Non-duality as a concept is well apprehended only after a spiritual awakening. It implies the permanent existence of nothing – shunyata or zero within which all temporary existences from matter to consciousness appear to disappear amid the dark energy prevailing in the infinite universe. Everything seems to be in space, time, and energy. Yet, that endless space must exist for all to subsist.
However, for the mind to comprehend anything and everything, we require duality, where the knower knows through the mind the known from its consciousness, which is also dualistic. Only after understanding the concept of non-duality does the difference between the dual soul and the non-dual awareness reconcile into that absoluteness, leaving no qualitative distinction between the subject and the object in pure consciousness.
According to Advait Vedanta, Brahman is the ultimate reality that unites the entire cosmos -spaceless, timeless, limitless, and eternal in unity and continuity. Despite being the foundation of all one can experience, science today in Quantum Mechanics justifies the same as formless waves of energy. Brahman refers to the highest cosmic principle, the eternal absolute reality, as Parabrahman.
Non-duality affirms that the same reality manifests and materializes in various forms, from which apparent matter and consciousness appear to disappear. Although Brahman has no differences, there are diversities in how matter and consciousness temporarily take different appearances. To illustrate, a peacock’s egg contains colourless liquid, but all of its colours exude out of it. Only the boundless is real; all other limits are only transient.
According to quantum physics, the universe comprises both waves and particles. What transpires to the wave as it transforms into a particle? Does it enter another dimension? Science still needs to provide a solution. But in Vedanta, this is called “Maya.” – illusions. The tenet of Vedanta is straightforward: everything with a quantum appearance appears by Existence-Consciousness-Bliss. When there is consciousness to associate with it, existence exists. The stage in front of which the entire universe plays out is an illusion we recognize as Brahman!
According to non-dualism, there is one subject: Brahman, the unchanging reality in unity and continuity, remaining complete in all aspects and indivisible, which can neither be created nor destroyed. All existential formations emerging out of this subject are temporal and limited and are not real. “Shanti Mantra” – This is complete, that is complete; if we take away this completeness from that completeness, what remains is only completeness. Even if you take anything away from the infinite, it doesn’t diminish. It remains infinite, also propounded by the Law of Conservation Of Energy.
Non-dualism in Advaita Vedanta postulates that the universe has emanated from the Self, non-dual awareness manifesting in the human mind and giving rise to consciousness advocating that we are spiritual being-ness going through human experiences in body and mind. Only when there is consciousness to associate existence exists. It is the absolute limit of what the human mind can comprehend.
And, if and when the mind enters a void, a pure state, you as an individual do not exist; there is no observer, witness-er, or sensuous perception. All that remains is the witness in observation – the Parmatma, Parmeshwar, Para-brahman, the beyond of all beyond, the substrata of all that exists on which everything superimposes. When you realize this truth of ‘who you are,’ reality, truth, love, and God reveal their true essence of unity despite all diversities—That art Thou – Tat Tvam Asi.
Gian Kumar – Spiritual Author
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