Guest guest Posted October 30, 1999 Report Share Posted October 30, 1999 An overview of nonduality - by Tim Gerchmez Let's take a look at nonduality, and how it is viewed by the various religions, teachers and individuals who hold the perspective. Note that the word "man" used here is used to mean "mankind" or "humankind," and is certainly not intended to leave out women. Traditional Judeo-Christian religion teaches that man has a body, a mind and a soul, and that the soul is more important than the body or mind. This is partially true, and is a great step in the right direction. We cannot afford to denigrate the viewpoints of these "dualistic" religions - anything containing even a small measure of truth has great value. Buddhism has several sects, essentially divided into two different viewpoints. One view maintains that man has neither body, mind, nor soul, is in fact empty of qualities or attributes altogether (Shunyata). This view is entirely nondual, and is not nihilism, although it seems to come close at times. The rest of Buddhism is very similar in perspective to Advaita Vedanta (which we will examine in a moment). Despite seeming differences, we'll see how looking at the Absolute in its "empty aspect" and looking at it in its "full aspect" agree completely. Advaita Vedanta also believes that man has neither body or mind, but does believe that man has a soul (or rather, IS a soul), and that soul is not an "individual soul" (jiva), but is in fact the Absolute (Brahman, God without attributes). Advaita Vedanta looks at the Absolute in both its full and empty "aspects" equally, and knows that these are simply differing perspectives of the mind, while the Reality itself is the same. Advaita Vedanta is also generally considered to be a theistic perspective, as it acknowledges the existence of Saguna Brahman (God with Attributes, Creator God), or Ishvara, on the relative plane, whereas Buddhism is considered to be agnostic in perspective. We must remember, however, that each person is going to view things differently, and these statements made here are simply generalizations. Religions are meant for people, not people for religions. So, which is truth? Is man lacking body, mind, and soul (completely empty), or does man have a soul, which is in fact the Absolute (timeless, attributeless Fact)? If you think about it, you'll see that both of these viewpoints are saying precisely the same thing. The difference is simply in focus. In fact, Buddhism (all of it) and Advaita Vedanta agree completely, when the minor quibbles are examined in the bright light of knowledge. Buddhist "awakening" or "nirvana" and Vedantic "realization" are precisely the same thing (and in Zen, "Buddha-Nature" is the same as the Vedantic "Atman/Brahman"), yet each mind will perceive awakening in the light of the conditioning it has absorbed. If all conditioning is taken away, all teachings are set aside, the fact remains that awakening is awakening, and is the same always. Truth cannot differ, does not differ. All these viewpoints are human minds looking at a mountain from different angles. In nonduality even the most major paradoxes are resolved (in fact, seen to never have existed). I've also pointed out that even the Judeo-Christian religions and "new age" beliefs are paths heading in the right direction, although there are a few "new-age" belief systems that tend to lead toward further darkness and ignorance. A natural human tendency is to assume that a person's own path, their own conditioning, is the only way to "enlightenment," as if the Absolute can be limited by the pitiful thoughts or experiences of a particular person or persons. This tendency exists in the Judeo-Christian religions as well (in fact, is especially prevalent there). If a careful look is taken, it will be seen that all Advaita (nonduality) is looking at the same mountain, but from different angles. The mind is always limited, limited, limited. It is limited by its own conditioning, and falls prey to that conditioning again and again, surprisingly even in the greatest teachers. The mind tends toward ignorance; ignorance is its nature, and that ignorance generates disagreement. So all disagreement is ignorance, because there is only one truth. Most modern teachers or gurus teach a personal variation of either Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta, or a "personal mixture." The benefit of modern teachers is that they express the ancient discoveries in a way that the modern mind can grasp much more easily. Teachers like J. Krishnamurti and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj bring their own brilliant yogas to "the scene," offering further richness and further pointings to truth. However, ultimately, each person must pave their own path; set out into the world-forest with nothing but a scythe and perhaps a guide. Reading about nonduality, discussing nonduality, arguing nonduality has nothing to do with nonduality. Everything depends on experience and practice. Everyone has to find the correct way for them, even if