If Dualism is real, why do so many people have non-dualism experiences?

[Ben_Sinner]

As Christians, we believe in dualism. We don’t believe in “We are all ONE”. We believe in individuality and selves.

It is impossible for non-dualism to exist because it is full of logical contradictions…but…how do we explain the mystical experiences (common in Eastern spirituality) people have when people meditate or do some other mind-altering practice and say they “Realize” that everything is non-dual?

I don’t think saying they are lying would be a good answer. If non-dualism is logically impossible, then how can people experience it?

 

[OneSheep]

As Christians, we believe in dualism. We don’t believe in “We are all ONE”. We believe in individuality and selves.

It is impossible for non-dualism to exist because it is full of logical contradictions…but…how do we explain the mystical experiences (common in Eastern spirituality) people have when people meditate or do some other mind-altering practice and say they “Realize” that everything is non-dual?

I don’t think saying they are lying would be a good answer. If non-dualism is logically impossible, then how can people experience it?

Hi Ben,

Is “individuality” and “selves” a dualism?

When I think of dualism vs nondualism, I think of the contrast between Manichaeism and Monism, or I think of body/soul duality vs body and soul as one. These are the most controversial, and the most meaningful, applications of the contrast.

Because of the activity of the conscience, we naturally come to resent parts of ourselves, we think negatively of certain aspects of the “ego”, yet we still claim that parts of ourselves are good. This perspective is projected without, so the conscience presents to us a dualistic universe.

Non-dualism is a perspective that transcends the conscience and sees that all is beautiful and good within ourselves and others. It is a relationship by which one knows that there is a connection between all of us that centers on “I am”.

 

[GEddie]

We all share our being; that does not imply that individuals do not exist.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Vonsalza]

As Christians, we believe in dualism. We don’t believe in “We are all ONE”. We believe in individuality and selves.

It is impossible for non-dualism to exist because it is full of logical contradictions…but…how do we explain the mystical experiences (common in Eastern spirituality) people have when people meditate or do some other mind-altering practice and say they “Realize” that everything is non-dual?

I don’t think saying they are lying would be a good answer. If non-dualism is logically impossible, then how can people experience it?

I’m not sure if it can be considered a function of logic.

A classic dualism in Christianity is “the sovereignty of God over His creation” juxtaposed with “man’s free moral agency”. Calling it a “contradiction” assumes that they are mutually exclusive; it can’t be proofed either way.

One of the better explanations for it I’ve heard is “a train runs on two rails”. It doesn’t run on the left one any more than it also runs on the right.

It’s a pretty hot topic for “reformed” theologians.

Are you asking it in a more specific way than I am assuming? I’ll try to avoid being more tangential to your question if you are.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

It is not “either/or” but “both /and”.

Same goes for God’s immanence and transcendence.

We have our individuality but without God we do not even exist. We share in God’s being.

As Paul says in Acts 17: “for in Him we live and move and exist”.

And Jesus in John 17:22 "I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one— 23 I in them and You in Me — that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.

We are working to realizing our unity even as we maintain our individuality which is now wounded by sin.