How important is the spirit of a dialogue and self-inquiry in our life and relationships: whether in our family, in our work place, in any organisation, in our culture and surroundings. Dialogue is essentially different from debate. The focus of a debate is to provide a “quick solution” and convince the other of my opinion or ideas. The “me” is dominating and there is a sense of aggression. In a dialogue the focus is to “learn together” and “see together” what is true and what is false in any given situation. The aim is not to provide readymade solutions or quick fixes. The power of a dialogue lies in creating an open and safe space which is free from fear and judgments. Usually our inner space is clouded by our “knowledge”, past experiences, fears and our overwhelming desire to fix a problem. Once there is an inner relaxed space, a quality of a non-reactive still mind, the insights and deeper understandings can flow through our shared presence. 

The core spirit of a meditative self-inquiry is held together with the following qualities:

1.     Togetherness: A deep process of self-inquiry and dialogue opens up in an environment of real togetherness, trust and love. This doesn't depend on whether we personally know each other. The work of self-inquiry is not just for the benefit of oneself but for the sake of whole human consciousness of which we are only tiny sparks. In a dialogue we work together as friends and fellow-travelers without any hierarchy or authority. The role of a facilitator is to initiate the dialogue process and keep the flame of self-inquiry alive while working together with the whole group and by gently reminding the original intention and the core questions around which we have gathered.

2.     A deep sense of wonder: The living qualities of wonder,  innocence and curiosity are essential aspects of this meditative self-inquiry. One of the primary aims of self-inquiry is not to gain more knowledge and gather ready-made answers but to see the nature/limitation of our past knowledge, thinking process and belief systems and realize the beauty and significance of being empty and letting go of our attachment, dependence and identification with the past baggage.

3.     A deep quality of looking, listening and awareness: The basic ground of meditative self-inquiry and dialogue is held together with the exploration of these fundamental factors of our being. These are perhaps the only unconditioned tools available to us for deeper learnings and insights.

4.     A deep sense of leisure, silence and inner space: A deep process of self-inquiry - which is not an intellectual analytical process - naturally happens when the mind is really quiet and in leisure; when it is not in a rush and under compulsion to reach any predetermined destination. It's an uncharted journey into the unknown.

5.     Staying with a question for a sustained period of time - rather than rushing to answer it from our past knowledge - and holding it together. In this way we allow the question to unfold itself in a space of curiosity, wonder, tentativeness and affection.

6.    Clear perception of "what is": A clear perception of what is real and what is unreal, of "what is", in this living moment is one of the essential aspects of self-inquiry. One needs to be watchful of the mind's deep habit of slipping back into the comfort zone of "what should be"!

7.     Participants in a self-inquiry need to be precise and brief in their communication so that every participant gets a space to open up. At the same time there is no compulsion that each participant has to share something – one can even participate silently and quite profoundly with one’s simple and awake presence.

8.     We need to be clear from the beginning that this sacred space of self-inquiry is not for debates, arguments or asserting any particular ideology, strong opinions or ideals. Our primary shared concern is to discover together what is true and what is false and not who is right or who is wrong. Gentleness, affection, trust, respect for each other, patience, humility and tentativeness in one’s approach and communication is the foundation of this meditative self-inquiry.

So the basic intention of meditative self-inquiry is to work together in an affectionate, trusting, leisurely and meditative space so that there is a natural opening up of fundamental problems that confront our daily life. This may happen by simply sharing our observations, our blocks, our aspirations, our contradictions as well as our inherent goodness, trust and love for finding what is true and what is false. In order to participate in this self-inquiry process we do not require huge knowledge of any teaching or philosophy; what we actually require is a simple heart and mind which is open to listening, inquiring and wondering and not seeking any preconceived specific results. The challenge for all of us is to come together as beginners and friends.

- Mukesh