Q. Why should i do nondual self-inquiry meditation? There are so many different meditation programs around that all promise so much. What is special about nondual self-inquiry?
G. i was asked this many times before, during, and after, recent presentations at the EE Just Symposium, honoring Ernest Everett Just @ Dartmouth and in Nashua, NH at the UU Church. Both were similar to the Buddhist Geeks presentation (Blogpost "we need a new mental operating system...now" - video @ http://www.buddhistgeeks.com/2013/08/bg-conference-2013/ ;
it starts at 57:10 in the Sunday AM: BG Live session.)
So what really is "better" about nondual self-inquiry meditation (NDSI)? Well, here are a few differences:
a) NDSI focuses on the reduction/elimination of suffering arising from self-referential internal narrative (SRIN).
The common experience is that SRIN aggravates and exaggerates simple stimuli into anxiety, fear, depression, anger, etc. SRIN, which likely developed 75,000 yrs ago, was useful adaptively, evolutionarily, initially (or it wouldn't have developed). However, arguably, it is not suited for today's environment and we could benefit greatly from modifying/managing it.
Reduction of the intensity, "stickiness" and energy of SRIN with NDSI's simple self-inquiry tools often occurs in a short time and then can expand significantly w/continued practice to the extent that SRIN is often not present. NDSI focuses on understanding and questioning the existence of the "I" avatar/construct which is @ the root of SRIN.
Importantly, there is no decrease in the ability to solve problems, plan, speak, learn, visualize, etc. The typical experience is that these capabilities increase w/o the competition from SRIN. There is also a reduction in self-referential fears and desires. (Blogpost "we need a new mental operating system...now".)
Note that there are other kinds of "thoughts"; SRIN is the most problematic. (See vid "What 'no thoughts' means - 3 different kinds of thoughts")
b) It is secular and needs no religious or philosophical texts or beliefs. It is simple, straightforward and empirical.
c) There is no hierarchy, no "haves" and "have nots", no titles, no "special people", no levels of attainment, no required special experiences, etc. NDSI is based on the teachings of Ramana Maharshi, called the "Direct Path" (Blogpost "What is the 'Direct Path' to nondual awakening? What is self-inquiry?)". Ramana had no "successor", no one was "anointed", or "chosen". "Special experiences" were completely discounted.
NDSI focuses on decreasing suffering by deconstructing the "I" avatar/construct. It is an ongoing awakening process, not an "end point" and is not about generating an enlarged ego w/an "Olympic Gold medal". As a famous Japanese Zen master said "Enlightenment is capable of endless enlargement".
d) NDSI can be done by yourself (DIY). Most DIY approaches suffer from not having direct, real-time, "feedback" on progress. With NDSI, w/the focus on reducing SRIN, which is omnipresent in most folks' consciousness, feedback is readily available. Try something for a while, then see if SRIN has changed; if it has, continue. If it hasn't, try something else. For "broader" feedback, see if your suffering has decreased.
To provide some assistance in that DIY "self-coaching" process, many blogposts, youTube videos, interviews, and 2 books (Happiness Beyond Thought: A Practical Guide to Awakening and Dancing Beyond Thought: Bhagavad Gita Verses and Dialogues on Awakening (also blogpost) have manifested in the years since the page turned to explain the process and are available free. Every aspect of NDSI is covered.
e) NDSI emphasizes that several approaches will be necessary, unlike many other meditative traditions. As the "I/ego avatar" is a slippery, clever adversary bent on deflecting this process which is so "threatening" (to itself), it will eventually blunt a single approach. An alternative NDSI approach is then engaged to make further progress from another angle.
f) NDSI can be done anytime and anywhere (w/o anyone knowing). It is ideally suited for "everyday" life. Standing at the bus stop, in line @ the supermarket or DMV, stuck in traffic, jogging, walking on the beach, eating, listening to music, etc. are all great opportunities for asking "Where am I?", "To whom did this sensation, thought, emotion arise?", "Who hears?", "What walks/dances/jogs/eats?", "Who works?", "What texts?", etc.
g) NDSI in "everyday life" is particularly effective. Breaking the stream of SRIN for a few minutes when triggered by some periodic event, like sending a text, going to the bathroom, getting a cup of tea/coffee, every other hour on the hour, etc. gives the brain, which works w/contrasts, a strong and clear difference, and data point, between the previous intense "blah, blah" and stillness.
The brain "does not want" to be frantic, scared, racing around, stressed, inefficient, anxious, etc. When it sees another possibility that is a peaceful, still presence and yet is also more efficient and effective, given enough instances/data, it will restructure its networks and neurochemistry to support that preference. The blog "How does meditation 'work'? a new neuroscientific model" describes how this works in the brain.
