Self-inquiry with Mukesh Gupta on June 12, 2024

/in /by

Self-inquiry with Mukesh Gupta

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

At Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavilion

1170 Tillicum Rd., Victoria, BC

 

Eleven participants in total were present for this meeting with Mukesh Gupta at the Gorge Park Pavilion on Tillicum Road in Esquimalt. Mukesh began the session with a silent sit of five to ten minutes. He then said that it was always a good idea to review the basic principles of self-inquiry, one of which is the exploring of deeper aspects of our nature (or what we are). This, he explained, involves our entire being – our heart, our mind, and our senses. In self-inquiry there is no fixed goal to be reached. We join together to explore ourselves without authority or hierarchy in a relationship of friends. We are not in any rush to find an answer to any particular question or to apply past knowledge to our uncertainties. It is more that we are opening to a silent space wherein any problem can be faced. There is a slowing down of our thinking; affection and love are the ground of the journey. It is a sacred space for exploring together in a compassionate presence. A deep listening is needed, along with a suspension of reactions. Anyone can share a question or issue which the group can then explore. We are not interested in judging each other.

One group member asked how we can best stay present when we are badly triggered and tempted to go into a reaction. It was suggested that it would be helpful for there to be plenty of space for everyone to contribute to the conversation. Any belief in “what should be” was deemed to be counter-productive to meaningful dialogue. Also, if individuals can find a capacity in themselves to trust that the group’s interactions will turn out to be supportive as the communication unfolds, then that would probably be helpful to the flow of sharing. There would be space for reactions, and this would create less argument along with less fear of losing both inner and outer space.

As we talked together, we realised that there was a beautiful silence in the room being shared by the whole group. It was a suitable time to bring the meeting to an end.

DB