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Concept
Nonduality (spirituality)
Summary
_Nonduality
Nonduality, also called nondualism and nondual awareness, is a fuzzy concept, originating in Indian philosophy and religion, implying that the universe forms a whole that can be experienced as such by the human mind. The Asian terms from which it is derived have specific, somewhat different meanings depending on context, but common elements are: the idea that everything is interconnected, forming a singular unity that suggests the personal self is an illusion; an awareness of this unity, without the usual strict distinction between an observer and the things observed; and thinking that lacks dualistic concepts in order to support this view and experience. Different theories and concepts expressing nonduality are taught in a wide variety of spiritual, religious, and philosophical traditions, including Advaita Vedanta, Kashmir Shaivism, Mahayana Buddhism, and Taoist philosophy. According to the common core thesis, the nondual experience behind these various views is essentially the same.
The English term "nonduality" is derived from the Sanskrit Hindu term "advaita" (अद्वैत), "not-two" or "one without a second", which means that Reality does not consist of discrete, separate objects, but forms a unified whole which can be experienced as such; and from the Buddhist term advaya, also meaning "not two", but meaning that the two truths of conventional reality and this Ultimate Reality are not two separate realities.
Descriptions of nondual consciousness can be found in both Hinduism (Purusha, Turiya, sahaja, self-luminosity) and Buddhism (luminous mind, Nirvana, emptiness, pariniṣpanna, nature of mind, rigpa). Nondual awareness can also be found in western traditions, such as Sufism, Christian mysticism and Neoplatonism, which is an essential element of Western esotericism and modern spirituality and Perennialism.
"Dual" comes from Latin "duo", two, prefixed with "non-" meaning "not"; "non-dual" means "not-two". When referring to nonduality, Hinduism generally uses the Sanskrit term Advaita, while Buddhism uses Advaya (Tibetan: gNis-med, Chinese: pu-erh, Japanese: fu-ni).
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