On the Quest for Nondual Spiritual Awakening
For as long as humans have looked up to the skies and pondered upon the nature of existence, the question of God’s existence has been a prominent query. Some vehemently assert the presence of divine power, some deny it with equal vigour, while others remain in a state of uncertainty. What’s interesting, however, is the subtle paradox that emerges when one deeply contemplates the nature of belief and knowledge concerning God.
At its core, to be a theist is to believe in the existence of God or gods. This belief often stems from religious teachings, personal experiences, or intuitive convictions. Yet, if we pause and dissect this ‘belief’, we can identify an underlying layer of agnosticism. Agnosticism, in essence, is the state of not being sure about the existence or non-existence of God. While it might seem counterintuitive, the argument can be made that every theist, at some level, is an agnostic.
The reason is simple: to believe is not the same as to know.
Belief is a conviction, a deeply held trust in something, often without empirical evidence. Knowledge, on the other hand, suggests a certainty, a definitive understanding. So, while a theist believes in God, can they truly say they know God exists, in the same way, they know the sun rises in the east?
This uncertainty, this inability to ‘know’ for sure, brings us to the concept of the Nondual spiritual awakening. Nonduality, as a spiritual tenet, postulates that there is no separation between the self and the universe, between man and God. In this awakened state, one doesn’t just believe in God; one realizes or experiences God’s presence in everything. It’s akin to a veil being lifted, revealing a world where the divine isn’t an external entity but is immanent and present in every facet of existence.
Until one reaches this state of Nondual realization, the existence of God remains a matter of faith and belief. The journey from belief to knowledge, in the spiritual sense, is what many spiritual seekers aim for. It’s a transformation from the intellectual to the experiential, from conceptual understanding to living realization.
In conclusion, the theist’s journey, while rooted in belief, inherently contains a quest for certain knowledge. It’s a paradox that every believer grapples with, consciously or unconsciously. While some are content with their faith, others embark on spiritual voyages to seek that elusive Nondual awakening. Whether you’re a believer, an atheist, or an agnostic, the quest for understanding the nature of God and our place in the cosmos is a deeply human endeavour, one that transcends labels and challenges us to think beyond the confines of our current understanding.
Morgan O. Smith
Yinnergy Meditation & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!
Morgan O. Smith 