Buddhism, Krishnamurti, and A Course in Miracles

/in /by

  Approaches to Individual Transformation: Buddhism, Krishnamurti, and A Course in Miracles Professor Emeritus Theodore Kneupper   Ted Kneupper, former professor of Philosophy at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania, led a weekend exploration into the perspectives and practices offered by three different teachings that have had a real impact in the world of self transformation. Prof. Kneupper has had significant experience with the three approaches being examined and was skillful in guiding us through them. On Friday evening Prof. Kneupper gave a public talk at the Krishnamurti Centre, which was attended by eighteen people in all. Ten of us were present for the entire weekend. Ted admitted to still being a seeker and did not claim to have reached the lofty goal of “enlightenment”. His humanness and humility turned out to be an important feature of the way the weekend unfolded and was one of the factors, along with authentic sharing by group participants, which enabled the group to experience realms of love and oneness that were perhaps unexpected. We looked into Buddha’s teachings about mindfulness, Krishnamurti’s ideas of meditation and dialogue, and the Course in Miracles’ method of contemplation using some of the 365 lessons. We engaged in experiential explorations of each approach so as to have a direct experience of their essence. The group also discussed with some passion the apparently contradictory concepts that were expressed. At times this made evident the limitation of philosophical debate but no doubt brought some useful awareness to our tendencies to be attached to and defend our ideas and beliefs. The difficulty of bringing about a transformation in ourselves was acknowledged. The retreat was a skillful blend of theory and practice, with time for nature walks, informal discussions, and excellent meals. As Prof. Kneupper said, it was a challenging endeavor to bring together and look into three approaches which have both differences and similarities. It seemed to be felt that it was definitely an endeavor of value.

Krishnamurti Study Group

/in /by

  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.

A Nondual Look at ACIM

/in /by

For those who might be interested in the upcoming retreat that discusses the similarities between K’s perspective, a Buddhist view and ACIM I did the Course a few years ago, and I really enjoy Paul’s NonDual perspective on ACIM. https://youtu.be/tq5sga_EFZE  

You Are The World – Stillness Within Meetup

/in /by

The Stillness Within Meetup at the end of June was attended by a small group of five.  The gathering profiled a talk given by Eckhart Tolle at a retreat in Norway in the fall of 2015.  He noted that each of us is a one-of-a-kind yet indivisible part of the greater whole, and explored how it is that “the One expresses through the many.”  He also emphasised that as Krishnamurti has pointed out, not needing things to be a certain way is a path of ease (and he joked that trying to understand how things should be is like trying to second guess God).  The video was followed by a short meditation time, sharing and then tea.  

Krishnamurti Study Group

/in /by

Krishnamurti Study Group Saturday, July 2, 2016 Four people showed up on the Saturday of the holiday weekend to explore the last half of chapter 16 in The First and Last Freedom by J. Krishnamurti. The subject of the chapter was “Can Thinking Solve Our Problems?” K goes into the limited nature of all thought when it comes to resolving psychological problems.  He invites us to see that thought can never solve such problems, but awareness, or simple looking and listening, can. This requires a quiet mind. The participants discussed the nature of this awareness and how a quiet mind can come about, as well as related questions and perceptions. It was a lovely day and it was pleasant to sit out on the lawn, enjoy the views and the sounds of nature while looking into the ideas expressed by K. and sharing our own questions and insights.

Inquiry Sunday

/in /by

Inquiry Sunday Sunday, July 3, 2016 For the morning session six of us listened to a forty-minute audio presentation of Adyashanti in conversation with a member of his organization. The topic of discussion was “True Love”. Adya started off commenting on the duality of good and evil and the field of consciousness beyond them both. He emphasized that, although good and evil, right and wrong, do not exist in the absolute dimension, this does not mean that anything goes or that all actions are justified. There is a higher good outside the realm of conventional good and bad and this is the truth to which he is pointing. The audio went on to cover other subjects related to relationship, both romantic and otherwise, and the group then engaged in an verbal exploration of the ideas heard and personal questions and insights about relationship. Relationship was seen to be a powerful opportunity for self-understanding. In the afternoon we watched three video clips of Krishnamurti answering questions from the audience at various talks over the years. The first question was “What is enlightenment?” K responded that to see an issue, such as sorrow, clearly, to understand it and thereby end it, it to be enlightened about that issue. All sorts of projections are made about enlightenment – what it is, and who has it, and so on, but these are mental projections of an ideal state rather than simple facts. The second question was “What is the art of questioning?” K seemed to answer the question by demonstrating how to inquire. He spoke of the art of learning and then took as an example the issue of action without thought. He went into an inquiry concerning the issue without providing a conceptual answer, which would have no meaning. The third question concerned the longing to be loved. K asked why we need to be loved and suggested that it was more important to find the love in oneself than to be loved by another. He didn’t give a method for doing that, but the exploration of various aspects of the issue was perhaps pointing to the kind of inquiry required to address such a profound and universal question.

