David Hall's Non-Duality Blog
My name's David Hall. I'm the creator of this web site and its content. I live in Wales in the UK.
I developed the Celtic design software KnotWorker, I create electronic music as Goldcup7, and I've written books on spirituality and non duality.
Hope you enjoy this Non Duality blog. New blogs are added on Fridays.
Please use the Contact page if you have any questions or would like me to discuss a topic.
- Category: The Human Experience
- Hits: 1083
In a previous article it was discussed how evil appears in the world. Let's take a brief look at this again and consider the laws that maintain balance in the universe. Essentially evil appears in the world of opposites as the reflection of the formless Singularity. It can be considered that the world appears as an interplay of opposites, as a separation of the formless Singularity, the Infinite One Being. As the world 'materialises' far from the source, it appears as a hardened, limited, separated multiplicity of forms - the opposite of the Infinite One Singularity.
The ego develops far from the Singularity as the sense of 'I am this, not that', a limited sense of self separate from others. The extreme of the ego is what we call 'evil', where it is so hardened and isolated, and has such a strong sense of its own identity different to the world that evil actions are the outcome. The evil ego is the opposite of the Infinite One Being, imagining itself as separate from others, far from the goodness and peace of the Oneness of Being.
This evil ego and indeed all egos are illusory. They are a mistaken sense of identity within the Singularity of Being. There are not many beings, just one infinite Being. But the world appears through the method of this reflection into opposites. When one of these apparently separate beings realises its true nature there is no longer a sense of separate self. This is what we call enlightenment, where the apparently separate self is extinguished (nirvana) and the pure Infinite Being is effectively realised, although here all along.
You have likely heard of Karma. This arises as a consequence of actions from the Law of Opposites. The Law of Opposites is the universal law that is naturally active in the world, as the world appears by this method of reflection and separation into opposites. The Law of Opposites ensures balance in the universe. What appears must disappear. What is done must be undone. This happens naturally due to the reality of the Singularity, which can never be broken. The Singularity can only appear to be broken in two, and if this is done it will inevitably be undone, as the reality is maintained. It may be that through the appearance of space and time the Unchanging Formless Being appears as changing form, but this must be resolved with the closure of space and time back into the Singularity from which it appears to have come.
In practical terms for humanity and the evolution of souls this means that actions must be undone. This is what we call Karma. Any separation caused by a soul in its human form must be resolved or cancelled out. Any harm to the Oneness must be resolved. Any division in the One must be mended. For the soul that means that any harmful actions that caused division between itself and the world must be undone. The soul must mend this separation of the One. The soul must return to the Oneness from whence it came, and in so doing put the wrongs right. Karma.
That is the play of the world of opposites anyhow. But the underlying reality is the timeless Singularity. There are not multiple souls that go out and get lost far from the Oneness of God. There is only the Oneness of God. This is why it is said that in self-realisation or enlightenment the soul is freed from karma. From the perspective of the soul it returns to the heart of Oneness and resolves the separation it caused. From the perspective of Oneness there never was a soul and there never was separation. The world is a play of opposites in the Infinite One Being.
- Category: Spirituality
- Hits: 1075
The forms on this planet, the formation of the planet and the formation of stars and this apparent 'material' universe don't just happen by chance. There is an underlying unseen spiritual energy that gives rise to these forms. The Eastern images of the dragon give a good impression of what this living energy force is. It's like a dragon that coils and releases, gives heat and cools down, condensing and expanding, flowing with undulating vibrancy. It links well with the Yin and Yang symbol, as the play of opposites is its power. It is like an alive energy force flowing into the 'material' world and receding, in repeating waves.
Let's start with this planet. The condensation of matter is the condensing of spiritual energy into an apparently hardened more defined form, where this alive spiritual energy slows. Matter is effectively spiritual energy condensed. This alive free energy becomes condensed to a more limited, dull, hardened, rocklike form. But there continues to be expressions of variation in this energy. We see this as the range of density through the traditional elements of earth, water, air and fire.
