I've come to the conclusion that the biggest mistake I made during my spiritual journey has been to listen to others. Not only did this trigger comparisons whereby I was never good enough, but I finally realised everyone's quest and experience is their own. Much of what a spiritual teacher teaches is influenced by their own experience, whereas we are all called and given experiences uniquely our own. I now realise I probably wasted decades thinking this is not it, or that can't be right, just because it didn't line up with what a teacher had taught. It wasn't until I let all of that go, that there was a spiritual stirring inside.... something that was uniquely true to me that had been crowded out or buried under the layers of words, dogma and ideology that was actually foreign to me. Yes, listen to teachers, but not at the expense of sacrificing what is intuitive, pure and simple that has its source within, not from the world. I have come to understand that the only journey involved is the journey clearing the mental clutter and of turning inward.

One of the great poems of the Zen tradition ends with this description of the awakened state: “To be without anxiety about imperfection.”

Hearing this is saving me probably years of futility. Spirituality has to be simple, messy and loving. You expressed this so well.

Spiritual pride is the last trick of the ego and I'm not even convinced it can be eliminated. I think everyone has to move at their own pace and without comparing yourself to anyone else. It's why I try not to follow any one "spiritual teacher" for too long. Everyone says the truth is within yourself and I think that's the least dangerous path to follow. I believe there is no hierarchy of souls. There is no superior or inferior, only differences with different strengths and weaknesses, and all are essential. Thanks for reminding me.

Bhakti Yoga is where its at for me. It's just love. Loving ourselves, loving others. Loving god. Seeing it all as god.

Did you really quit non-duality as the title says? It appears that you understand non-duality better after realizing your also a human being.

The real miracle is not to walk on water but to walk on this earth❤

if social media has taught me anything, its that people are absolute suckers for trends

Acting like one is enlightened does not lead to enlightenment. Exclude your humanity to embrace your divinity when you are ready. The mind clings to our humanity, perpetuates it, revels in it. It is very satisfying yet always leads us nowhere. Like working out on a treadmill, going through the motions of traveling yet going absolutely nowhere. The message of non duality to me was to stalk my ego, exposing it against what is, which leads to more and more situations where my mind shuts up and I experience the bliss of being choicelessly aware, leaving only compassion and a love of Being.

I was so disconnected to my body after my spiritual awakening and was so focused on Unity Consciousness. I felt like I had to kill my ego and felt a lot of shame and guilt because that wasn't happening. One day last year I just said I was done with this and that I am a human and I want to be here on this planet with all its intense feelings and experiences. All of the mundane human things are starting to bring me joy again. I am perfectly imperfect and the whole spiritual community is a huge turn off to me now thankfully. I still see God in each and every one of us and I'm thankful for my journey up to this point.

Love this!!! If people are not aware and haven't done their emotional work on childhood wounds, emotional repression, etc. non-duality can be used to further emotional repression and other emotional issues that need to be addressed.

Not my experience with non-duality at all. In fact, if anything it made me understand my humanity better. It made me a better person, a more in touch, aware person. Sounds like you went through a huge push to remove that humanity. Because all that you are as a human with all the ups and downs is perfect. Thich Nhat Hanh said everything that happens is an event. Don't label anything or any emotion as good or bad, just sit with it, have the feeling don't fight it. I would hate to end up like what you described, or like some of the people in the comments. But I can understand why it can happen. Sorry you had an experience on this path we all walk that wasn't what you thought it was going to be. Stay in the moment my friend, that's where everything is.

After 17 years of meditations I quit even prolong sitting meditations. I realized I am an human now and I must go through this because I chose it that way. 😊 It doesn't mean my deep values changed but my attitude to the material life has to change. If I miss this point of my life so then I have to repeat this lesson over and over 🤦‍♀️ There is no other better way to bring "the light" to this world than to be a human with all humaness.❤

I'm crying right now because I was so confuse and guilty and asking "God" to help me, and I found this video...what a relief.Thanks you

That is the sweetest and most authentic teaching I have heard in a long time. Thank you, love your humanness❤️

I have been on this so-called "non-dual path" for two years now and I felt more and more cold and as if I just couldn't manage it. Your words reach so deeply into me and give me a feeling of warmth and connection and a liberating feeling. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for that.