As a demonstration of this, see the blogposts "Dialogues w/Dominic" ("Working in a 'big job' w/family, w/o thoughts" and "Dominic's awakening continues..."). Dominic works in a high pressure supervisory job, has a wife and baby, and has days w/o thoughts, and is lovin' it. he did it with less than 900 hrs of meditation and putting NDSI into his everyday life.
h) There is strong scientific validation for what occurs through meditation to reduce the strength of the "I/me/my" avatar. The discovery of the default mode network (DMN), a.k.a. the "blah, blah" network and its structure, components and functioning have shown the way to evaluate how different approaches alter the DMN and SRIN.
(See blogposts "nondual awakening and autism...the battle of the "blah, blah" and "tasking" networks", "What is the Default Mode Network?...", "Folk who meditate decrease mind wandering", and "Magic mushrooms work like meditation?...".)
i) NDSI is not about making "YOU" enlightened, it is about removing suffering in a continuing process of awakening. In reality there is no "you" who is "enlightened". As long as there is a "you" w/manifold attachments, including "enlightenment", there is an I/ego/avatar waiting for its coronation and "just rewards". This inevitably leads to suffering.
There is a belief currently circulating that you need to suffer "to be human", or to be creative. Some prominent teachers of "nonduality" and Buddhism, attached to their suffering, say "I love my suffering" and "I need my suffering to be compassionate!". i had suffered "enough" by my late 20s when i began practicing NDSI to alleviate it, to know that i didn't like it, didn't need it to be human, nor to be compassionate. Buddha obviously felt the same way.
On needing to suffer to be creative, i encourage folk who feel this way to see the magnificent Zen poetry, painting, calligraphy, etc. There is even a book of poetry written by Zen folk on their awakening. Many artists are merely attached to their suffering. The artists, visual as well as musical, that i work w/, say that their greatest work comes when they "aren't there", when the work just "flows" from an unknown source. Does this sound like suffering?
Question your "teachers". Who "certified" that they were "enlightened"? What does "enlightenment" mean to them? Many are "self-certified", i.e. they just declared themselves "enlightened". How did they know? How do they avoid Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman's caution, "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool"? Is this really different from, better than, DIY?
 |
| Ernest Everett Just Dartmouth U of Chicago |
So what really is "better" about nondual self-inquiry meditation (NDSI)? Well, here are a few differences:
a) NDSI focuses on the reduction/elimination of suffering arising from self-referential internal narrative (SRIN).
The common experience is that SRIN aggravates and exaggerates simple stimuli into anxiety, fear, depression, anger, etc. SRIN, which likely developed 75,000 yrs ago, was useful adaptively, evolutionarily, initially (or it wouldn't have developed). However, arguably, it is not suited for today's environment and we could benefit greatly from modifying/managing it.
 |
| SRIN David M. Ball |
Reduction of the intensity, "stickiness" and energy of SRIN with NDSI's simple self-inquiry tools often occurs in a short time and then can expand significantly w/continued practice to the extent that SRIN is often not present. NDSI focuses on understanding and questioning the existence of the "I" avatar/construct which is @ the root of SRIN.
Importantly, there is no decrease in the ability to solve problems, plan, speak, learn, visualize, etc. The typical experience is that these capabilities increase w/o the competition from SRIN. There is also a reduction in self-referential fears and desires. (Blogpost "we need a new mental operating system...now".)
Note that there are other kinds of "thoughts"; SRIN is the most problematic. (See vid "What 'no thoughts' means - 3 different kinds of thoughts")
b) It is secular and needs no religious or philosophical texts or beliefs. It is simple, straightforward and empirical.
 |
| Ramana Maharshi |
NDSI focuses on decreasing suffering by deconstructing the "I" avatar/construct. It is an ongoing awakening process, not an "end point" and is not about generating an enlarged ego w/an "Olympic Gold medal". As a famous Japanese Zen master said "Enlightenment is capable of endless enlargement".
d) NDSI can be done by yourself (DIY). Most DIY approaches suffer from not having direct, real-time, "feedback" on progress. With NDSI, w/the focus on reducing SRIN, which is omnipresent in most folks' consciousness, feedback is readily available. Try something for a while, then see if SRIN has changed; if it has, continue. If it hasn't, try something else. For "broader" feedback, see if your suffering has decreased.
