Liquid Life

In the normal everyday mode of cognition, rather than apprehending the impermanent flux of existence, we freeze-frame, fixate and conceptualize the flow. We see manifestation as comprising of discrete self-existing things.  

Just below this fixation mode is what might be called the process mode of cognition. When discursive thought eases and the tendency to fixate, conceptualize and abstract abates, there is a felt-sense of the happening of existence. This reflects how manifestation truly is. Existence is a happening.  

This mode of perception is not something that is difficult to access - it's already how experience presents itself but is (or can be) overlaid with the narrative and fixations of thought. A baby operates from this mode. A baby has no conception of things - there is just the fluid sweep of sensation and process. There is no narrative of the past - no memory-self - things simply are as they happen - outside of time and conceptualization. Process or flow is primary - before naming and fixating. 

This sense of flow can arise in various circumstances: meditation, walking in the woods, perhaps a relaxing bath... or for no particular reason whatsoever - boom - just Life happening*. This doesn't mean that there is no conception of apparent things or a sense of self. Once language, memory and conceptualizing have occurred it will never be unlearned. But it becomes secondary to the real-time momentum of process.

There is no thinking yourself into this (just as there is no thinking yourself into the aroma of freshly cut grass.) Just notice that it is already the case. There is sitting, reading, a car goes by, it's starting to rain... there is the activity of existence. Like the zen master said: no me, no bell, just the ringing. In this very timeless moment, no me, no rain, simply the happening of existence - boom!

*It may be pointed out that the activity of existence/inexplicable happening is always and only the case. This is utterly true. But the apprehension of this inexplicable happening is clearly not always the case. See the update of Where Three Rivers Meet for how a subtle misconception can occur here.

Nonduality Uncertainty Principle

Some teachings propose that reality is a product of mind only and that the physical world does not exist. They seem so certain, but I can't quite resonate with this. Is it necessary to adopt this position in order to become awakened?

You're sitting still with eyes closed. Rain is pounding on the window. There is the hint of a damp metallic smell in the air. The hands tingle. Flickering lights play on the eyelids. The sound of a car... louder and louder. Now fading... gone... just the hiss of rain. Where am I in all this? Well, there is an ache in the shoulder and thoughts and moods flicker and pass. But really, right now, there is just a happening... in which a thought of a me is just another arising. And even saying this is too much.

What is plain and inescapable is that there is 'something' going on. There is something rather than nothing. This something-ness precedes thoughts and ideas - it's the very ground of all manifestations and appearances. And again, this is probably saying too much. Darryl Bailey describes this with a lightness of touch as, "an inexplicable event accomplishing itself."

Nonduality by default contains this quality of the ineffable. I like to think of it as the nonduality uncertainty principle. The more we try to pin down the ultimate nature of reality, the more we miss it. By this I mean, the more we try to formulate this inexplicable event, the more we find that we are describing something relative - something that's not IT. We know that it is - that's undeniable - but ultimately we can't grasp it, describe it or formulate it.*



* Our attempts to account for this mysterious somethingness are inevitably based on our limited anthropocentric understandings and imaginings. We paint this inexplicable source in Man's image - our formulas are constructs of a biologically constrained intellect. The ultimate nature of this mysterious principle is by default as forever beyond our true grasp as quantum physics is to an earthworm.

Where Three Rivers Meet

Some teachings invite us to investigate the nature of reality. Another teaching suggests meditation or being in the now. A third approach says none of this is necessary, we are already there. Why do these approaches differ? Which one is correct?

The essence of nonduality is non-separation - the revelation that reality is a singular (or non-numerical) happening. Separation or duality is fundamentally a persistent delusional idea or belief. All teachings are essentially about the seeing through of this delusion.

The first approach you mention is about the contemplation of reality. From this contemplation an understanding can arise that a world of multiple fragmentary first causes is incoherent. No entities or agents can be found that are separate from the movement of Life itself. From a deep realization of this, the default energetic sense of Life simply happening arises.

