Comments on: Definition of Nondualism

By: icjr

icjr — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:27:32 +0000

Thanks for all these concepts, interpretations, ideas and expressive thought conveyed. It helps as I mutter through this complicated definition for nonduality, nondualism or its derivatives. I see the word as two parts to a whole. Keeping them in balance. Also not split but whole in thought and actions.

By: George Poggemann

George Poggemann — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:21:16 +0000

The philosophy of Non-Dualism is the point of view that there is one Absolute Reality without a second and that each of us is one with that Reality, just as a wave is one with the ocean. It asserts that experiencing Ultimate Reality is the goal of life. Advaita, another name for Non-Dualism, sees other religions, practices and philosophies as tools that ultimately lead to the direct experience of Absolute Reality.
To discriminate between what is real and what is not real, it is necessary to define what is meant by real and not real. In this philosophy only that which neither changes nor ceases to exist is real. No object or knowledge can be absolutely real if its existence is only temporary. The unreal includes every “thing,” all names and forms, our minds and thoughts, everything. The universe looks real but is not permanent. It is an illusion. We can’t say it exists nor can we say it doesn’t exist. It is neither real nor non-existent. It is magical. It’s a mystery.
Reality is not a thing at all. It is no-thing, nothing. An innocent term for it would be pure spirit, or pure consciousness. It has no parts. If we look for it, we are an eye looking for itself. It is experienced but cannot be described. It is ineffable. This Pure Consciousness is permanent existence, knowledge and bliss and is one with man’s inner self.
When we wake up from a dream the dream world disappears. Non-Dualism teaches that when we wake up to reality this world disappears. The world of thought and matter is a misreading of pure spirit and nothing more. It has a phenomenal or relative existence superimposed upon Absolute Reality by ignorance and remains superimposed until ignorance is destroyed by knowledge of reality, commonly called Spiritual Enlightenment.

By: Arek

Arek — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:02:32 +0000

OK friends, but NO words/knowledge will help people who are anxious – afraid of their bosses and of losing their jobs – frustrated – angry – hypnotized by thought… Right?

Therefore, please try this:

NONDUALITY IS ALWAYS PERCEIVING EVERYTHING PERCEIVABLE AT THE BEGINNING!

By: Ted Biringer

Ted Biringer — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 08:52:13 +0000

Jerry,

Ahhhh yes… The old “One Hand Chopped Liver” koan. Definitely a “nanto” koan (difficult to penetrate), yet well worth the effort.

Strive On! Strive On!

Ted

By: nonduality

nonduality — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:46:13 +0000

Those are the real ways to define nonduality. Thank you. I’m dragging my ass through the linear world to harvest definitions.

I’m still stuck on the koan, “What is the sound of one hand clapping to Hava Nigela since the other hand is holding a piece of cocktail rye with a shmeer of chopped liver on it?”

Jerry

By: Ted Biringer

Ted Biringer — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:31:49 +0000

Great post!

Here are some of my favorite definitions/expressions/explanations of Nondualism” from the Zen tradition:

“When one side is revealed, the other is concealed.”
~Dogen

A monk asked Joshu, “All things return to the One. Where does the One return to?”

Joshu said, “When I was in the province of Sai, I made a cloth shirt. It weighed seven pounds.”
~Blue Cliff Record, Case 45

“Light has no front or back.”
~Traditional Zen Saying (See, for instance, “Zen Sand” by Viktor Hori)

And of course, the perenial favorite:

“What is the sound of a single hand?”
~Hakuin
(Note: This is often mis-quoted as “one hand clapping.” –”Clapping” has nothing to do with the main point of this koan and is misleading.)

Thanks again!
Ted

By: Vicki Woodyard

Vicki Woodyard — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:51:15 +0000

“You can’t wrap your mind around it.”
Vicki Woodyard