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A Guide and Index to Genuine Spirituality
"Thou Art That!"
Look for the truth exactly on the spot where you stand.
- Buddhist Mantra -
That in whom reside all beings and who resides in all beings, who is the giver of grace to all, the Supreme Soul of the universe, the limitless being -- I am that.
- Amritbindu Upanishad -
That which permeates all, which nothing transcends and which, like the universal space around us, fills everything completely from within and without, that Supreme non-dual Brahman -- that thou art.
- Sankaracharya -
The seeker is he who is in search of himself. Give up all questions except one: 'Who am I?' After all, the only fact you are sure of is that you are. The 'I am' is certain. The 'I am this' is not. Struggle to find out what you are in reality. To know what you are, you must first investigate and know what you are not. Discover all that you are not -- body, feelings thoughts, time, space, this or that -- nothing, concrete or abstract, which you perceive can be you. The very act of perceiving shows that you are not what you perceive. The clearer you understand on the level of mind you can be described in negative terms only, the quicker will you come to the end of your search and realise that you are the limitless being.
- Nisargadatta Maharaj -
If you've been on a spiritual quest for a while, you're probably familiar in one way or another with the teaching of Nonduality. Although there are many "brand-name" versions of it, such as Zen Buddhism, Taoism, Advaita Vedanta, and others, the word Nonduality is a generic term, a translation of "Advaita," which means "not two."Traditionally, Advaita is a branch of Vedanta, the philosophy derived from the Hindu Vedas. Advaita is often expressed as a form of Jnana (wisdom) Yoga, which uses persistent inquiry into the nature of reality as its main discipline. Summed up briefly, Advaita teaches that suffering is a result of being ignorant of your true nature. It teaches that nothing exists but consciousness, and consciousness is what you truly are. When you recognize that your true nature is consciousness, you are enlightened.
Surprisingly, there are many resources on the Internet dedicated to teaching Nonduality. But very few of them are purely scholarly, theoretical or descriptive. Many, in fact, have dispensed with the teaching's traditional complexities in favor of going straight to its heart. Many are hosted by self-realized teachers, including an increasingly large number of Westerners, who offer instruction and guidance online - in other words, satsang (association with truth) in cyberspace.
Why is this teaching becoming so popular and widespread? There are several reasons.
Like a good scientific hypothesis, it is elegantly simple and clearly focused, especially in the stripped-down and condensed expression found on many of the web sites. It can be easily grasped in theory. It can even be encapsulated in one sentence: you already are what you are looking for. Or, the one you are searching for is the one doing the looking.
Moreover, it is an ultimate puzzle. No matter how clearly you grasp the central teaching of Nonduality, it confounds the mind. Yet, in the process, it may cause a profound shift in understanding, an awakening from a false or illusory identity as a separate self to recognition of consciousness as one's true Self. (The illusion of a separate self, which is also called the ego, is a kind of phantom, a process in which consciousness falsely identifies with transitory phenomena that arise within it, especially the body. The logic of the process creates the impression that whatever events arise in consciousness are not just happening - they are happening to that separate and vulnerable self.)
Nonduality teaches that spiritual awakening, also known as enlightenment, is your birthright. It is inherent to your nature. Although it is sometimes said that nothing can be done to become awakened, the evidence of personal experience doesn't support that claim. Many people, including some of the best known teachers, have awakened just by thinking about or reasoning out the fundamental claims of Nonduality, or by self-observation, or by following Ramana Maharshi's advice to ask themselves persistently, "Who am I?" Nisargadatta Maharaj, for example, said that, shortly before his teacher died, he told him, "You alone are, deny existence to everything except your Self." Nisargadatta did not doubt him: "I was merely puzzling over it, until I realized that it is absolutely true. I found that I am conscious and happy absolutely, and only by mistake I thought I owed being-consciousness to the body and the world of bodies." Thereafter, Nisargadatta became one of the most important teachers of Nonduality in modern times.
Doubt about your true nature is the only enemy of spiritual awakening. Understanding is the key to defeating doubt.
To develop your own understanding, read about Nonduality from a variety of sources. As already mentioned, many Eastern teachings, particularly Buddhism, Taoism and philosophies derived from the Hindu scriptures, are expressions of Nonduality, but there are also an increasing number of modern teachers who speak or write on the subject with exceptional clarity.
