Sunday further exploring the material covered in the Saturday session. This weekend the focus was on “the awakening of intelligence”. Each of the Saturday and Sunday events were attended by 16 people, all included.

Mukesh began the meeting with a short meditation inviting participants to be fully attentive to all that is arising in their awareness. He then asked the question “Do we live in an intelligent manner?” Our human history is one of almost constant war and our way of thinking creates division and therefore conflict. Human thought does not operate with intelligence. According to Krishnamurti, the mind must be silent for intelligence to function. There must be a listening, a watchfulness, which brings in an energy that can discover what is false and what is true, that is an energy of love and not of the self. It is an openness which sees the nature of the observer, which is available to all, and which is already present. We only have to listen to it and observe without interference from the past. This energy of seeing and listening is not conditioned; it is a learning about ourselves. If we are not watching and listening, the very noticing of that fact is awakening intelligence. Thought has a place, but we must see the danger of unexamined images and beliefs. This seeing is available to us without cultivation. Lack of awareness (ignorance) is the cause of suffering but the studying of ignorance brings freedom, love, and compassion.

After a forty-five minute presentation the meeting was opened to questions from the participants to which Mukesh responded in his usual skillful way. Some suggested reading material, mostly on the subject of the awakening of intelligence, was distributed for contemplation prior to the Sunday meeting,

The Sunday gathering began with quiet meditation experimenting with awareness. The group was then split into four smaller units, which allowed for some intimate discussion of the nature of intelligence. Finally, we shared again in the full group format. Appreciation was expressed for the opportunity to inquire into Krishnamurti’s teachings within a group context, which provides a useful mirror for seeing ourselves.

Self Study Meeting March 7, 2021

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Self Study Meeting

Sunday, March 7, 2021

Zoom online

 

Fifteen participants gathered on a Sunday morning to explore their interest in self-inquiry or self exploration within the context of J. Krishnamurti’s teachings about self-knowledge and the realization of inner freedom. These monthly meetings have been focusing on the excerpts from talks and writings of Krishnamurti as compiled in the text The Book of Life: Daily Meditations with Krishnamurti. The selections for study this month were the January 8 – 22 entries, which took up the subject of learning through direct looking and listening, especially looking at and listening to the thoughts and feelings that create the sense of a “self” that is consistent and stable in time. Participants had prepared for the meeting by reading over the selections several times and applying them to the activities of their daily lives. They were appreciative of the opportunity to further reflect on and discuss these ideas in a group of interested people. There was a richness of sharing and questioning which seemed to provoke insights and understanding in the participants.

Living the Non-Dual Understanding

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Living the Non-dual Understanding

Online Retreat with Burt Harding

February 26 – 28, 2021

 

Burt Harding from Vancouver has become an annual presenter at the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada in recent years. On this occasion, his three-day retreat was entitled “Living the Non-Dual Understanding” and was attended by 16 people, including Burt, his assistant Suzy and two KECC staff. Each session was ninety minutes in length and included a talk by Burt as well as time for questions from the participants and responses from Burt. Suzy was very helpful in encouraging Burt to expand upon his ideas and in asking relevant and useful questions about the material.

Burt began on Friday by sharing an “out-of-body” experience he had in 2007, when he felt a total of fear and a powerful presence of love. He added a couple of additional profound happenings that provided deep insights. He then spoke in more detail of the reality of who or what we really are – awareness – and of the need to examine and face the illusions of thought that tell us we are separate beings who are destined to die. Suffering is the result of believing we are separate entities and the resulting fear of our emptiness and impermanence. Fear is not wrong, he said, but is, on the contrary, a teacher pointing to love, our essential nature.

On the second day, Burt spoke of “the four unknown facts of reality” about which he wrote a book some time ago.

1/ Our true nature is an unbounded, perfect energy that contains all the wisdom of the ages. It came to Burt to call it “Emptiness”, but it is the opposite of a void.

2/ For humans our greatest fear is of emptiness, but when we go into it the fear dissolves and the apparent emptiness turns into love.

3/ All problems are healed by forgiveness. Forgiving ourselves and others brings us ever closer to our true nature as love.

4/ A key is to trust the “I Am” or Beingness and not to believe our thoughts which tell us there is something wrong or lacking. Discomfort arises when we identify with the personality. We can see it’s causes, say “Thank you” to it, and it will release.

