Why did you join the Krishnamurti Study Group

Tonight at our group meeting, we shared a little bit about our experience happening upon Krishnamurti and/or this Krishnamurti study group. I offer my experience in hopes that some of you will feel compelled to offer yours as well.

The main reason that I joined the group was because I was curious to learn about the words of a man who had influenced Robert’s yoga classes. Admittedly, I was hesitant at first. I have developed a resistance to the overwhelming amount of teachings (some of which seem to be of very low quality) that exist in this world. Yet despite the accessibility of information, I rarely find something that is insightful. In fact, I have been searching for a teacher for the past 2-3 years after having taken a leap of faith and leaving my career in science to pursue another career. I spent most of my academic training being mentored and taught by those senior to me. Those teachers were quite obvious and available; however, in my new career they are not. I ended up doing my Yoga Teacher Certification last year still hoping to find THE teacher (a feeling of should rather than need) but I never really found the insight that I was looking for. I went on a 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat, which was an amazing personal experience, but I didn’t find that individual who was to “teach” me. Knowing that I had to commit a significant amount of time to practicing yoga if I were to continue to feel legitimate as a teacher, I re-invested my time into Robert’s classes, which years before invoked a confused sense of curiosity in me. What I like most about Robert’s classes now is that he says things that I don't always understand. At first I didn't hear what he said, or rather I never listened. But then I began to listen and I know that I can’t come to know through intellectualization, a tendency of mine in many realms. Happening upon Robert’s Krishnamurti study group was an inviting opportunity to continue to explore Robert’s yoga classes from another experience. And so now I am reading Krishnamurti’s words. In the process I came across the following:

We accept, we are gullible, we are greedy for new experiences. People swallow what is said by anybody with a beard, with promises, saying you will have a marvelous experience if you do certain things! I think one has to say “I know nothing.” Obviously I can’t rely on others. If there were no books, no gurus, what would you do? p.23 The Awakening of Intelligence, J. Krishnamurti

What a great question! What would you do?

What would I do? I would probably sit and wonder and ponder, because that’s what I remember doing naturally and easily as a child. I haven't actually read many books, in fact I can probably count on both hands the number of books that I’ve read cover to cover thus far in my life – this stat baffles many people who know me and my doctorate degree in psychology and neuroscience but I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Krishnamurti did not read books either! I would also probably think a lot, because that seems pretty easy and natural and has been for as long as I can remember. I would probably observe and interact with animals, because again, that is easy and natural for me, as is the thought of swimming in beautiful clear blue waters, basking in the sun, napping, dreaming, playing competitive team sports. That's what I would do because those are all pretty natural to me, and in the absence of books, teachers, and gurus I suspect I would just exist naturally.