Bodymeditation and Krishnamurti

A yoga retreat with Oda Lindner, reg. yoga instructor & therapist

Weekend retreat: August 12-14, 2016 (Fri. 7 pm to Sun. 4:30 pm)

“Meditation is self-knowledge, which is the basis of true thinking; and when there is true thinking, there is understanding, and so right action."
J.Krishnamurti

How can we arrive at such self-knowledge? Many of us have attempted different ways of tackling this question. We have used meditation, self-inquiry and conceptual approaches to attain such knowledge. Most of us explored self-knowledge during quiet, seated meditation. During such meditations we were often faced with our unfounded conceptual beliefs in being a separate consciousness.

Meditation is a useful and time-honored way to investigate self-knowledge. It produces insights that go to the root of our existence. We often find that, when we carry such insights into our daily lives, the understandings deepen significantly. As we quietly observe the belief of a separate self in our daily interactions, we occasionally gain glimpses of the deep truths Krishnamurti so beautifully described in his “Notebook”.

Both meditation and daily observation clearly deepen our connection to self-knowledge. There is however a third aspect that can be incorporated into the practice. This is the aspect of physical embodiment. When insights gained during observation and meditation are applied to the physical dimension of our being, they have the potential to turn aspects of self-knowledge into lived, embodied ways of being in the world.

The work on the physical dimension can be challenging because unfounded beliefs of separation are often deeply entrenched in the habitual behavior of our bodies. Yet slow postures and movement * can make these habitual behaviors apparent, while sensing and tactile exploration can expose them in ways that were not evident before. Mindful slow movement exposes engrained beliefs to stillness and openness, and in doing so tends to begin to dissolve them. When this happens, we realize that our insights are taken to a new level on which they become embodied forms of self-knowledge. This embodied knowledge is then quite naturally the basis for a deeper understanding and result in action that is considerate and appropriate.

To transfer the openness we have achieved on our meditation cushion to the clarity of embodied action we may find that the use of meditative sensing and slow, precise Yoga moves greatly assist the opening of frozen habits and feeling. I have called this work “bodymeditation”.

In this workshop we will use bodymeditation and will incorporate some slow yoga movements and breathing from the yoga Krishnamurti himself practiced. We will combine sitting, sensing in movement and some of Krishnamurti’s inquiries to experience how clarity can be transferred from the mind into the body. Sessions will take place on the beautiful Centre grounds.

*The slow postures and movements employed in this course are based on a style of yoga which Krishnamurti himself practiced for decades.

Cost:

Shared accommodation (double occupancy) with meals:
Weekend (Fri – Sun): regular rate: $250 Early bird rate*: $220

Private accommodation with meals:
Weekend (Fri – Sun): regular rate: $300 Early bird rate*: $270

Day Commuter – with meals:
Weekend (Fri – Sun): regular rate: $190 Early bird rate*: $170

Day Commuter – without meals:
Weekend (Fri – Sun): regular rate: $140 Early bird rate*: $120

* valid up to 30 days before the event.

PLEASE NOTE: THE 5 DAY INTENSIVE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE!

Persons with financial constraints may be offered a special discount. Please contact the program manager, Ralph Tiller.