Self-inquiry, July 19, 2023

Self-inquiry with Mukesh Gupta

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

At Esquimalt Gorge Pavilion

 

Seven people in total were present for this late afternoon meeting at the lovely Gorge Park pavilion. Mukesh began the session with a silent sit of about five minutes before making his usual introductory comments about the nature of dialogue. What is important in this kind of exploration, he pointed out, is to avoid making it into an intellectual exercise. Slowing down our thinking and sharing of ideas and insights helps us to go more deeply into silence, affection, and love, which are some of the valuable aspects of self-inquiry.

Mukesh then opened up the dialogue for any questions needing exploration for the participants. The first question was related to Krishnamurti’s statement that “seeing is action”. The questioner felt he did not have a full understanding of K’s meaning. One group member offered that K’s use of the word “action” might be different than the usual way in which the term is used. He felt that the meaning of “action” for K involved a deep inner shift or change which was beyond external expression or any “doing”. It was a case of insight rather than any change in thinking or conceptualising.

The inquiry moved into the issue of ending suffering, perhaps the essence of self Knowledge and meditation. The difference between what is and what should be was examined along with resistance to “what is”. The story of the Buddha’s enlightenment was introduced and contrasted with that of Krishnamurti. Key elements were considered to be the significance of self-knowledge, the meaning of psychological death, and the ending of continuity. The inquiry seemed to bring a fairly profound questioning and looking at some significant issues in our understanding of ourselves and perhaps of K’s perspectives.