Self-inquiry, September 20, 2023

Self-inquiry

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavilion

With James Waite

 

Eight participants were in attendance for this Wednesday afternoon meeting at the lovely Gorge Park Pavilion in Victoria, BC. The session was facilitated by James Waite from Brentwood Bay. It began with some spontaneous sharing of our backgrounds and interest in the works of J. Krishnamurti. The topics of discussion and exploration ranged over various aspects of self-inquiry and the challenges of learning about ourselves. It was asked whether such inquiry produces anything new and fresh in our experience of ourselves and especially in our insight concerning the makeup of our consciousness and psychological structures. This was considered to be important because seeing something about ourselves in a new way can bring about a change in us which may deepen our way of experiencing our lives and our relationships with each other. We spoke of the central place of learning in our lives and of what is actually meant by learning. Self-observation was said to be the most important element of Krishnamurti’s teachings along with the integration of such “meditation” with our daily lives of work and play. Every moment is a teaching moment and asks for our willingness to “walk the walk”, which requires the kind of sensitivity displayed by Krishnamurti throughout his lifetime.

The fact of “emptiness” or “vacancy” was explored along with the necessity for us to realise and embody these states of being, as K did in his life. An important aspect of emptiness is the activity of fully listening to others and to one’s own inner reality as it displays itself in our relationships. The listening empties the mind of thought and concepts which only clutter the mind and prevent clear seeing and insight. It is crucial, it was said, to see the operation of the “I” concept in oneself and to dissolve the solidity of thoughts which create the sense of self.

The illusion of “practice” was explored, wherein practice is seen to be an obstruction rather than a beneficial activity.

The eight participants all had significant ideas and insights to share, making the dialogue an interesting and apparently meaningful one for all of us.

DB