Sean Esbjörn-Hargens (Part 2) – The Boundless Riches of Nonduality: Understanding Nondual Experiences Across Traditions and Over Time

Deep Transformation

Ep. 156 (Part 2 of 3) | Integral polymath Sean Esbjörn-Hargens is the first comparative scholar to undertake differentiating the myriad varieties of nonduality. A longtime spiritual practitioner within several nondual traditions, Sean wanted to find out how we can understand the relationship between reality, consciousness, and practice. He decided to delve into a comprehensive study of nonduality and was surprised and excited by what he found: 40 distinct nondual traditions, ancient and new, from East and West, fascinating in their differences, their similarities, their uniqueness, and their depth. Sean’s hope is that his comparative analysis of nondual traditions will open the door to a global, cross-tradition dialogue that will supersede centuries of misunderstanding and conflict among people arguing that their realization is the best and/or only correct interpretation of reality and allow nondual traditions to enrich and empower one another.

Enthusiasm and excitement flow throughout the conversation as Sean reveals provocative patterns he has uncovered in nonduality's history and the distinctions he has mapped so far. It becomes clear that nondual realizations evolve in a way similar to developmental models in terms of subject/object relationship, psychology of self, and taking new perspectives, and that they will continue to evolve. As Sean puts it, “the ontological floor keeps dropping out as the endpoint of spiritual realization.” “What will our nondual traditions look like in a thousand years? In two thousand years!” Sean wonders. Hang on to your hats for a thoroughly enjoyable and eye opening ride through a goldmine of information about the many faces and potentials of our nondual traditions. Recorded September 12, 2024.

“Our nondual traditions are one of the best things people have created – ever!”

(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)

Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2

• Science and the new relationship between subject and object (00:50)
• 6 subject-object strategies that nondual traditions embrace (02:51)
• Roger’s acknowledgment of the enormous contribution Sean is making as the first comparative scholar to differentiate the varieties of nonduality (04:59)
• Provocative patterns in the history of nonduality and the mysterious flourishing of nondual traditions from around the 11th to the 14th century (09:28)
• Nondual texts that only emerged in the last 100 years have expanded our nondual horizons—and there’s a lot more to discover (13:08)
• The ontological floor keeps dropping out as the endpoint of spiritual realization (16:04)
• What are our nondual traditions going to look like in 1,000 years? (17:32)
• The concept of endless realizations and awakenings liberates us from needing to find the ultimate nondual realization (18:29)
• Dr. Jeffery Martin’s research: 32 fundamental positions on nonduality (20:29)
• Sequential realizations and why you might go back to a previous realization (21:43)
• What makes a global, comparative nondual analysis so worthwhile (26:04)
• You have to become someone before you become no one; and now you can become everyone (27:48)
• Merging consciousness with another’s unique realization: all one, empty, while also distinct and unique (30:02)

Resources & References – Part 2

• The Axial Age
• Elaine Pagels, Beyond Belief: The Secret of Gospel of Thomas*
• Meister Eckhart, Catholic priest, theologian, philosopher & mystic
• Julian of Norwich, author of Revelations of Divine Love, a medieval book of Christian mystical devotions
• Marshall Davis, Experiencing God Directly: The Way of Christian Nonduality*
• Advaita Vedanta
• Adi Shankara, Vedic scholar
• Swami Gambhirananda, Eight Upanishads, with the Commentary of Sankaracarya, Vol. I*
• A. H. Almaas, Runaway Realization: Living a Life of Ceaseless Discovery*
• A. H. Almaas’ Diamond Approach, see also Deep Transformation podcast’s A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series (also available on YouTube)
• Dr. Jeffery Martin, The Finders*
• Center for Consciousness Studies’ Science of Consciousness Conference
• Carl Rogers’ fully functioning person, On Becoming A Person: A Therapist’s View of Psychotherapy*
• A. H. Almaas with Tami Simon, Endless Enlightenment: The View of Totality in the Diamond Approach
• Marc Gafni, Your Unique Self: The Radical Path to Personal Enlightenment*
• Roger Walsh, Essential Spirituality: The 7 Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind*
• Sean Esbjörn-Hargens, Dean of Integral Education & Integral Noetic Sciences Program Director, California Institute of Human Sciences (CIHS), founder of MetaIntegral, a global transdisciplinary social impact organization
• Sean’s course coming up in January 2025: Varieties of Nonduality: A 10-Week Course in a Metaintegral Analysis of 10 Contemplative Traditions

* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.

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Varieties of Nonduality

by Sean Esbjörn-Hargens

A 10-Week Course in a Metaintegral Analysis of 10 Contemplative Traditions

Beginning January 2025

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Sean Esbjörn-Hargens, Ph.D. has spent his life developing “metaintegral” approaches to the fields of ecology, mixed-methods research, psychology and consciousness studies, philosophy of science, holistic education, and post-capital models of measuring social impact. He has been a long time serious meditator and practitioner within several nondual traditions: Tibetan Buddhism, The Russian Orthodox Church (Christianity), A. H. Almaas’ The Diamond Approach, The Ceile De Celtic tradition, and the Hermetic tradition. He is the Founder and Program Director of the MA/PhD program Integral Noetic Sciences at the California Institute for Human Sciences in Encinitas, CA.

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Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell