Non-duality is a spiritual tradition that questions the boundaries people draw between self and other, mind and body, and observer and observed. Learning about non-duality has helped me better understand the concepts of interbeing and being part of the universe.
Non-duality in awareness means being aware of what is happening in the present moment without the normal filtering of words and concepts.
My mind normally adds a layer of words and concepts to everything I experience. For example, when I look around my “office,” I see a “chair” next to my “desk.” I know that I can “sit” in the chair to “work” at my desk. Now suppose that I were a three-month-old infant. My eyes would still see the same things. However, I would not be able to say the words “office,” “chair,” “desk,” “sit,” or “work” let alone explain what they mean. My awareness of what is happening in the present moment would be free from the layer of words and concepts that my adult mind adds to all of my experiences.
Although I can never again experience the world as a three-month-old infant, I can practice being aware of what is happening in the present moment while diminishing the influence of words and concepts. Scott Kiloby describes this as basic awareness.
Awareness is the basic capacity to be aware. It’s as simple as that. If you try to understand that intellectually, you miss the simplicity of it. Before you think about it, are you aware right now? That is awareness. Stop for one moment and bring your full attention to this basic awareness. It is what allows the present moment to effortlessly be as it is. Notice that when you are not thinking, this basic awareness simply allows, for example, the wall to be as it is. It naturally allows a table to be as it is. It naturally allows the air in the room to be as it is. It takes no effort to let everything be as it is. Discover this for yourself. Stop thinking for long enough to get one glimpse of the fact that there is a basic awareness already here. All you have to do is notice that it is here. Then notice that when a thought arises, this basic awareness allows even that thought to be as it is.
This basic awareness has deepened my understanding and appreciation of being interrelated with the world around me.
The article on Nondualism in Wikipedia and the interview with David Loy by Insight Journal offer a broad overview of non-duality. A broad overview of non-duality may be all that some people seek. Anyone interested in a deeper understanding of non-duality may wish to consider the following books:
- Nothing to Grasp by Joan Tollifson
- Living Realization by Scott Kiloby
- Oneness by John Greven
- Scott Kiloby (2014). Living Realization: A Simple, Plain-English Guide to Non-Duality. Salisbury, U.K.: Non-Duality Press. Kindle Edition. Quote taken from pages 4-5.
- Joan Tollifson (2012). Nothing to Grasp. Salisbury, U.K.: Non-Duality Press. Kindle Edition. Quote taken from pages 11-12.