Weekend Retreat at the Centre
Self Inquiry and the Unfettered Mind
With Kathryn Jefferies, Ph.D
April 21 – 23, 2017
Dr. Jefferies teaches in the education department at Lakehead University in Orillia, Ontario. Her Ph. D thesis on the subject of “Education for Enlightenment” included perspectives on education from J. Krishnamurti, Byron Katie, and others. In this weekend workshop, she wove together the approaches of Krishnamurti and Katie in order to inquire into the meaning of living a life of wholeness and true satisfaction and the effect that has on the world around us. “We are the world” is one of the core principles of her teaching, along with the idea that we are our own authority. The ultimate truth of any idea, perspective, or spiritual teaching is only realized in our own actual experience. Understanding the difference between concepts and actually seeing the truth about ourselves for ourselves is something often not appreciated but is essential for self and societal transformation.
Kathryn gave an introductory talk on Friday night at which sixteen people were present. She spoke of her background and experiences with education and self-awareness, outlined her basic approach to both, and shared her vision for the weekend. Thirteen people were able to stay for the full weekend during which Kathryn guided the group in several meditations, both walking outdoors and sitting in the meeting room. The meditations were focused on the simple observation of “what is”: the breath, the body, and the thoughts and feelings arising moment to moment. She presented “The Work” of Byron Katie and guided the group in exploring issues relevant to them through its method of questioning assumptions and beliefs about others and ourselves. Participants used worksheets to write down their stressful thoughts and then worked together in dyads to investigate the beliefs contained in their statements. Kathryn was very skillful in facilitating the process and in bringing people out of their thinking minds and back to their actual experience. Real understanding will come from simply doing the work, she suggested.
A short video about Krishnamurti was shown on the Saturday night and there was time for rest and for exploring the lovely property and surroundings. The weekend was a challenging and profound exploration of ourselves and our relationship with others and the world. There was great support for insight and direct seeing into the nature of our thinking and feeling and for going beyond the conceptual mind to a deeper experience of being. Kathryn embodied the spirit of real inquiry and is planning to return next year to offer another weekend of inquiry at the Centre.
