Non-dual awareness, a state of oneness or non-separation, is a spiritual realization where the boundaries between the observer and the observed, the self and the world, dissolve. This awareness transcends dualistic thinking, which typically categorizes everything as separate, such as "me" and "others" or "mind" and "body." In non-dual awareness, these divisions are revealed as illusions, unveiling an interconnected reality where all existence is unified.
What is Non-Dual Awareness?
Non-dual awareness involves recognizing that the separations we perceive in life are ultimately false. Our everyday experience is often shaped by identifying with our thoughts, emotions, and perceptions, leading us to believe that we are separate from the world around us. This identification fosters a sense of separation, reinforcing the idea that we are distinct entities. However, non-dual awareness reveals that these separations are mere constructs of the mind.
Our heart (not referring to the physical heart - the divinity, the crux of our existence, the heart center and they are both not separate in the true sense) holds our whole essence. Our truth, our compassion, our joys, our essence, our bliss, our energy body, our feelings and our emotions all of it are held in the heart. But we are scared to open it. Because we have experienced traumas and they form a layer on top of our heart solidifying into what we call the mind, or the ego mind. The ego mind has only one job - to protect us.
And it does that by hiding our heart, our true self. Hence all our experiences, perceptions, observations are filtered through this egomind and we see only a tainted version of the whole truth. We see part of it. We are separated internally and we see the object in separation.
We see that part of the reality which pleases us, so we are not hurt further. It keeps us in our fantasy land, our illusion. We dont see the whole truth, we dont see the object as a whole but just a part of it. Thus, we may view each wave in the ocean as a separate entity with its own shape and size. However, each wave is merely an expression of the whole - the ocean; it is not separate from the ocean. Non-dual awareness is like realizing that you, too, are not separate from the "ocean" of existence. You are not a solitary wave but part of the vast, infinite ocean of consciousness. You see all parts of you, you see all parts of the object and you see the whole game - the illusion - the maya.
The Journey to Non-Dual Awareness
The path to non-dual awareness is not about acquiring new knowledge or skills. Instead, it involves letting go of false perceptions and recognizing what has always been true. ANYTHING THAT CHANGES FORM IS NOT TRUE. ONLY THAT WHICH IS UNCHANGEABLE IS THE TRUTH. The challenge lies in overcoming deeply ingrained thinking habits that make us feel separate from the world. The social conditioning, the layers of personality, the caste systems, the country systems, and the gender biases all
mean nothing in non dual awareness. The practice requires looking beyond our beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and experiences to recognize the underlying unity. In truth there is no belief. All beliefs are a function of the all encompassing super mind.
Meditation is the most powerful tool for exploring non-dual awareness. This practice help quiet the mind, allowing us to observe how thoughts and perceptions arise without immediately identifying with them. As we deepen our practice, we may begin to notice that the sense of being a separate "self" is just a mental construct. This realization can lead to a profound sense of peace and unity, dissolving the boundaries between "self" and "other."
Breathwork and Its Role in Non-Dual Awareness
Breathwork is a powerful tool for exploring non-dual awareness. It involves conscious presence during breathing to explore mental, emotional, and physical states. Various techniques such as deep breathing, rhythmic breathing, and breath-holding can help calm the mind, release tension, and enhance focus. But these still keep you as a manager, creating a management system of the mind. The truth completely unfolds only as you become MINDLESS, and not mindful. I wish you to let go of the mind completely and not be full of the mind. When you are mindful - your entire focus is on the mind, you never access the heart. The fears and traumas are being held in place, and your entire energy focuses on calming, soothing, pleasing the
mind like a small child is managed by a mother. What I wish you to explore is completely letting go of the mind - the no mind state. In this state, you are completely surrendered, completely vulnerable and fearless; willing to show your wounds with complete trust. In this state you will be able to let go of all trauma, all fears, all resistance and then you will be able to fully open your heart and experience life to its fullest. You become unapologetically you - the truth of you. The only way to achieve this is through Breathwork - specialised powerful yet simple techniques that form the core of the Aikya program - The Oneness Program. And while you practice this powerful breathing technique, you begin to live as a walking talking meditation 24/7, in sleep and in awake state. You are in a constant theta state of mind.
When combined with the intention of exploring non-dual awareness, breathwork can be particularly effective. The breath serves as a bridge between the conscious and unconscious mind, between the physical and subtle bodies. By choosing this breathwork, by making it our natural way of breathing, all the mind chatter vanishes, traumas heal deeply in awake state as well as via lucid dreaming; allowing for a deeper complete experience of the present moment.
