Self-inquiry with Cynthia Overweg, May 5, 2024

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Self-inquiry with Cynthia Overweg

Sunday, May 5, 2024

Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada

Metchosin, BC

 

Fourteen people in total were present at the Metchosin location of the Krishnamurti Educational Centre on Swanwick Road for this Sunday meeting. We were happy to welcome Cynthia, who formerly lived in Ojai, California, and now lives in Washington state. She is joining us as a guest facilitator for about one month. Cynthia has offered her skills to the Krishnamurti Centre for some years now in leading online gatherings and workshops which have been greatly enjoyed by participants. In this current series, Krishnamurti’s text, The Book of Life: Daily Meditations with Krishnamurti, is being used as a reference for the study of K’s perspectives on important issues in life and self-understanding.

After a period of silence, Cynthia read from the first section of the book entitled “Listening” and invited group participants to bring forward their observations and questions stimulated by the readings. Individuals offered their difficulties and issues with the “practice” of listening, including the barriers they sometimes or often came up against. There was a good deal of discussion concerning the difference between hearing and listening and the importance of sensitivity and receptivity. It was said that really effective listening has a certain energy to it which is a factor of a silent mind and the operation of insight rather than an intellectual comprehension of what is being communicated. The sense of separateness disappears in the listening when there is a quality of full attention in the present moment. It was suggested that the presence of genuine interest is an important element, as is also awareness of one’s body and its sensations. The existence of an awareness that is prior to all manifestation was explored and affirmed. Beliefs and ideas were to be considered as possible blocks to listening.

It was an interesting and revealing sharing of insights and discoveries which kept us engaged for a full hour and a half or more.

 

DB