Oda Lindner (April)
Oda Lindner is a registered yoga therapist and instructor who trained with Desikachar, who was also Krishnamurti’s yoga teacher.
She is an experienced workshop leader of yoga and meditation who is passionate about the potential of attentive listening and mindful movement to create greater awareness and a freedom that can transform our minds, our bodies and our ways of being and moving.
She lives in Niagara on-the-Lake, Ontario.
Hillary Rodrigues (May)
An ardent spiritual seeker in his youth, Hillary Rodrigues has been a professor of Eastern religious traditions at the University of Lethbridge for 30 years.
His wide-ranging research includes writings on world religions, Asian philosophies, theory and method in the study of religion, and Hindu goddesses.
He has published books and articles and given invited presentations on Krishnamurti’s teachings in Europe, Canada, the United States, Mexico, and India.
His writings include Krishnamurti’s Insight, Hinduism – the eBook, as well as digital resources for studying world religions.
Mukesh Gupta (June & July – first half)
Mukesh Gupta is a traveling educator and speaker from India, with over 25 years of experience in transformative self-inquiry, inspired by the teachings of J. Krishnamurti, Buddha, and non-duality.
He spent two decades at the Krishnamurti Retreat Centre in Varanasi, India, and now works with a meditative and transformative self-inquiry approach—a gentle and unhurried process of connecting with one’s essence beyond the conditioned layers of the egoic mind.
Mukesh believes that a non-authoritarian and compassionate presence is essential for inner transformation and peace within oneself and society. He is the founder of the School for Self-Inquiry: www.schoolforselfinquiry.org.
Eric Hassett (July – second half)
Eric Hassett coordinates the monthly dialogue and video showing at the KFA in Ojai, CA— Looking, Listening, and Shared Inquiry. A lifelong appreciation of Krishnamurti’s teachings and a longtime passion for dialogue and inquiry make me want to bring people together from all walks of life, to share in the open-ended exploration of fundamental questions of living and attempt to observe not just the content of thought but its process in operation. This not only has the potential of deepening one’s mere intellectual understanding (in part by hearing others’ perspectives) but also offers a unique opportunity to see oneself in ‘the mirror of relationship’ — and possibly open the door to insight heretofore inaccessible during solitary contemplation.
Wherever you are on the journey and whatever form it takes, my aim is to see you through to its end — an ending born out of insight, so where there was confusion, conflict, and sorrow, there may be clarity, compassion, and love.
Zeenat Patel (August)
Zeenat Patel works in public health and preventive medicine. She has endeavored to improve the health of populations both domestically and internationally, through working with governments, NGOs, and international organizations.
She has acted in key leadership roles and has considerable experience facilitating committees and groups on a wide range of health issues.
While Zeenat enjoys her work, her passion lies in the serious investigation of how we live our everyday lives. It is this passion that drew her to the work of J. Krishnamurti.
Vala Kondo-Legan (September – first half)
The magnetism of Krishnamurti’s words is irresistible to me. Over the years, a shift in sight has radically illuminated relationships, beliefs, and the exhausting maintenance of “me”.
Vala believes that Krishnamurti’s teachings throw psychology, art and “self- actualization” into a new light and open dimensions on what it means to “understand oneself”. Vala’s intensive study of Krishnamurti has an additional focus on inquiry into trauma. Vala Legan is a practicing Marriage and Family Therapist and Art Therapist, specializing in trauma and attachment.
She has published 18 children’s books as an illustrator, as well as illustrating over 30 national magazines and newspapers (www.valakondolegan.com).
James Tousignant (September – second half)
I have long been fascinated by the questions “What am I?” and its companion “Why am I here?” In the dialogues and writings of J. Krishnamurti I have found a traveling companion, someone to walk alongside me and guide my exploration into the “extraordinary phenomena of human existence.”
Asking questions, deeply listening, finding out for myself, all the while refining my understanding based on my experiences has been a defining feature of my approach to living. Whether I am facilitating a class or self-inquiry meditation retreat, leading a wilderness kayaking trip off Canada’s west coast, or working co-creatively with my garden I am passionate about showing up as fully as I can in the moment to what is. For me, this is an ongoing act of awareness, presence, blessing and partnership.
I have a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology and Statistics and worked professionally as a research methodologist and senior statistician in the public service. Later, I served as the executive director in a community mental health organization providing support to unhoused, vulnerable, and high risk individuals.
Javier Gomez Rodriguez (October)
Javier was a teacher at Brockwood Park, a school founded by Krishnamurti in England. He later facilitated a Bohmian dialogue group and published several booklets on dialogue. Recently he has been presenting a course offering a comprehensive introduction to Krishnamurti’s life and teachings.
Javier was one of the main editors of The Link, the magazine published by Krishnamurti Link International (KLI) as an international forum for the study of the teachings.
Javier continues to be associated with KLI and keeps to its agenda of international meetings and responsibilities.