Self-inquiry, July 2, 2023

Self-inquiry

With Mukesh Gupta

KECC, Metchosin, BC

Sunday, July 2, 2023

 

Seven of us gathered on the front lawn of the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada, located in Metchosin, BC, on a warm and sunny afternoon to explore ourselves through the process of “dialogue” or “meditative self-inquiry”, as Mukesh likes to call it. It is an exercise in looking carefully at the movement of thought in ourselves in order to gain insight into our thought processes. Such insight, Krishnamurti suggests, can generate a sense of freedom and well-being. Mukesh, the facilitator for the day, usually begins by describing some of the features of such a dialogue and then asks participants to bring forward any important questions or issues they would like to explore in the context of a group inquiry or investigation. On this occasion one group member asked “Why is the mind not able to be quiet? Why is it always in movement?” These questions opened up a strong interest in the relation between loss, pain, attachment, and suffering. Why do we not live in the present moment and why do memories play such a significant role in our experience? Why do we try to control life and shape it as we think it “should be” rather than letting it be as it is? What does it mean to “be with what is”, as Krishnamurti suggests, and to “see the fact”. This may make way for a “deeper energy” that acts with love and compassion. Sometimes there can be a spontaneous arising of deep appreciation and “preciousness” which can bring meaning to our lives.

The meeting came to a close with a wondering about the energy of desire and its significance. We agreed that it would be a worthwhile subject to explore in another dialogue. It was an appropriate place to bring the session to a gentle ending.