OUR ANNUAL RETREAT: A BREAK FROM THE ROUTINE

Here at the J Krishnamurti Study Centre, Kolkata, we plan a retreat once every year. This year, that retreat happened in a beautiful location in Purulia District in West Bengal on 5 to 8 November. Plenty of trees, lakeside and hills all around and an environment free of pollution.

Our retreats are meant to facilitate a break from the routine, from the pattern of our daily living where our conditioning often reigns supreme. A retreat provides an opportunity for reflection. The schedule during a retreat is a mix; solitude, informal dialogue and also fun as people come to know each other. For some, this was their first retreat with our Centre.

The absence of TV screens etc was a blessing. We were compelled to listen to audio of J Krishnamurti talks and that was a blessing in the midst of all that natural beauty. The talks we selected for our listening were the six talks in 1979-80 that came to be described as the ‘Seed of a million years’ talks. For those interested, here is the link for those audios (one dialogue and six talks).

Inevitably, the extraordinary beauty of these talks unfolds on reflection and not necessarily during the retreat. Much depends on the participants’ own interest in uncovering all that beauty, all that depth. There were 14 participants and we hope it was worthwhile for them.