Sylvester - Non-duality questions, non-duality answers: exploring spirituality and existence in the modern world

It is rare these days to find an unequivocal non-dual communication. Attempting to describe that which is beyond understanding, process, or path is hardly ever embarked upon. However, Richard undertakes this task in his own inimitable style. He also includes relevant stories and perceptions about the human condition gleaned from a rich and varied experience.

Tony Parsons, author of The Open Secret

The reader is guided on an exceptional journey into the unknowable by an expert in psychology and spiritual traditions who awakened from the dream of separation.

Christian Salvesen, MA, author of Advaita

Richard Sylvester fields a spectrum of questions that covers personal journeys and non-duality culture. He barely breathes on questions andthey disappear. To try to say what remains would invite more questions, yet it is present on every page.

Jerry Katz, editor of One

Publishers Note

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books

Copyright 2016 by Richard Sylvester

Non-Duality Press

An Imprint of New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

5674 Shattuck Avenue

Oakland, CA 94609

www.newharbinger.com

Cover design by Amy Shoup

All Rights Reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file

18 17 16

With deep appreciation to Tony Parsons for communicatingnon-duality so clearly and with such love and humour

Too many people have contributed to the writing of this book to list them all here. However, particular thanks are due to Tony and Claire Parsons and to the following: Allan Bloxham, Brett, Cha, Dawn, Jason Lee, Jay Mistry, Jeremy Robinson, Jonny Roth, Karin, Michael Dobias, Rosemary Cochran, Rupert Peene, Seamus Gilroy, Terry Murphy and Thorsten.

I have no use for traditions or traditional knowledge. If you do the slightest research on tradition you will see that it is all a concept.

Nisargadatta Maharaj

A day will dawn when you will laugh at all your past efforts.

Ramana Maharshi

There is no rider on the horse.

Sam Harris

THE TOPICS IN THIS BOOK INCLUDE NON-DUALITY AND

a course in miracles angels anger anxiety astrology attachments awakening bliss buddhism celibacy channelling children choice and choicelessness christianity conflict between teachers of advaita conflict with family and friends consciousness contraction and localisation death de-personalisation depression despair detachment drugs electronic voice phenomena emptiness evolution evolutionary enlightenment fear god gratitude gurus john rowan karma liberation madness maslow meditation mindfulness mystical experiences mystics negative habits negative thoughts neuroscience neurosis nisargadatta maharaj non-action non-duality trolls out-of-the-body experiences paranormal phenomena past-life regression paths and practices positive thinking post-modernism pre-destination projections psychosis psychotherapy quantum physics ramana maharshi ramesh balsekar ramtha rebirth and reincarnation relationship difficulties religion sacred cows sadhana seeking self-enquiry separation spiritual fascism spiritual paths spiritual people suffering superstition teachers of awakening the cosmic ordering service the golden rule the laws of attraction the mind the secret the shadow the tigers mouth the witness thinking time transcendence unconditional love wei wu wei zen

For about ten years people sent me questions on non-duality by e-mail and usually I answered them. I am no longer able to do this, so I have put some of these questions and answers into this book. If you have a question, I hope you will be able to find the answer here. Alternatively, you could come to a meeting and ask it and you will get a cup of tea and a biscuit as well.

Most of the questions have been edited to maintain anonymity. Where names have been given, this is always with permission.

IS AWAKENING a CHANCE EVENT?

Question:You say that there is no separate person and therefore no free will. So is it simply a matter of chance whether the sense of self drops away?

Richard: Answers to questions such as this one will always be frustrating for the mind. Liberation, or the seeing that there is no separation, is either seen or it is not seen. That is all that can be said.

As soon as we suggest that it is a matter of chance, or of fate, or it is willed by God, or it is earned by spiritual striving or purification, or it is the result of karma or grace, we are entering into another story.

Of all the stories that there are about this, I quite like the one that says that it is grace. But that is also a story.

AWAKENING aND PRACTICES

The same experience that you and Tony Parsons describe is very familiar to me from several years ago. At the time I felt very joyful. In fact I laughed out loud. I felt a tremendous sense of peace, freedomand relief. This state lasted for about two years, during which life was simply living itself and there was no searching for anything else.

But then somehow I found myself searching again. I started reading about non-duality, going to meetings, talking to all sorts of people about this. Ive become terribly frustrated with trying to understand this and very confused by what different people say about it. Some teachers tell me that I should develop awareness, others that I must become totally present in the here and now. Could you comment?

What you describe is quite common. There can be an unequivocal seeing of This, Oneness, Presence. Then after a while the mind can come back with all its theorising and with its suggestions that maybe, just maybe, there really is something more than This. That is how the mind tries to clamber back onto its throne, or into its Managing Directors chair.

So heigh ho, we are back on the hamster wheel and searching again, with all the terrible frustration that this can entail. Many people who write and talk about non-duality encourage this, wittingly or unwittingly. They may suggest that the seeing of Oneness can be used instrumentally in a variety of ways, for example to improve our life and our relationships. Often they teach that we can approach closer to Oneness by increasing our Awareness or by practising being Present.

And then off we go on another merry-go-round of inadequacy and searching.

If I gave advice, Id say Forget all that and relax.

Becoming totally present in the here and now is a phrase which is time-bound and space-bound. It has nothing to do with the seeing of non-duality. It encourages people to think that they can be more present by making an effort. Indeed, some people can, but it usually doesnt last more than a few minutes.