that way is a mixture of ways, or is no way at all -- then set out to cross the ocean of the world. Some will drown in this lifetime. Others will reach the farther shore. It does not matter, because all these paths are doing is getting rid of ignorance, cleaning the glass so we do not "see through it darkly" anymore. Eventually, ignorance (duality) will fall away from all creation, and creation will return to its source. Until then, it is worthwhile to pursue truth for its own sake, and for no other. If nonduality does not make sense to you, discard it! Follow what you see as truth, and it can only lead to truth. This is not to say that it's not worthwhile to explore the teachings of others. Find those teachers or gurus who seem wise to you, and follow them. Follow more than one, if you wish. Follow all of them. Or follow only the Self, that still, small voice within. Dare to follow truth, even if it leads into hell, because there is nothing else but truth. To chase phantoms is childish. Let us always be brave and strong enough to pursue only truth. ----- "Words are only a mode of mind acting on mind." "Who makes us ignorant? We ourselves. We put our hands over our eyes and weep that it is dark." "We should be brave to open the doors to receive all available light from outside. Let rays of light come in, in sharp-driving showers from the four quarters of the Earth." "Truth is infinitely more weighty than untruth; so is goodness. If you possess these, they will make their way by sheer gravity." .... Swami Vivekananda ----- Visit The Core of the WWW at http://coresite.cjb.net - Music, Poetry, Writings on Nondual Spiritual Topics. Tim's other pages are at http://core.vdirect.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 1999 Report Share Posted October 31, 1999 Namaste Tim Thanks for the motivating words. It is very inspiring. Regards. Peace Kathi > > Tim Gerchmez [sMTP:core1] > Sunday, October 31, 1999 11:19 AM > NondualitySalon ; advaitin > Cc: umbada > An overview of nonduality > > Tim Gerchmez <core1 > > > An overview of nonduality - by Tim Gerchmez > > Let's take a look at nonduality, and how it is viewed by the various > religions, teachers and individuals who hold the perspective. Note that > the word "man" used here is used to mean "mankind" or "humankind," and is > certainly not intended to leave out women. > > Traditional Judeo-Christian religion teaches that man has a body, a mind > and a soul, and that the soul is more important than the body or mind. > This is partially true, and is a great step in the right direction. We > cannot afford to denigrate the viewpoints of these "dualistic" religions - > anything containing even a small measure of truth has great value. > > Buddhism has several sects, essentially divided into two different > viewpoints. One view maintains that man has neither body, mind, nor soul, > is in fact empty of qualities or attributes altogether (Shunyata). This > view is entirely nondual, and is not nihilism, although it seems to come > close at times. The rest of Buddhism is very similar in perspective to > Advaita Vedanta (which we will examine in a moment). Despite seeming > differences, we'll see how looking at the Absolute in its "empty aspect" > and looking at it in its "full aspect" agree completely. > > Advaita Vedanta also believes that man has neither body or mind, but does > believe that man has a soul (or rather, IS a soul), and that soul is not > an > "individual soul" (jiva), but is in fact the Absolute (Brahman, God > without > attributes). Advaita Vedanta looks at the Absolute in both its full and > empty "aspects" equally, and knows that these are simply differing > perspectives of the mind, while the Reality itself is the same. Advaita > Vedanta is also generally considered to be a theistic perspective, as it > acknowledges the existence of Saguna Brahman (God with Attributes, Creator > God), or Ishvara, on the relative plane, whereas Buddhism is considered to > be agnostic in perspective. We must remember, however, that each person > is > going to view things differently, and these statements made here are > simply > generalizations. Religions are meant for people, not people for > religions. > > So, which is truth? Is man lacking body, mind, and soul (completely > empty), or does man have a soul, which is in fact the Absolute (timeless, > attributeless Fact)? If you think about it, you'll see that both of these > viewpoints are saying precisely the same thing. The difference is simply > in focus. In fact, Buddhism (all of it) and Advaita Vedanta agree > completely, when the minor quibbles are examined in the bright light of > knowledge. Buddhist "awakening" or "nirvana" and Vedantic "realization" > are precisely the same thing (and in Zen, "Buddha-Nature" is the same as > the Vedantic "Atman/Brahman"), yet each mind will perceive awakening in > the > light of the conditioning it has absorbed. If all conditioning is taken > away, all teachings are set aside, the fact remains that awakening is > awakening, and is the same always. Truth