Great jobJeff, I rode the non-dual train and was able to spiritually bypass all feelings, emotions, and traumas. But eventually found my non-dual perspective to be dual in nature, and in fact I was avoiding and shunning all of the natural human qualities and vulnerabilities everyone has. Non-duality at its core is summed up in the heart Sutra, which at its essence points to the need to not restrict or avoid anything. When you can love both sides of the equation, shit, and Shinola, then life becomes a great dance. No striving just loving.

Being authentic is probably the best way to be for ourselves and others.. no games, just being honest, with integrity is the easiest way of being. Thank you for this candid conversation

Totally agree... I was also sucked in the non-dual world... But came to realise... That the emotional hurt and trauma's from childhood were betrayed... The inner child and all the uncomfortable emotional memories need to be embraced... In the non-dual way it is actually re-traumatizing the inner child... The trauma started in the formative years by being ignored, not seen... Etc... And then in adult life... The uncomfortable inner child comes up... And then it is said... You don't exist... I'm gonna ignore you... In this way you can never become "enlightened"... Because it will never be a whole embodiment of our total being... There will always be fragmented pieces of yourself that are suppressed... Awareness IS all-inclusive...

Thanks Jeff. I came to hear you and Matt Licata several years ago in London. As you started to speak a police siren went by and the look of annoyance that crossed your face told me you weren't really walking your talk. I know your path hasn't been easy but the depth of authenticity shining through this video is lovely to see. And you are so right, these paradoxes are the only real truths. Thankyou for sharing❤

You are correct. Many people who get into non duality get stuck by identifying with awareness and using it as a new identity to suppress and bypass their human “stuff”. There’s a tendency for the mind to reify (make things solid, grasp onto phenomenons as if they have an essence), whether that’s reifying “awareness” or “human” it’s actually just 2 sides of the same view in extremity/duality. By clinging onto “awareness” you are identifying with Being and Eternity. By clinging onto “no self” or “emptiness” you are craving for Non-Being and you skew your view to Nihilism, likewise, clinging onto “the human” is just another version of the same process of reification. You are neither awareness nor human, nor anything in between. The Middle Way transcends but integrates all of these views, is beyond but includes both existence and non existence, as you see clearly how all phenomenons from the most divine to the most mundane are co dependently arisen, thus empty of essence. This does not mean things don’t exist, but they don’t exist INDEPENDENTLY, and INHERENTLY. Im not trying to establish another view here on the intellectual level. This is merely a reminder to let go of grasping at the most subtle level experientially and sensorially.

Even Ramana Maharshi said, "Be as you are." Very important message. Thank you.

This is why I ‘went’ from pure and solely non-duality to A Course in Miracles (Workbook). Because those teachings - also non-dual - are pointing to the only path: Love. It clearly states: Your task is not to seek for love, but only to find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it. I’m now at day 208 from the Course and I have grown humble. For the first time in my life I feel I’m really home now. ‘Service’ is the most human - and also spiritual - level you can get, trust me on this one. So my point is; It’s not that non-duality is wrong, it’s just not complete. Love is missing!

My sponsor from my 12 Steps fellowship started a few years ago going to retreats with Francis Lucille, she changed slowly in ways that made me feel uncomfortable, at times shaming me when I was grieving or upset with a personal issue. I had to distance myself from her, she is still very involved with his teaching going to his retreats several times a year. I love the way you engage with spiritual teaching, I am also doing Internal Family systems therapy which really embraces all our parts with love and compassion, no bad parts, the way to heal and embrace our shadows, not with shame. Thank you Jeff for speaking out. ❤

Trust me. You’re not reinventing the wheel. You’re just recognizing one of the many common pitfalls in the conditioned mind labyrinth.

Thanks for sharing this Jeff. It is such a pity that non-duality has become a dogma. True non-duality has to, 'by definition', embrace everything as part of the one awareness. Wave and ocean awareness🙂 In the deepest states, there is incredible reverence for everything...palpable. Embodied. There are too many people getting stuck in semi-aware states, which involve denial and avoidance of that next deepening, which is centered in the heart's awakening💝 I have decided to keep the term non-dual in my teachings...staying with the original meaning. Our humanness is our doorway. Blessings, Helen xx

Oneness is one-sided. That's why I love the expression "not one, not two." Thank you, Jeff, it's great to hear someone speak the truth for a change.

