Self-Inquiry with Vala Kondo-Legan, August 24, 2025

Again working from our on-going Sunday quote for the month of August:

 

“To go very far, you must begin very near.

But that is very difficult for most of us

because we want to escape from

“what is” ; from the fact of what we are.“

The group began with reflections on what it is like to keep the same quote for several dialogues sessions, especially since this is an unusual practice, which is unknown.

The group quickly asserted descriptions of its “safe”, “nice” character.

Exploration of “nice-ness” ensued with observations on the conditioning to be “nice” and a hatred of nice-ness.

The question was posed whether it is possible to be “nice and vulnerable at the same time”? Being nice was looked at as a protection.

The group reframed to a question of “being ok”. Several observations were made on how things generally “turn out ok” and “will be ok”, if allowed to take their course.

The observation was made that “being Ok” can be an escape from a “non-ok” state.

This was followed by comment that “being ok” may anesthetize us from our lives

and it was observed that the dialogue did, in fact, feel sleepy.

Comment was made that we spend much time actually not knowing if we are ok.

The group elaborated on how much we assume, about the world and ourselves;  yet we do not know.

The fact that “we do not know” landed in a silent pause in the group

and was observed to be more “alive” than the previously sleepy state of “nice”/ “ok”

and corresponding ideas of “wholeness and presence”.

 

—Vala Kondo-Legan