 

Burt went into further aspects of the four facts on Saturday and then delved further into the subject of forgiveness on Sunday, when he spoke of the practicalities of forgiving ourselves and others and the need to do so with all the little judgements that arise in our daily lives. He related his points to some quotes by Krishnamurti about love and the quiet mind. Participants were able to ask questions and make comments when a desire arose to grasp Burt’s sometimes challenging ideas fully. It seemed that most were very satisfied with the retreat experience and grateful for the opportunity to engage in such a learning process.

Self Study Meeting, February 7, 2021

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Self Study Meeting

Sunday, February 7, 2021

Zoom online

 

Fourteen people in total attended this Sunday morning meeting online to explore their reading and contemplation of the first nine entries in The Book of Life: Daily Meditations with Krishnamurti. Participants had prepared at home by reading and being present with the material taken from Krishnamurti’s talks and writings. The subject matter of these first entries was “Listening”, which also includes looking or observing with one’s total being. K says that such “listening” will bring about a transformation in us without any effort to change. This transformation will awaken a state of love and beauty. In these selections he goes into some detail about the process.

After a meditation guided by David inviting full presence and attention, participants were invited to share what had impacted them in the readings. There was plenty to be shared and discussed, always within a space of attention and inquiry. Challenges and difficulties were expressed as well as “successes” and insights provoked by the study of the January 1 – 9 “meditations”. Some people reported that as we explored they were aware of what others were saying, what Krishnamurti was speaking of, and what was going on in their inward experience. This seemed like an actual realization – at least to some degree – of what K calls “self-knowledge” and “the beginning of freedom.”

Michael Mendizza Book

Truth is a Pathless Land: Exploring the Core of J. Krishnamurti’s Teachings

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Truth is a Pathless Land: Exploring the Core of J. Krishnamurti’s Teachings

With Mukesh Gupta online

January 21 – 24, 2021

 

This series of four online events was designed to examine carefully the essential elements of Krishnamurti’s teachings as he described them himself in a short written document requested by his biographer Mary Lutyens and entitled “The Core of the Teaching”. It was first published in 1983. The text is included in a small booklet which includes “Truth is a Pathless Land”, the speech given by Krishnamurti on the occasion of his dissolving of the Order of the Star on August 3, 1929. Twenty-two people were present for the first presentation with Mukesh Gupta, a number that remained almost exactly constant throughout the four sessions. Mukesh joined us online from Varanasi, India, presented the text to the group, and went through it with accompanying commentary based on his own deep study of K’s teachings. The format for the four meetings was very similar, beginning with about a fifty-minute talk with screen sharing of the text and spontaneous exposition of the material. The talk was then followed by a question and answer period of about forty minutes. Some of the questions addressed in the first talk and Q & A were the following:

– What is Truth? Why is there no path to it? K denies the tradition of a path. Truth is neither a thing nor an object.

– The human being must understand himself, the contents of his mind, which he can discover in the mirror of relationship.

– Observing the contents of the mind is different than thinking about them, labelling, judging, evaluating, and making an effort to change the contents. Observing is simply watching from a silent mind without an observer.

– The causes of our problems are the images created by thought which divide man from man. Images are an attempt to find a security which does not exist.

– The search for security only causes insecurity. Attachment to images creates division and conflict. This fact must be observed and the danger of it clearly seen, then a letting go can happen. Direct seeing is the key.

A variety of issues and questions related to the opening points shared by Mukesh – and to further ideas presented in each session – were presented and explored over the course of the four sessions. The talks were clear and insightful and the participants’ questions were penetrating and significant in eliciting many important and central aspects of the teachings. There was a sense of practicality in the questions and responses, with an intention to grapple with K’s teachings in a meaningful way. The sessions came to a focus on the last day when Mukesh presented a quote that he felt contains the whole of the teachings: “Total negation is the essence of the positive”. He explored the statement with the participants in some depth and emphasized that “passion” is necessary in the inquiry into the nature of ourselves. His closing words were to the effect that it is important to be simple in our exploration and not to get caught in words and concepts or in measuring ourselves and our progress.

We are grateful for Mukesh’s dedication and skill in creating this retreat and in making Krishnamurti’s teachings more available and understandable. We look forward to further presentations he will be giving in the year ahead.