Meditation or 'being in the Now' is a non-conceptual approach in which discursive thought eases and the idea of separation dissolves. This involves a 'prior' state where the idea of separation simply does not arise or occur - similar to the perspective of a tiny child. Here the visceral suchness of the seamless current of existence happening as it happens is revealed.

The approach (and you are correct to call it an approach) that points out that 'nothing is necessary' is essentially correct but contains a hidden confusion. Nothing is required for nondual reality to be the case - this is absolutely true - nonduality is always already the case. But is something required for the delusion of separation/duality to be seen through? The clue is in the question; in order for the delusion of separation to be seen through, the er... seeing through of the delusion of separation is required*. This may prompt the question 'who would investigate or who would meditate?' The response to this is the same response as to who would breathe? Or who would drink tea? Meditation, as with breathing and drinking tea, simply happens - or we might say that drinking tea, breathing and meditation are the play of a Universal event - Life happening of its own accord.

Let's be clear, nothing can violate this momentum - whatever happens, however it appears is already the perfect expression of nondual Source.

* U P D A T E

Someone wrote: "seeing is not required since seeing or not seeing is also THAT."

This may be true but it leaves something out.

Nonduality is always the case. But the knowing that 'nonduality is always the case' is not always the case.

Failing to appreciate this distinction can lead to some very muddled thinking. The distinction can be said to be between nondual truth and nondual insight.

Nondual truth is the truth that whatever is happening, however it appears is the play of nondual Source or THAT.

Nondual insight is the deep recognition of this truth.

So it's true that we don't need to meditate, self inquire, be still or even sober (or conscious for that matter) for nonduality to be the case.

But a recognition of this is required (and this is an inescapable tautology) for nondual insight to be the case.

Interlude 10

Sons Of Light

Real Time Happening

Sit still.... take a deep breath...

Listen....

Someone is washing up in the kitchen. The clatter of plates and the jangle of cutlery.

Someone enters the kitchen and a conversation starts.

But see.... they have no existence... apart from this scenario - this happening.

Breathe in... breathe out... feel the tingle in the fingers.

You don't exist... other than this real time happening.

A car goes by... two dogs start to bark excitedly... their owners exchange words.

But the dogs and cars and people have no existence... apart from this unfolding - this present happening.

Only conceptually can things exist other than how they are expressed right Now.

This is not fancy nonduality speak - this is how things are.

There is a universal event... a happening going out live.

It never settles... it never becomes happen-ed.

Of course this event presents as highly complex expressions, conditions, facets, patterns.

But nothing is other than... separate from... independent of... this global happening... this seamless universal turning.

The Universe is this............................................

Breathe in... breathe out...

The Universe* is (now) this...................................

*Universe as a synonym for the All, Totality, Tao etc.

The Illusion Of Happened Things

Existence is a seamless event unfolding... the church bells, the rain, the birds, the trees, the rumble of cars.... are the present expression of a living sweep... a living universe happening - not happened.

Happen-ed things do not exist... there is only a happen-ing... this very zinging actual-ness or such-ness of manifestation - reality occurring in real time - going out live - now... as you read this.

Happened things, separate entities, independent objects and so on are thought (and language) constructions - they appear in a freeze-framed virtual reality (the Then.)

Right Now there are no such things - just a happening happening. These seeming things, beings and entities are not what they are but how they are in this real time happening - shifting modulations of a great event.

Things don't exist - only the global living event exists.

Insight And Metaphysics

So... there's insight.

And then there's metaphysics.

The insight, the essence of nonduality is simply this: rather than there being a zillion fragmentary first causes, Reality is a singular (or non-numerical) happening.

That’s it!

That’s the crucial timeless revelation.

The metaphysics on the other hand is the attempt to determine the nature of this Reality.

Engaging perhaps, but ultimately a futile pursuit - how to contain, decode or formulate this ineffable Source?

Metaphysics and philosophy fill the books and websites, blogs and forums. They give rise to academies and conferences... gurus and experts.

Meanwhile... the insight is simple, direct and visceral.

Go for a walk in the woods and sit by a river. It will soon become clear that there is not you and Life... Life is all there is.

