Exploring Ourselves with Jackie McInley, October 19, 2024

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Exploring Ourselves with Jackie McInley  

Saturday, October 19, 2024 

Zoom Online Meeting 

 

Eight people were present for this meeting sponsored by the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada. After the usual period of silence it was suggested that we might wish to explore the phenomenon of fear, especially as we had gone somewhat deeply into it in previous meetings. The idea raised many questions. Is fear owned by an individual or can it be a shared experience? Is it an expression of egotism or is that an accusation or judgement? It was noted that fear can manipulate people and participants started to admit some of their own fear. We looked at a number of forms that fear could take and the elements of its structure. The desire to continue in one’s self-identity was acknowledged as a cause of fear. Jackie brought up the interesting possibility of being with fear without really knowing anything about it. There is the fear we know about and are aware of and the fear we are not. There may be a kind of paralysis which comes with fear and humanity itself may be held in this state. It was asked if fear is the most fundamental issue we must deal with, which would give it a depth of importance. It may be that love is as important as fear and we may need to look deeply at fear in order to be with love. 

Many questions arose as we continued to look at the issues: 

  • What is it like when fear takes precedence? 
  • Are fear and love mutually exclusive?  
  • How do we navigate these questions? 
  • How do we look at fear without getting overwhelmed? 
  • One participant was feeling angry about the fear she was feeling. 
  • What are the differences between real danger and psychological fear? 
  • How much is imagination involved with fear? 
  • What is the Void if there is no fear?  
  • Is fear and identity the same thing? 
  • Fear is related to time, the future, avoidance, belonging, loss, and security. Money can be a source of fear 
  • When faced with the true insecurity of existence a feeling of instability is experienced. There is a sense that anything can happen, which is the ”true nature” of everything. 

 

     DB