Krishnamurti Study Group

/in /by

  Krishnamurti Study Group Saturday, June 18, 2016 Four people met to study chapter 16 in The First and Last Freedom by J. Krishnamurti. The chapter is entitled “Can Thinking Solve Our Problems?” and K gives an unequivocal answer: No. The  more we think about a problem, he says, the more complex it becomes. Realizing this, we can ask “Can thought ever come to an end?” The understanding of this challenge requires a sensitive looking into the nature of thought and perception. Can we look at a problem as a whole, seeing the thing as it is, being aware of it as a fact and not as a theory? In order to do this, “there must be an awareness that is not of thought.” We read passages from the text and entered into a group discussion of the issues and the kind of awareness and insight  needed to respond adequately to them. The question was raised concerning whether the awareness is something that has to be developed and refined or is it present and available as soon as we pay attention to it. Many relevant inquiries arose and insights were shared. As always, it seems that posing and staying with questions is more significant than seeking answers and solutions.

Victoria Krishnamurti Event

/in /by

Victoria Krishnamurti Event Church of Truth Sunday, June 12, 2016 Seven people gathered on Sunday afternoon at the Church of Truth in Victoria to consider the topic “The Art of Meditation.” We began with a reading on meditation from Krishnamurti’s book Freedom from the Known, followed by a fifteen minute silent sit where we looked into the state of our own minds as recommended in the reading. Self understanding is, according to K, essential in living a life of meaning, harmony, and love, The silent period was followed by group discussion and inquiry into what is important in our lives.   After a tea break we watched an excellent video clip of Rupert Spira answering a question on meditation. Meditation for him is not something we do, but something we are. Being knowingly aware is the essence of meditation, and this is our natural state if we care to notice it. More discussion followed and participants seemed very engaged in the material and dynamics of the afternoon.

“What Is Awareness?” Retreat

/in /by

  What Is Awareness? June 10 – 12, 2016 Ashwani Kumar, Associate Professor at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, joined us for the third year running to present a weekend workshop entitled “What Is Awareness?” A small group of seven were present for the event beginning on Friday evening. Ashwani immediately stated that his style for this gathering would not involve lecturing and concepts but, rather, would be an invitation to enter directly into significant questions without prior knowledge or conclusions. He gave time for group members to get in touch with a question of fundamental importance in our lives and to then share it with the group in a process of exploration without looking for an immediate answer. It is the process of investigation and what can be seen through it that is important, not an intellectual answer or conclusion.   After sharing our questions, Ashwani asked us to consider what is the state of mind out of which the question is arising. Are we seeking something we think or feel we don’t have? Can we stay with that feeling rather than doing something to change it or get away from it? Have we ever been in touch with the raw feeling without naming it or explaining it? Ashwani was very adept at keeping us focused on this type of inquiry and was continuously reminding us to go into the actual experience and sensations in the body and not to resort to the intellect for solutions to our existential issues.   The rest of the retreat was a further exploration into the type of inquiry introduced on the first evening. Integrated into the program were some body-centred meditations and relaxation exercises, including energetic dance and gibberish. An interesting writing exercise and a nature walk were also valuable aspects of the retreat. On Sunday afternoon a video was shown of Krishnamurti speaking with a group in California in March, 1970. In the discussion, entitled “What Does Awareness Mean?”, K delves into the issue of harmony in living. The intellect is given far too much importance in our lives, causing an imbalance and conflict within ourselves. K suggested that awareness can bring harmony between all the parts of the human being. In fact, awareness is harmony. There must be a pure looking with any effort or intrusion of the intellect. This means a looking without an image of what is seen.   The combination of inquiry and experiential meditations was a powerful approach to bringing us to an actual direct knowing of awareness in our lives. The effects no doubt varied for each individual, but the willingness of the participants to enter into the experiments must have brought benefits to all. We were grateful to have Dr. Kumar with us once again.   

Inquiry Sunday

/in /by

  Inquiry Sunday June 5, 2016      The morning session was attended by five participants. We listened to an audio presentation of Adyashanti in conversation with a member of his organization and exploring the subject of “True Love”.  Adya was asked about his relationship with his partner Mukti in particular, and he explored how the two of them deal with conflicts and differences when they arise. He acknowledged that others’ relationships may not be based on such a mutual compatibility of viewpoints and intentions and may therefore be more challenging and difficult, but what he spoke of could certainly be applied to any relationship in one’s life. It seemed that he was really talking about being aware of ourselves in relationship and the learning that naturally takes place as a result.     In the afternoon, we chose three questions asked of Krishnamurti during his talks over the years and looked at video clips of his responses. The first question was “Is there a final question which will end all my other questions?” K’s inquiry into the issue led him to ask another question, “Is there a state which is not dependent on any circumstances?” He seemed to feel that if we deeply inquire into that question it will bring us to something essential. The second question chosen was about individuality and responsibility for our actions. K pointed out that in fact no individual exists as we are conditioned to believe it does. When this is seen clearly, a state of compassion and love arises which will take right action in each circumstance. The final question was a little unusual. “We can learn more from listening to others than from listening to K. Why do you not encourage people to get together and learn from each other by discussing?” We were interested to see how K would respond. His answer was clear and to the point. “Are you listening to K?” he asked, “Or are you listening to yourself?” Any form of learning, including group discussion, is valuable as long as there is not a dependence on an outside authority, whether it be K or anyone else. We must learn about ourselves by looking directly at ourselves.