Zen - Healthy Stress Management

Attaining Non-Duality

Non-duality is “a term and concept used to define various strands of thought,” typically associated with the Eastern tradition of meditation or spiritual awakening. To attain or experience non-duality is an undefinable experience, but one where the self becomes realized and the surrounding world and the self, become indistinguishable and inseparable.

We live in a world convoluted and dominated by media, technology, and distraction that forces us to plan for the future rather than live in the now. How easy it is to be caught up in this fast-passed world and forget to sit back, enjoy, and relax, forgetting the importance of silent reflection. Technology, while attempting to bring us together and make the world a smaller place, has in turn also negatively impacted our ability to communicate amongst peers but also within our own mental capacity and stability. By constantly denying our minds to sit back and reflect, we live in a constant world of division. It is then important to train the mind, and exercise the mind, as you would any other muscle, to attain or recognize this non-duality.

Attaining non-duality can come in many shapes and forms; one could attain non-duality by experiencing something awe-inspiring or humbling. Non-duality can also be attained by experience it’s opposite, or by experiencing the “bad” of this world. Individuals of all ages can be said to experience non-duality in a multitude of ways, but the universal truth about non-duality – if a universal truth can be deduced – is the cognitive recognition of some larger scheme than the self; the self plays a mere part in the grand cosmos of the universe.

This past summer, I experienced what I consider to be a non-dual moment. After spending a week in Canada in total isolation from any source of technology, I went kayaking with a close friend at midnight. The world around me was so dark, it was possible to see the Milky Way. I had not seen the Milky Way since I was a little girl, so the experience was remarkable. My friend and I sat in silence as we shared in this non-dual moment. Without words, we were able to communicate a mutual feeling of respect and admiration for the scene around us.

Now, whenever I feel overwhelming or stressed, I think of that non-dual moment, and try to once again attain that feeling of freedom and infancy.

“And in that moment, I swear we were infinite” ~ The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky