Tag: spiritual awakening

Nonduality and the Integral        

Untangling Two Profound Perspectives

When people speak about nonduality, they often weave together concepts that belong to the realm of the integral perspective. The two may seem intertwined, yet their essence is profoundly distinct. Recognizing this difference can deepen our understanding of both and expand our capacity for spiritual insight.

Nonduality points directly to the ultimate truth: the indivisibility of reality. It is the recognition that all distinctions are illusory. The subject-object split dissolves, revealing a seamless unity. It is not merely a philosophical perspective but an experiential truth—a recognition that transcends intellectual grasping. Nonduality is the realization that there is no “two,” only “one,” and even that word dissolves into silence.

Integral thinking, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive map of reality, embracing the complexity of human experience. It categorizes and contextualizes the subjective, objective, intersubjective, and interobjective dimensions of existence. Integral frameworks are invaluable for navigating personal and collective evolution, offering tools for harmonizing the many aspects of life.

The Key Distinction

Nonduality exists beyond frameworks, maps, or categories. It does not concern itself with the relative interplay of quadrants, stages, or states. Nonduality is the recognition that all such distinctions are themselves empty—useful only until their utility is seen through.

Integral thinking is rooted in relativity. It thrives on distinctions and relationships, aiming to integrate them into a cohesive understanding. It does not negate duality but works within it to foster greater awareness and wholeness. Integral thinking can support a journey toward nondual realization, but it remains distinct from the destination itself.

Why the Confusion?

The conflation arises because many seekers first encounter nonduality through conceptual frameworks, often presented in an integral context. The integral perspective’s ability to unify seemingly disparate truths can feel like a step toward nondual awareness. However, while the integral celebrates the diversity of perspectives, nonduality obliterates them, revealing a singular, indivisible presence.

The integral is a bridge; nonduality is the infinite expanse beyond the bridge. One operates within the realm of mind and relativity, while the other beckons toward the formless essence that precedes thought itself.

Moving Beyond Concepts

The beauty lies in recognizing that both have their place. Integral approaches help organize and clarify our understanding, guiding us toward greater clarity and balance in the relative world. Yet, true liberation comes when we let go of even the most exquisite maps and plunge into the direct experience of what is.

Nonduality is not something to be understood. It is what remains when all attempts at understanding fall away. To grasp this distinction is to open oneself to the ineffable—a leap that no framework can contain.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

Exploring the Mystical Depths of Meditation

Insights from a Neurofeedback EEG Assessment

On Friday, November 22, I had the unique opportunity to undergo a neurofeedback EEG assessment to evaluate my brain’s activity during meditation. This fascinating experience was facilitated by neurofeedback expert Alex Ni, the CEO of Divergence Neuro Technologies. The results revealed something extraordinary: my brainwave patterns reflect those of an advanced meditator, marked by the ability to generate high-amplitude delta waves while fully awake and completely still.

This outcome did not arise overnight—it is the culmination of over 21 years of dedicated meditation practice. For at least an hour every day, without missing a single session, I have cultivated this state of deep awareness. Meditation has been my unwavering companion on a journey of transformation, healing, and spiritual exploration.

Key Findings

  1. High-Amplitude Delta Waves in Wakefulness
    The assessment showed that I could produce delta waves typically seen in deep sleep or unconscious states, but while fully conscious and still. These peaks, which appeared spontaneously, resemble absent seizure patterns in their electrical signature. Yet, instead of being pathological, they occurred in a meditative state, reflecting a refined and balanced neural state.
  2. Kriya and Kundalini Correlations
    The kriyas, spontaneous energetic movements often experienced during meditation, seem directly connected to these delta peaks. This activity suggests a state where the body-mind system is releasing suppressed energies or blockages, facilitated by deep equanimity and heightened awareness.
    The presence of delta spikes may also be a physiological manifestation of kundalini energy—the subtle, transformative force described in spiritual traditions as rising through the chakras.
  3. Expert Validation
    Alex Ni was so intrigued by the findings that he consulted Dr. Jeff Tarrant, a 30-year expert in brainwave research. Dr. Tarrant noted that similar patterns were observed in his three-year study with mediums—further validating the unique nature of these results.

Bridging Neuroscience and Spirituality

The findings of this assessment reveal a fascinating convergence of neuroscience and spirituality. The high-amplitude delta waves, kriyas, and kundalini energy point to a profound transformation occurring at the intersection of the nervous system and consciousness. These patterns suggest that meditative practices have the potential to fundamentally alter neural pathways, facilitating deep healing and profound states of awareness.