To provide some assistance in that DIY "self-coaching" process, many blogposts, youTube videos, interviews, and 2 books (Happiness Beyond Thought: A Practical Guide to Awakening and Dancing Beyond Thought: Bhagavad Gita Verses and Dialogues on Awakening (also blogpost) have manifested in the years since the page turned to explain the process and are available free. Every aspect of NDSI is covered.
e) NDSI emphasizes that several approaches will be necessary, unlike many other meditative traditions. As the "I/ego avatar" is a slippery, clever adversary bent on deflecting this process which is so "threatening" (to itself), it will eventually blunt a single approach. An alternative NDSI approach is then engaged to make further progress from another angle.
f) NDSI can be done anytime and anywhere (w/o anyone knowing). It is ideally suited for "everyday" life. Standing at the bus stop, in line @ the supermarket or DMV, stuck in traffic, jogging, walking on the beach, eating, listening to music, etc. are all great opportunities for asking "Where am I?", "To whom did this sensation, thought, emotion arise?", "Who hears?", "What walks/dances/jogs/eats?", "Who works?", "What texts?", etc.g) NDSI in "everyday life" is particularly effective. Breaking the stream of SRIN for a few minutes when triggered by some periodic event, like sending a text, going to the bathroom, getting a cup of tea/coffee, every other hour on the hour, etc. gives the brain, which works w/contrasts, a strong and clear difference, and data point, between the previous intense "blah, blah" and stillness.
The brain "does not want" to be frantic, scared, racing around, stressed, inefficient, anxious, etc. When it sees another possibility that is a peaceful, still presence and yet is also more efficient and effective, given enough instances/data, it will restructure its networks and neurochemistry to support that preference. The blog "How does meditation 'work'? a new neuroscientific model" describes how this works in the brain.
As a demonstration of this, see the blogposts "Dialogues w/Dominic" ("Working in a 'big job' w/family, w/o thoughts" and "Dominic's awakening continues..."). Dominic works in a high pressure supervisory job, has a wife and baby, and has days w/o thoughts, and is lovin' it. he did it with less than 900 hrs of meditation and putting NDSI into his everyday life.
 |
| Default Mode Network |
h) There is strong scientific validation for what occurs through meditation to reduce the strength of the "I/me/my" avatar. The discovery of the default mode network (DMN), a.k.a. the "blah, blah" network and its structure, components and functioning have shown the way to evaluate how different approaches alter the DMN and SRIN.
(See blogposts "nondual awakening and autism...the battle of the "blah, blah" and "tasking" networks", "What is the Default Mode Network?...", "Folk who meditate decrease mind wandering", and "Magic mushrooms work like meditation?...".)
i) NDSI is not about making "YOU" enlightened, it is about removing suffering in a continuing process of awakening. In reality there is no "you" who is "enlightened". As long as there is a "you" w/manifold attachments, including "enlightenment", there is an I/ego/avatar waiting for its coronation and "just rewards". This inevitably leads to suffering.
There is a belief currently circulating that you need to suffer "to be human", or to be creative. Some prominent teachers of "nonduality" and Buddhism, attached to their suffering, say "I love my suffering" and "I need my suffering to be compassionate!". i had suffered "enough" by my late 20s when i began practicing NDSI to alleviate it, to know that i didn't like it, didn't need it to be human, nor to be compassionate. Buddha obviously felt the same way.
On needing to suffer to be creative, i encourage folk who feel this way to see the magnificent Zen poetry, painting, calligraphy, etc. There is even a book of poetry written by Zen folk on their awakening. Many artists are merely attached to their suffering. The artists, visual as well as musical, that i work w/, say that their greatest work comes when they "aren't there", when the work just "flows" from an unknown source. Does this sound like suffering?
 |
| Richard Feynman Nobel Laureate in Physics |
Question your "teachers". Who "certified" that they were "enlightened"? What does "enlightenment" mean to them? Many are "self-certified", i.e. they just declared themselves "enlightened". How did they know? How do they avoid Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman's caution, "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool"? Is this really different from, better than, DIY?
BTW1. Because of great interest, the blog tripped limits w/Blogger for the new magazine format, so comments aren't visible for any posts, but still exist. Have given up on Google's fixing it, so am seeing an IT folk in San Jose this week. Will continue to post to FB and Google+, so can comment there. If the blog disappears, we weren't successful.
BTW2. Will be presenting @ the Science and NonDuality Conference in San Jose, CA on Oct. 27 @ 12:00 on "Psychedelics and Nondual Awakening Create Similar Perceptions of Reality". Will be there for the entire conference - if you're around say hello.
BTW2. Will be presenting @ the Science and NonDuality Conference in San Jose, CA on Oct. 27 @ 12:00 on "Psychedelics and Nondual Awakening Create Similar Perceptions of Reality". Will be there for the entire conference - if you're around say hello.
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