That is exactly, more than exactly what I needed to hear this morning as I woke up berating myself for the vulnerability that I showed others yesterday. Thank you so very much for bringing me back to my glorious self/Self❤️

Thanks, Jeff. There's nothing like parenthood to drop you into your humanity! We are both and must live as both Awareness and human. Adyashanti and Bonnie Greenwell have both said that awakening allows soul to live more fully through a very HUMAN life. We are embodied and must respect that. I love that you named the piece about making Awareness a new identity. Such a risk on the non-dual path. Sometimes I feel like so many non-dual teachers need to just spend a week with a toddler to understand and thus ACCEPT their own humanness! To respect a child's humanness is part of how we LOVE them, so we must also accept that in ourselves.

Ramesh Balsekar has great teachings on this. "Who Cares?!" He describes that the 'sage' is perfectly comfortable with themselves and others with all the imperfections, as they no longer see themselves or others as the doer of what happens.

As long as you're thinking and identifying with it you're in duality.

Very humble and honest! I do feel the same. Thank you!

Such a good message! As a mostly blind person I could never find the money or courage to see/find a teacher. But there are 2 or 3 I have followed over the years, your one. The nihilism rocked my world as I start over again. Blessings!

Excellent pointers, Jeff, Thanks so much!! I agree that we should not make the goal of spiritual practice to be non dual awakening, enlightenment, the end of suffering, transcendent realization or any other kind of conceptualized perfectionism. Our goal should simply be to become more present(not perfectly present) for our lives, in the midst of suffering, not hiding from suffering, and to become a more loving person(not perfectly loving) and a more joyful person(not perfectly joyful). Otherwise, our lives will be mostly dissappointment and dissatisfaction. Nondual fixation is not much different from denial, avoidance and repression. Cheers!

awareness has no ego your awareness is aware of your ego, ego is a creation to be aware of

This is really interesting and makes a lot of sense. I found meditation post-trauma at around 40, prior to a diagnosis of ADHD with co-morbid autistic traits. It settled my anger and helped me see my thoughts so much clearer, which then led me to the diagnosis itself. I’ve recently found myself on an emotional rollercoaster of anxiety (which I think I was always riding but now I’m seeing it, it’s a bit harder). One awakening I recently had was that I had turned acceptance and letting go of toxic ambitions, by attempting to find a non-dual base, I was suppressing parts of what is essentially me, in human terms. This video has helped reinforce that I am okay to have wants and needs, without it feeling like I’m failing at something. Sorry if that’s a bit of a ramble. Good video and new subscriber!

Thank you Jeff for bringing us back to perfection AS IT IS in this moment.

Thanks, Jeff. Such an important message to hear. I appreciate you.

Somehow I felt the urge to watch this and I am happy I did. Just these last 2 months I have plonged once again into my search for my nonduality. And it didn't feel right. I felt less alive. Also I am struggling again with my wish to be what I am and my wish for enlightenment, that seem to be in contradiction with eachother. So, if they are true at the same time - my humanity and my nonduality- I feel so relieved! I will let it sink in now first. Thank you, Jeff Foster, for your honesty. I appreciate it a lot. ❤

I absolutely agree. The danger is that it perpetuates the notion of separation. I believe the key is to gather information, learn from great teachers, read the books, attend the workshops. While working on your own healing, so you can gain a deeper sense of personal clarity. And go within. Each of us have the answer within us. We heal, so we can "hear/feel/make sense" of the messages we receive from deep within us. And the key is to live this truth, and holding space for others to have their own experience.

That was quality Jeff, just what I needed right now, thank you. I had this experience last week where I just disappeared again. It went on for 5 days and YES I was pure awareness and then it went away. I got so pissed that I became "me" again but that me is still it. Its ok to be a mess after being pure awareness. It's the same thing either way, it's hard to process but hearing from your perspective helps so thank you.

Spot on! "The cure for your pain is in your pain" - Jalaluddin Rumi. You are a beautiful human Sir!

This is not a judgement, but I first became aware of this teacher many years ago and could not connect to him because he felt artificial to me. He did not ring true. In this video, I feel his heart and genuineness. He feels authentic, for the first time to me.

