Self-Inquiry with Hillary Rodrigues, May 28, 2026
Our dialogue at Esquimault Park Pavilion began with the central question: What does Krishnamurti mean by « Consciousness is its content?” We watched a short video in which Krishnamurti explored the idea — fears, beliefs, memories, attachments, desires, hurts, pleasures, and conditioning are themselves the structure of consciousness. One participant shared that in other passages Krishnamurti said that in understanding the whole movement of conditioning consciousness itself undergoes a transformation.
Several participants reflected on the distinction between functional thought and psychological thought. Functional thought helps us navigate practical life, while psychological thought creates the sense of “me” through attachment, comparison, fear, and desire.
The dialogue then moved into themes of attachment and preference. One participant remarked, “I’d rather taste chocolate than be chocolate,” which opened a lively exploration of duality and non-duality. Some questioned whether there is a state beyond the observer and observed — a pure awareness without division — while others pointed out that even the desire for such a state may itself be another subtle form of acquisitiveness. We reflected on how beauty can be perceived directly, but the moment thought says “I want this,” suffering begins.
Fear became another central topic. One participant spoke openly about living with recurring fear and the impulse to escape from it. Others explored Krishnamurti’s suggestion that fear is closely connected to thought and psychological time — the movement of memory and projection into the future. We discussed whether fear can be observed without immediately naming, resisting, or escaping it. It was suggested that direct observation of fear, without the interference of the observer, may allow the feeling to unfold and dissolve naturally rather than becoming psychologically sustained through thought.
Throughout the dialogue there was a strong sense that inquiry itself mattered more than arriving at fixed conclusions. Different perspectives were welcomed and explored without the pressure to agree. Humor, friendship, and shared history gave warmth to the conversation, as participants reflected on decades of connection through Krishnamurti’s teachings, the school, and the centre. Stories about travel, old photographs, Nepal treks, and life experiences blended naturally with philosophical inquiry.
- Anastasia Shtamina
