Nonduality
摘要
Nonduality is discussed from a broader lens (as opposed to the more focused scope that is Advaita Vedanta). Areas of significant overlap between all the preceding chapters and various other spiritual philosophies are shown. Nonduality is defined as the position that all things are interconnected and interrelated, as based on evidence that there is an experientially realizable nondual reality. The nature of duality and nonduality is shown to overlap significantly with brain networks and functions associated with the left or right hemispheres, especially in terms of contextual framing and interpreting information wholistically. This chapter also argues that nonduality only describes a portion of ultimate reality and that nonduality should not be equated to ultimate reality because ultimate reality is unknowable and indescribable, but can be realized. Case examples are given, some of which include Jiddu Krishnamurti, Meister Eckhart, Marguerite Porete, Beatrice of Nazareth, Hadewijch or Antwerp, Julian of Norwich, Sri Brahmajna Ma, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Baruch Spinoza, and Ibn Arabi. A concluding argument is made for the section through stating that because ultimate reality is truly indescribable and can only be realized, all spiritual philosophies are both correct and incorrect when describing ultimate reality. A recommendation is given to focus more on direct practice and what these spiritual paths are pointing toward (as opposed to intellectualizing their teachings), which is what the next section highlights.