The day arrives when you finally realize that we all of us are at our full potential. If you thought and believed what the next person does, you'd behave the same way they do. That there is no enlightenment to be had. You already are as good as it gets, and that's perfect.

Good paradox territory.. I loved hearing once “you know you have stumbled on a great truth when it’s opposite is also true”

Brilliant that you are making more videos like this, thanks so much Jeff 🙏♥️🙏

Nice one, Jeff. I had kind of a similar experience being on the ayahuasca hippie trail for a few years, trying to heal myself from all kinds early trauma. Did a total of about 50 ceremonies in Peru, Colombia, Canada, and the US. Being maybe a bit dense, it took me that long to realize I had gotten whatever there was to “get” from that path before I just left it. Last dieta was in Peru in 2014. Not at all what it’s cracked up to be. Not a miracle cure for anything. Despite all the claims to the contrary, it will not give you “enlightenment” whatever tf that is. Now I tell people, “if you wanna have the experience, go and do it, no problem. Just don’t be stupid and take the usual precautions. But do not expect anything else to come of it beyond just another experience. It will not fix you. You have to do that yourself or maybe by the grace of god, or the universe, or whatever. But ayahuasca ain’t it.” Cheers

Thank you SO much for this. I agree 100%. I have studied spiritual paths for literally 50 years and have pretty much seen it all. I came across non-duality about 3 years ago and have listened to talks by many of the current popular teachers. One thing that seems to be missing was the heart, the warmth, the gentleness, the humanity. The argument that "there's just nothing here" just doesn't land right with me. So, thank you. God bless.

Non-duality is only possible when accepting duality first ❤

If they're not acting like what they're selling us, then shame on them, I am judging them. Thanks dude, good video.

I am pure awareness is a way of understanding self and we are human too.

This is why people really shouldn’t become teachers until they’re fully liberated. That one thing would eliminate most - perhaps all - of the issues discussed here.

Genuine reflections and confessions that a lot of people on a "spiritual path" need to hear. The problem is not with non-duality or any other spiritual concept, but the human ego attaching itself to a concept, and perpetuating and reinforcing its identity through that, as an easy way of escaping the personal issues that are still waiting for the person to face and overcome in order to become more truly loving and caring. Then what we get is increased egocentrism, using a spiritual identity as a mask.

Jeff Foster strikes me as a true Neo-Advaita entrepreneur and, given the comments and his 52.6 k subscribers, he’s having some success. What the talk seems to boil down is that Jeff is happy to acknowledge he was something of a fatuous ass as a ‘Guru’ for years, making a good living on the lecture circuit and hobnobbing with the ‘best and the brightest’ in Neo-Advaita culture. At some point he realized he had a highly reified understanding of enlightenment, mesmerized as he was by a certain ‘absolute’ identity, and with that realization a kind of liberation ensued, which he is now spinning into a second career as a ‘broken’ or ‘simply human’ guru. He actually admits that not all the gurus or nondual life coaches he came into contact with were highly flawed human beings incessantly and hypocritically recycling their ‘non-self’ ideology and posing as nondual deities. It seems he at least met a few who were easy going, even humble, open about the joys and vexations of operating in ‘human form’ in the manifest, and able to see that what is called ‘nondual’ is at best a kind of ‘dialectical’ understanding of life. Good for you, Jeff. As the comment section would suggest, a lot of people resonate with Jeff’s ‘confession’ of humanness. That’s sweet. And of course, I’m not ‘judging’ Jeff, at least in the sense he appears to be using the word (largely emptied of meaning). He seems like a fun guy, and I’d love to have a cup of coffee with him and listen to him ramble on about himself for a couple of hours. I might even have a few questions for him.

Thanks for this. I found liberation a few years ago but i've still had some ego as well. It's good to know that even the great spiritual teachers have to deal with ego.

I absolutely love this!!! It reminds me of something Kenneth Wapnick used to say: ‘we are all far more human than otherwise.’ From all the beautiful things he taught us, this is the most valuable lesson. I tend to forget it sometimes. Thank you for reminding me with this video.😊

When mind becomes quiet ,some actions remain the same ,some will change .What one looses is the reference point.That constant inner critic disappears.No matter what you do, when the inner critic goes ,all of the problems stop and one is always in peace.Life flows uninterrupted.It then doesn’t matter what you do or not do.The real teaching flows naturally from the state of peace one is in.No need to teach others.It just creates more noise.They are tought by your presence.

