Advaita Vedanta, Nisarga Yoga, Non-Duality...An Introduction

First of all a small note. If you happen to use Google plus, please click the "plus one" button at the bottom on posts you like. If you use any other social media and like one of my posts, please share it with others. Thank you very much !

"You are not your thoughts, memories, emotions, associations, perceptions, attentions, or intentions...." ~ Stephen Wolinksy

If you go to India, you might hear people talking about advaita. Advaita is a broad term which can encompass a range of teachings....

I interpret advaita as I have heard it explained as being basically "one substance, not two." That everything is in fact one substance, and not two substances. Vedanta means "the end of the vedas" the vedas being the teachings. Perhaps this video will help you understand.

This is a disciple of Maharaj whom I met at one of his (Wolinsky's) conferences. He is very into quantum physics and neuroscience as a way to explain and understand Advaita Vedanta, or the teachings of Maharaj.

There is another component to Maharaj from which Maharaj himself derived his name (Nisargadatta). Nisargadatta was not his real name, but was a name he appointed himself after his realization because it was a name that came up for him when he was writing poetry. The word Nisarga which means natural (roughly translated) in this context is from the idea of "Nisarga Yoga" which is basically the yoga of living. Maharaj called it the only natural Yoga. It is a non-yoga if you will, it is the yoga of living, the yoga of everyday life. You live your life, contemplate the teachings and then become self-realized. Maybe you would be given a few instructions, perhaps a mantra, and told to meditate and think on the teachings but that's it.

Maharaj was himself part of a nine master lineage in India. He had a guru from whom he got his teaching and who told him to do Bhajans which are devotional songs to him every day as a kind of tribute. Which he did, every day, until he died which was in his eighties.

In Tantric Yoga (which has very little to do with sex, btw, although the West has interpreted it that way) they talk about how everything is consciousness, and nothing exists outside of consciousness, meaning, everything, including the Observer you are, the person you are, and your world, is part of the same ONE consciousness, which is to assert the underlying UNITY that is present in these kinds of teachings and religions. This is the essence of Non-Duality, also, since obviously the fundamental duality comes from our belief in ourselves as Individuals, separate from our Environments, and each other. Are you tripped out yet? If not, you will be soon.

For more info, check out NetiNetifilms.com.

Or check out one of Wolinsky's self-help books here: Trances People Live

That's all for now, I hope this has been helpful. Remember, if you like the posts, share them or google PLUS them!