Non-duality is Not a Belief System

Category Ego, Love, Non-duality

Non-duality is not a belief system. It’s not a philosophy. It’s not a religion. Really, it’s just a verbalized description of Absolute Reality.

Similarly, the statement “I exist” is not a belief system. It’s not a philosophy. It’s not a religion. It just a pointer towards what is, a verbalized description of direct experience in the moment.

The nature of existence can certainly spark philosophical debates. Who exists? For how long? Also, people can find themselves in the Void, face-to-face with their own extinguishment into non-existence during a dark night of the soul, but the fact of the matter is, if you didn’t exist here right now, there wouldn’t be the possibility of you (whatever you are) reading these words. Period. So you exist. Done. End of discussion.

So, you exist.

Similarly, non-duality not a belief system, although it can be turned into one when adopted by the mind. There’s a beautiful saying which sums this up perfectly:

Religions are but the footprints of where Truth once walked.

The Truth is always fresh and new, vibrant and alive in this moment. It is always available and ever-present. It is nothing that can be lost. You are the Truth.

Like all mental belief systems, religion is stale and old, like a written description of apples people ate thousands of years ago. If you realized you were surrounded by apples everywhere you looked, what would be the need for ancient descriptions of apples? Wanna know about apples? Pick one up and find out for yourself!

Spiritual truth is not meant to be something you learn. It’s realized directly by unlearning all that you have learned. It’s remembered by letting go of your conditioning. Thus, in Zen it is referred to as having “a beginner’s mind.”

Spiritual evolution occurs as the result of removing obstacles and not actually acquiring anything new. Devotion enables surrender of the mind’s vanities and cherished illusions so that it progressively becomes more free and more open to the light of Truth.

-David Hawkins

This surrendering process is applicable not only to Truth, but to Love, which are ultimately one and the same.

Your task is not to seek for Love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.

-Rumi

Continued Discussion | 1 Forum Comment

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8 Responses to “Non-duality is Not a Belief System”

The Journey Within said:

Rejoicing post as usual.
Sometimes, at the stage of growing, the belief of ‘non-duality’ may help to dehypnotize the belief of ‘duality’. Just like to use a thorn inside a foot to get rid of another. Once we get rid of, there is no use of either.
with Love,

The Journey Withins last blog post..Understanding the EGO; Right Remembrance

Ariel Bravy Reply:
March 3rd, 2009 at 3:10 am
Great analogies! As you pointed out, spiritual beliefs may help elevate one’s level of consciousness beyond where they were at the beginning, certainly. Yet to realize the truth directly, all tools must be let go of.

With summore Love, right back atcha!
Akemi - Akashic Record Reader said:

Hi Ariel,

I guess you have the same kind of hesitation I feel when someone approaches me saying “I’m a spiritual seeker.” I know they mean well and expect me to say something like “Cool, me too.” but . . . what I’d like to say is:

As long as you are “seeking”, you don’t find it. You can’t seek something that is already in you.

It’s actually a no brainer. Less effort. No effort. Done.

Okay, now I’m off to my daily “being” of sipping coffee admiring the sky.

Akemi – Akashic Record Readers last blog post..Spiritual Self Protection And Clearing
kensky said:

ive finally stumbled into what i understand. i “connect” with with all this “being”.ive allways held these inner feelings since age 6 but really never told anyone for fear id be called crazy. now i know there are “others” thanks you guys, ken
Eric Putkonen said:

Want to know about apples…you have to eat one yourself. Much like ‘a thousand travel books are not worth one trip.’ The Truth must be directly experienced (for lack of a better term)…it can not be heard from another, nor read in a book.

Great post!
preeti said:

Hmmm , duality is basic vocabulary which starts with I-am.
separation from Am (is ) and I . Today a comment my mother made on dinning table about what cast do we belong to ? my son immediately said we are human-being why do we keep labeling and separate ourselves from one.
Psiplex said:

Celebrating the joy and wisdom of this post . Had to Tweet it!

One Love

Psiplexs last blog post..Burstpiration

Ariel Bravy Reply:
March 8th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Thanks for the tweet!