Self-inquiry with Jeff Brown, April 21, 2024
Self-inquiry with Jeff Brown
Sunday, April 21, 2024
At KECC Metchosin, BC
There were nine participants in attendance for this Sunday afternoon meeting at the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada location at 538 Swanwick Rd. in Metchosin. It was a sunny day, a little on the cold and windy side, and we decided to hold the meeting on the front lawn. We were treated with the beautiful ocean and mountain views and the lovely Gary Oak trees giving the property its delightful variety of objects such as grass, bushes, rocks and clouds floating in a blue sky. After some moments of silence there was a sharing of a contrasting reality that seemed to hold all objects in an open space which penetrated their solidity. Jeff asked if anyone had a question they would like to explore with the group and this awakened a few lines of inquiry which became more and more absorbing. The discussion turned to the strange fact of this existence of emptiness and fullness at the same time, as spoken of in Buddhist texts from long ago. There was a quality of mystery and a sense, at least for some, of being without separation from one’s surroundings. Each dialoguer expressed his or her own experience of known and unknown as we explored our sense of self or no-self. It was difficult to describe, but participants made valiant attempts at putting words to the blend of form and emptiness which most seemed to register in the present moment. The noticing of a few fences on the property triggered thoughts of division and a recognition that we may all be as guilty as anyone of creating division while pretending that we are only interested in togetherness and sharing. We may not, it was said, be as innocent of creating separation as we’d like to think.
The conversation turned to a questioning of relationships and their value. What value does right relationship have, and what about so-called “healing relationship?” it was asked. As is often the case in our dialogues, the nature of the self was brought forward for examination along with the nature of conflict and its source or root. How much self-protection do we surround ourselves with as we go about our daily lives? Can we learn about our defensiveness as we observe our reactions in our lives. Such seemed to be the essence of Krishnamurti’s teachings.
The group appeared to be enjoying itself as we continued to question the nature of our experience. We gave up trying to stay warm as the day grew colder and moved to the Gatehouse for some tasty fruit and cookies, along with further conversation and enjoyment of each other’s company.
DB