Right on Jeff! I loved you before and I love you even more now. 😊❤🙏

100% true. Even the most elevated spiritual states mean very little if you do not know how to embrace your humanity and hold space for yourself and others when you are dealing with pain and suffering. A lot of what happens in Non-Dual communities is they become places to hide. Unless we have the courage to embrace our humanness alongside our infinite being-ness, we will never know how to be truly authentic. Thank you for voicing this so clearly Jeff. Much appreciated. 💜

I absolutely agree and left that world several years ago it was suffocating and also sad when I experienced a few "teachers" who exploited their students in a similar way to Andrew Cohen. Many of them were caught up in the bliss, it IS a very intoxicating state but that's just it...we're levitating, not really in the messy 'real world' anymore. I walked out of that state willingly, I feel like I dodged a bullet lol. You're very different from the man I met in Ojai years ago (so am I) and it's all good. Much love to you, Jeff!

This is an amazing video. I totally agree. I think we are all students at different levels. If you are like Eckhart Tolle or Nisargadatta Maharaj or Ramana Maharshi, you are likely ready for complete transcendence of this world. Most of us are not ready for that. Most of us are still in grade school. Our experiences in this world are likely important for our development. Skipping the human experience would be like someone skipping from sixth grade directly to a Ph.D. program. And because we are all clearly at different levels, we cannot all be one single entity. There is some purpose behind the duality of this world, and us appearing as separate individuals with different skills/personalities/levels, even though at our core like you said we are all part of the same ocean. I agree that everything is sacred, including our humanity. This is not an accident that we are here appearing as humans with our flaws and hurts and pain. There is some reason for this, even if we will never understand it. That being said, many of the teachings of the nondual masters have helped me a lot. I don't take this life as seriously anymore, because it is not the ultimate reality. This life is a simulation/training ground. And my nasty selfish critical controlling ego mind which had me on the brink of suicide is not me. I know that now because of Eckhart Tolle and his teachings about the ego/pain body. So it doesn't affect me as much anymore. I used to take my negative thoughts/mind and life very seriously, which was not good. I owe nondual teachers for proving to me that I am ultimately not my mind/body/life situation/conditioned past.

Yes, I've been expressing similarly spiritually incorrect (non-dually-incorrect?) ideas for decades (I'm in my 70s), watching the spawn of multiple Westerners "appointed by Poonjaji to teach." Even in the 80s I had a funny article that a friend wrote, which I've lost, called "The Advaitan Shuffle." You know: a student vibeing "I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy" (think Wayne's World) asks a sincere question, and the teacher, who is almost always an enneagram 5, answers with some version of "Who is it that is asking this question?" As an alternate therapist I have known many of these guys (and a few gals), and have worked with more than a handful of them on their issues, and I was giggling almost hysterically listening to Jeff describe "what they are really like." Meaning, not worse than anyone else, but often, as you said, using the "non-dual awakened" identity to defend themselves from real intimacy or humanity. I've also worked with several of their partners, and one person who had been used sexually as a kind of slave by the teacher's husband, also a "teacher." In the last millennium I was invited to speak as Keynote for a Conference on Non-Duality in Psychotherapy, and my subject was Unseriousness -- nudging the audience into games to wake up from the defended seriousness of their non-dual identity. Most people were very cheerful about it, but there were the usual pictures of the "real non-dual teachers" (you know which ones) all around the room, and I got some snarky comments from a couple of followers about how I had too much personality and not enough presence (true!), meaning that I didn't stare blankly at people to exude an aura of serene presence. Anyway, I could rant on. I loved your video, Jeff, and was very relieved to watch it. ♾🌊❤

Hi Jeff, I'm Piernicola from Sardinia. I think you're a blessing for all of us. Thank you for sharing with us this journey. ♥️

Hi Jeff, Thanks for highlighting my sister (Mary Ann) in one of your Instagram posts! How fun! You have been a beautiful influence in my life, and your writings are absolutely fantastic! Fun video on giving up on non-duality, lol! But I beg to differ with you on that we are 'human'... ha! Not! And a HUGE yes to the 'HUMAN EXPERIENCE!!!!' But humans we are not, like NOT!!! I am a professional psychonaut, specifically with K, and mostly listening and experientially learning from Alan Watts, who continues to surprise me with his everlasting insights! I invite you to reach out, because we as humans (not) have been brainwashed to think that these medicines should not be. And either we are counterculture or go along with culture, and either way, it's not good. From a wisdom perspective and how I like to describe this now: 'wake the fuck up' in the understanding that these substances are 'tools'! Just like you would never even remotely consider traveling from London to LA on a bicycle and a rowboat, but rather a car and an airplane! It would be NUTS to consider otherwise, like what planet were you born on!!! And we would never in our right mind justify not taking an airplane or a car because they are 'artificial' i.e., man-made, as if even that is possible! And yet, when we are provided with tools to experientially understand who we are, we think it is cheating if we don't utilize 'inner' tools like introspection and meditation. And like you, as much as the 'spiritual' teachers may have lovely distinctions, they refuse to leverage multi-billion dollar rocket ship type tools to access the inner depth of who we are! Absolutely nuts!!! And yet, it must be stated, you can't expect someone to get into a car without 'learning' how to drive it, the rules of the road, and so much more, or you could potentially kill yourself or others. Likewise, these tools are way, way, way more powerful than you can even conceptually imagine. They are truly keys to doors within our own houses that we have not ventured to open and discover the immense wonders that lie within them. Why? Because we fear what we are not familiar with, not what is dangerous! (i.e., we have no problem getting into a car that has thousands of explosions per second and 30,000 people die every year in the USA alone because we are familiar with the experience of driving). And if you have never walked into those 'dark' rooms and shined some light into these rooms (because 1. you did not know those rooms were there or 2. you knew they were there but because you were not familiar with them (you are too scared to unlock the doors) or 3. you had no idea that keys (tools) existed to enter those rooms), then that inherent 'fear' is sabotaging the very experience of being alive at the highest levels!!!

I have to sit with this freedom for a while. 🙃Thank you Jeff ♥️🙏🏻

This resonated with me so much thank you, as I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about duality/ non duality . However, something seemed missing in my spirit, glad I came across your video.

Non-duality is not another point of interest to either choose to like or quit. It is not a belief system. It is an understanding that goes beyond belief systems. For one to say he or she is quitting Non-duality is a misunderstanding of the very teaching. Its alright, everyone is one their own journey and must follow the path however it unfolds. All paths lead to the ocean of infinite being eventually. But always remember, you cannot think yourself to it. Mind stuff and thoughts are the very barrier to the realisation of the Universal Self

When we truly understand "non-duality" and all it encompasses, there is no need to quit it (or join a path of renunciation in order to "move beyond" the dual worlds) or to turn it and "dual experiences" into a binary. It all works together. Balance.

I think you just misunderstood non-duality and took it on as a belief my man. Being human, enjoying life, feeling our emotions, seeing through the beliefs, having hobbies, having friends, this is all non-duality. But i also get what you mean about the "cult" part. Non-duality is what happens in our own hearts

For me it has been the opposite.. Since I had the realisation of our true self, I am able to feel any emotion without trying to suppress or run from it, knowing that it is okay to feel the pain, to be hurt, it is okay to feel love for someone who has hurt you.. I have heard a lot of people who follow non-duality just keep on repeating that they are not the ego, nothing can touch them but it is again the ego saying this cuz consciousness in itself can't think or make affirmations, it can only be aware of itself and everything that exists within it, it can only just be.. I think none of the non dual teachers have said this but from what I realised, consciousness which is my true self is the "Present Moment".. Even if I am writing this comment, it is not me who is writing this but my mind and body working in conjunction with each other but can this conjunction be called as "I" ?

Jeff, you saw through one of the pitfalls of neo nonduality. Not nonduality. Your new view is actually nondual tantra, embracing the human experience as also Divine. Infused by and rising out of nondual awareness, never being not nondual yet appearing as dual, and it is glorious.

