Sean Esbjörn-Hargens (Part 2) – The Boundless Riches of Nonduality: Understanding Nondual Experiences Across Traditions and Over Time

By Heidi Mitchell | November 14, 2024
Sean Esbjorn-Hargens Nonduality Nondual Traditions

Integral polymath Sean Esbjörn-Hargens is the first comparative scholar to undertake differentiating the myriad varieties of nonduality. A longtime spiritual practitioner within several nondual traditions, Sean wanted to find out how we can understand the relationship between reality, consciousness, and practice. He decided to delve into a comprehensive study of nonduality and was surprised and excited by what he found: 40 distinct nondual traditions, ancient and new, from East and West, fascinating in their differences, their similarities, their uniqueness, and their depth. Sean’s hope is that his comparative analysis of nondual traditions will open the door to a global, cross-tradition dialogue that will supersede centuries of misunderstanding and conflict among people arguing that their realization is the best and/or only correct interpretation of reality and allow nondual traditions to enrich and empower one another.

Enthusiasm and excitement flow throughout the conversation as Sean reveals provocative patterns he has uncovered in nonduality’s history and the distinctions he has mapped so far. It becomes clear that nondual realizations evolve in a way similar to developmental models in terms of subject/object relationship, psychology of self, and taking new perspectives, and that they will continue to evolve. As Sean puts it, “the ontological floor keeps dropping out as the endpoint of spiritual realization.” “What will our nondual traditions look like in a thousand years? In two thousand years!” Sean wonders. Hang on to your hats for a thoroughly enjoyable and eye opening ride through a goldmine of information about the many faces and potentials of our nondual traditions. Recorded September 12, 2024.

“Our nondual traditions are one of the best things people have created – ever!”

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Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2

  • Science and the new relationship between subject and object (00:50) 
  • 6 subject-object strategies that nondual traditions embrace (02:51)
  • Roger’s acknowledgment of the enormous contribution Sean is making as the first comparative scholar to differentiate the varieties of nonduality (04:59)
  • Provocative patterns in the history of nonduality and the mysterious flourishing of nondual traditions from around the 11th to the 14th century (09:28)
  • Nondual texts that only emerged in the last 100 years have expanded our nondual horizons—and there’s a lot more to discover (13:08)
  • The ontological floor keeps dropping out as the endpoint of spiritual realization (16:04)
  • What are our nondual traditions going to look like in 1,000 years? (17:32)
  • The concept of endless realizations and awakenings liberates us from needing to find the ultimate nondual realization (18:29)
  • Dr. Jeffery Martin’s research: 32 fundamental positions on nonduality (20:29)
  • Sequential realizations and why you might go back to a previous realization (21:43)
  • What makes a global, comparative nondual analysis so worthwhile (26:04) 
  • You have to become someone before you become no one; and now you can become everyone (27:48)
  • Merging consciousness with another’s unique realization: all one, empty, while also distinct and unique (30:02)

Resources & References – Part 2

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Varieties of Nonduality

by Sean Esbjörn-Hargens

A 10-Week Course in a Metaintegral Analysis of 10 Contemplative Traditions

Beginning January 2025

Sean Esbjorn-Hargens Nonduality Spiritual Traditions

Sean Esbjörn-Hargens, Ph.D. has spent his life developing “metaintegral” approaches to the fields of ecology, mixed-methods research, psychology and consciousness studies, philosophy of science, holistic education, and post-capital models of measuring social impact. He has been a long time serious meditator and practitioner within several nondual traditions: Tibetan Buddhism, The Russian Orthodox Church (Christianity), A. H. Almaas’ The Diamond Approach, The Ceile De Celtic tradition, and the Hermetic tradition. He is the Founder and Program Director of the MA/PhD program Integral Noetic Sciences at the California Institute for Human Sciences in Encinitas, CA.

Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell

Besides his passion for getting the invaluable conversations on the Deep Transformation Podcast out to the world, co-host John Dupuy is also dedicated to encouraging the use of brainwave entrainment technology for its transformative effects. John has been working personally and professionally with brainwave entrainment technology since 2004, and in 2010, he co-founded iAwake Technologies to help create high quality soundtracks using this technology, which supports the healing of emotional/shadow issues, deepens meditation, mental focus, creativity, and flow states, and enhances a daily integral transformative practice.

To experience the effects for yourself, you can download a free sample of the Stealing Flow Warm-up track here, for a 25-minute, full-spectrum, whole-brain workout. We hope you enjoy it!

Posted in Buddhism, Human Evolution, Integral Theory, Nature of Reality, Nonduality, Spiritual Traditions, Transformative Practice and tagged , , , ,