This vibrant alive energy continues to influence forms on the planet, evolving them from the basic to the advanced. Patterns appear in nature because of this underlying force. Branches reach out and multiply. Leaves unfurl. Flowers open and close. Animals form, ranging from dense cold-like forms, such as the alligator that needs to bask in the sun to get energy from that fiery source, to the hot-blooded, supple, vibrant mammals, such as the cheetah. These animal forms are full of this unseen energy, and are effectively expressions of this underlying spiritual energy that creates them.
This undulating spiritual force animates the flow of the universe, giving rise to the ebb and flow of nature, the separating and uniting of opposites, the condensing and unfurling, spiral patterns, and the pattern of many opening from one and returning to one.
What is the source of this spiritual force? It is the secret egg from which it came. The mystery of the Yin and Yang symbol is that they are timelessly one. This force of interacting opposites is a play within the Oneness of What Is. What is this 'What Is'? It is that in which all this is experienced - Consciousness. Nothing is known outside of Consciousness. Consciousness is the same as spirit. The energy and life of spirit is the aliveness of Consciousness. The spiritual force of fluctuating opposites arises as the reflection of the Oneness of Consciousness.
- Category: Spiritual Practice
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Stillness Meditation is not about making the body and the mind still, it is about being the Stillness that we are. We are the still essence that perceives the movement of the mind, the body and the world.
Usually in meditation the aim is to still the body and mind, and that's fine. But we can never make the body and the mind truly still. Nothing in the world is truly still. It is the reflective nature of the world that makes movement appear. It is the reflection or opposite of True Stillness. This is the real nature of the world, just as the real nature of a movie is the screen. Stillness is the underlying and pervading nature of the moving world.
So in meditation we can 'sit back' into the unmoving, unchanging, formless, aware being that is not just the essence of our being. It is the essence and the whole of all apparently separate beings. It is at the heart of each being, yet it is That in which the beings seem to appear.
This Stillness Meditation is the untangling of identity with movement and change. We withdraw from the fascination of the world and the distractions of the body and the mind. It helps for the mind to know that its identity is not this body. It helps for the mind to know that any limited defined identity is flawed, and that our true nature is without limits. Indeed, our true nature is aware of the apparent movement and activity of the mind.
We need to bring the mind deeper to rest in the witnessing of the mind and the body. Effectively the mind untangles itself from its false identification, as we remain the Unchanging One perceiving change.
In practice we allow the body to sit comfortably. Before closing the eyes, we recognise that we are perceiving this. We close the eyes. There are still sounds, but we recognise that we perceive them right here. We allow the mind to ease off a little. Thoughts will likely still appear, but we withdraw further from the thoughts to the perceiving of them. This may involve some to-ing and fro-ing, as we withdraw then become caught up in the thinking again. But none of that thinking is important right now, so we let it go again and observe.
With practice we go deeper. That's when the untangling of identification takes place. It is the mind that is going deeper to the source or essence. The nature of the mind is not separate from the source or essence, of course. It is the source or essence. This Stillness Meditation seems to bring the mind inwards to the source of Awareness, where there is really no inside or outside. There is only what seemed to be the source.
Know that you don't really have an inside and an outside. You are not the movements of the mind and the body. Yet all movement appears within the Infinite Stillness that we are. There is none other than this Infinite Stillness. It is the Infinite One Aware Being. That by which all is perceived. If you can perceive it, it's not you. If it is seen to move and change, it's not you. You are the Unchanging Awareness that perceives movement and change. This Stillness Meditation is no meditation. It is just being as you are. Pure Clarity.
- Category: The Human Experience
- Hits: 1074
The Non-Duality understanding clearly explains the reason for humanity's dissatisfaction with life and search for happiness. Desire arises as a consequence of the sense and belief of being a separate individual in the world. This is not who we really are. Reality is an infinite, indivisible Singularity. This is our true nature, our true Being. So when the mind identifies as a limited separate being, it will inevitably feel incomplete. It will never be satisfied. There will always be something missing. It will never be content.
