Non-dualism or Adwaita simply implies that there is ‘One Reality without a second’. So far all spiritual teaching including Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga metaphysics agrees. The difference is in the nature of this Reality as well as in Its relation to the world and the individual. It is here that we see the main differences.
Non-dualism regards the world and in fact anything within it that seems separate and distinct is an illusion. It doesn’t explain why and how the illusion came about. It leaves the question of creation and the purpose of the individual’s existence unanswered. It doesn’t concern itself with it because it is all an illusion, a trick of some mysterious Maya. The only thing to be done is to get out of this illusion and then the rest of the questions become unnecessary. The nature of that Reality is Impersonal, a passive Witness rather than the Source of dynamism which is passed on to Prakriti, the name for some kind of Energy building forms and endowing them with qualities, yet forms that are somehow unreal, a false perception and an illusion. Obviously it leaves many questions about the world and human beings as well as other issues of existence unanswered.
Sri Aurobindo, on the other hand, sees not just the fundamental Unity behind all things but also the Unity between the Creation and the Creator. Creation is a progressive manifestation of the One Supreme Reality that is everywhere and in all things, as well as beyond all things. All things are Itself limiting in terms of forms and names and qualities by His Yogamaya. The diversity is only the play of this fundamental Unity in difference. The illusion lies in our wrong perception and wrong action as well as the layers through which the Reality expresses itself. It is more of the nature of a distortion rather than an unreal Illusion. The Reality is not just a passive impersonal witness but also a dynamic suprapersonal Existence, Consciousness, Force (Ishwara and Shakti). The purpose of creation is to manifest the Delight of the Creator in countless ways.
This is the fundamental difference. The rest is a development from this.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
Follow up question:
But to me, the following question arises naturally. While asserting that there is only one reality (non-dualism), you say that the world is a distortion of the ultimate reality. Now, the distorting element must have been there in the absolute reality itself. The exterior world, I mean, the creation in its entirety, which includes our world as well as all others, comprises everything created. Then, can we really think of anything beyond that? If not, then this creation in its entirety is nothing but that absolute reality! The two must be differing only in permutation and combination of the same purity and impurity. Then how come that one is stamped as distorted and the other isn’t! And if the two are really different, isn’t that a case of dualism again?
Even if it appears to be a very silly question, kindly help me get disillusioned.Β
It is a very valid question. Lets take the example of the writer who is ‘inspired’ (by the force within him) and gets the urge to write. Now the next level is the story or poem appears as an Idea. He or she broods upon the Idea, let’s say of True Love. Next, the story begins with lots of actors (within him) coming into the play such as brain, hand, blood circulation, body, vital energy, mind etc. There are also cosmic aspects (which are also part of the evolutionary process) such as paper, pen or typewriter etc. Now the Idea may be perfect but any of these elements may limit or distort the expression which is taking place in terms of Space (paper for example) and Time.
The author looks at what is written and sees what is imperfect and what is in tune with the original Idea. He rubs portions and corrects to make everything perfect. He sees which of the actors is faulty, say the pen, the hand, the brain etc and corrects these too. An onlooker who sees only part of the story finds it senseless but seeing the apparent writer finds him perfect. He concludes that the story has no relation to the author or else it is an illusion! But the Integral Yoga would see the totality, the creation as an ongoing extension of the Creator moving towards manifesting the perfect Idea and Will within the Creator. So are they two or one? From the Creator’s perspective the story is his and hence is Himself in a way but in a state of incomplete expression. He would see each character in the story as part of himself, something of his conception. But from the person who sees them from outside, understands nothing of the Creator and his intent sees them as two.
In other words, the Manifestation is an extension of the One Reality manifesting Itself. In this sense it is one with Him. But the author has yet to manifest the full story and perfect it. So there will always be the Unmanifest portion which is also the author and none else. At the same time we will not be wrong in saying that the author is not just this one story or many stories but exists even if he writes no story. He will always transcend his Manifestation. All the statements will then be right at the same time. All will be then the play of One Reality with itself and within itself. The distorting elements as well as the rectifying elements are also himself.
Now one may ask what really is the distortion due to? Evidently it is due to the limitation. The hand must be limited to its task and the brain to its own and yet they will all be interconnected and whole. This limitation however opens the doors to imperfections and distortions as a part gets to act unconscious of the whole and hence does not automatically share the full wisdom and power of the author. It is only when each part, while continuing to act within the sphere given to it, becomes fully conscious of the author and shares his complete knowledge and power that Perfection will develop. This is the goal of transformation.
Hope this analogy helps!
Affectionately,
Alok Da
