Exploring Ourselves, November 20, 2022

Exploring Ourselves

Sunday, November 20, 2022

With Jackie McInley

Zoom online

 

Including staff and facilitators, fourteen people attended this Sunday morning meeting on Zoom from 10 am to about 12:15 pm. After the usual silent period, Jackie spoke for some time on the role of the facilitator, whom she said is a participant in the dialogue process. She clarified that she herself is not interested so much in the well-being of the individuals in the group but is more concerned with the well-being of the whole of humanity. This affects how we are treated in a dialogue setting. We ask what the human being is, not the individual particular person. We attempt to observe what we actually are and how we give attention to what we are, and we do not engage in speculation or intellectual discussion. It is a somatic activity, including our felt senses, and not just an exchange of ideas. And can there be observation without the division of observer and observed?

One of the group participants asked the question of Jackie, “What is the source of what was just said?” and Jackie responded, “Well, let’s see what happens when we have space to observe the reactions that take place.” Another participant asked if there is a collaboration within the group to relate from a sense of separateness. Other questions followed concerning the presence of abstraction in our relating and the tendency to adjust ourselves to others so we are liked. There was some exploration of these themes until a suggestion was offered that we investigate the meaning of “choiceless awareness”, a term often used by Krishnamurti. A number of the group indicated that it would be a good topic to pick up on at the next meeting.

Before the meeting was closed, some time was given to a description of an upcoming workshop which will run for five days from November 23 to 27 for two hours each day and will be entitled “Unfolding Conflict”. Facilitated by Jackie, the event will offer an opportunity to explore the subject of conflict deeply. Interested people are invited to sign up on the website for the dialogue series. https://krishnamurti-canada.ca

DB