Non-Dual thinkers of all religions

I know the term “non-dual thinking” is still new or strange to many people. It simply means our ability to read the moment, to read reality in a way that is not judgmental, a way that is not exclusionary of the part that we don’t understand. And it takes practice to learn that. It’s very interesting that the term “non-dual” is taken for granted in three of the Eastern religions: Taoism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. This word would be very familiar to them because it’s the best descriptor of high-level consciousness—when you don’t split everything up according to what you like and what you don’t like. You leave the moment open, you let it be what it is in itself, and you let it speak to you.

I was able to reintroduce this word for many people in my book, The Naked Now. I would like to continue to build on that because I think it’s central to the reform of religion, to our own spiritual progress, and really to building a necessary bridge between East and West. We had it in the West, but we called it “unitive” consciousness. So it’s just a different word for the same reality. “Non-dual,” however, forces Westerners to struggle, so I think we’ll keep using it. Reality is not totally one, but it is not totally two, either! Stay with that necessary dilemma, and it can make you wise.

~ Richard Rohr, 2012
Adapted from Fr. Richard’s teachings on his lineage.