Self-inquiry with Hillary Rodrigues, September 15, 2024
Self-inquiry with Hillary Rodrigues
Sunday, September 15, 2024
At KECC Metchosin, BC
Ten people in total were present for this Sunday afternoon meeting sponsored by the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada and held at the Swanwick Road location in Metchosin, BC. It was a warm, sunny day, good for sitting outdoors on the front lawn with the gorgeous ocean and mountain views. Our facilitator, Hillary Rodrigues, opened the meeting with a period of silence followed by a verbal description of the main features of “dialogue” meetings. Dialogue, Hillary offered, involves a sensitive observing of what is arising in others as the group interacts with each other and also a sensitive observing of what is arising within ourselves. What is observed can be shared with the group and explored in greater detail.
One participant mentioned his noticing of a tendency in himself to look for some sense of stability or security as communication moved on. Another questioned whether there is, in fact, any stability or security to be found. Can we remain in a place of stability? This led into an examination of thinking and the creation of a “self” and, in turn, to an inquiry into the possibility of knowing emptiness. We circled around a few questions and came to what seemed like a central issue: the death of the self. Can an “I” or a self-image be aware of its own death? There were a number of issues that group members brought forward, including what was often said by Krishnamurti, that when the self is present love is not – and vice versa. It seems that a kind of psychological death is necessary in order to realise the deeper states of consciousness.
One group member said that he would like to understand more deeply the meaning of another of K’s sayings: “the observer is the observed”. Participants offered various points of view regarding the issue and it seemed that there was some deepening of understanding concerning it. The discussion went on for some time before time ran out and we dispersed for some snacks and further friendly talk. Most of us seemed to be anticipating our next meeting with some enthusiasm.
DB
