nondualism

Nondualism refers to a family of philosophical and spiritual views that emphasize the nonseparation of apparent opposites and the unity of ultimate reality. It asserts that distinctions such as self and other, mind and world, or form and emptiness are not finally real but relative or illusory. The term is used across diverse traditions, each with its own language and emphasis.

In Hinduism, Advaita Vedanta presents a classic nondual framework. It holds that Brahman, the absolute reality, is the sole truth and that the individual atman is not different from Brahman. The multiplicity of the world is explained as maya, an appearance that obscures the underlying unity. Alongside it, qualified nondualism such as Vishishtadvaita speaks of unity within the diversity of beings and attributes, offering a more theistic reading of nonduality.

Buddhism treats nonduality through the concept of emptiness (shunyata) and the dependence of phenomena on causes and interrelations. In Madhyamaka, ultimate reality is beyond inherent existence, and the apparent separation between samsara and nirvana is recognized as a conventional distinction. Mahayana and Zen traditions often emphasize experiential nonduality, where insight or practice reveals the inseparability of mind and phenomena.

In East Asian and other traditions, nondual perspectives appear in Taoist writings on the unity underlying yin and yang, Chan/Zen emphasis on direct realization, and various mystical currents that describe reality as a single, non-discrete field.

In modern usage, nondualism also appears in psychology and spirituality as a framework for recognizing interconnection and breaking rigid dualisms. Critics question its metaphysical claims or worry about practical implications, such as how nondual insights relate to ethical action and everyday life.