That simple.

Interlude 9

Panta Rhei (Improvisation On A Theme)

L i f e

It's so obvious isn't it?

All there is is Life.

Life - in the widest possible sense of the word - an all-encompassing creative principle - dynamic - animate - vital.

From the mysterious dance of the subatomic to the most elaborate cosmic formations... Life can be found pulsing and shifting, erupting and evolving.

Is there anything other than this ongoing creative principle?

Is there anything that is separate from Life's happening?

Is there Life... and you?

That would be absurd wouldn't it?

Life is all there is.*

* Or Tao, God, Reality or whatever.....

Interlude 8

Evolution Crawls

The Self Delusion

Everything that manifests in any conceivable way can be said to be the unfolding of a singular source/happening. What the nature of this source is, is unimportant to the point here but let's allow, for now, that it produced a big bang or something similar. So, everything without exception is the expression of this molten universal principle. The formation of the galaxies, solar systems, planets, ecosystems and the complex and sophisticated world of apparent human organisms.

For neutrality's sake we'll call this universal principle xxx. From the perspective of the above, anything thought to be in any way separate from xxx is a form of delusion.

The belief in a self that could be separate, independent and autonomous must be such a delusion. This is not to deny the sense of self that arises in so called self-aware organisms. This sense arises as a seemingly adaptive mechanism and for this reason it's probably not a good idea to try to be rid of it (or to destroy the ego as some religions put it). But it can be seen that this sense of self as with all other appearances is yet another construction in the molten sweep of xxx.

In an intimate way this can be seen right now. It is what is meant when we hear that no one is typing - typing is just happening. Or no one is sitting - sitting is just happening. Right now in this unfolding present (where else?) there is just this seamless molten sweep of Source. The patterns, plays, manifestations and expressions that arise are just this - life happening. Reality being this!

So, seeing through this delusion is a simple and non-mystical thing. Calling it an enlightenment and all the spiritual hoopla that goes along with it is an unnecessary remnant from a murkier credulous time. This is something simple, fresh, alive and in plain view.

Cold Fire Burning

Nouns are fictions

Myths

Chimeras in the shifting sweep of a molten universe

Reality knows nothing of things

Only the ings

Of the changing and turning

And the unseen drift

Of a cold fire burning

Going Out Live

The wind shakes the trees... a TV chatters in the next room... rain splashes the window.

All is the single sweep of a pulsating present happening.

The bird that just flew past the widow has no intrinsic existence.

No independence from a single seamless universal turning.

Right now Reality is going out live.

Reality being this... and now... this.

Interlude 7

Her Shadow

Already Accomplished

So... all there is is Totality.

Doing, acting, creating etc. are movement or expressions of Totality.

And in a sense... the rest is irrelevant.

Much philosophical ink has been spilt debating the essential nature of this Totality. This can be an interesting sideline - but the need to work this stuff out, to decode or solve something... falls away in this revelation that Totality/Source is the doer, actor, author.

Look right now! Things are already manifesting without struggle in the absence of concepts, compulsions and solutions.

And this is the fabled freedom; everything is already happening... already accomplished in every moment - however that moment expresses.

Who Awakens?

Firstly, what is awakening? There can be a lot of over-elaboration and magical thinking surrounding this question. The plain truth is that awakening is simply a fresh seeing or recognition of how things really are. A recognition that cuts so deep as to be better described as a paradigm shift.

So who or what has this recognition? Well, let's use the old ocean/wave analogy for a moment. The wave goes about its business believing that it is a wave. One day it comes to recognize that it is in fact not other than the ocean - the ocean is its source, power and substance. Now, from here it wouldn't be in any way accurate to say that the wave has awakened since the wave is without power, autonomy or agency. Instead, the awakening can be seen to be a play of the ocean.

So, the apparent entity does not awaken - but the pattern and process that is the mind-body organism is the mechanism through which a recognition occurs. In fact recognition only has relevance within the finite play of the organism. Beyond this play, the need for a recognition is without meaning.

