BEAUTY AND SENSITIVITY IN A TROUBLED WORLD

BEAUTY AND SENSITIVITY IN A TROUBLED WORLD
An Online Gathering of Inquiry and Inner Stillness with Cynthia Overweg
November 20-22, 2020 (Fri-Sun at 4 pm PT/7 pm ET)

“A curious thing is happening; there is a heightening of sensitivity;
Sensitivity, not only to beauty, but also to all other things.
The blade of grass was astonishingly green;
that one blade of grass contained the whole spectrum of color;
it was intense, dazzling and such a small thing, so easy to destroy.”

Krishnamurti’s Notebook

When Krishnamurti spoke of beauty, he linked it to a heightened sensitivity, and to a quality of seeing which transcends the conditioned mind. He suggested that we need sensitivity in order to live harmoniously with each other and with nature; and that sensitivity is what makes the perception of beauty possible.  In a highly polarized world burdened by multiple crises on a scale we’ve not seen before, how do we approach living with sensitivity? Can we have an authentic relationship with beauty in such a world?  What are the implications for relationship in our daily living; for living with peaceful equanimity in a time of great turbulence?

In our retreat, we’ll be guided by various statements made by Krishnamurti about our relationship with beauty and sensitivity.

For example:

• “Sensitivity is the highest form of intelligence. From this sensitivity for the whole of existence, springs goodness, love; and without this sensitivity there is no beauty.”
• “…It is only in the renewal of that sensitivity that we can have understanding of what is true relationship.”
• “Beauty is only possible when there is silence.”
• “The seeker after truth is the seeker after beauty.”

Our inquiry together will create an opportunity for open sharing with time for you to participate in the fullness of our mutual attention and listening.  Each session will include a talk, along with images, music, and moments of meditative stillness.

The Facilitator:   Cynthia Overweg is an educator, author and filmmaker and has spent most of her adult life immersed in the wisdom teachings of East and West. For the last twenty years, she’s been facilitating retreats and giving workshops which explore spiritual wholeness and self-transformation.  She draws a great deal of inspiration from Krishnamurti and Ramana Maharshi. Her articles about the spiritual quest have been published internationally and her work as a writer and filmmaker has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Film Institute. Cynthia is the author of the forthcoming book Silent Awareness: The Revelation that Changes Everything. For more info: www.cynthiaoverweg.com

Three 90 minute sessions.

Recordings will be made available, in case you are unable to attend a session or wish to review it.

Retreat Fee:   $60 CAD (Canadian dollars)