Recent Weekend Events at the Centre
Krishnamurti Study Group Saturday, November 1, 2014 Nine participants showed up for this ongoing exploration of the book Freedom From the Known by J. Krishnamurti. We began to read half way through the last chapter of the book but only progressed a couple of paragraphs because there was immediately a great deal of earnest discussion about the subject matter, which was mainly concerned with how we create friction and therefore a loss of energy. K says that great energy is needed in order to inquire deeply. This statement was questioned and explored, and the fact of resistance to “what is” was looked at. It was expressed that it seems essential to really see the root of this resistance, with the resulting conflict and suffering, and the focused inquiry into this issue led to some fresh insight for at least some of the participants. It was expressed that the session was a “powerful” one. Inquiry Sunday November 2, 2014 For the morning session KECC had invited Keith Baker to give a talk and lead a discussion about his experience of having five cardiac arrests over a short period of time and the powerful “near death experience” that coincided with this event. There was a great deal of interest in the topic apparently as 28 people were in attendance. Keith spoke clearly about the profound experience of becoming pure, unlimited awareness and boundless love and realizing that that is what he truly is. An essential aspect of the experience he described as being the realization that everything is perfect exactly as it is. The distinction was made between “ideal” and “perfect”: although something may be far from ideal, there is a way in which it is always perfect. He then spoke of the importance of seeing through and releasing limiting beliefs and having belief systems that are congruent with one’s purpose. The talk was followed by questions from the group and some interesting discussion of what had been presented. After the meeting was officially ended, many people lingered to continue talking further with Keith and each other. In the afternoon, nine people stayed for a video of Krishnamurti on the topic of “meditation” and a group dyad and dialogue inquiry into what had been seen and heard. Krishnamurti’s approach to meditation is quite different from many teachings about the subject and it can be challenging for people to get a concrete sense of exactly what he is pointing to. One thing that seemed to be understood, at least verbally, by everyone was his emphasis that If there is a “meditator” then meditation is not happening. Meditation is perceiving what is without the meditator or observer, the thought-constructed “me” that is the result of conditioning and lack of clear seeing of our true nature. These statements by K provoked some serious investigation into the reality or otherwise of the separate “I” and some relating to what had been said and discussed in the morning session. There is always in these sessions the opportunity for real insight and transformation and for the awakening of this type of inquiry on an ongoing basis.
