Nonduality and Jesus and Buddha—let’s really go out on a limb here and apply some non-dualistic thinking to our history. Let’s start with Buddha: Who was he, what did he discover, and what did it mean? If we place Buddha within the long timeline of human history, which we’re starting to understand as extending over 100,000 years, we see that humans lived in what we might call a “non-dual” state for most of that time. They lived in a native worldview, in harmony with the land.
Nonduality implies not being fixated on any single truth, allowing us to explore diverse ideas. By applying a new historical perspective to Buddha, we might begin to question the traditional narrative.
The commonly told story of Buddha is that he was a prince who left his palace to seek enlightenment. After undergoing radical practices, he achieved enlightenment and began teaching about his experience.
One thing we don’t notice, however, is that he only had his own experience as a reference. He was lacking a broader historical context and did not know that enlightenment used to be the normal state. He had no awakened elders to guide him.
So, let’s consider a different perspective. We all know the story of white man, with the conqueror’s mindset, who came to the Americas, conquered the natives, and subjugated them. Native wisdom teaches that the Western mind is broken, living in a dual state that sees the Earth and other people as objects to own and use. This conqueror’s mindset has led to the ecological disaster we face today.
Buddha lived about 800 years before Christ, during a time when conquerors had already taken over that land. He was a rich prince with many slaves. When he saw the misery around him, he didn’t connect it to the historical conquest. He didn’t know how people used to live. Instead, he saw human suffering and sought a way out through individual awakening. Through meditation and challenging practices, he transcended his divided mind, finding a calm connectedness with the world.
Buddha discovered a state of being—an innate hum of life force within us. He began teaching this from an internal perspective, not realizing that this state was the natural condition of humans for thousands of years. This misunderstanding framed enlightenment as a rare, highly attained state, rather than a return to our natural state.
Buddha’s experience was like waking up and realizing how divided we are. His teachings suggested that enlightenment is an arduous path, perpetuating the idea of hierarchy. This misunderstanding led societies to view enlightenment as a rare achievement rather than a natural state.
Turning to Jesus, many question whether he was a non-dual teacher. Some try to fit his sayings into a non-dual philosophy. But let’s examine the story differently. What if Jesus never existed? Unlike Buddha, who has substantial historical evidence, the evidence for Jesus is sparse and questionable, limited to a few lines by Josephus Flavius.
This lack of evidence raises intriguing questions. A book, Caesar’s Messiah, claims Jesus’ story was invented by the Romans to control their slaves. While not proven, this theory prompts us to reconsider the results of Christianity. Has it become a tool for mass control?
Using a non-dual perspective, we remain curious and open to examining these stories. If Jesus never existed, what would it mean? Would it change how we understand Christianity and its impact on society? Nonduality encourages us to explore these possibilities without fixating on any single truth.
Throughout history, many Christian writers and saints have examined Christianity in non-dual ways, uncovering valuable insights. This approach helps us understand contemporary issues. The New Age movement, with its focus on creating personal reality and spiritual teachings, often mirrors Christian ideals in a new context.
Ideologies like communism and capitalism also benefit from non-dual examination. Rather than fixating on one or the other, we can explore their impacts and consider alternative options.
Nonduality keeps our thinking fluid. While our left brain seeks to fixate, it can also think fluidly when managed by our broader perception. This expansive curiosity will guide humanity’s next steps.