The Illusion of Duality-A Look at Non-Duality Part III "Putting it all together" :~Joanie Lane10/3/2016 In the last three weeks I've been writing on the meaning of non-duality/the illusion of duality. That there really is no either or, and that there are no opposites. Only relationships like good and bad, long and short, ourselves and the planet/the universe (and beyond). And how the Buddhist Teachings can give us insight into these in our daily lives.
We are born pure and perfect and in perfect sync with all of the universe. As we grow we begin to identify ourselves as unique from others. This creates a view of being separate from all else. Our ego begins to identify a separate self, a way of seeing ourselves as different, special, and uniquely our own. However, if we each view ourselves as a separate drop of water in the ocean of life, how are we to see where one drop ends and another begins? "You are like a wave in the ocean experiencing itself as separate from the ocean. The wave asks, ‘When and where will I find the ocean? Who can give the ocean to me?’ But the wave was always the ocean, from the very beginning, even in its seeking! It’s the ocean looking for itself. Even within the ocean’s failure to find itself it is still the ocean; every wave is one hundred percent water." ~Jeff Foster Having an ego is part of being human. It helps keep us safe by learning to identify dangers outside of ourselves. Our ego can be a wall of safety, so to speak, a means of survival and creativity and growth. But an over-active or unhealthy ego can be like a snow flake. A separate drop of water changed to a unique crystal. In becoming the snow flake we can easily be fooled into thinking we are separate from the whole. Just as one frozen snow flake is unique in shape, when it melts to its true form it is still a drop of water. A part of the whole beautiful ocean of life. Although ‘non-duality’ is just a word, what it points to is the possibility that you are not who you think you are. It’s the possibility that what you are is not this seeker, broken or incomplete. When we allow our ego to melt from the "I" that separates us from the whole, we allow ourselves to experience life fully and completely. In Buddhist philosophy we can experience these truths by practicing the Three Qualities and The Eightfold Path. Three Qualities Eightfold Path Wisdom (panna): Right View, Right Thought Morality (sila): Right Speech, Right ActioN, Right Livelihood Meditation (samadhi): Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Contemplation 1. Right View: (Understanding the Four Noble Truths) - See things as they truly are without delusions or distortions for all things change. Develop wisdom by knowing how things work, knowing oneself and others. The First Noble Truth: Unsatisfactoriness and suffering exist and are universally experienced. The Second Noble Truth: Desire and attachment are the causes of unsatisfactoriness and suffering. The Third Noble Truth : There is an end to unsatisfactoriness and suffering. The Fourth Noble Truth: The end can be attained by journeying on the Noble Eightfold Path. 2. Right Thought: Decide to set a life on the correct path. Wholehearted resolution and dedication to overcoming the dislocation of self-centered craving through the development of loving kindness, empathy and compassion. 3. Right Speech: Abstinence from lies and deceptions, backbiting, idle babble and abusive speech. Cultivate honesty and truthfulness; practice speech that is kind and benevolent. Let your words reflect your desire to help, not harm others. 4.Right Action: (Following the Five Precepts) - Practice selfless conduct that reflects the highest statement of the life you want to live. Express conduct that is peaceful, honest and pure showing compassion for all beings. THE FIVE PRECEPTS: The Five Precepts are basic ethical guidelines for the followers of Buddhism. They are undertaken voluntarily, rather than as commandments from a god. Essentially, these precepts promote harmony and reduce suffering between ourselves and others. The underpinning moral code has two qualities: compassion (karuna) and loving kindness (metta), which are used as the guiding principles in life. 1. I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures. 2. I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given. 3. I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct. 4. I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech. 5. I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicatants. 5. Right Livelihood: Earn a living that does not harm living things. Avoidance of work that causes suffering to others or that makes a decent, virtuous life impossible. Do not engage in any occupation that opposes or distracts one from the path. Love and serve our world through your work. 6. Right Effort: Seek to make the balance between the exertion of following the spiritual path and a moderate life that is not over-zealous. Work to develop more wholesome mind states, while gently striving to go deeper and live more fully. 7. Right Mindfulness: Become intensely aware of all the states in body, feeling, and mind. Through constant vigilance in thought, speech and action seek to rid the mind of self-centered thoughts that separate and replace them with those that bind all beings together. Be aware of your thoughts, emotions, body and world as they exist in the present moment. Your thoughts create your reality. 8. Right Contemplation: Deep meditation to lead to a higher state of consciousness (enlightenment). Through the application of meditation and mental discipline seek to extinguish the last flame of grasping consciousness and develop an emptiness that has room to embrace and love all things. Metta prayer/meditation: In Metta always begin with yourself. We cannot give that which we do not have. This week you might practice repeating the following in your meditation as a mantra: "May I be well. May I be peaceful and at ease. May you be well. May you be peaceful and at ease. May we be well. May we be peaceful and at ease." ~Namaste **Joanie Lane is a Meditation Teacher, Reiki Master/Teacher, Spiritual & Life Coach, and Healing Qigong Leader. She lives in Kelseyville, Ca. at her meditation center "A Positive Light". For more information visit her website at apositivelight.com
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