What is a Non-Duality Speaker?

Today, I'd like to share with you some insights from the perspective of a non-duality speaker, a concept that might challenge our usual perceptions of reality and our place within it.

Non-Duality

We'll start with two quotes that resonate with me:

1. "If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him." This is from Buddhism. It suggests that any external idol or concept of enlightenment should be transcended, not clung to as the ultimate truth.

2. The second, less formal quote, might go something like this: "A prophet is not without honour except in his hometown." This suggests that often, profound truths or changes are recognised or valued only away from one's familiar environment.

These quotes point to a fundamental aspect of non-duality: the simplicity and ordinariness of what we're discussing. Here's what I mean:

- Ordinary vs. Extraordinary: There's an expectation that enlightenment or freedom must be something extraordinary, something beyond our current state. But true freedom lies in recognising that it's already here, within the ordinary fabric of life.

- The Illusion of Need: Many of us believe that freedom or completeness must come from some change, some external event. However, this belief traps us in a cycle of expectation, where we think emotions, feelings, or certain states of being are either right or wrong.

- The Myth of 'I Am': This sense of 'I' creates an illusion of incompleteness, of needing to achieve or become. But this 'I' is not separate; it's part of the singular experience of existence, where nothing is truly separate or owned by anyone.

- What Is: Reality, in its essence, isn't about 'my life' but about the unfolding of what is. This unfolding isn't fixed or substantial; it's fluid, unhinged, and free.

- Freedom: This concept isn't for anyone specifically. It just is. The meetings like this one aren't about adding or changing anything. They're reflections that freedom is already inherent in what is.

- The Illusion of Separation: The experience of being an individual, a knower, or a centre, is part of this illusory separation. This experience gives us a sense of purpose, responsibility, and the need for control, but it's not the whole story.

- Understanding and Concepts: What we discuss here aren't meant to be understood in a conventional sense. They're pointers, not the truth itself, which can't be contained by words or concepts.

- The Story: I'd like to share a story that illustrates this beautifully. It's about a teacher who would raise a finger when asked about truth, signifying 'what is' or 'this'. A student mimicked this, and when questioned, the teacher cut off the student's finger. This act isn't about punishment but an extreme teaching method to show there's nothing to point to, no separate truth to grasp.

In essence, non-duality invites us to see that:

- Everything is Already Whole: What we seek isn't something to achieve; it's to recognize what's already here, without the need for anything to happen or change.

- Hopelessness in Seeking: This might sound disheartening, but the freedom we seek isn't in becoming something else; it's in realising there's nothing to become.

- Living in the Now: This isn't about a moment in time but about recognising that all experiences, thoughts, and sensations are the totality of now, not needing to be real or unreal, just what is.

Thank you for your attention. I invite your questions, reflections, or any insights you wish to share. Remember, this is an exploration, not a destination. Let's engage with this together.