NONDUALITY: WHY NONDUALITY AND NOT MYSTICISM?

Extreme or hard core nonduality, though appearing in an odd way, without much juice, is a good teaching or non-teaching. Here is why: Though nonduality cannot be described and ultimately many mistakes as to what it is even pointing to can be made, (for example someone using its language in order to acquire a sort of intellectual or pseudo understanding), it is easier to understand and navigate than what I shall label here ‘mysticism.’

 

Nonduality says things like there is no person, there is nothing to realize, there is no cause and effect, there is no separation, there is no free will, and that though these things can’t be understood, some kind of unravelling can occur (some people claim through a teacher and others through striving and yet others claim it can’t be known how or why or when). In this case  we sort of know what we are dealing with for better or worse. A seeker could say, I resonate with this, and there is something here in all this talk about nothing being here. Or, a seeker could say, This is not for me thank you. I would like to be a person thanks very much. With nonduality the goods are on the table so to speak.

In mysticism, I would say it is simply too big. I am nobody, but I wouldn’t even suggest it. If you get involved with a new age set, or a group, - how is one to know ‘what is what?’ There are crystals, divination, spirit messages, past lives, ascension processes and programs, psychic powers, ghosts. All those things exist by the way, and I say so not through theory but through experience. Yet I think they are oddly enough a kind of hindrance to the path rather than a help, - and sometimes outright dangerous. It seems so cool or kind of spiritually liberal to know about these things, to practice them. I would not like to sound like a kind of Bible Thumper here, but speaking non-denominationally and for nobody, - I would advise someone to go to an old fashioned church and say a prayer before I would suggest getting involved in any of those things.

If nonduality teachings and writings are not for you, - then try and go back to the religion of your upbringing (I have never heard anyone say that before), or, just try and forget about it and watch television like everyone else, go the mall, become a regular secular sort. The mystic way is like playing with fire. I like the fact that nonduality teachings and teachers, and those interested in it on any level, are for the most part interested in awakenings, illumination, enlightenment. This might be a striving, yes,- but while the program is still running, it is better if I may ascribe (all language, mind, talk, and writing is by nature expressing itself in dualistic terms) a value to it,- a better striving than a striving for power, for knowledge or influence one is not necessarily supposed to have.

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