Nonduality – a buzz word classically meaning “not two”. There is actually nothing new about it. On the one hand, the concept of unity is intuitive, ancient and on examination hard to refute. On the other, the seemingly innocuous nonduality craze in modern spirituality is tending to grossly simplify inner inquiry to choice states of being which are fixated as absolutes.
The error is found in a deep programming of beliefs in the existence of starting points and end points. This often plays out in the form that “you” (imperfect, not good enough, suffering, divided) are the starting point, and that nondual awakening (perfect, whole, free, blissful) is the end-point. Just in the emergence of the linear program of start and end, the survival of the whole program of lower mind (that believes it can dictate form onto life and that it is, of itself, uber alles) is sustained. The start and the end is already the birth of a new duality.
Part of the misconception of end-points is in the belief or wish that Nonduality is a quick fix to all life’s problems, and that in the awakening into nonduality, we are all the same. This is in no way true.
There are many experiences of nonduality. Yet the deeper movement beyond duality (even the duality of duality v nonduality) is always happening through a dimension prior to all experience – that same dimension which are the source of all experience. This dimension is here, regardless of whether we are grossly entangled in addiction, or in the midst of a Satori. It is perennial.
Following is a partial list of nondual dimensions that are nevertheless still held within the creative form of experience. Intuitively, the nondual perspective arising out of the conflict within any particular duality or conflict, offers the choice energetic perspective out of which healing and synthesis can occur.
Some Nondual Dimensions
Love
The duality of hate is self-sacrifice. Love is here irrespective of thoughts, feelings and emotions. It is here irrespective of attachment or entanglement. When the aversion, clinging and delusion cease, love is still present.
Unconditional love is the energy needed to heal afflictions around rejection, hatred, self-criticism, self-pity, jealousy, victimhood, resentment and discontent.
Peace
The duality of war is surrender. Peace is always here. It preceded our conception and it follows our demise. It is the backdrop to every conflict, mental, emotional or physical. It can never be damaged or taken away.
Unconditional peace is the energy needed to heal afflictions around rage, destruction, addiction, enmity, social fear, entanglement and attachment.
Freedom
The duality of slavery is liberation. Freedom is always here. Whatever happens to us, whatever is done by us or done to us, whatever is said by us or said about us, despite all decisions and all consequences, freedom is always here – at the beginning, middle and end of all cycles of form.
Unconditional freedom is the energy needed to heal afflictions around manifestation, judgement, rejection, gender identity, condemnation.
Purity
The duality of shame is disgust. Purity is always here. Both shame and disgust are a whiplash of the purity which is always here, and a suffering within the difficulty to allow the purity to be here unconditionally to our changing manifestation in form – any form.
Unconditional purity is the energy needed to heal afflictions around the inner child, family constellations, abuse, sexuality, food, anger.
Innocence
The duality of guilt is condemnation. The very idea of condemnation rests on the illusion of separate form. Innocence is always here – irrespective of the guilt we carry or the way we try and throw that guilt between us through the rejecting reflex of condemnation.
Unconditional innocence is the energy needed to heal afflictions around judgement, social norms, rejection, psychopathy, cruelty.
Unity
The duality of separation is togetherness. The unity is always here, regardless of whether we consider ourselves in absolute separation or as a seamless part of the whole. Separation and togetherness relates to the ways in which aspects of form seek to find harmony in manifestation.
Unconditional unity is the energy needed to heal afflictions around loneliness, rejection, specialness, selfishness.
InterBeing
The duality of loneliness is intimacy. Both navigate the belief in separation or the manifestation of different form in search of the interbeing and interconnectedness that is always here, regardless of whether we are isolated or at the heart of the party.
Unconditional interbeing is the energy needed to heal afflictions around jealousy, competition, self righteousness, superiority/inferiority, unworthiness.
THAT
The duality of experience is non-experience. The duality of a “thing” is “non-thing”. The duality of everyone is no-one. THAT is a space that is always here, in which the codependent pairs of everything and nothing coexist and disappear. Seen the other way around, it is that perennial space at the core of who we are, out of which the very possibility of everything and nothing arises. It is never lost, never take away and unconditional to all experience – while being the nondual aspect without which no experience at all could arise.
That is unconditional interwoven and prior to all other nondual perspectives. Out of That – which is prior and beneath even the experience of consciousness or pure awareness – life will manifest with precisely the right energies to support healing and the unconditional flow into harmony.
In THAT, duality and nonduality are One, indivisable, unborn and perpetually passing.