Be here now in whatever expression presents itself, big love Jeff, this was beautiful

Yes, "non-duality" is about being free of beliefs. Allowing whatever is here. I had a lifetime of intense trauma and still dealing with it, realizing that the promise of ultimate freedom is a scam pretty much. Recently there was the drama between 2 prominent spiritual teachers (I'm sure you're familiar with them) and that was what woke me up in the end and allowed me to show love for the parts that had been desperately trying to get rid of.. I do have a lot more respect for Adyashanti as of late, as he was always upfront about his imperfections and how it's not about just being the infinite, but also about being separate and finite as we live somewhere in between IMO.

Brother, thanks for sharing your experience. I AM PURE AWARENESS is pure identification, as is I am human or I am anything...the "I AM" sense is what is dropped with a true non-dual insight and shift. Identity in all forms is just a mind game, is just a thought. Has anyone here had that profound moment of non-dual insight that shifts your entire perspective and dispels the illusion of identity? It's beyond any teaching or perception really...beyond words - it's a merging with what's here and now without the mind's filters and no more escaping.. It's about embracing everything without getting tangled up in our thoughts. It's about truly feeling it all without running away. It's not about escaping reality but fully immersing ourselves in it. Once the true shift occurs, there is no longer a solid mechanism or anchoring point to continue avoiding and with this comes an immense trust in the ever-unfolding beautiful mystery.

Thank you Jeff, loved your take on the ocean and the waves being one. There is no need to be negative about separateness, it’s one thing that always put me off about modern nonduality. Hope you keep looking for clarity and truth.

Therapy helped me spot some of the "flaws" in spiritual and also nondual ppl. At first I denied my seeing of their FLAWS but, due to a commitment to Rigorous Honesty, I had to face it that some of the Realized Beings were still "damaged" and still had unresolved TRAUMA within themselves. Your piece about the Advaita Police exposed what I thought I was seeing in Nonduality, etc., so thank you for sharing your perspectives on the character defects of so-called Awakened or Realized ppl.

Please keep sharing these shorter videos, Jeff. And always speak your truth 🙏🏻

Beautiful bealtiful. Thank you for vulnerability ❤ This is very synchronistic, because very recently I gave up the spiritual seeker that I was, I gave up all the concepts I learned from other beings that I thought were better and more perfect, more spiritual than me. And I simply decided to follow my intuition, my own inner wisdom and embrace all my humanity, all aspects. And paradoxically, I was embraced by a sense of unity, great joy and miracle. Then I realized that being human and all the aspects that are part of my humanity are a miracle in itself. When we deny, we suppress a part of ourselves, we are denying and avoiding the whole. The One. It's really when we go towards our greatest pains, wounds and fears, that we go towards ourselves, in essence. These pains, wounds and fears, and all aspects of our humanity, are the portal. I am so happy that we are collective awaking for this ❤

Thank you. So honest and real. If in non-duality we lose our uniqueness, we also lose the magic. Both, together, make our life meaningful.

Beautiful shares Jeff. I’ve recently come to these same realizations in my life and it’s brought me to a much deeper connection with myself. I feel a sense of love and patience with myself I had never before experienced. Allowing myself to be whatever I am in each moment, allowing whatever is there to just be as it is without being attached to some rule that things need to be some other way. I enjoyed your video and appreciate you sharing so deeply.

Nice Message. About 30 years ago i had a strong awakening of the Kundalini and i became a "spiritual seeker". Finally, since a few years. i came to the same conclusion like you.

You don't have to throw the baby out with the bath water...Angelo Dilullo has a great book called Awake with a huge and very helpful section on emotion. There are always traps to spiritual seeking, so you are talking about some of the traps. You need to be able to hold paradox as well. I think you are mostly just struggling with idealism, that is just a mental concept...but certainly, "The Golden Rule" is very, very relevant in life. The Knowledge of non-dualism is more than a mere philosophy, though, even as a philosophy it is helpful in sorting out life....I would say it is more a practice, which requires some yogic fitness and purification, so things like meditation, jyoga, breathwork are all a part of tha, essentially the difference between the exoteric and esoteric, each has their place.

Perfect! It's important to recognize that at the end of it...... it's all verbal masturbation...."self, awareness, pure awareness, enlightenment, bliss, eternal peace". It is important to unentangle from the verbal jugglery and be the real, raw, practical experience of life. It's ok to be a human mammal.

