Hi there!
Welcome to Simply Nondual, where East meets West, and reason bows to awakening. I’m Marcel Eschauzier. I used to solve engineering problems—until I saw through the biggest one: separation. Now I share a practical way of living nonduality: simple, spiritual, and yes … fun!
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You may have heard of nonduality, but what is it? Every conscious creature is born with the illusion of duality, most without ever realizing it. It seems obvious that human beings exist separately from each other and the rest of the world, and most people take it for granted. But as improbable as it may sound, the perceived separation of our minds and bodies is a mirage. Nonduality is what’s left when this illusion dissipates, and appreciating the nondual is what Zen is all about.
Are Zen and rationality compatible? Many people don’t think so: They either hold that Zen is irrational or that thinking gets in the way of their meditation practice. As a result, nondualism and logical reason are applied in strictly separate silos, hinging on an imagined conflict between spirituality and science—subjectivity and objectivity. Here, Western thought misses the crucial point of nonduality: Science isn’t predicated on a mind-independent reality—it only seems that way.
Emerging scientific evidence never fails to confirm what Zen monks have known for centuries: The perceived separation between the “subjective” observer and “objective” reality is an illusion. Yet, seeing beyond the illusion of duality, also known as enlightenment, awakening, or satori, is not trivial because it’s deeply counterintuitive.
As a result, much of science remains rooted in dualism, with many scientists still believing that consciousness is a product of the physical brain, vainly trying to conceive a material cause for what is demonstrably preconceptual. Zen involves fathoming the illusion of objectivity, prompting a rediscovery of the four principles of rational thought to sustain scientific and public discourse.
My books are about nonduality and overcoming irrationality. The modern West is less rational than it realizes because of its secular dualistic way of thinking—which is like a religion because it requires faith in the human mind magically resolving the contradiction of knowing a world beyond itself. This supernatural belief disconnects the mind from intuition and common sense. In contrast, rational nondualists admit ignorance of a mind-independent reality since the objective is inseparable from the subjective.
Zen and reason combined could lead to a better world and greater personal well-being. Different cultures point to something we all share using varied terminology. Recognizing this through nondual discernment promotes mutual understanding, reduces conflict, and helps us connect with our inner truth. Reason serves as a universal language because it taps into our shared human value, even as it is expressed differently.
Well-being
Nonduality is all-pervasive. Trusting it has astounding benefits for your well-being—a message passed on to us by legendary Eastern sages like Lao Tzu, Bodhidharma, Shin-t’ou, and Huang-po. The philosophical guides Oneless Oneness and Awakening the Other Way explain in simple words why their timeless teachings don’t require religious beliefs but merely an inquisitive mind.
Philosophy
It’s easy to overlook nonduality, but you can experience it in simple things. The logical arguments for nonduality are equally straightforward, adding to their impact. But why use the word “nondualism” when modern Western analytical philosophy and metaphysics typically only recognize “dualism” versus “monism”? The essay How to See Consciousness solves this riddle.
Science
No more “reality duality”: Reimagined science embraces subject-object unity. Some readers ask how nonduality impacts science. Here’s one way: Science can’t reveal what the world is, only how it appears to us—and why. Thus, nondualism dispenses with the dualistic belief in quantum acausality. Learn more in the treatise Existential Rationalism.
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