In many traditions, the breath is seen as a direct connection to life force or energy, often called prana, chi, or qi. By consciously engaging with the breath, we can move beyond the surface-level experience of reality and touch the deeper, interconnected nature of existence. The rhythmic nature of breathwork helps dissolve the illusion of separation, as we become more attuned to the natural flow of life within and around us. The dual nature of all existence vanishes and you arrive at the non dual awareness, the adwait. You see all of existence at once. You hear all of the existence simultaneously and you become more and more present and more and more aware in every living moment.The Practice: Non-Dual Awareness through Breathwork
This is not a practice. It is a state of being. Till you try to achieve it as a practice, you will never be able to go from a doing state to a being state. It is hence important to maintain a relaxed focus. Start by finding a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed. Sit comfortably with your spine erect yet relaxed, and begin by simply observing your breath. Notice how it flows in and out without trying to change it. Allow your awareness to rest on the breath, following its natural rhythm. Then slowly go deeper and deeper till you are breathing through every organ. You continue breathing this way and expanding it to every cell. By the time you arrive at cellular breathing, you will have total control of your existence. You will be able to breathe through your skin just like fishes in water. The existence of the respiratory organs will become secondary as you reach this deep state of relaxation where all organs are completely relaxed. The heart itself relaxes with the knowing that it is completely connected with the universe. Is this possible? Yes, it is!
The Freedom of Non-Dual AwarenessThis experience of Adwait - Non Dual Awareness brings a profound sense of freedom. This freedom isn’t about escaping life’s challenges but about transcending the limitations imposed by dualistic thinking. When we no longer see ourselves as separate from the world, we become free from the fear, anxiety, and isolation that accompany that belief. You become free of all conditioning and bias. All is well and in balance.
In non-dual awareness, there is a deep acceptance of what is. Life is no longer a struggle to defend or define the self. Instead, it becomes a flowing, dynamic expression of the one reality. This realization can lead to inner peace and contentment that is not dependent or governed by external circumstances. You will experience no joy in celebration and no grief and frustration in sad or violent moments. All experience will be outside of you and you will simply be present. In most cases, you will also harness the power to bring about dynamic change in predetermined situations. For instance, you are on the road and you may be able to preconceive an accident and will by the sheer power of your knowing be able to manipulate the molecules of the vehicles and the beings in them to completely evade the accident or minimise the loss. In my experience of adwait, numerous times accidents have been evaded, children have crossed safely and elders have caught the bus or train. This is the power of being totally free, even free from the lies of time. Because in truth, time doesnt exist. It is a human construct. It is different in different parts of the world and measures differently on different planets and universes. When you are in adwait, you become the superhero and can simply change things by the power of your mind addressed to that situation. Now you start using the mind rather than the mind controlling you.
In truth, the sense of freedom arising from non-dual awareness is also a freedom from the need to control or manipulate life and its experiences. With no separate "self" to protect or advance, the mind is jobless. Life can be lived more fully, with a sense of ease and spontaneity, because there is no longer a constant effort to maintain the illusion of separateness. There is no meaning of experience as each moment is a completely new moment with no relation to the past and no projection into the future.
Integrating Non-Dual Awareness
Non-dual awareness and breathwork completely transform how we interact with the world. There is an experience of complete ease in all situations and events. Events still occur as we still are part of a bigger network and we have a role to play to keep the system of this world in place. You still are someone’s mother, brother, sister, husband, or child. But your role is minimal. It is like you have pulled your peg out of the game of life and you intervene only in certain moments where the wheel would not move ahead without your spoke in place. It helps us respond with greater compassion and deeper understanding of this illusion. Beware: Life does throw the ball in our court multiple times and in ways which are beyond the most powerful temptations. Illusions that were your wildest dreams come forth, enticing you to participate and get back into the game, into the fantasy land of the illusion. And many succumb, with fond remembrance of their short experience of adwait, of non dual awareness. Only with perseverance and grace and a sheer dedication to stay connected with your truth, you keep coming back to your state of non dual awareness, maybe in this lifetime or lifetime after lifetime.. You keep touching this beautiful state of adwait, again and again. And at those moments, you laugh, you laugh at the stupidity of everything, at the stupidity of you. Till a day, a time arrives when you merge into it completely. You become the adwait and there ends your cycle of life and death. The entire illusion that was created in your supermind collapses and what is left is just stillness, emptiness, nothingness, the super darkness. You merge into and as the energy, space, consciousness.