I’ve been thinking about so many things lately, such as the processes and constructs we live by, the way we derive meaning from events and people, and how we understand the cause for happiness.
I catch myself discussing these topics with friends ever since my teenage years. I loved depicting different morals and values that we hold as a western society, such as individualism, determination, growth, and even improvement. I also enjoyed debating dual topics like whether socialism is better than capitalism, or if liberal rights are better than conservative ones.
What I realized recently, is that the answer is neither. In fact, the question itself is wrong. It is not between the two concepts, because the concepts themselves exist only in relation to each other. Otherwise, these concepts don’t exist at all.
What is Non-dualism?
What I am leading to is the philosophy of Advaita Vedānta, which is a classic Indian philosophy which supports a position of radical nondualism.
From my understanding, Advaitins believe that there is no separation of the self (ātman) from the world around us (brahman). We exist as “pure non-intentional consciousness. It is one without a second, nondual, infinite existence, and numerically identical with brahman.” (Dalal, 2021). This philosophy combines the logics of metaphysics with the principle of consciousness.
Now I understand that some of you reading this must think I’m going crazy or completely confused, but the thing is I came to these realizations without the texts themselves, and when I was in a completely sober and serene state.
We often hear people say “live in the moment” and “be present”, which essentially are incomprehensible clichés that we shrug off if we don’t manage to follow them. However, it is through this non-dualistic philosophy that I started to understand how to interpret these phrases.
The Theory of Simulacra and Hyper-reality
One observation I had was the way that mindfulness & consciousness is presented to us in a modern society. I must first explain the concept of simulacra and hyper-reality, which are postmodern concepts. They make us believe that the appearance or copy of something is more real than reality itself. Thus, I believe they are hindering our experience of true mindfulness.
An example of hyperreality, which is one of my favourites for many reasons, is the concept of Disney World, described by french sociologist Jean Baudrillard: “By presenting imaginary as more realistic than reality itself, Disneyland draws visitors into the world of escapism and happiness achieved through simulation; it makes the troubles of the real world less relatable” (Wang, 2018). The fact is, the visitors end up being much more preoccupied with regular day things in life, like fake houses and gardens, than the futuristic attractions themselves.
This is the perfect example of trying to improve our external world, and I believe it’s because we cannot take control of our internal world. Even if we find ways to do so, I still think we are not aware of the full picture.
My Experience with Meditation
To illustrate, one way to improve our inner world is through meditation. This is something that Eastern philosophies have been practising for a long time, and recently has been coming more into the mainstream Western culture.
The reason I say mainstream, is because I believe the approach we have as Westerners is often wrong and misguided. Obviously, I am not an expert on meditation, but through my practice and my learning, I am trying to deconstruct the concepts that are in fact hindering our mindful experience.
I used to have the motivation to mediate because I’ve been told it would make my life better. It’ll make me more relaxed and at peace. I often find myself wanting to meditate but never finding the time or will. However, it was only when I became excited to meditate for its own sake (intrinsic value), that I realized the following: desiring a specific outcome, or any outcome at all, goes against the whole philosophy of mindfulness. It is the extrinsic motivation of meditation which demotivates us from doing it.
Conclusion
A quote by former Monk Cory Muscara illustrates this idea in a broader sense: “Desires that arise in agitation are more aligned with your ego. Desires that arise in stillness are more aligned with your soul.”
Therefore, from now on, I am practising meditation for its own sake, regardless of the benefits it may bring me. To truly enjoy it, I need to be okay with there being no positive consequences after its ending.
I am still at the very start of this spiritual rabbit hole, so I am so curious to hear your thoughts and would love to know any book recommendations or ideas.
Works Cited
“Baudrillard’s Hyperreality in meditation.” YouTube, uploaded by Lack of Focus, 27 June 2019, www.youtube.com/xxxxx
Dalal, Neil, “Śaṅkara”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2021 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2021/entries/shankara/>.
Wang, Lina, “Reshaping Reality: From Disneyland to Dismaland” (2018). Architecture Senior Theses. 454.
My dear and sweet! You’re really going into the rabbit hole because the knowledge you are looking to obtain is so different from what we’ve known and discussed! I am looking forward to hear more about your thoughts and ideas while you are learning and trying to understand all of these!