What Is Non-Duality

Hello and welcome.

My name is Pratikha.

This short talk is called What is non-duality?

Nonduality is the recognition that life is not divided in the way that society and the conditioned mind perceives it.

It invites us to question whether appearances are truly what we believe them to be.

Most people interpret and describe their experiences of life through learned patterns of thought.

That define how each moment is perceived.

In terms of their individual relationships with the world.

Labels such as me and mine.

The Self and Other.

Inside and outside.

Happy or Sad?

Wealthy or poor.

Success or failure.

These labels have an obvious practical use in daily life.

But over time this labelling can define someone's personal identity around their beliefs,

Their opinions,

Concepts.

Or narratives.

The mind adopts these as their personal truth,

And so we begin creating a perception of life.

Our sense of reality around these beliefs.

And so we have billions of people experiencing life as a series of separate experiences.

Separate interpretations.

Separate beliefs.

This can then give rise to misunderstandings,

Division,

Conflict and suffering.

As people can become increasingly identified with their own beliefs and perspectives on life.

And potentially intolerant of those whose beliefs differ from their own.

The roots of this sense of separateness begins very early in life.

From childhood,

We are taught and learned to experience ourselves as separate people,

Separate individuals.

Interreacting with those separate around us and as we move through life.

And because of this,

There is virtually a universal belief.

That we are separate individuals in the world.

Rather than inseparable expressions of life itself.

Experiencing the world through different forms and experiences.

From this believed sense of separation,

Much personal suffering can arise.

There is a constant effort trying to control life,

Make sense of one's thoughts,

Trying to fit in,

Looking into the future.

Protecting and identifying our identity.

Wanting to be accepted.

Creating a successful life.

Searching for success,

Pleasure,

And satisfaction.

Trying to find happiness and love.

And a will perceived to be.

External and separate to ourselves.

But non-duality points to something much simpler.

And a more revealing self-recognition.

It suggests that prior to thought,

Prior to belief,

Prior to attachments to a self-created entity.

Personal identity there is not actually a separate self apart from life.

There is an infinite,

Aware presence within all of us.

Within which all experiences appear and fade.

This awareness is vast,

Timeless,

Silent.

And untouched by the countless appearances that arise within it.

One of those finite appearances is the body.

Another is thought.

Another is emotion.

And so what we call a person,

An individual,

May be better understood as a temporary expression with an awareness itself.

Rather than something separate from it.

The body appears,

The body fades.

So do thoughts,

Emotions,

Senses,

And experiences.

But the awareness presence within which all of these arise and fade.

Does not come and go with them.

It remains inseparable,

Untouched,

Whole and spacious.

Like a wave appearing on the surf of the ocean.

The wave must seem separate to the mind's eye for a moment.

It has shape and form.

But it is simply an inseparable expression of the ocean itself.

Appearing on the surface before returning to its source.

The vast,

Tranquil presence of the Boundless.

In the same way,

What we label as me or mine may be understood as a temporary expression of something whole,

Spacious and individual.

Non-duality is not asking you to believe anything.

It is simply an invitation to quietly recognize before thought labels experience.

Before the mind creates division.

What is actually present.

What is the seamless awareness before any thought appears?

In moments of calm,

Stillness and silence.

There can arise the recognition that life is unfolding effortlessly.

Without a separate person needing to control it.

Without a separate person needing to organize it.

Without a separate person identifying with it.

And in that recognition there can arise a deeper peace.

A deeper clarity.

And a deeper calm.

All expressions of the inseparable awareness.

That embraces all.

If this exploration on non-duality has resonated with you,

You'll find many other contemplative videos,

Talks,

And guided meditations on my page,

In both free tracks and premium,

That explore these themes in different ways.

Blessings to you.