Is there a problem non-duality cannot solve?
Question:
Our family is faced right now with a very baffling psychological disorder. An eight-year-old in our family, diagnosed with Asbergers, is flying into fits of blinding rage and fury. His dismayed parents have had to seek in-patient care for him, since lately his behavior is putting him in danger. The treatment will include medicines, supervision, and counseling. This is heart-wrenching for our family. What would non-dualism say about a situation such as this?
Answer:
This world was made to give rise to and perpetuate the illusion of a separate self. There is nothing quite so convincing as insoluble problems. The entire Autism spectrum is marked by problems connecting with other humans in meaningful and useful ways. Extreme emotions can change any attempt at connection into a situation of confrontation and competition. These situations demand attention and care being so startling and seemingly dangerous. Think also of natural disasters, political revolutions, famines, accidents, and the list goes on and on. The problems the world gives us to solve are never-ending, time-consuming, and frustrating.
Our brains perceive with a comparison and contrast mechanism. This question makes two crucial assumptions: (1) It assumes that we can properly identify a 'problem,' and (2) it assumes that we have the ability to solve some of our problems.
Non-duality would assert that everything we experience and perceive in our earthly lives is illusion. Everything. The good stuff AND the bad stuff. The easy problems and the hard ones. The solvable ones and the unsolvable ones. It's all FAKE. Of course, merely looking at a worldly situation and labeling it unreal is not helpful. This is known as denial, and can quickly lead to many problems of its own!
However. By considering the possibility that our formulation of reality (and thus our problems) may be mistaken, our minds are lead to questioning. As soon as we ASK a question, entire avenues open up that were not previously apparent. We begin to see that the form our problems take is not nearly as important as is our state of mind when we are facing those situations.
When we ASK for other perspectives, other perceptions, new ways of looking at life, we catch glimpses, reflections, and reminders of our non-dualistic Reality. This Reality is marked by eternal, unassailable peace. This is not the peace of the world; it is a calmness that is always present, always available, and not threatened in any way by anything.
When you are facing a problem (big or small) are you more effective when your mind is turbulent, or when you're feeling peaceful and calm? The answer is obvious, when put that way. A peaceful mind is not just more pleasant; it's more effective.
Seen through a perception blessed with reflections of Eternal Peace, the problems of the world are clearly seen as illusions, distractions, and appearances. We still go about our lives, dealing with the various situations as best we can. But our state of mind will be a peaceful one. Everything identified as a problem will change for the better, then back to bad, then back to good, and on and on. Contrast is the nature of dualism. But when one can begin to walk the false world of dualism with the Peace of God, the problems of the world cannot affect one's peace of mind.
There is only one problem. We believe we've split apart Oneness. In Truth, we haven't. Problem solved.
Our family is faced right now with a very baffling psychological disorder. An eight-year-old in our family, diagnosed with Asbergers, is flying into fits of blinding rage and fury. His dismayed parents have had to seek in-patient care for him, since lately his behavior is putting him in danger. The treatment will include medicines, supervision, and counseling. This is heart-wrenching for our family. What would non-dualism say about a situation such as this?
Answer:
This world was made to give rise to and perpetuate the illusion of a separate self. There is nothing quite so convincing as insoluble problems. The entire Autism spectrum is marked by problems connecting with other humans in meaningful and useful ways. Extreme emotions can change any attempt at connection into a situation of confrontation and competition. These situations demand attention and care being so startling and seemingly dangerous. Think also of natural disasters, political revolutions, famines, accidents, and the list goes on and on. The problems the world gives us to solve are never-ending, time-consuming, and frustrating.
Our brains perceive with a comparison and contrast mechanism. This question makes two crucial assumptions: (1) It assumes that we can properly identify a 'problem,' and (2) it assumes that we have the ability to solve some of our problems.
Non-duality would assert that everything we experience and perceive in our earthly lives is illusion. Everything. The good stuff AND the bad stuff. The easy problems and the hard ones. The solvable ones and the unsolvable ones. It's all FAKE. Of course, merely looking at a worldly situation and labeling it unreal is not helpful. This is known as denial, and can quickly lead to many problems of its own!
However. By considering the possibility that our formulation of reality (and thus our problems) may be mistaken, our minds are lead to questioning. As soon as we ASK a question, entire avenues open up that were not previously apparent. We begin to see that the form our problems take is not nearly as important as is our state of mind when we are facing those situations.
When we ASK for other perspectives, other perceptions, new ways of looking at life, we catch glimpses, reflections, and reminders of our non-dualistic Reality. This Reality is marked by eternal, unassailable peace. This is not the peace of the world; it is a calmness that is always present, always available, and not threatened in any way by anything.
When you are facing a problem (big or small) are you more effective when your mind is turbulent, or when you're feeling peaceful and calm? The answer is obvious, when put that way. A peaceful mind is not just more pleasant; it's more effective.
Seen through a perception blessed with reflections of Eternal Peace, the problems of the world are clearly seen as illusions, distractions, and appearances. We still go about our lives, dealing with the various situations as best we can. But our state of mind will be a peaceful one. Everything identified as a problem will change for the better, then back to bad, then back to good, and on and on. Contrast is the nature of dualism. But when one can begin to walk the false world of dualism with the Peace of God, the problems of the world cannot affect one's peace of mind.
There is only one problem. We believe we've split apart Oneness. In Truth, we haven't. Problem solved.
posted by AWB @ 2/03/2011 05:01:00 AM
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