It might also be useful, although not necessary, to practice some form of meditation, preferably a simple, easy method that you are likely to use persistently and consistently. Spirituality is simply understanding your own true nature, and meditation is a key to quieting your mind sufficiently to allow that understanding to arise. Specific approaches to meditation may be found throughout the Internet, as well in libraries and in bookstores. Some excellent resources can be found on the Spirituality page.
Although a teacher can be very useful, Nonduality doesn't necessarily require one. A valid teacher can only point the way to understanding - nothing more. The rest is up to you. For that reason, it is generally wise to avoid manipulative teachings and teachers who try to control you or make you feel guilty about any aspect of your life, such as diet, sex, sleep, etc. A spiritual person is a fully human person who lives a free and normal life. While others may help you by pointing the way to spiritual understanding, there is ultimately only one authority in your spiritual life, and it is you. Never give that authority to another.
Not even a methodology, other than persistent inquiry, is necessary or desireable for awakening. Although most teachers have struggled to find their true nature, some of the greatest, such as Ramana Maharshi, came to their realization spontaneously. Other great teachers who are categorized as Nondualists, such as J. Krishnamurti, never used or advocated any methodology at all. Krishnamurti merely required close attention from his audiences, in the hope of igniting within them a spontaneous revolution in awareness.
For those who have broken away from conservative and repressive religious backgrounds, one of the more attractive features of Nonduality is that it does not promote morality as an ideology, or as an end in itself, or as a goal of spirituality. Rather, where it is mentioned at all, morality - expressed mainly as compassion - is seen to be both a stepping stone to self-realization and to follow naturally from it. Once you understand that there is nothing but consciousness, there is little reason or motivation for harming another. Since everything and everyone exists in consciousness, and you are that consciousness, you see others as yourself. When Jesus explained to his disciples that how they treat others is how they're treating him, he was telling them that there is no separation.
But what ultimately makes Nonduality attractive is that its realization is readily available to everyone simply through understanding. While most schools of yoga promise enlightenment only after many years, even lifetimes, of tedious, strict, dedicated practice - and then only with a final push over the edge from an enlightened master - Nonduality, on the other hand, offers enlightenment right now, in this instant, if you can only "get it." And, increasingly, as we head more deeply into the third millennium, there are many who are "getting it."
The amazing thing is that we actually search for That. We think it is somewhere in the future, but it turns out to be ever-present. We think it is hidden, but it turns out to be always obvious and self-evident. We think it is something to be acquired, but it turns out to be our very own self. In fact, it turns out that there is nothing else other than our self. We are already That. There's nothing to be found, nothing to be solved, nothing to do but just stop searching and rest in Being - the here and the now, just as it is. It's amazing that we could ever have missed seeing it! And, upon seeing it, all we can do is laugh!
- DLT -For further information, see Frequently Asked Questions About Nonduality. Also, for periodic additional commentary about Nonduality, see the 3MG blog, 3rd Millennium Gateway Posts.
Current Teachers
Past Teachers
Nonduality Resources
Nonduality Articles
Nonduality Books
Current Teachers This list is far from comprehensive. Use your own judgment in deciding whether a teacher or a teaching seems valid. Sometimes intuition alone will tell you. If what you find doesn't feel right, trust your feeling.
Advaita Fellowship (Wayne Liquorman)
Adyashanti Clarity and unusual insight.
Awakening into Awareness (Metta Zetty) Due to health problems, Metta has temporarily suspended much of her involvement with her site. However, the site contains many important resources.
Awakening To The Dream (Leo Hartong)
Dharma Dialogues (Catherine Ingram)
The End of Seeking (Mike Graham)
The Final Dialogue Wolfgang Bernard's platonic dialogue style e-mail teaching based on the principles of nonduality common to Advaita Vedanta, Zen, and Sufism.
Fire of Truth Satsanga (Neelam)
Living Essence Foundation (Arjuna Nick Ardagh)
Living Reality (James Braha) James, who has recently written a book about Bob Adamson, gives talks on Nonduality and shows several films of lectures from Bob's 2004 U.S. tour - Sarasota, Florida.
