People misunderstand Non-Duality, let's clear up any confusion here...

arpgme
Non-Duality is Oneness, Wholeness, and Unity. Duality is splitting everything into Two. The Two represents opposites.

so funny to see someone start off a thread trying to clear up an understanding of interpreting non-duality by presenting two options, your twist is to say one option is included in the other, but still, two options, that IS duality, your idea of non duality is still duality, the true key to non-duality is middle ground, the third option, shades of grey, not just yes and no but also partially, yes and no, maybe, likely, unlikely,

if youd like to resist excessive dualistic thinking, start by always looking for the middle path in every line of thought, the third option, compromise.

reply to post by arpgme


I see it as two different things that cannot be differentiated, and divided by a question that never ends.

For example, I can take the concept of "nothing" itself, and also, the sum total of what we simply "do not know" - although "nothing" and "unknown" have almost identical qualities, they are in fact different, and it takes a quick wit and an assertive mind to tell the two apart - thus, equating "nothing" with "unknown" creates a paradox of reasons and never-ending questions about ones own mortality.

Another aspect is the concept of "darkness" being equated with "nothing" - and an obvious fact that those whom are afraid of the dark equate it with nonexistence.

reply to post by arpgme


reply to post by arpgme


It's rather late to jump into this fray, but at risk of repeating what other said already, I say:

To discuss nonduality meaningfully one must first take a position on what exists and what doesn't exist. In the case of Buddhism (and specifically, Yogachara philosophy) that position is basically as follows.

(1) Unreal mental construction -- that is, (1a) conceptual projection (parikalpa, Yogacharically speaking ) and (1b) dependent designation (prajnapti-upadaya, Madhyamika-wise) exist.

Those exist but the (2)apprehension of subjective mind over and against objective things -- which goes hand in hand with (1a) and (1b) -- does not exist.

(3) That (2) does not exist is reality, and reality exists.

Pardon the technical terms -- Yogachara and Madhyamaka -- but those are included here for the benefit of students of Buddhism. Otherwise, leaving out those terms and all further discussion of Buddhism, I dare say the above three points, (which are the view of Buddhist commentators Maitreya and Asanga amongst others), make the definition of non-duality simple and elegant.

Howso simple and elegant?

To reiterate my initial point, non-duality makes no sense as a simple claim or set of claims such as "the universe is whole" or "All is one". Scientists and theists make those claims but they don't necessarily have anything to say about non-duality. Rather, nonduality is rendered rational (if not quite sensible) provided one distinguishes clearly between what exists and what does not exist.

While I disagree with Shankaracharya's (Upanishadic) presupposition -- that only the Self exists, and that self is Brahman which is nondual -- Shankaracharya proceeds with the same philosophical method that I say is necessary, e.g. stating what does not exist versus what does exist. In the case of Advaita, that is to say "everything is Maya (magical illusion)", and that Maya does not exist. Hence the saying yā mā sā māyā, or "That which does not exist, that is Māyā".

A cheerful thought, perhaps?

One thing non duality is NOT, is wholeness, ie blending evil and good, or hate and love, or feed the poor and then the next night send in the troops to shoot the homeless children. There is no blending of opposite frequencies, from dense gravity that distorts memories and higher frequency of love. They're opposite spectrums that cannot be blended. Duality are merely the questions on the exams, your answers determine the overall frequency. You're job isn't to blend lower and higher mind, but overcome lower mind. Gain Free Will choices.

reply to post by Unity_99

Unity_99
One thing non duality is NOT, is wholeness

Non-duality is wholeness. Wholeness exists until you split it into pieces. A pizza pie is whole (non-dual) but it can be sliced into many pieces.

Some people like to slice it and say this piece is "better" than that piece. That piece is worthless and less important. This is the type of belief systems that gets a person to take advantage of another.

Non-Duality is not about blending anything, you are right. It's about realizing that everything is Reality-Existence expressing itself. The good people and the evil people are both a part of Reality-Existence, however, once you realize that Everything is Reality-Existence then that promotes Compassion and Unity.

Everything is Reality-Existence expressing itself in different forms. If you hurt another, you are hurting an aspect of yourself.

So if "evil" means psychotic and not compassionate, then yes, evil is ignorance of not understanding Non-Duality.

reply to post by arpgme


Picture this. we all exist outside of this universe, home, non duality, no harm at all of others possible, we feel each other inside and out so to speak, we are happy, and strive to learn and grow, and more or less choose what our next steps are and learn what appeals, within the framework of good relationships with others.

Then, we enter in, like a bird leaving the nest to fly, what is akin to a movie or dvd, school. It has coding, duality coding, metaphoric checkerboard floor: birth/death, health/sickness, day/night, up/down, forward/backward, tall/short.

Our DNA is a test, with stuff to overcome, if we give into the negative reactive stuff in us and yearnings for luxury, greed, especially at the expense of others, we are becoming more alligned with body, more beast. Our consciousness/awareness doesn't grow in No Time, but in the tests without memory, we can grow bigger. We can overcome the baser notes of our temple/body, and learn not to react, and start to gain choice, true free will, and chose what side of impulses to listen to. The small still voice within that gives us ideas and growth, and makes us feel bad when we hurt someone, or the voice to give into your reactions and selfishness.

So we end up in tests: hate/love, taking/giving, apathy/helpfulness, anger/peace.

There is a right and wrong answer. Though some of us learn by answering wrong initially, going down a wrong way, and then recovering. There are many ways to learn. But our souls want to be perfect, cause we go back and answer to that Wonderful Pure Spirit of either Higher Self or the Creator enjoining all of us, and we feel rather imperfect, greyer, when we do this.

There is a density in the school, infinite time channels, ie clocking their own stars, and also infinite density channels, from the Density of HARM, ie heavy gravity of a dark star, ie MURDER/RAPE/TORTURE.

To the light as a feather, guilt free, happy thoughts to fly, Love and Growing up.

Now, non duality never means: Light becomes Dark, Day and Night never occur, just blend somehow, so its eternal dawn or sunset, sickness and health wed together so you don't feel great, but you don't feel sick, you just blah!

Love and Hate never become grey and coldness.

Anger and peace can't become grey zone either.

Gravity never becomes Flight.

The school isn't going away because it takes infinity, and many recycles of the many infinite schools for infinite souls that never end, to get through.

Everyone makes it out and home and can fly with wings of love in the end. Everyone!

reply to post by Itisnowagain


Thanks for sharing

It always comes down to the same thing:
Observe what your mind really is and thou shalt finally see.

reply to post by D1ss1dent

I just have to share this.Building worlds that don't exist, imagination plays the worst tricks.
Much love.

reply to post by Unity_99

Unity_99

So we end up in tests: hate/love, taking/giving, apathy/helpfulness, anger/peace.

There is a right and wrong answer

I agree with you. Thank you for clarifying truth here. It is only when we see ourselves as separate from everyone else that we choose to hate and control others. When we realize that the truth is Unity , Oneness, Non-Duality, then we all love each other and we realize that this separation that created hatred and wars is a lie and that Equality and Unity was the truth.

People have used Non-Duality to promote apathy , I don't disagree with you there. I made this thread to give clarity that True Non-Duality is realizing that we are all together as One, as Reality, and likewise we are all Equal and it is from understand this, that more Compassion and Empathy will growth.

Peace, and thanks again for commenting and giving clarity in case someone thought I was promoting something different.