What Non-Duality IS and Why We ARE Not ENLIGHTENED?

Jiaoshi Andrea
Dec 13, 2022
4 min read

Updated: Nov 7, 2024

Enlightenment: A Process of Undoing, Not Doing

Embarking on a spiritual journey often means seeking that elusive state called enlightenment. In the early stages, we idealize this state, picturing it as an elevated, mystical experience that we must acquire through effort, knowledge, and doing. However, as we dive deeper into our practices, we may come to a profound realization: enlightenment is not a result of "doing" or acquiring new knowledge. Rather, it is a process of undoing—a return to our natural, true state. It is a state of being that exists inherently within us, waiting to be uncovered.

The Timeless Nature of Confusion and Enlightenment

The Buddha was once asked about the roots of confusion and enlightenment. His response was enlightening: both confusion and enlightenment have always existed and are present at all times. This timeless truth is encouraging for spiritual seekers because it suggests that enlightenment is not some distant, unreachable goal. With the proper tools and self-investigation, spiritual awakening is available to us within our lifetime. It is not a state to be achieved but rather a state to be recognized.

Understanding the Causes of Our Unawakened State

Before we can experience enlightenment, we need to explore and understand the causes of our current, unawakened condition. This is where intellectual inquiry can be helpful. While enlightenment itself cannot be truly explained in words, it is important to gain intellectual clarity on what hinders our ability to experience freedom and clarity in life.

The root cause of our suffering, confusion, and limitation is not something external. We ourselves are the obstacles that prevent us from living in a state of freedom and clarity. This realization is often hard to accept, but it is essential for our spiritual growth. Our personal conditioning, ingrained beliefs, and distorted perceptions of reality form a filter through which we experience the world. This distorted lens is what we refer to as ignorance or an unawakened state.

The Role of Nonduality and Nei Qi Gong in Overcoming Obstacles

In the search for enlightenment, recognizing our true nature is a multi-faceted process that requires both intellectual and experiential approaches. Nonduality offers a perspective that can help us understand the essential oneness of all things. It shows us that the distinction between self and other is an illusion, which, when realized, dissolves the root cause of our confusion.

Nei Qi Gong, a practice that blends physical movement, energy cultivation, and meditation, is a powerful tool that can support this journey. While intellectual investigation can help us break through mental limitations and shift our perspective, Nei Qi Gong allows us to experience the state of non-duality firsthand. Through this practice, we can feel an energetic unification with the field of life and begin to directly access the state of clarity and freedom that represents our enlightened nature.

The Process of Opening Doors to Enlightenment

The path to enlightenment can be likened to a process of opening doors and leaving them open. Each door represents an aspect of our being—physical, emotional, mental, and energetic. By allowing these aspects to unfold naturally, we begin to return to the state of emptiness, which is our true essence.

In this analogy, emptiness refers to the boundless, unconditioned nature of our consciousness. It is a space where thoughts appear but do not define us. When we do not identify with these thoughts, they naturally dissolve, and we return to the pure emptiness of awareness. This emptiness is not a void but a fertile, dynamic space where everything arises and returns. In this state, there is no "self" to grasp onto, only the natural flow of life.

The Impact of Thoughts and Emotions on Our Lives

Our thoughts and emotions are powerful forces in shaping our experience of life. In the Buddhist tradition, the concept of emptiness teaches that our true nature is like empty space. Thoughts arise and pass through, but when we attach ourselves to them, they create emotional reactions that drive our actions. From our actions, we shape our reality.

When we operate from negative thoughts and emotions, the impact can be devastating, creating a "hell" in our experience. Conversely, when we act from a place of clarity and freedom, rooted in our true nature, our lives can feel like a "paradise." This highlights the importance of mindfulness—of not allowing ourselves to be ruled by the constant flow of thoughts but learning to observe them without attachment.

Returning to Our True Nature

Ultimately, the journey of enlightenment is not about acquiring something new but about returning to who we truly are—the empty space of awareness. When we stop identifying with the fluctuations of thought, we naturally return to the stillness and clarity of our true nature. This is the essence of spiritual awakening: the realization that we have always been whole, always been enlightened, and that the obstacles to experiencing this truth lie within our own minds.