Online Cohort: Wednesdays 4:30-6:30 PM PST Aug 27- Oct 1, 2025 (No meeting Sept 24)

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/choiceless-awareness-a-practice-intensive-tickets-1574644226269?aff=oddtdtcreator

In-Person Cohort:  Mondays 12:30-2:30 PST Aug 25- Sept 29, 2025 (No meeting Sept 22)

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/choiceless-awareness-a-practice-intensive-tickets-1574572782579?aff=oddtdtcreator

In this five session practice intensive we will explore the power and practical significance of what J Krishnamurti called “Choiceless Awareness”. We will look at how this term and what it points to, can transform our understanding of meditation practice and the nature of our own awareness. “Choiceless awareness” has come to be used in the world of insight meditation as a kind of synonym for open awareness, but Krishnamurti was not simply suggesting another meditation technique, he was pointing to something much more radical and profound about the nature of awareness and freedom.

“Freedom is not a reaction; freedom is not choice. It is man’s pretense that because he has choice he is free. Freedom is pure observation without direction, without fear of punishment and reward. Freedom is without motive; freedom is not at the end of the evolution of man but lies in the first step of his existence. In observation one begins to discover the lack of freedom. Freedom is found in the choiceless awareness of our daily existence and activity.” – J Krishnamurti

Krishnamurti saw methods as inherent obstructions, distortions that get in the way of genuine freedom and impede choiceless awareness. In our intensive will look at some of the common psychological pitfalls that arise in structured/formal meditation practice; and at the same time, we will make use of skillful means and methods from our insight meditation tradition and innovations on the traditional methods to help us to experientially access the radical nature of choiceless awareness. We will use structured practice methods as a type of scaffolding to support our transition from being apparent doers to “doorlessness”, from choice to choicelessness, from living within the bounds of concept to touching that aspect of our own minds that is always and already beyond concept.

The spirit of these intensives is that of a daily life retreat. Though we have a weekly meeting (except for Sept 22 and 24), most of the work and learning will happen in your personal practice, exploration, and inner inquiry during the week. I hope that you will live these six weeks as a daily life retreat and bring awareness and a spirit of playful inquiry to meet whatever arises.

If the fee is an obstacle for you, please email will@sundaysangha.net