Implications of Advanced Meditation

  1. Energetic Purification
    The kriyas and delta spikes may signify a cleansing process, releasing deep-seated energetic blockages and re-aligning the body-mind system.
  2. Non-Dual Awareness
    The ability to remain conscious during delta brainwave peaks reflects a state of non-dual awareness—where presence and transcendence coexist seamlessly. This aligns with descriptions of advanced meditation states where the ego dissolves, creating space for higher consciousness.
  3. Kundalini and Neural Rewiring
    The resemblance of these patterns to absent seizures may indicate neural rewiring as the body adjusts to the heightened kundalini energy. This profound restructuring of the nervous system is often associated with spiritual awakening processes.

A Path Forward

Next week, I will participate in another study to explore this phenomenon further. These experiences offer a glimpse into the transformative potential of meditation—not just as a tool for relaxation but as a gateway to the depths of human consciousness and spiritual awakening.

For anyone intrigued by these groundbreaking insights into meditation and neuroscience, I encourage you to explore the work of Divergence Neuro Technologies at www.divergenceneuro.com. Their cutting-edge research continues to illuminate the profound connections between the brain and consciousness, offering a deeper understanding of what it means to transcend the ordinary and touch the extraordinary.

Through this journey, it’s clear that meditation is more than a practice—it’s a bridge between worlds, where the boundaries of science and spirituality dissolve into the infinite.

It’s humbling to reflect on how two decades of unwavering dedication to meditation have paved the way for these remarkable insights. This is an affirmation that the time and intention invested in inner stillness have the power to transform not only the mind and body but also our very relationship with existence itself.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Mind is Samsara

Liberation Through Freedom From Thought

(Inspired by Delson Armstrong)

To grasp the nature of samsara, one must look no further than the ever-turning wheel of the mind. Thoughts arise and dissolve ceaselessly—ideas, beliefs, fears, and anticipations weaving an endless narrative. Each moment feels distinct, yet they are all threads of the same cyclical pattern. This mental turbulence is the very fabric of samsara, the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth experienced not only across lifetimes but also within the subtle rhythms of the mind.

Samsara is not a place. It is the identification with thought itself. Every belief we cling to, every concept we hold sacred, every doubt that gnaws at our certainty—these perpetuate the illusion of separateness. The mind clings to forms, seeking permanence in the impermanent, building castles on clouds. Yet each construction inevitably crumbles, and the cycle begins anew.

Nirvana, often misinterpreted as a distant goal, is not found outside this moment. It is recognizing what remains when all that is transient falls away. Freedom arises not through force or suppression but by witnessing the mind’s movements without becoming entangled. The arising and dissolving of thoughts are no longer resisted; they are observed as passing clouds in the vast sky of awareness.

This realization does not destroy the mind but recontextualizes it. Thoughts may continue to arise, but they no longer hold the power to bind. The very root of suffering—attachment to the mind’s constructs—is severed. What remains is pure Being, an effortless silence that neither clings to birth nor fears death.

To step off the wheel of samsara is to recognize that you were never bound. The liberation of nirvana is not an escape but a profound shift in perspective: to see thoughts for what they are—fleeting phenomena—and rest in the unchanging awareness that witnesses them.

The mind is samsara. Freedom lies not in battling it, but in transcending it through direct experience of your timeless nature.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Journey of the Mind

Beyond Ego’s Boundaries

Human consciousness, unbound by the constraints of ordinary thought, possesses an intrinsic ability to transcend the familiar territory of the ego. This journey to higher states unfolds as a delicate dance, one where the ego—the personality construct and guardian of perceived separateness—is bypassed, leaving room for profound shifts in awareness.

These elevated states of mind, accessible yet elusive, represent realms where the habitual identity fades into the background. Here, one finds insights that ripple with clarity, and a sense of unity that dissolves the divisions the ego so meticulously maintains. The journey to these states does not require the ego’s consent, nor can it be negotiated through the ego’s language. Instead, it is a surrender, a quiet movement beyond identity, like slipping into a vast ocean where the waves of self-constructed limitations fade.

The ego functions as a structure, defining and separating, fostering individual identity, and distinguishing between ‘self’ and ‘other.’ But, ironically, the very mechanisms that help navigate daily life can often restrict our capacity for profound insight. The ego’s grip can be like a thin film that obscures the brilliance beyond, drawing boundaries around our perceptions and experiences. However, consciousness itself possesses a deeper intelligence—one that intuitively senses these confines and seeks to transcend them.

Through this transcendence, higher states are realized: states where intuition, compassion, and expansive perception prevail. These states are not bound by logic or reason, nor are they controlled by the ego’s protective narratives. Instead, they blossom as expressions of something deeper, a truth beyond the rational mind. In these realms, individuals might experience spontaneous creativity, profound calm, or insights that cannot be traced back to ordinary patterns of thought.

