Nonduality is dogs. I say that like it’s a surprise, but you already knew I was going to say that, right? Because that’s the title of this video: “Nonduality is Dogs.” And you’re like, “What? This lady’s crazy.” Well, yeah, but let’s just—hopefully you’re a dog person—picture those dogs with their soft little noses. You know how you can pet them right on the top of their head? It’s so soft, and they snuggle right up to you. Just think about a dog wagging its tail. A dog is living in the nondual state. There isn’t a single dog that imagines itself to be something other than it is. It’s just a dog.
Human beings can be this simple and natural too, interacting with the world. There’s another way we can see that nonduality is dogs: it is possible for a dog to be neurotic, but even when they’re neurotic, they’re not searching for who they are. A neurotic dog is simply neurotic. It’s possible for a dog to be afraid—they get afraid all the time. I mean, knock on the door, right? But they don’t question themselves about it.
“Oh, I shouldn’t be barking.” Maybe the person is like, “Stop barking,” but the dog isn’t. The dog is just always a dog.
One of the teachings of nonduality is how we’re related to everything. One of the best teachings we have, coming from indigenous people, is how all of our relations constantly teach us. Dogs are very, very good at teaching us how to be good human beings. The dog is undivided. We can also be completely undivided, even if we’re neurotic, even if we’re afraid, even if we’re happy. The one thing we can’t do is wag our tail.
What are you going to do?