Non-Duality vs Duality: Understanding The Differences
Are you keen to know the differences between non-duality vs duality? They are believed to be derived from different schools of Hindu philosophy, imparting distinct ideas about reality.
Non-duality is the understanding that everything is part of one indivisible reality, while duality claims that everything is made up of independent realities or separate entities.
We may think these philosophies are either contradictory or complementary. But, in reality, can they co-exist?
Continue reading to learn more about non-duality vs duality.
Article Contents
History of Non-Duality and Duality
Advaita Vedanta in Hinduism, Advaya in Buddhism, Sufism in Islam, Christianity, and many other religions show association with non-duality. This concept, where the self (Atman) gets assimilated with the one and absolute reality (Brahman), is considered to be peaceful and an emancipator of all mental compartmentalizations.
At the same time, dualism, a derivative of the Hindu philosophy of Dvaita, divides reality into two segments. In dualism, the Brahman, or the ultimate reality, exists independently from “Jiva,” or the soul. This concept is also common in various religious beliefs and philosophies.
So, in which aspects do non-duality differ from duality?
What is Non-Duality?
Non-duality is about achieving a higher level of consciousness or a greater awareness where the self or Atman is not separate from Brahman or the ultimate reality. We can call this “greater awareness” non-dualistic thinking. This awareness is free of the burden of our thoughts which gives birth to the pain of being in contrast with the present reality incessantly.
What is Duality?
Dualism is closely associated with the Dvaita Hindu school of Philosophy. It is in stark contrast to the non-dualistic concept of “Aham Brahman Asmi” in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, where the self is the reality or Atman is the Brahman.
The Dvaita school says that the Vishnu or God or Brahman or the supreme reality is independent, and that Vishnu (God) is in charge of all the occurrences in the universe. The other one of reality, the Jiva or soul, is a separate existence.
So, an individual soul or Jiva can be a reflection of the Brahman or Vishnu, but the complete union of the Jiva with the Brahman is not possible.
Non-Duality in Various Religions
Non-duality has “Moksha,” or the ultimate liberation/enlightenment, as one of its main concepts. This freedom or enlightenment makes you oblivious of the burden of your thoughts and helps you to experience “Satchitananda,” or the state of peace, consciousness, and absolute truth.
In the Viveka-Chudamani, Adi Shankaracharya, the most respected preacher of Advaita Vedanta, writes that you can only achieve Moksha when your own eyes are opened to possibilities or greater knowledge by your insight.
This concept of Moksha, associated with non-duality in Hindu Advaita Vedanta, is also present in religions like Buddhism, and Jainism.
There is also a similarity between the concept of “Moksha” in eastern religions with the concept of “Salvation” in Christianity. On the one hand, the “Christian Contemplation” teaches the followers of Christianity to have an awareness of the existence of God.
On the other hand, the Doctrine of Deification teaches that salvation is achieved when the soul becomes unified with God.
Once again, the Mystic branch of Islam, Sufism, shows a close association with non-duality. One of the most prominent Sufi writers, Rumi, writes in his Kulliyat-e-shams, 2114,
“Apparently two, but one in soul, you and I/We feel the flowing water of life here.”
Again, in The Divani Shamsi Tabriz XV, Rumi expresses beauty as “the seer and the seen” as well as “knower and the known,” echoing the concept of non-duality or, more specifically, the concept of “Sakshi.”
The “Dua” or prayer of prophet Muhammad to God for showing him the ultimate reality is also very much in the non-dual concept of ultimate awareness or enlightenment.
Along with Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, and Islam, non-duality is also present in Judaism, Taoism, Sikhism, Neo-Platonism, Chinese Yin and Yang philosophy, etc.
Read the full article at https://mysticmeanings.com/