The Natural State (John Wheeler)
The Open Secret (Tony Parsons)
Radiant mind (Peter Fenner) Buddhist psychology and Nondual therapy. Several PDF files available as free downloads.
Radical Happiness: A Guide to Awakening (Gina Lake)
"Sailor" Bob Adamson Highly recommended.
Satsang with Nirmala Several books available as free downloads.
You Are Dreaming (Randall Friend)
Kerry Breitbart gives talks on Bob Adamson's teachings of Nonduality on Wednesday evenings in Weston, Connecticut. Phone consultations available by appointment. Phone: 203 858-0055
E-mail: kerrymb@msn.com
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Past Teachers The following sites represent great teachers who, although they have passed on, have left behind organizations and publications about their teachings.
Krishnamurti Worldwide Web Information The late J. Krishnamurti may be the most important, influential and respected spiritual teacher of the Twentieth Century. Many noted physicists and intellectuals engaged in probing discussions with him about the nature of reality. But don't expect him to be like any other teacher. A man of remarkable honesty and integrity, he was also an iconoclast who had little respect for religious authority.
Ramana Maharshi The official site for this unusual and famous sage contains several free books for downloading. He is particularly known for advocating inquiry into the nature of reality in the form of the question, "Who am I?"
Sri H.W.L. Poonja A prominent disciple of Ramana Maharshi.
Nisargadatta Maharaj or Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj One of the most important teachers of Nonduality in modern times. Prolific commentary.
U. G. Krishnamurti (Deceased March 22, 2007 - see Obituary) A renowned iconoclast who disagreed even with fellow iconoclast J. Krishnamurti. Several books are available at the site as free downloads.
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Nonduality Resources The following sites provide a great deal of information about Nonduality and many of its teachers, both present and past.
Amigo An online periodical offering interesting and insightful articles, interviews, etc., about Jnana Yoga, Advaita Vedanta and other Nondualistic approaches in downloadable format. New editions appear on an irregular basis.
Ashtavakra Gita The John Richards translation.
Avadhut Gita by Dattatreya Hari Prasad Shastri's English translation (1st edition, 1934) with some corrections, updates, and notes added.
A Course in Consciousness This is a summary of a series of seminars offered to humanities undergraduates by Stanley Sobottka, Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Virginia. It covers: 1) the reasons why consciousness is a necessary part of the most widely accepted interpretations of quantum theory, 2) the metaphysics of Nonduality, and 3) the teachings of several contemporary enlightened sages. Read the "Foreword" to decide if you want to read all, or only select chapters. Excellent instruction in Nonduality.
Crest Jewel of Wisdom by Sankara. Also known as the Crest Jewel of Discrimination, or Viveka-Chudamani. Translated by John Richards.
Dzogchen Foundation - Buddhism for the West Dzogchen is the Tibetan Buddhist expression of Nonduality.
I Am That: Dialogues of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj The complete text in downloadable formats.
Lotus and Rose This rich site is devoted to open inquiry about the universal life of the spirit. Combining offerings from the spiritual wisdom of the East and the West, the author encourages you to find out who you are.
Nonduality: The Varieties of Expression A major resource. In particular, you might find the Nonduality FAQ of great interest.
Ramana Maharshi and Other Advaita
Realization.org Another major resource - many interesting and useful articles about spiritual techniques, paths and experiences.
Shining Through the Mind Notes on Nonduality by Bob Adamson's editor, Gilbert Schultz. This site also displays the wisdom of three Nonduality masters from the Navanath Sampradaya lineage: "Sailor" Bob Adamson, Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj.
The Spiritual Path of Advaita Extensive resources about Advaita, including Traditional, Direct Path and Neo-Advaita.
The Wei Wu Wei Archives Some writings by WWW are included, as well as many links to works cited by him, and other resources.
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Nonduality Articles David R. Loy articles:
- David Loy: Zen Philosopher and Social Critic In this transcript from a DVD, Loy describes his Zen journey and his development as a Buddhist philosopher.
- Enlightenment in Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta: Are Nirvana and Moksha the Same? Since enlightenment transcends all conceptual understanding, do different teachings refer to the same experience?
