[NonDualPhil] Lewis's Guide to Nonduality Discourse

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P:Yeah, that's a good one!

On Apr 13, 2006, at 10:04 AM, Greg Goode wrote:

 

> While he was here, Lewis wrote two things I liked. One was his semi-

> spoof message about how it's all words. He wrote it under the

> pseudonym of " Janssen Theo, " which sounds like the name of the real-

> life linguist Theo Janssen. I can't find that post. Can anyone else

> find it?

>

> The other thing he wrote that I like is this intro to Nonduality

> Discourse. In a kind of stodgy way, it pokes holes in the

> presumptions, one-upsmanships and conceits you so often encounter in

> talk about nondualism. Enjoy!

>

> ==============================================

>

> Lurker's Guide to Nonduality Discourse

>

> Discourse emerges with a response to a response and continues with

> responses ad infinitum. All discourse takes place within a universe

> defined by a limited room of four permeable walls labeled Thingness,

> Nothingness, Becoming and Nonthingness. Discourse takes various forms

> and usually lie within four basic types and varieties of discourse and

> content derived from them. These include Eternalism and Nihilism at

> the extremes and Syncretism and Skepticism in between these extremes

> that either attempt to unite them or declare them uncertain or

> unknowable. Language and discourse about nonduality does not function

> outside of these four walls.

>

> Within these walls, all of what is spoken lies. Some linguistic

> expressions go to the walls, up against them so to speak, and

> responses emanate from there. Other responses are from positions in

> the middle, taking up this or that view that is formed and emanates

> from directional positions with and between walls such as Thingness

> and Becoming or Becoming and Nothingness and so on. All the

> permutations of nondual discourse are thus formed. Attempts to capture

> the room, to settle or unite discourse, or commandeer all discourse to

> a center or finality or even superiority, is usually attempted with

> discourse on " This " or " Nothing has ever happened, " " Betwixt and

> Between, " " Via Negativa, " " Now, " " Love, " " I Am, " " Awareness " " Nirguna

> Brahman, " " Sunyata, " " Self, " and other discursive devices. All of

> these are all firmly situated within the limited room as is this

> expression is, which is about the limited room, is of it, and provides

> a few of its dimensions as a guide for lurkers.

>

>