{"id":2922,"date":"2020-01-07T08:37:13","date_gmt":"2020-01-07T08:37:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bloomsoup.com\/?page_id=2922"},"modified":"2023-01-10T17:39:22","modified_gmt":"2023-01-10T17:39:22","slug":"best-books-non-duality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bloomsoup.com\/best-books-non-duality\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Books on Non-Duality for Understanding Enlightenment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Seeking the best books on non-duality? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, your search is over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we look at works examining the illusion of separateness that pervades much of modern thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to grow your spiritual practice, these books are a great starting point, so let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n\n\n

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But first, what is non-duality? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is non-duality?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Non-duality<\/a> means “non-separation” or “not two”. It’s derived from Advaita Vedanta, a school of Hinduism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it’s also a philosophy which is contained within many other teachings and beliefs, such as Dzogchen Buddhism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Popularised in the West by Douglas Harding<\/a> and The Headless Way, non-duality allows us to perceive reality in a more profound way.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As humans, we’re used to language and culture. By its nature, language emphasizes contrast in the world around us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have left, right, up, down, above, below. All of these imaginary boundaries help to distinguish between concepts that we use to navigate society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a natural byproduct of the labels we apply to our outer world, we also demarcate our inner world, creating a separate self or ego within our head, containing our identity and personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, non-duality focuses on the fact that these labels are simply creations of the mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From an experiential standpoint, there’s no difference between that which we consider separate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a matter of experience, all we have is consciousness, which in non-duality, is sometimes referred to the source, or the infinite, or God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consciousness is that which is aware of experience. Consciousness is that which knows what it is like to feel something, like happiness or the taste of chocolate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything which we consider to be separate, like the contents of our visual field, from this perspective, is an extension of consciousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From such a realization, there’s no gap between the seer and the seen, let alone a separate self in the head controlling events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of these feelings are just more mind-made events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Non-duality is the process by which consciousness becomes aware of itself. It’s the practice of turning our attention back in on itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a quick video as a visual explainer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n