Understanding the Illusion of Duality: Embracing Reality as a Seamless Whole

Equipped with a deep understanding of human perception, it is essential to recognize that the concept of duality is a fundamental misunderstanding of reality. Duality, as we commonly perceive it, often leads to unnecessary divisions and stresses. Just as you cannot see what does not exist, you can only see what is real and present. This article delves into the nuances of duality, non-duality, and how embracing reality as a seamless and boundless whole can lead to profound transformation and enlightenment.

The Reality of Reality

Reality, at its core, is a seamless, boundless, and limitless expanse. The mind, as a function of duality or consciousness, constantly attempts to impose boundaries and create separations within this boundless space. When we perceive reality, we see it not as a static, opaque construct but as a dynamic, transparent phenomenon. Duality is a result of our mental processes trying to understand the boundless and create meaning from it.

Duality: An Illusion Within Perception

At first glance, duality appears as reality's fundamental nature, but upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that duality is merely an illusion created by our perception. Terms such as 'up or down,' 'right or wrong,' 'good or bad,' 'you or me,' are constructs born out of our need to categorize, define, and understand the world around us. These distinctions create boundaries that, while useful in many ways, also introduce unnecessary division and conflict.

Non-Duality: A Misunderstood Concept

Non-duality is often presented as a state of being where the mind and its object of awareness coexist in a seamless, unified state. However, such a state is inherently paradoxical. The mind, by its very nature, exists in two states:

A state of activity where it is engaged in problem-solving, planning, and general mental processing. A state of emptiness or absence of conscious mental activity, where the mind is alert and blissful but still observant of the ongoing awareness.

Even in the state of emptiness, consciousness and its object, whether bliss or stress, coexist. True non-duality, as many spiritual teachings suggest, is not a state of being but a state of knowing. Not knowing is a profound realization that transcends the mind's capacity to comprehend or define reality.

The Path to True Knowing

Instead of striving for a non-dual state, the focus should be on deepening one's understanding of the act of knowing itself. Non-duality is a meaningless distraction if it is pursued as a goal. The true path to understanding lies in embracing the transparent nature of reality. To truly know reality, one must BE reality. You cannot know reality; you can only be it. This state of not knowing is beyond duality and is referred to as 'Not Knowing.'

By recognizing this, we can shift our perspective and begin to see the world through a lens of interconnectedness and fluidity. This shift in perception can lead to profound changes in our understanding of self and reality, resulting in greater contentment and happiness.

Key Takeaways:

Duality is an illusion created by the mind's need to create boundaries and categorize. Non-duality is not a state of being but a state of knowing. True understanding comes from embracing the transparent nature of reality.

To deepen your understanding further, explore the works of Colin Hankin, who offers insights into the mind, reality, and the nature of knowing.