cannot differ, does not differ. > All these viewpoints are human minds looking at a mountain from different > angles. > > In nonduality even the most major paradoxes are resolved (in fact, seen to > never have existed). I've also pointed out that even the Judeo-Christian > religions and "new age" beliefs are paths heading in the right direction, > although there are a few "new-age" belief systems that tend to lead toward > further darkness and ignorance. > > A natural human tendency is to assume that a person's own path, their own > conditioning, is the only way to "enlightenment," as if the Absolute can > be > limited by the pitiful thoughts or experiences of a particular person or > persons. This tendency exists in the Judeo-Christian religions as well > (in > fact, is especially prevalent there). If a careful look is taken, it will > be seen that all Advaita (nonduality) is looking at the same mountain, but > from different angles. The mind is always limited, limited, limited. It > is limited by its own conditioning, and falls prey to that conditioning > again and again, surprisingly even in the greatest teachers. The mind > tends toward ignorance; ignorance is its nature, and that ignorance > generates disagreement. So all disagreement is ignorance, because there > is > only one truth. > > Most modern teachers or gurus teach a personal variation of either > Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta, or a "personal mixture." The benefit of modern > teachers is that they express the ancient discoveries in a way that the > modern mind can grasp much more easily. Teachers like J. Krishnamurti and > Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj bring their own brilliant yogas to "the scene," > offering further richness and further pointings to truth. However, > ultimately, each person must pave their own path; set out into the > world-forest with nothing but a scythe and perhaps a guide. Reading about > nonduality, discussing nonduality, arguing nonduality has nothing to do > with nonduality. Everything depends on experience and practice. > Everyone > has to find the correct way for them, even if that way is a mixture of > ways, or is no way at all -- then set out to cross the ocean of the world. > Some will drown in this lifetime. Others will reach the farther shore. > It > does not matter, because all these paths are doing is getting rid of > ignorance, cleaning the glass so we do not "see through it darkly" > anymore. > > Eventually, ignorance (duality) will fall away from all creation, and > creation will return to its source. Until then, it is worthwhile to > pursue > truth for its own sake, and for no other. If nonduality does not make > sense to you, discard it! Follow what you see as truth, and it can only > lead to truth. This is not to say that it's not worthwhile to explore the > teachings of others. Find those teachers or gurus who seem wise to you, > and follow them. Follow more than one, if you wish. Follow all of them. > Or follow only the Self, that still, small voice within. Dare to follow > truth, even if it leads into hell, because there is nothing else but > truth. > To chase phantoms is childish. Let us always be brave and strong enough > to pursue only truth. > > ----- > "Words are only a mode of mind acting on mind." > > "Who makes us ignorant? We ourselves. We put our hands over our eyes and > weep that it is dark." > > "We should be brave to open the doors to receive all available light from > outside. Let rays of light come in, in sharp-driving showers from the > four > quarters of the Earth." > > "Truth is infinitely more weighty than untruth; so is goodness. If you > possess these, they will make their way by sheer gravity." > > ... Swami Vivekananda > > > ----- > Visit The Core of the WWW at http://coresite.cjb.net - > Music, Poetry, Writings on Nondual Spiritual Topics. > Tim's other pages are at http://core.vdirect.net > > > Discussion of the True Meaning of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy > focusing on non-duality between mind and matter. List Archives available > at: /viewarchive.cgi?listname=advaitin > Mirror Archive Site: http://www.eScribe.com/culture/advaitin/ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 1999 Report Share Posted November 1, 1999 Dear Sir Tim. Thank your kind & blessing words. Namaste. Raju. In a message dated 10/30/99 6:19:49 PM Pacific Standard Time, core1 writes: > If nonduality does not make > sense to you, discard it! Follow what you see as truth, and it can only > lead to truth. This is not to say that it's not worthwhile to explore the > teachings of others. Find those teachers or gurus who seem wise to you, > and follow them. Follow more than one, if you wish. Follow all of them. > Or follow only the Self, that still, small voice within. Dare to follow > truth, even if it leads into hell, because there is nothing else but truth. > To chase phantoms is childish. Let us always be brave and strong enough > to pursue only truth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.