- How Many Nondualities Are There? "...the nondual experience transcends philosophy itself and all its ontological claims, to which one cannot help but respond: are these philosophies then based upon, and pointing to, the same nondual experience?"
- Lack and Liberation in Self and Society: An Interview with David Loy A discussion about the Buddhist teachings of impermanence, emptiness, suffering, and the false sense of self.
- David Loy Interview Brief discussion about his award-winning book, Lack and Transcendence: The Problem of Death and Life in Psychotherapy, Existentialism, and Buddhism.
- Wei-wu-wei: Nondual Action Interpretations of "the action of nonaction."
- Loving the World as Our Own Body: The Nondualist Ethics of Taoism, Buddhism and Deep Ecology "He who loves the whole world as if it were his own body can be trusted with the whole world." - Tao Te Ching
Epiphany: Gift of Light Metta Zetty describes her spontaneous spiritual awakening and provides useful insights into developing your own understanding of the nature of reality.
Journey of Freedom Jim Dreaver, a teacher of spirituality, tells his personal story of growth and awakening.
Killing the Ego: Does It Hurt? Self-realization can occur in many different ways, some very quietly. The author describes her gradual process of losing the ego and puts to rest some misconceptions.
Nondualism From Wikipedia, a discussion of nondualist traditions and their differences.
A See Change This set of witty verses by Jim Clatfelter expresses with simple clarity the "two-way seeing" he learned from Douglas Harding (see The Headless Way). Also, see Clatfelter's Headless Tao, his interpretation of the Tao Te Ching.
The Seeing In the tradition of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and Bob Adamson, this Q&A discussion by Mario Sanasi offers understanding of the nature of Awareness.
Two Interviews with Wayne Liquorman If you're lucky, you might walk away from these interviews with less than you brought to them.
What Is Enlightenment? Dr. Nitin Trasi, MD, describes the nature and reality of the mysterious condition called Enlightenment.
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Nonduality Books Radical Happiness: A Guide To Awakening In her new book, Gina Lake points the way to true happiness. When the false "you" gets out of the way, the real you, your divine nature, is revealed as already present. In that realization lies radical happiness.
Nothing Personal: Seeing Beyond The Illusion Of A Separate Self by Nirmala points to the Source of who you are. This outstanding collection of talks and dialogues is a free, full-length, downloadable book.
Chuck Hillig's latest book, Looking For God: Seeing the Whole in One, points directly to what you already are: the void, which is also everything.
Jan Kersschot's excellent new book, This Is It, offers the radical understanding that there is no one to be liberated! Here are a few Selections from the book.
Leo Hartong's recent book, Awakening to the Dream, is a remarkably clear and enjoyable invitation to understand your true nature. Enlightenment is not just for the few; it's for everyone. See the 3MG review.
In his book, What's Wrong with Right Now Unless You Think about It, "Sailor" Bob Adamson shows with direct immediacy that all problems are in the mind, not in the here and now. See the review. Also, a 3-CD set, "Conversations On No-Thing," is now available. See the review of Volume One in the series.
Chuck Hillig's new book, Seeds for the Soul, offers hundreds of small gems of wisdom for living as the Source of who you are. See the review for more information.
Teachers of Nonduality have widely varied personalities. Some are serious and abstract, while others are fun and down-to-earth. Chuck Hillig, a devotee of Ramana Maharshi, is one of the latter. By means of deceptively simple stories, clever paradoxes and word play, his humorous writings gently tease you into understanding who you really are. His classic Enlightenment For Beginners, for example, is a profound explanation of Nonduality that's so fun and easy to read, it's suitable for both adults and younger people. For a complete list and description of Hillig's books, visit Black Dot Publications. See, also, our review of The Way IT Is, as well as Seeds for the Soul, his latest book which offers hundreds of small gems of wisdom for living as the Source of who you are.
Another recently published book, The Science of Enlightenment by Dr. Nitin Trasi, MD, has received the following rave review:
To me, the most significant achievement of this book is that it brings down Enlightenment / Liberation from its distant holy pedestal, and shows clearly that it is not some esoteric, mysterious, rare state only meant for spiritual Goliaths, but instead a simple and practical state within the capacity of every average man or woman. - Dr. Keshav Magan
Also, see the review of this important book.
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