You see, awakening or recognition could be said to be a corrective to a delusion. The delusion of separation is out of kilter with an underlying intuition of wholeness. This schism fuels certain psychological drives that eventually induce the spiritual quest towards completeness. Recognition simply reveals that completeness is and was already the case.

Universal

Although I understand that there is no self, there is clearly a me distinct from you. How does that work?

The creative play of Life appears as flux and variation. This variation is taken to be separation - this is the primal misperception. When separation is seen to be a fiction, the appearance of Life's flux and variation still occurs.

So although there is no separate entity or agent, the pattern that is the body-mind clearly still arises.

This body-mind pattern is conventionally referred to as 'me' and 'mine'. We say; my house, my shoes, your birthday and so on in order to relate objects and events to a particular body-mind pattern as opposed to another.

But let's be clear here; there is never ever a separate, independent you or me... or tree or mountain etc., all there ever is is the One universal process.

Interlude 6

Earth Song

A Conversation About Consciousness

You seem certain that consciousness is not our true nature.

Firstly, there are uses of the word which are interchangeable with Oneness or Reality etc. In these cases I'm sure that we are talking about the same thing.

But I do think that it's best to have a little caution regarding fixed descriptions of the nature of reality. The concept of an absolute transcendent witness - a dissociated eternal knower, can ultimately be found to be incoherent. What is beyond doubt is that there is 'something' as opposed to nothing - I've referred to this as Source or Reality - I think of consciousness as we know it as an emergent condition of that.

Surely it's the case that consciousness is the limitless knower of all that appears? Consciousness must be primary - nothing can be without it.

Well 'to be is to be perceived' is the mantra of the idealist. I have touched on the fallacy of this elsewhere but to summarize; all that the idealistic approach confirms is the tautology that things cannot be perceived to exist without them being perceived (see When Nondualism Becomes Idealism.) As for the claim of limitless knowing? In my experience I have never met anyone coming to this teaching who didn't ask: if I am consciousness, why is it the case that only this first-person perspective of the organism (this specific sensory matrix) is ever evident? Now this seems a fair enough question given the claims about the all knowing nature of consciousness.

Hmm, but isn't it the case that in the absence of a self or separate entity, consciousness is left as that which sees, hears, thinks etc?

(For the moment I will go along with your use of consciousness for 'all that is' - bearing in mind that Reality or Source is preferable - as we go on it hopefully will become clear as to why.)

Consciousness (Reality) could indeed be said to be the actor, thinker, perceiver etc... but only via its shifting manifestations. For example, in order for consciousness to make a cup of tea, it plainly must manifest the components of that scenario; hands, cup, hot water, tea etc.

Similarly for consciousness (Reality) to actually taste the tea it would need to manifest sentience, sense perceptions, taste buds etc. We can go on to apply this understanding to other actions, perceptions, feelings and thoughts etc. In each case a host of complex conditions are required for said action, perception, feeling or thought to be manifest.

Ultimately we might come to see that the same approach must be applied to the phenomena that is consciousness (as we know it) itself. Consciousness becomes conscious as we know it via the manifestation of a constellation of complex conditions.

By this point we can see why the word consciousness is perhaps not the best designation for Ultimate Reality (not that there is ever a good designation.) Reality/Source manifests as ALL conditions including action, thinking, feeling, perceiving and consciousness.

I have to add here that I'm really not sure how worthwhile it is to work through this sort of stuff. We can never determine such a thing as an absolute identity. All such absolute identities, however we conceive them, are by default manifestations of the same indeterminable mystery.

No Liv-er Of Life

There's a natural simplicity to this.

There is no liv-er of life. No one living life.

In the absence of this liv-er there is simply Life happening.

Life manifesting as the flux of conditions that we call body-mind-world.

Think of the ocean. Over here is a wave that we'll call John. Behind it is Mary. John and Mary are impermanent, dependently arising, fluxing expressions of the ocean. They are the ocean John-ing and the ocean Mary-ing. They are not in any way other than the ocean - impossible.

Same with Life. There is not Life and a you.

Only Life.