We Western intellectuals who have studied a little Indian philosophy often try to attain Advaita, 'non-duality,' by superimposing a concept of 'oneness' over our subject-object experience of the world. But this only makes the mind dull, tentative, and artificial.Advaita is not attained by thinking about it, but by allowing our awareness to tap its source in pure consciousness, the field of Sat-Chit-Ananda, which is the substratum of both subject and object.
Then there is a spontaneous up-welling of Grace in the Self-luminosity of a thankful heart, stimulating the effusion of soma-nectar in every nerve cell, divine light in every photon of our flesh.
Love innocently leads to surrender, and surrender is true Advaita - the culmination of Bhakti, not the rejection of Bhakti.
'Non-duality' never negates relationship, but fulfills relationship. When honey overflows the comb, the comb is not obliterated. Every cell gushes its golden essence, and the bee’s work is done.
Illustration to the Rubaiyat by René Bull, 1913
Advaita?
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Thank you Fred! When I dropped the whole concept of "Advaita" I fell open... I let go... And in fact *then* is when I opened to The Universe, allowing myself to just be open to Life. The Heart of the Mystic opened and came alive... Amazing... Sometimes our "belief systems" confine us and limit our experience. We have to let go of it *all* - as you say, surrender and enjoy - and just let Life speak to our Hearts... _/\_
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