The Importance of Non-Duality

The Importance of Non-Duality

In a world filled with opinions and beliefs, it is time to look at non-duality. We have seen the problem dualism has caused in the political environment. At this point, it seems there is no room for discussion. I believe there is a place we could meet; a place of compassion, of care, of Love.

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.

Rumi

That field is where we live a life of compassion and allow our hearts to flow to others. We find it when we open ourselves up, allowing ourselves to be vulnerable.

Many in our culture believe, I am my body, which leads one to worry about what happens when the body dies. We as a whole also believe that we are our thoughts. This can cause combativeness, and it will pit me against you when I have different thoughts. These beliefs lead to a great deal of fear. I am separate, I am alone, and I need to protect myself. Even our words come across opinionated and judgmental.

When our children were young, we chose to use alternative medicine. Ear infection? Mullen oil, please. Members of the family and doctors were opinionated and/or judgmental about our choice. I felt alone and separate, me against the world. Starting to understand non-dualism has helped me understand it is not me against the other (whoever the other is) because there is only one.

Non-dualism does not see a difference between things. It does not know opposites.  Non-duality points to the oneness, wholeness, completeness, unity, of all life—a wholeness that exists now in the present moment. Learning and applying non-duality and applying it to your life’s circumstances will help decrease judgment, and other actions that cause confrontation. Our words change, we speak gently without accusing. We look to understand what the other is feeling. This is the place to settle differences, or at least the place to accept differences.

Let’s try an analogy to simplify this concept. When you think of the ocean, do you see it as one or many drops of water? I see it as the ocean. As the waves crash onto the shore, drops of water leave the ocean, seemingly looking separate for just a moment, but they quickly fall into the ocean and become one again. When each drop falls into the water again, it causes a ripple effect. One part of the whole impacting a great body of water, and the  ripple continues  to spread. Like a pebble tossed in a quiet lake, we can watch the ripple reach out. The ripple continues even when our eyes do not see it any more. The following is an example of the ripple:

A scientist who studied monkeys on an island in Indonesia was able to teach a certain one to wash bananas in the river before eating them. Cleansed of sand and dirt, the food was more flavorful. The scientist who did this only because he was studying the learning capacity of monkeys did not imagine what would eventually happen. So he was surprised to see that the other monkeys on the island began to imitate the first one. And then, one day, when a certain number of monkeys had learned to wash their bananas, the monkeys on all of the other islands in the archipelago began to do the same thing. What was most surprising, though, was that the other monkeys learned to do so without having had any contact with the island where the experiment had been conducted…There are several similar scientific studies. The most common explanation is that when a certain number of people evolve, the entire human race begins to evolve. We don’t know how many people are needed but we know that’s how it works.

Paulo Coelo from By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept

We are so connected, that even our thoughts reach out and touch others. So what kind of thoughts do you want to share with others, loving and kind or fearful and painful? I vote for love.

Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

Philippians 4:8 

Today is a great day to fill our minds (thoughts) with the good, the holy, and the beautiful. Thank you for your time. May your day be filled with Light.