A MEMORABLE RETREAT AT VARANASI 2 TO 5 OCTOBER

Our Centre organised a retreat at the KFI Rajghat Varanasi Study Centre on 2 to 5 October. We had participants from Kolkata, Mumbai, Santiniketan, Bangalore, Allahabad, Jodhpur, Kanpur and of course Varanasi. On day 1, we had an introductory session about the theme of the retreat (Living the truth of the teachings) and how each of us looks at it. In the process of sharing, many core issues, including conditioning and identification, came up.

Later in the day, we saw the video of J Krishnamurti’s 7th group discussion at Malibu in 1970 where he explored what is order. That group discussion touched us all deeply. One could see fairly clearly that we ourselves are the problem. We are never ’empty’ and so we ourselves deny the possibilities that might open up. As Krishna ji said with a smile at the end, if there is that complete order of emptiness, then ‘God runs after you’.

On day 2, we had a two hour question and answer interaction with Professor P Krishna. That was a wonderful opportunity to talk to a person who has so much to share from his long association with J Krishnamurti and the teachings. Even at 89, there is extraordinary clarity in communication. Later in the day, we listened to an audio ‘What is a religious mind?’ (Madras 1965) and then had a dialogue related to that question.

On day 3, we saw a 42 minute video of 1975 where J Krishnamurti spoke to Fred Hall about the intent behind the new school at Ojai. We then had an interesting discussion with educators at Rajghat about how that extraordinary vision for right education was shaping up at Rajghat. We all realised how important it is to relate to that vision of right education which effectively holds the key to the ‘new mind’.

On the concluding day, we listened to a 1968 public talk audio (Amsterdam) where Krishnamurti explores the question ‘is it possible to end thought?’ For each of us, understanding thought in all its dimensions is so important. Life is challenging us all the time with new demands and new phases. To that challenge we respond according to our old patterns. Can there be a total mutation so that we respond from a source that is untouched by psychological conditioning?

KFI Rajghat is not just about the school and the study centre. It is like a garden with beautiful flowers of various colours and sizes. There is the Rural Centre with a hospital, a school, a Women’s Empowerment Unit, a Dairy and so much more. The rural hospital has recently had a new start as a collaborative venture and is now called the Sathya Sai Baba Sanjeevani Hospital.  There is also the Vasanta College for Girls where we listened to the most beautiful classical music one evening. Personally, for me the highlight of the retreat was the morning when we listened to the school children of Rajghat Besant School singing some lovely bhajans in the assembly hall. That image of innocence and goodness has stayed on. It reminds us that education is a sacred duty and the essence of the teachings too.

Incidentally, so much of the beautiful work going on at the Rural Centre for the poor needs support, both financial and otherwise. The Achyut Patwardhan School and the Women’s Empowerment Unit are two examples of work being done for the rural poor. The new hospital is looking for resident doctors to support and oversee the work. So, there is much that we as ‘society’ can all do.