This movement beyond ego can occur in many ways. Moments of silence, stillness, meditation, or even being fully absorbed in creative expression, allow us to slip beyond the ego’s hold. What emerges is a consciousness that witnesses without interference—a state of pure observation, where clarity dawns without the coloration of past experiences, conditioning, or future anxieties.

Ironically, in relinquishing the need to control or grasp, we find a more profound mastery. The mind, left to its natural course, attains heights the ego could never imagine. The ego tries to navigate life by holding on, defining, and categorizing, yet the higher mind finds meaning in spaciousness, in a form of understanding that defies containment.

This journey invites a letting go, not to become less, but to become whole. Every step taken without ego’s agenda becomes an invitation to experience life as it truly is—unfiltered, unfragmented, and undeniably interconnected. What emerges is a state of mind where one feels profoundly connected to all that is, free from the need to prove, to defend, or to possess.

In this light, our consciousness rises naturally to meet the deeper realms of existence, not as something earned or achieved but as something rediscovered—a return to our true nature, unburdened by the masks we have accumulated. The mind knows this path intuitively, flowing into these higher states with grace when we allow it to be free from the ego’s constraints. And in that freedom, a profound sense of peace, insight, and unity emerges, inviting us to live with a renewed sense of purpose, clarity, and wholeness.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Silent Origin of Creation

Unraveling the Word Beyond Sound

In a realm untouched by form or definition, a profound mystery unfolds. Imagine a being with no shape, voice, or name—existing as both everything and nothing. In an act of paradoxical creativity, this ineffable source whispers into the fabric of existence. From this silent word emerges a universe alive, aware, and mysterious. It is here, in this enigmatic dance of being and non-being, that humanity finds its origin.

The creation of humanity, as whispered by this formless origin, is nothing less than a reflection of itself—a precise replica of what it is and, intriguingly, what it is not. Humanity carries the essence of both emptiness and fullness, a paradox woven so finely that it escapes the grasp of language, even though language arises from it.

The Divine Paradox: Being and Non-Being

When we speak of “the image of God,” it is not an image as we understand it—no form, no tangible attributes. The divine essence holds no shape or characteristic that the mind can perceive, for it exists beyond the dualities of existence and non-existence. Yet, it is this very absence of form that becomes the fertile ground for all that we call real.

In this way, humanity, too, is born as both presence and absence. A reflection that, while substantial in body, remains void at its core. Our existence becomes a paradox of being: we are alive and aware, yet at the same time, we are the embodiment of an emptiness that allows for all things to arise and dissolve.

The Word That Is Beyond Sound

Before there was time, before the birth of space, there was a word—a word beyond words. It was not uttered with sound, for it contained no vowels or consonants. It was a word without letters, a sentence beyond syntax. This primordial word, devoid of shape and structure, holds within it the potential of all sounds, symbols, and meanings.

Human language, then, is an echo—a distant ripple—of this original word. It is a remembrance of a silent utterance that calls creation into being. Every letter, every syllable, every sentence is a shadow cast by the ineffable. This is why all sound exists—because silence contains within it the potential for all sounds.

Humanity as a Living Soul

Through this silent origin, humanity and the entire cosmos emerge as a living soul. In each of us lies the dual essence of the beginning and the end, a boundless consciousness that holds both form and formlessness. Our lives become a journey of awakening to this realization—that we are both the substance and the silence, both the manifested and the unmanifested.

The creation of humanity is a continuation of this silent word, a dance where existence meets non-existence in each moment. In this dance, we are given the rare opportunity to experience life while also witnessing the emptiness at its core. This awareness transforms life from a mere sequence of events into a profound, living expression of the original word beyond sound.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Profound Four

The Profound Types of Spiritual Awakening

Awakening is a journey of unfolding consciousness, marked by stages that delve deeper into the true essence of our existence. These stages reveal the profound layers of both our human and divine nature, ultimately guiding us toward the unification of all dimensions of being. Let’s explore the four major types of spiritual awakening, each one a unique path leading us closer to our boundless essence.

1. Awakening at the Human Level

This type of awakening is often the first step into a world beyond the ordinary. Here, we begin to realize that there’s more to life than our everyday identities and experiences. The focus is on self-awareness and understanding our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours from a higher perspective. By transcending the limitations of ego-based identity, we start seeing ourselves as more than just the body and mind. This awakening isn’t about escaping our humanity but embracing it with clarity and compassion. Through this initial awakening, we discover that by knowing ourselves more deeply, we open doors to greater insight and transformation.

