omnipresent consciousness – Morgan O. Smith

The Dance of Oneness

**Introduction:**
The 99 beautiful names (Asma’ul Husna) of God, as described in Islamic tradition, have long been celebrated as diverse facets of the Divine. From an Absolute Monism or non-dualistic perspective, these names are not mere titles or attributes but profound expressions of one unbroken Reality. Let’s embark on an exploration of how nondualism weaves these names into a tapestry of Oneness.

**The Unity Behind Diversity:**
While the 99 names may initially appear as separate attributes or facets, they can be seen from a non-dualistic viewpoint as interwoven threads of a single Reality. Each name is but a drop in the ocean of Divine essence, which itself is nondual.

**Beyond Dualities:**
Names such as Al-Mu’min (The Giver of Peace) and Al-Mumit (The Bringer of Death) may seem contradictory, but in nondualism, these apparent opposites reconcile. They represent the play and dance of the universe, where creation and dissolution are two sides of the same coin.

**The Singular Source:**
Names like Ar-Rahman (The Beneficent) and Ar-Rahim (The Merciful) are emanations from a singular source. They underscore that all acts of love, mercy, and compassion in the world reflect the undivided nature of the Divine.

**The Ever-Present Witness:**
Names such as As-Sami (The All-Hearing) and Al-Baseer (The All-Seeing) emphasize an ever-present witness. From a nondual perspective, this points to pure awareness, an omnipresent consciousness that perceives without being tainted by dualities.

**The Dance of Manifestation:**
Names like Al-Khaliq (The Creator) and Al-Bari (The Evolver) highlight the dynamic play of manifestation. In nondualism, this is the spontaneous unfolding of the universe from the singularity of Absolute Reality.

**Towards Absolute Oneness:**
Al-Ahad (The One) and As-Samad (The Absolute) direct us towards the purest essence of nondualism. They indicate the unbroken, undivided reality that underlies all existence.

**Conclusion:**
The 99 beautiful names of God, when viewed from a nondualistic lens, invite us to see beyond distinctions and to recognize the underlying unity in diversity. They beckon us to explore a deeper, holistic understanding of the Divine – not as a sum of attributes, but as the singular essence that manifests in myriad forms.