On a lower 'physical' level the human body is somewhat incomplete and needs sustenance from the environment. There is a human urge for union with another human, primarily for the purpose of procreation, but humanity has evolved beyond the need to just survive and procreate. The human mind has evolved. Desire has evolved in the mind, arising from the sense and belief of identifying as a separate individual. This apparently separate individual has wants and desires beyond the 'physical' needs of the body. The mind itself is seeking the peace of union. Reality is Oneness, so this sense of being separate brings with it the feeling of being incomplete, wanting without satisfaction, and ultimately suffering, not being content.
The mind that identifies as separate will initially look outwards for what it feels it wants and needs. It tries to find satisfaction in the world. People look for love, search for happiness, use substances to give some relief or escape from this yearning and unfulfilled desire. They occupy themselves with things to do, to keep the mind from falling into loneliness and yearning for something. This is an understandable search, but ultimately nothing lasts. This is where the mind turns to spirituality, and spiritual teachings that say to practise meditation to bring about peace.
The mind seeks to end its suffering, and after trying to find peace and happiness in the world, it turns inwards to find peace in itself. Meditation seeks to calm the mind. In calming the mind, a clarity is found, a peace and contentment. Without the mind's chatter, and ultimately without the mind's sense and belief of being a separate individual, there is no sufferer and no suffering. The body may encounter pain still, but there is only an experience of this without the mind's sense of suffering.
- Category: The Human Experience
- Hits: 1063
Part of Non-Duality teaching is to recognise there is an ego at play. The ego is the sense and belief of being a separate self. The ego doesn't really exist as a separate entity. It is a thought-based persona. The ego has developed in the human psyche as the mind has evolved in a harsh world, where it has needed to develop defences to survive. Attack is a form of defence, as is hiding, remaining quiet, or making a stand.
We find a range of egos in the human world, from the most humble to the most selfish. The strong ego has the strongest defence, and prides itself on maintaining its identity and borders. It accentuates its limits to maintain its identity. It may even seek to dominate others and place its own limits around them. The humbler ego gives up its defences and does not feel the need to force or push. Indeed, the humbler ego is more open and at peace with the world. It's fair to say that the human world is ruled by egos.
But in Non-Duality we recognise that this illusory ego has been dominating too long. We learn to not be taken in by it, as we have done in the past. We recognise that its selfish aims are contrary to the infinite oneness of life. We see it as a bundle of thought-energy that asserts itself as right and in charge of this body. Non-Duality practice is to depose this usurper and allow the true selfless Self to shine as the rightful Beingness in the human form. The true Self is without borders or limitations.
Our practice is in letting go of holding on. The ego holds onto things, people, beliefs, and its sense of self as different to others. Slowly we let this go. The ego becomes humbler, and recognises that it has been living with false selfish beliefs. This human is not the most important being on the planet. The ego turns to being of service to others and less dismissive. The ego opens up and lets down its barriers. If we practise Self Enquiry, as taught by Sri Ramana Maharshi, we seek to find this self. In seeking this self identity we find that it is non-existent. The ego has no real lasting substance. Once rooted out, there is no ego or sense of identity. This is Nirvana, the extinguishing of the sense of being a separate self. It allows the selfless Self to come through unhindered.
That's the process, but there are minds reading this at different levels of ego-identity. The important thing first of all is to recognise that this ego has been ruling your perception of the world. You will notice it when it asserts itself or when it seeks to hide away. This is fine. But the path to clarity and oneness is in diminishing the ego. We can start by helping others, being kind and forgiving. Being willing to put ourselves out for others without complaint. Yes, drop the complaining. That's the ego asserting itself again. There may be rightful causes to stand up for, but be cautious of getting caught up in the ego strengthening its identity as a warrior. Humility is the key.