Thank you so much, Jeff. I feel such a huge relief.

I loved this video. Thank you Jeff!

It seems like you may have fallen into a trap of the ego known as spiritual bypassing. The challenge with non-dual teachings is that they often lack guidance on transcending the ego. While the ego is an illusion and separation is not real, since we primarily associate with our ego self, we require a path out of this dream to achieve awakening; otherwise, we risk continuous reincarnation. Non-dual teachers sometimes overlook teachings on love and the interconnectedness we share, instead focusing on the idea that everything is an illusion. How does this truly benefit someone? It demands significant commitment and mindfulness to break free from the dream. Personally, I have chosen to reduce my reliance on these teachers and look inward, trusting my own inner guidance.

love the honesty! such a relief!

For two years, I was blissful and never depressed. Although I didn’t think I was better than anyone, I walked in the world of men but was not of it. One day, I realized I was here to have a human experience not a Godlike one. So I gave up my daily practice. I’ve been a human being ever since.

Wow that was a breath of fresh air

Beautifully put Jeff. Love your work and your message. I came across your books about a year back (You Were Never Broken and The Joy of True Meditation) after being on the 'spiritual' path for more than a decade (whatever that means lol) and it really offered some much needed and fresh perspectives on looking at the experience of life. It was also around this time when I came across the work of Byron Katie, which I found to be very helpful and is very compatible with your teaching, in that it emphasizes on embracing life fully and going head first into all the things we want to avoid. It's become clearer and clearer to me that all teachings and concepts are just stories, no matter how profound or wise they seem to be. They can be useful tools on this journey of understanding yourself and life but one shouldn't get attached to them. Eventually, all the conepts and stories become unimportant and fall away and you are just left with life itself, its perfection, its beauty, its wisdom, its creativity. Thanks again Jeff!

What a relief to hear, so bravely given, this truth. Grateful for this. I have a few of your books, but this next level teaching is so progressive spiritual warrior!

Thank you for sharing. It resonates so much. Have been feeling it but couldn't express or understand it so clearly. Deep gratitude

who is the "you" that quit?

I can honestly say I suffered more in this life from spiritual negligence from teachings and teachers than from the karma I was transmuting itself. I was "onto" nonduality for many years.......I knew intuitievely it wasn't the way........but there are still LOADS of commonly held spiritual ideas/practices out there that I know for a fact are the cause of alot of suffering. But heart-centered people dont' want to hear they contribute to suffering, specially when trying to help.

It's always a delight to see when someone on the non-duality path truly awakens to the gateless gate of the mystery! ❤ Non-duality, Christianity, Atheism, Advaita Vedanta, Humanism, Buddhism - they're all well worn paths to the same nameless space beyond time. Yes… The humanists are looking for the same thing as well… They're just taking a much longer path, that's all. Just as there’s no right or wrong flavor of ice cream, there’s no right or wrong spiritual path, religion, or belief. Humans are fickle, and the divine is benevolent, which is why there are 38 flavors and thousands of belief systems and experiences to choose from. We have freedom of choice... even if we're ignorant of having a choice. Yet, we argue, fight, and sometimes kill each other's body trying to prove our flavor is the only right flavor. Life is simple: Enjoy your ice cream, stop trying to convince everyone else that your flavor is the only right flavor, be pleasant, smile at others, help those in need, spend a lot of time with yourself, and live authentically until your body dies. That was a beautiful video, Jeff… Thank you! 🙏🏼

beautiful said JEFF. We are all THIS. I am thankful to ALL my teachers and all my therapists to finally let go - and some of this true seeds are resting in me and you. 🙏

Non duality is not a cult. It is like gravity, you believe it or not - it is there and applicable to all non believers equally. When I used to listen few of your lectures, it was clear that you were not convinced internally... you rote a few words and kept repeating it without first hand knowledge. This was sure to be happened. You didn't get even the glimpse of it and you started posing like a teacher... non duality is surely not for all.

My favourite go to quotes are “this too shall pass” and “attachment is the root of all suffering “

This video was helpful in every way... Thank you Jeff!

Thank you so much, Jeff. This has been mega helpful ♥️