What Is Non-Dualism?
A common concept in many religious traditions is becoming too intellectualized.
A concept that’s gathering traction among contemplatives is “non-dualism.” It’s definitely not new, but I’m seeing some Instagram posts, courses, and lectures centering on this concept of non-dualism.
Non-dualism, in the context of spirituality or theology, refers to the idea that there is no fundamental distinction or separation between the divine, the self, and the rest of existence. It is a perspective that transcends dualities, such as subject-object, self-other, or sacred-profane. We’re all swimming in the same soup.
Non-dualistic traditions often assert that ultimate reality is a unified, undivided whole, and any apparent distinctions or separations are illusions. The term “non-dual” is derived from the Sanskrit word “advaita,” which means “not two” or “non-dual.”
Several religious and philosophical traditions incorporate non-dualistic perspectives, and these ideas are found in various forms across different cultures. Here are a few examples:
- Advaita Vedanta: A school of Hindu philosophy that emphasizes the non-dual nature of reality. It teaches that Brahman (the ultimate reality or absolute) is the only true existence, and individual souls (atman) are ultimately…
