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Non Duality
The concept of non-duality is an idea that suggests that the separation we feel between ourselves, others and the world around us is an illusion. According to this view, there is only one unified reality and everything we perceive as separate is actually part of a continuous whole.
In simpler terms, non-duality means ‘not two’. In our daily lives, we tend to see things as dualities: good and bad, me and you, internal and external. However, the idea of non-duality suggests that these divisions are constructions of the mind and that, on a deeper level, everything is interconnected and essentially the same.
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When we talk about ‘self’, we often refer to our personality, our thoughts, emotions and physical body. However, non-duality proposes that the true ‘I’ is pure consciousness, the silent witness of all these experiences. This consciousness is not something we can separate or divide; it is the basis of everything that exists.
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Exercise to experience a glimpse of non-duality:
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Find a quiet place where you can sit comfortably and without interruptions.
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Close your eyes and start paying attention to your breathing. Feel the air coming in and going out, without trying to control it.
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Now observe your thoughts as if they were clouds passing through the sky of your mind. Don't get attached to them, just watch them come and go.
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As you observe your thoughts, start asking yourself: ‘Who is the observer of these thoughts?’ Don't look for an intellectual answer, but try to feel the presence of the one observing.
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Recognise that the observer cannot be a thought, because you are capable of observing thoughts themselves. This observer is your awakened consciousness, your true nature.
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Remain in this space of observation, allowing yourself to simply ‘be’. You may begin to feel a sense of unity or lack of separation between you and your surroundings.
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When you're ready, slowly open your eyes, but try to maintain the feeling of union and conscious presence.
This exercise can provoke a glimpse of non-duality by making it easier to recognise that you are not just your thoughts or sensations, but the consciousness that is aware of them.
Don't worry if you can't feel this immediately; like any practice, it can take time and repetition.
10 Principles of Non-Dual Mentoring
The 10 key principles of the NDLCA (NON DUAL LEADING COACHING ACADEMY):
The basis of non-dual coaching and mentoring.
At NDLCA, we have identified 10 key principles that underpin our approach and our programs.
They help professionals avoid getting lost in abstract concepts or becoming overly dependent on a plethora of coaching tools.
Instead, they allow coaches to develop their own methods, anchored in these fundamental principles.
Fairness/Equality
The mentor and the client are peers in the exploration process. The guide assumes no position of authority or superiority (or inferiority) over the mentee.
Both are completely equal in the process.
Release
Transformation occurs through the abandonment of beliefs and ideas.
Progress is driven by insights, not new information. Nothing new is added - true transformation results from the liberation of ideas and beliefs.
Integrality
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Integrality
The client is inherently complete, with everything they need available right now. Growth comes from rediscovering this wholeness, not from acquiring something new over time.
Resistance/Friction
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The guide uses the client's mental resistance as a resource.
This resistance is used to trigger deeper insights.
Insight
Progress comes from insight rather than new information.
The client is already fully awake and aware. The role of the guide is to help the client remember and recognize this fact.
Beyond the Ego
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The work unfolds naturally without the deliberate intervention of a guide. There is no individual doing or acting; the process simply happens.
Acceptance
The work unfolds naturally without the deliberate intervention of a guide. There is no individual doing or acting; the process simply happens.
Paradoxical
Non-duality embraces paradox, encouraging the mind to relinquish control. Paradox is playful and points beyond conventional meaning, leading to a direct understanding of experience.
Awareness
The work arises from non-dual Consciousness. The facilitator incorporates this effortlessly, guiding the process naturally.
Off the beaten track
The work is a spontaneous interaction, in the present moment, without a defined path. It evolves fluidly between the guide and the client, without objectives or intentions.
