#100 Non-Dualism

That considered to be pure by people of little understanding, is neither pure nor impure in the Shaiva system of philosophy. One who rises above dualizing thoughts attains complete happiness.

Verse 123, Vigyan Bhairava Tantra

The next few verses are beautiful. They get to the heart of the philosophy of non-dualism. That considered to be pure by people of little understanding, is neither pure nor impure in the Shaiva system of philosophy. The Shaiva system of philosophy refers to the non-dualistic philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism. Yoga, tantra or Kashmir Shaivism, are very different from orthodox Hinduism, and from other religions. Orthodox Hinduism was for a certain time blighted by the caste system. The upper caste brahmins considered themselves to be purer than members of the lower castes. In some of the sections of orthodox Hinduism, women were also considered inferior to men. During certain parts of the menstrual cycle, women were considered impure, and were not supposed to visit temples. This is a practice that continues even till today. Kashmir Shaivism used to scoff at all these practices. Kashmir Shaivism says that what you consider pure is God, and what you consider impure is also God. Therefore, how can something be pure or impure? In non-dualism, there is only God. Every object in this universe is God. God cannot be pure or impure. God is God. A brahmin is a part of God and a member of the lowest caste is also a part of God. So how can a brahmin be pure and a member of the lowest caste be impure? A man is God and a woman is also full of God. Therefore, how can men be purer or superior to women? They cannot. The Kashmir master, Abhinavagupta, used to give the example of Ganga water and wine. In Hinduism, water from the river Ganga is said to be pure and sacred, and wine being alcohol was said to be impure. Abhinavagupta said that there was no difference between Ganga water and wine. Goo was in both of them. One was not purer than the other. There are several examples of pure and impure found in our world today. Members of one religion consider themselves to be pure (and superior), and consider members of all other religions to be impure. The concept of pure and impure can be highly dangerous, as the world is finding out today. From purity and impurity comes superiority and inferiority. People who consider themselves pure, also consider themselves superior to those they call impure. Those who consider themselves to be superior immediately start treating those they consider inferior in an inhuman way. The Nazis thought their Aryan race was pure and superior.

They then tried to destroy· or dominate members of other races. The same thing happens with religious fundamentalists. They consider their religion superior, and then try and destroy or convert members of other religions. One who rises above dualizing thoughts attains complete happiness. This is
the key to practicing this meditation. Rise above thoughts of separation, thoughts of dualism. Do not see the world in terms of good and evil, pure and impure, you and God. Instead see everything as One. See all of life, all of existence as a part of God. Almost all suffering, all misery, comes from a feeling of separation. The more you feel one with God, and with all of life, the more joy you will experience in your life. Even if somebody steals something from you, you will no longer get distressed. You will no longer see that someone as separate from you. No one can “take” anything away from you because there is only you and no one else. You will see yourself having “given” away something to a part of you that needed it desperately.
You will also realize that whatever it is you have “lost” has no substantial value and can always be created again in the future. Therefore, do not see yourself as separate. Instead, see and experience the world and everything in it, as part of One Whole. It is because you see yourself as separate that you remain separate. When you believe you are one with God, you become one with God.