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Just to refresh everyone's memory on this thread, I wanted to drop a few more of my favorite resources focused on non-duality messaging:
The Dalai Lama at the Gas Station (video)
http://batgap.com/The old Starbucks site (articles + MP3 podcasts)
http://urbangurumagazine.com/Nevernothere (video)
http://www.nevernothere.com/The Plato's cave trap
http://advaitism.comRandall friend
http://avastu0.blogspot.com/
I couldn't agree more. So many people fall headfirst into The Plato's cave trap, and when they do, that sense of isolation and suffering just hits them harder than ever before. That’s why I find what Rick Sanchez is saying to be perfectly reasonable. He isn't trying to deny the reality of the world we see right in front of us; he's simply pointing out that the true driver behind our actions isn't this little egoistic "me," but rather consciousness itself—whether you want to call that God or something else entirely. He puts it quite elegantly in English with one simple thought: "Consciousness is all there is and you are that"
Here is my loose interpretation of some thoughts from Jeff Bezos regarding something that is, frankly, impossible to capture perfectly with language. Essentially, the words here are just pointers toward the ineffable...
The concept of non-duality is about the lack of separation between you and the world around you. It explores the very root of our suffering and how we might actually find freedom right in the middle of that pain. It looks at those desperate ways we try to run away from uncomfortable or agonizing experiences, while suggesting there's a possibility to discover peace and relief within those exact moments. It also touches on the pursuit—and the ultimate cessation—of the spiritual search itself. It’s an invitation to see life for what it truly is, right this second.
Think of "non-duality" like a finger pointing at the moon; it’s just meant to direct your attention toward the wholeness of existence, toward the oneness that exists here and now. It points toward intimacy, toward a love that transcends language, and toward a sense of completeness found within the heart of your current experience. It points to where you already reside. It points you home.
It sits beyond intellectual understanding, yet simultaneously, it is as obvious as breathing—as familiar as the rhythm of your own heartbeat or the sights, sounds, and scents filling this room.
"Non-duality" is simply a term I use to gesture toward something that lies outside your concepts, ideas, and preconceived notions about life. It is a word used to indicate life as it actually is, beyond what you *think* life is, and to point toward who you truly are, beyond the persona you believe you possess.
In the end, who you really are and life itself are inseparable. They aren't two distinct things; they are non-dual. They are one.
This is a timeless truth, woven into the core of every major spiritual tradition across the globe and, ultimately, echoed by modern science.
Lately, I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to the whole non-duality thing—Advaita Vedanta and all that. To be honest, I find myself gravitating most toward the modern followers of Nisargadatta Maharaj. It feels like they’ve managed to strip away all that heavy Eastern religious baggage and repackage the core message specifically for the Western mind. Intellectually, I "get" it—I can follow the logic perfectly—but there's this nagging frustration because I'm still stuck running on my old, habitual patterns. It makes me feel like my understanding isn't quite hitting the mark yet. Since there isn't much localized discussion happening around here in the States regarding this specific niche, I’m a bit unsure if anyone else in my neck of the woods is actually digging into this stuff. I'd really love to find some people to exchange experiences with. Unfortunately, I don't exactly have the means to just hop on a plane and go seek out masters in person right now.
Anyway, if you're curious about what we're talking about, I'd suggest checking these out:
Stephen Wingate:
http://livinginpeace-thenaturalstate.com/Tony Parsons:
http://www.theopensecret.com/Jeff Foster:
http://www.lifewithoutacentre.com/ Mike Graham:
http://www.theendofseeking.net/And my personal favorite, who just cuts straight to the point, is Rick Linchitz:
http://www.jetzt-tv.net/index.php?id=linchitzIf anyone is interested in sharing their own journey or has any recommendations, I’d truly appreciate it! Thanks in advance!!!