2. Awakening at the Human/Divinity Level

As our journey progresses, a deeper layer of consciousness emerges—an awakening that bridges our human experience with divine presence. This stage often manifests as a heightened connection with something sacred within. There’s a sense of moving beyond personal desires and concerns, recognizing a guiding force that interweaves through all aspects of life. We begin to experience profound synchronicities, inner peace, and a subtle but persistent awareness of a universal intelligence operating through us. This awakening is not just about seeing the divine in ourselves but in others, inspiring us to connect and relate in new ways. At this level, divinity becomes tangible, not as a concept, but as a lived experience.

3. Awakening at the Divinity Level

At the divinity level, the barriers between the personal self and the universal self start to dissolve. This stage is characterized by an immersion in the essence of pure consciousness, where we experience a sense of being beyond the limitations of form. It is a state where divine awareness becomes central, and human identity fades into the background. During this awakening, we may feel at one with the cosmos, a single drop in the vast ocean of existence, yet inherently aware of the infinite that lies within. Living in this state can bring a profound sense of peace, stillness, and an unshakeable connection to all that is.

4. Unified Awakening: Embracing the Human, Divine, and Cosmic

The journey culminates in a unified awakening—a seamless merging of the human, divine, and cosmic dimensions. Here, every aspect of our existence is held together in a harmonious whole. We no longer see ourselves as shifting between realms but experience them simultaneously. In this awakened state, the human self, the divine presence, and the universal consciousness are recognized as one undivided reality. This unity brings about a deep sense of equanimity, freedom, and interconnectedness. Challenges and joys alike are embraced as natural expressions of life’s flow. Through this ultimate awakening, we transcend not just ego but the need to define or separate any part of our existence.

Reflecting on the Path of Awakening

Each stage of awakening offers unique insights and transformations. The journey does not unfold in a rigid sequence; rather, it ebbs and flows, allowing us to embody these different aspects of consciousness in our unique way. Spiritual awakening is not a goal but an ever-deepening process. As we awaken to the fullness of our being, we move beyond divisions, experiencing life as a living expression of universal love and wisdom.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

Morgan O. Smith’s Awakening Journey

A Featured Story in Brainz Magazine & Insights on Spiritual Awakening

I am honoured and thrilled to share that I’m on the cover of Brainz Magazine this week! In my exclusive interview, titled “Morgan O. Smith’s Awakening Journey – How Yinnergy Meditation Was Born”, I discuss the personal path that led me to create Yinnergy Meditation. This journey has been transformative, from my own awakening experiences to the development of Yinnergy, a meditation program designed to help others experience powerful shifts in awareness, resilience, and self-discovery. You can read the full interview here: Morgan O. Smith’s Awakening Journey – How Yinnergy Meditation Was Born.

Try Yinnergy Meditation Now!

For 15% off, use the link: https://yinnergy.gumroad.com/l/trnyi/8rw6hem

I also recently joined Gareth Duignam on The Endless Possibilities Podcast for Part 2 of our conversation on spiritual awakening. In this episode, we dive into the stages of spiritual awakening and what each stage entails, from initial glimpses of higher awareness to the profound transformations that occur as one integrates these experiences. We also discuss how Yinnergy’s unique brainwave technology is designed to support these stages, helping individuals move through each phase with stability and clarity.

Exploring Nonduality: My Latest Brainz Magazine Article

In addition to my cover feature, I’m excited to share that my second article with Brainz Magazine, titled “What Is Nonduality and Why Is It So Misunderstood?”, is now live. Nonduality is a concept that resonates deeply within spiritual traditions and personal awakening journeys. However, it’s often misunderstood as simply a philosophical idea or something intangible. In this article, I explore nonduality as an experiential truth—one that reveals the fundamental unity underlying all things.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Shadow Self of the Grandiose

The concept of the shadow self—a term Carl Jung coined—reveals layers of ourselves we often choose to hide, repress, or deny. These shadow aspects are usually relegated to a dark corner of our psyche, only surfacing in fleeting glimpses. Yet, when the shadow self takes on a grandiose form, it ceases to be subtle, becoming instead a dominating force. It blinds us with illusions of superiority, entitlement, or self-importance, distorting our perception and interactions.

In personal growth and spiritual awakening, confronting the shadow self is both inevitable and essential. However, when the shadow becomes grandiose, it can convince us we are immune to error, beyond reproach, or uniquely enlightened. This delusion becomes a veil, preventing authentic growth and genuine self-reflection.

