John Sefton - Identifying Nonduality: A Guide to Recognizing Our True Nature

To C. L. Smith

It took me years to realize you were teaching the whole time.

Its common to think that nondual realization is only possible after a lifetime of meditation, along with strict devotion to a religion. But what we come to find out is that the nondual reality that weve been searching for, is already present as our own awareness. This means its not a concept that is to be learned, its an ever-present actuality that is to be recognized.

Yet even as this pure presence illuminates every thought and experience that arises, virtually everyone remains unaware of it. Unconscious of our true nature, we become fixated on the activities of the body-mind and perceive ourselves only as a small self that is prone to getting hurt, feeling loss, and of course, dying. We easily get anchored to that view, believing that our body and ego are the entirety of our identity and existence. This outlook causes us to become drawn in and tunnel-visioned to the desires and survival of the egoic self while overlooking this all-encompassing awareness that is our actual identity.

The purpose of this book is to reveal that the ultimate reality that were seeking is already present as our own awareness. And since its already present, this means we can directly realize it instead of relying on a theory or belief system. So it wont require the linear understanding that our mind is used to, and theres no need to compile more and more ideas about it. Its beyond thought and expression, so if we keep searching for more concepts and beliefs about it, this will only keep us busy chasing our dualistic tail. Therefore, we wont be seeking anywhere outside of our own present awareness, and we wont be approaching nonduality as if we lack it. We will be identifying this pure awareness in the timeless now. This will allow us to see, firsthand, that reality isnt divided into subject and object, perceiver and perceived, or self and other, even though it may appear that way on the surface.

What should become clear is that this beginningless consciousness is already the basis of every moment independent of us seeking, practicing, or meditating. Since our true nature is this fundamental ground of reality itself, its already and unavoidably achieved and doesnt require a never-ending quest of strenuous searching. Instead, It becomes a matter of just noticing its presence and letting it be. The keys of recognition and non-effort are essential so that we can authentically and nonconceptually be this natural state that weve always been. And it is these contemplative cornerstones that will be explored in this book. This will be done from subtle to direct pointing out of our true nature, as well as learning the paradoxical meditation of non-meditation. Well look into the most vital nondual teachings, common across several traditions, and how we can expect our relationship to the path to change, as well as some stumbling blocks to be aware of.

Some say we shouldnt receive this simple yet profound wisdom until after weve spent significant amounts of time and energy learning all the ins and outs of their specific religion, method, or way of worship. But our true nature isnt something that we have to earn, conditionally receive, or procure from someone else, because no one else owns it and were already it. They can point to it, but we already have it. Its not given to us or the dualistic world its what we and the dualistic world are always arising from. Since its always present as both the display and the knower of reality itself, no teacher or group owns it or has a monopoly over it. We only have to become wake up to its ever-present lucidity.

Theres an additional reason for us to get serious about awakening to this primordial essence of being, and why its reality shouldnt be withheld from anyone. Its apparent that we may be facing an emerging crisisfrom the cultural, to the environmental, to the existentialthat might require an alternative and deeper remedy than what the dualistic and historical mind can offer. Since the human landscape itself is becoming increasingly fragmentary and volatile, the need has arisen to expedite this awakening for those who are earnestly searching. The recognition of our ultimate nature may be an effective aid because it reveals all beings universal identity, which has no cultural, religious, or political divisions. A future where fewer humans are in the dark to their shared fundamental essence is a possibility we should entertain and enable. Its not a magical solution, but it lays bare what is real. This could have a crucial effect even if it occurs on a small scale, like an asteroid being deflected by slightly altering its course if caught early enough. In this way, its in others best interest if we awaken to our true nature sooner, rather than later. The crucial step is to get past thinking its a separate object and to realize we and it are always nondual. And one of the first things we can begin doing is to drop the facade of unawareness that weve been carrying.

Relax and merge into the primal space of total presence, which is free of coming and going. Cut loose and just let it be.

SHABKAR TSOKDRUK RANGDROL

B efore awakening, the mind will think it can only find nondual awareness in some place other than itself. This is understandable because thats where its discovered everything else. Since it believes it doesnt have nondual awareness right now, it decides it must be out there somewhere and requires something else to find it. So an unaware identity arises based on this perceived division, and it searches around for holy teachings, practices, and even sacred objects to finally find completeness in the form of nonduality, God, or ultimate reality. The mind will always think its lacking and needs something else to make itself whole. But our true nature is nondual awareness, and its always right here, nowhere separate from our very own mind.

So to even say, We all have the potential to attain nondual awareness would not be accurate enough, because it would be overlooking the fact that we always are and always have been this awake clarity. Its more than just a potential because its always been the case. It would be like saying, Our physical bodies have the potential to be affected by gravity. On one level, thats true, but that would be ignoring the fact that our bodies are already being affected by gravity, and always have been. A similar thing is true with our nondual nature. Its not something we attain since theres never been a moment we havent been this pure awareness.

Its important to understand that this is not a religious belief that is to be accepted on faith. Its our natural state that is to be realized. If you exist and are aware, then it is nondual awareness that is the ground of that existence and awareness. Even if your experience is of not being aware of your true nature, that experience itself is known through the pure awareness that is your true nature. This unchanging consciousness is never separate from us and is impossible to avoid.

But if this is all true then why arent we automatically and continuously aware of it? Why would there have to be a search in the first place? Why isnt pure awareness evident to everyone if its always