Nonduality Talk

Want a quick intro to the entire history of nondualism? Jerry Katz interviewed me about it here.

~ Michael W. Taft

If this interests you, you might want to check out my book entitled, Nondualism: A Brief History of a Timeless Concept.

Learn more about nondualism here

Here’s the track listing, which gives you a good idea of the material we cover:

Tracks

0:00 – 3:37 – Introduction to the topic of the history of nondualism and how it seems to be missing in the larger education

3:37 – 9:46 Early Vedic teachings. First definite nondual teachings in the Upanishads. A reading on turiya from the Mandukya Upanishad. Chandogya Upanishad.

9:46 – 11:22 The Upanishads as teaching texts. The current methodological teaching of Advaita Vedanta being a much later development.

11:22 – 14:38 Advent of Buddhism originating from study of the Upanishads and the three turnings of the wheel.

14:38 – 19:07 The refinement of Buddhist teachings. Emptiness teachings. Via positiva and via negativa teachings compared.

19:07 – 21:18 The expression of nonduality by people in general.

21:18 – 22:41 The blossoming of Buddhism very briefly mentioned.

22:41 – 26:13 Advaita Vedanta. Gaudapada.

26:13 – 29:17 Shankara. Buddhism contrasted with Vedanta.

29:17 – 34:43 The Western religions and nondualism. Meister Eckhart. Apophatic Christianity.

34:43 – 38:30 Modern teachers: Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi, Poonjaji, J. Krishnamurti. A gap noted in the book’s coverage and discussed.

38:30 – 45:08 Neo-Advaita, the pros and cons. Poonjaji’s teachings. Does neo-Advaita incorporate a practice?

45:08 – 46:54 Adyashanti and a paradoxical offering.

46:54 – 54:30 Michael Taft offers a meditation based on the “do nothing” technique of Shinzen Young. Conclusion