Nonduality is the state of being intimately connected to everything, experiencing a profound sense of oneness with the entire universe. In this experience, the distinction between the observer and the observed dissolves, and the individual feels as one with what they are observing. For example, one does not merely see a mountain; they become the mountain. This experience eliminates the separation between the observed and the observer, transforming them into empty yet vivid experiences. Nonduality is the state of pure experience without division between subject and object, observer and observed.
Different cultures have developed various techniques to help individuals experience nonduality. However, it can also be an innate human experience. It is possible to induce it through meditation practices, but it can also be revealed through direct pointing. Nonduality is at the core of human experience and is present in most religions and philosophies, with particular emphasis in Hinduism and Buddhism.
Nonduality is considered the essence of spiritual awakening, encompassing enlightenment, liberation, realization, and divine union. The process of awakening through nonduality can take a lifetime, constantly deepening and broadening to encompass more areas of one's life.
Historical Context:
- Adi Shankara is credited with organizing the principles of Advaitic theosophy in the 8th century AD. This tradition is a fusion of traditional Vedanta scripture and Buddhism.
- The writings of more recent sages such as Atmananda Krishna Menon, Nisargadatta Maharaj, and Ramana Maharshi, as well as contemporary teachers like Francis Lucille, Rupert Spira, and Adyashanti, provide deeper insights into nonduality.
Nonduality is an experience of pure being, without cognition, where all separation ceases. It is an awakening from all fixed points of view and the end of all division. It is the realization that there is just one self, with no difference or gap between the revelation of oneness and the way it is perceived and lived every moment of life. It is the state of consciousness, our true nature, which reveals itself as absolute happiness, love, and beauty.
"Nonduality is the realization that there is just one self, an awakening from all fixed points of view, and the end of all division."
In essence, nonduality is a journey to our true nature, an ongoing process of deepening awareness and connection with the universe, leading to a life of profound peace and fulfillment.