Steve Szakal
Ghosh Yoga
300 ATT
1 July 2024
A Comparison of Dual and Non-Dual Philosophies and Their Understandings of the True Nature of the Self
Dualist and non-dualist philosophers differ on their understandings of the true nature of the self. Dualist believe that matter and consciousness are separate entities. Yoga texts such as the Yoga Sutras believe in duality in the forms of matter (prakriti) and spirit (purusha). Non-dualists hold that there is no separation and that the nature of existence is interconnected. The most well known form of non-dualist philosophy is Advaita Vedanta which in simplest terms means non-second-ness.
Swami Aranya, in his translation of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, is a Samkhya-Yogacharya, wrote extensively on the dualist philosophy. Patanjali’s understanding on the true nature of the self is first explained in Sutra 1.3: “Then the seer abides in Itself”, meaning that “at that time pure consciousness-the seer-abides in its own self, as it does in the state of liberation. In the empirical state, pure consciousness does not appear to be so, though in fact it is so” (Aranya 11). It follows the sutra addressing cessation of mind chatter (Chitta). Once mind chatter has stopped then the seer abides in itself. “Complete cessation of all fluctuations as in this state is the state of Kaivalya” (Aranya11). Patanjali states once mind chatter is removed, we know who we truly are. According to him, we are Purusa, the “I”, or the seer. We can attain this realization through thought cessation and mediation.
Yogic philosopher Vijnana-bhiksu’s analogy of a magnet drawing iron to it, becoming a treasured possession of its owner, is the same way the mind serves its master, Purusa. “By drawing to itself the objects around it and presenting them to Purusa and thereby become, as it were, the very self of Purusa” (Aranya 13). In our daily lives we come across distortions and distractions that prevents us from seeing the world as it really is. When our mind becomes still we can see the truth. When we see Purusa separate from Prakriti we know our true nature.
The philosopher Rene Descartes, best known for “I think, therefore I am”, also believed in a mind-body dualism. He writes in Meditations, “there is a great difference between mind and body in as much as body is by nature always divisible and the mind is eternally indivisible” (Cambridge 26). He continues, “afoot or an arm, or some other part, is separated from my body. I am aware that nothing has been taken away from my mind”(Cambridge 26). Descartes states that we are thoughts, regardless of what happens to our physical body. He believes that God created this body with a thinking soul and they are separate. Man’s true nature is to think. This “thinking” is the essence of who we are and without it we do not exist. He states “and although considering the use to which the clock has been destroyed by its maker, I may say that it deflects from the order of its nature when it does not indicate the hours correctly”(Cambridge 30). The clock is a metaphor for man and that even if the clock is destroyed it is still a clock, and even if the physical body is destroyed we will not lose our spirit or true nature. Descartes considered thoughts to be the true self. Anyone who thinks, therefore, exists.
The non-dualist Swami Vivekananda, a Hindu monk anddisciple of Ramakrishna, is best known for his concept of Advaita Vedanta which in its simplest definition means “not two”. He was the first major Hindu philosopher to bring eastern thought to the west. Vivekananda’s book, “Jnana Yoga”, a lecture given in London, explores the concept of self, our true nature, and existence. In chapter two, titled “The Real Nature of Man”, he describes the nature of self. First, he speaks on discovering who we are, “to seek for the real, to discover in the midst of this eternally changing and evanescent world whatever is real” (Vivekananda 14). He is telling us that since the beginning of time man has been searching for who we truly are. “We find man, even then, going a step beyond this body”(Vivekananda 14). It is in our true nature to find out who we really are.
Vivekananda tells us that living as an individual is not in harmony with nature and that “he alone lives whose life is in the whole universe, and the more we concentrate our lives on limited things, the farther we go towards death” (Vivekananda 20). We are not separate, rather we are everything and when we finally realize this, we will know our true nature. “When we can say “I am everything, in everybody, I am in all living things, I am the universe, then alone comes the state of fearlessness”(Vivekananda 20). This is the foundation of non-dualism.
Non-dualistic thought has also been adopted by modern day western philosophers, such as Sam Harris. On The Rich Roll Podcast, Harris spoke on the true nature of the self. He is known for his non-dualistic views on consciousness and existence, as well as being a proponent of mediation and self-inquiry. His first experience with transcendence was in his early 20’s when he experimented with MDMA. “It completely changed my view of the world and that was the main domino that fell” (Roll 56:02).This led him to his first meditation retreat and a lifelong curiosity into the idea of the self, or as he calls it “there, there”(Roll 1:03). Harris tells us that our inability to be in the present moment is what causes our suffering and prevents us from experiencing our true nature. We are always looking back and forward, instead of right here. Harris gives us a modern day approach to being our true self. You don’t have to believe in a religion or a particular philosophy. Being present in this moment is our true nature. “There is no ego in the middle of experience, its just experience” (Roll 1:31). Life is right in front of us, we just have to look.
Dualist and non-dualists have different understandings on the true nature of the self. Both philosophies have one thing in common and that is action. The Yoga Sutras demand great discipline and mental control in order to experience our true nature. In the Non-Dualists text Isa Upanishads it states “When a man sees all beings within his very self and his self within all beings. It will not seek to hide from him” (Olivelle 249). If you want to experience pure happiness and joy you must serve humanity and see yourself in everyone.
Comments