"What is meant by non-duality Mahatmi?
It means that light and shade, long and short, black and white, can only be experienced in relation to each other; light is not independent of shade, nor black of white. There are no opposites, only relationships." ~from The Lankavatara Sutra The following excerpts from some basic Buddhist teachings may give you something to ponder this week. You might consider the Boundless States and the Hindrances over this week and pay attention to where you recognize when any of the Hindrances arise then bring to mind Boundless States. You might even practice replacing a hindrance with a boundless state. Since there is no either or, we always have a choice in how we teach ourselves to view the world. In Buddhism the Boundless States are considered friends on the way to Nirvana. They help in dissolving the idea of a separate self. 1. Loving kindness 2. Compassion 3. Sympathetic Joy 4. Equanimity Near Enemy is a quality that can masquerade as the original, but is not the original. Far Enemy is the clearly opposite quality. The boundless state serves as an antidote for the quality mentioned as the Far Enemy. Boundless State: loving kindness Description: good-will, friendship,unconditional love for all beings. Near Enemy: selfish love Far Enemy: hatred Boundless State: compassion Description: to feel with empathy, to feel with someone instead of for someone. Near Enemy: pity Far Enemy: cruelty Boundless State: sympathetic joy Description: spontaneous joy in response to others success Near Enemy: hypocrisy Far Enemy: envy Boundless State: equanimity Description: even-mindedness based on insight into the nature of things Near Enemy: indifference Far Enemy: anxiety Hindrances: Things that slow us down and restrict our freedom. These are ego based and add to the unrealistic belief that we are separate from the universe. 1. Self-delusion 2. Doubt 3. Clinging to Ritual 4. Sensuous Lust 5. ILL Will 6. Greed for Fine Material Existence 7. Greed for Immaterial Existence 8. Conceit 9. Restlessness 10. Ignorance So, from the information above we can see that Hindrances and Near and Far Enemies cause us to separate from our neighbor, from our spiritual sense and from our loving and nurturing nature. This in turn causes suffering brought on by desire and clinging. Whereas the Boundless States bring us together where we can live with differences knowing that they are simply relationships that compliment each other. There are no opposites, but there are compliments and differences. Light and shade, long and short, black and white can only be experienced in relationship with each other. “Advaita (nonduality) does not mean “one” in the sense of eliminating all differences. The differences are present in the one in a mysterious way. They are not separated anymore, and yet they are there.” ~Bede Griffiths **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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