The grandiose shadow is not merely about arrogance. It’s a defence mechanism, an armour forged in the fires of insecurity and fear. By building up the self as untouchable or superior, we attempt to ward off the vulnerability of true introspection. But this shield, rather than protecting us, leads to isolation, as others feel the weight of this projection and distance themselves, sensing the ego’s hunger for validation cloaked in supposed wisdom or enlightenment.

In many spiritual or philosophical circles, grandiosity masquerading as enlightenment can become especially potent. The grandiose shadow asserts itself under the guise of spiritual authority or moral righteousness, leading us to believe we are above others on the path. But this illusion only widens the gap between our authentic self and the mask we’ve constructed.

To navigate this terrain, a key question emerges: Are we genuinely pursuing self-understanding, or are we feeding a need to feel special, above, or untouchable? True growth does not demand recognition or approval; it thrives in humility and quiet awareness.

Recognizing when our shadow has grown too grandiose is challenging but necessary. It requires questioning our motives, embracing vulnerability, and letting go of the need to stand above. Only by shedding the inflated version of ourselves can we step into true authenticity and spiritual liberation.

 Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

The Ultimate Level

A Journey Beyond Self

Empathy often takes shape as a shared feeling of another’s pain or joy, yet what if it transcended that? What if compassion meant embodying every experience, every breath, each joy, and sorrow that life has ever held? This ultimate level of empathy—true compassion—goes beyond feeling for others; it embodies living as others.

Imagine not just observing another’s story but experiencing the nuances of every life. When you walk this path, distinctions between you and the other fade, as each heartbeat, thought, and memory becomes your own. It’s not a surrender of individuality but a shift that reveals individuality as an aspect of universality. It’s seeing through the eyes of countless lives, their hopes, their fears, and awakening to a truth embedded in all existence.

In this boundless compassion, every interaction becomes an encounter with oneself—a self far beyond personal identity. Actions, then, stem from understanding rather than judgment, from connection rather than separation. This compassion dissolves the lines that divide, exposing an intimate reality: that there is no “other.” All is part of an unbroken continuum of being.

Through this, life itself becomes a sacred practice. Each moment, each being, becomes a teacher, revealing the boundless nature of consciousness. This journey calls for courage, for it asks us to face the suffering and beauty we might have once viewed from a distance. But in facing this, a deeper realization emerges—an understanding that compassion isn’t merely a trait; it’s the essence of who we are.

To awaken to this level of empathy is to see the world through the eyes of the eternal, where all paths are one, and all experiences are ours to share.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

Dark Nights, Bright Lights 

The term dark night of the soul evokes images of struggle, confusion, and a seeming absence of light. Yet, this darkness can often serve as a powerful portal, guiding one to a level of spiritual illumination unreachable by any other path. Many consider it a crucible of transformation, an intense phase in which the familiar sense of self collapses, leaving one in a space of profound unknowing. Out of this unknowing, however, arises a new clarity that leads directly to the essence of spirit.

For those on a path of genuine self-inquiry, the dark night is not just an existential crisis. It becomes an awakening, a dissolution of our many illusions about ourselves and reality. During this phase, long-held identities, beliefs, and attachments may shatter, making way for something deeper, something undeniably true. It is a process that can feel relentless and unforgiving, yet this same intensity propels one forward into a state of spiritual clarity. Rather than being a punishment or a curse, the dark night reveals itself as a divine refinement—a sacred stripping away.

When every external structure of meaning begins to fall apart, it may seem as if there is nothing left to hold onto. In these moments, one often finds an unexpected stillness within, a quiet space where fear cannot tread. It is as though the soul, having been emptied of its attachments, touches an unbreakable foundation—a place within that has always been free and whole, even amid chaos. This discovery marks a profound turning point. Rather than striving to escape or control life, one begins to see the perfection in surrender. This shift from resistance to acceptance is what ultimately transforms the darkness into light.

The bright light of the spirit does not arrive like a flash of fireworks. It is subtle yet powerful, emerging from the depths of one’s own silence. Through surrendering all that one believed essential, there is a revelation that goes beyond any conceptual understanding. A radiant, unwavering presence reveals itself, a presence that transcends all dualities, including light and dark, self and other. This is the spirit’s essence—pure, unconditioned, and luminous in its quiet embrace.

The journey through the dark night is one of paradox: the descent into darkness becomes the ascent into light. It is a reminder that illumination does not come from seeking the light but from courageously embracing the dark. In this alchemical process, what was once feared becomes the very ground of liberation. The darkness, rather than being an enemy, becomes the beloved teacher. It guides one, not by promises of comfort, but by the unwavering demand for truth, eventually revealing the boundless radiance of spirit within.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith