The non-dual Context
Neti -- neti is a well known Sanskrit expression that is found in the Upanishads, but also is widely misunderstood (both in the West as well as in classic Indian dualistic philosophic traditions as well). This misunderstanding comes from a false assumption and dualistic context in which the saying is interpreted -- a presumption of an alienated context (an illusory assumption where God, Spirit, or Brahman is absent, separate in our daily life, or "elsewhere"). This coloring occurs within the context of a predilection toward a pre-existing false assumption of spiritual alienation (and may I add corruption) where a state of sin/separation from spirit is taken as the underlying "reality". However in REALITY, this false coloring of spiritual alienation can be likened to grasping in the wind. It is an error of the programmed dualistic mind. Within this mind-made conditioned schism that separates Spirit from man and from the earth, belies all the brutalities that man lays upon his fellow creatures and that of future generations. Thus neti, neti (neither this nor that) will be used to disclose the lie and reveal the truth.
Here we will posit the opposite jumping off place of interpretation than dualism; rather that Reality which true and spirited vision and clarity expresses. That Spirit is the everpresent (nirprapancaya) Eternal Reality Never-ending Beginningless Reality which is Eternally Present as sacred presence. So knowing and affirming the true context of "reality" from the very first, as a non-dual assumption then the term neti-neti can be applied simultaneously as a negation to subject/object duality and as an affirmation of the unitive state. Here we will show how and why.
Although Eternal spirit appears to be absent from "normal" dualistic materialistic everyday life, never-the-less we will view this "normalcy" as an error of the conditioned "norma" mind -- as a result of negative programming where the gross physicality of sense "objects" as well as similar I/it dualistic obsessions occludes universal sacred presence out of context of the whole. Thus this materialistic/dualistic normalcy will be considered as an ignorant (avidya) and fragmented self limiting skew -- a prejudicial and superficial bias of what really is, and, as such, as an illusory and an aberrant, corrupt, and perverted way of seeing and being -- a hallucination.
The Sanskrit expression, neti neti, as expressed by the realized sages more than "not this, not that", which is the common translation; but rather it means that we belong to a boundless all inclusive realm of Great Integrity - the WE realm of All Our Relations being therefore more than just a fragmentation and corruption of the whole, but rather the phrase neti, neti also implicitly shouts forth "tat tvam asi" -- That eternal spirit thou art.
Many levels of Interpretation
The expression, neti -- neti, literally means "neither this, nor that". In the first level this is the rejection of a separate self or ego. It is a rejection of fragmentation or split from universal spirit. It means in the wholistic multidimensional context that we are not just separate egos, we can not ever be defined as being separate from spirit without introducing a delusion. Thus "neti neti" as a statement means that we are not anything separate as in the disparate dualistic framework of a separate "I/ it" subject/object duality context (versus the sacred non-dual and transpersonal "I-Thou" context) wherein we identify as a finite expression integrally part of a boundless spirit (like a wave on the ocean). We are neither the ego, nor are we nothing at all. We are neither the all, nor nothing at all. Neither just this, nor just that. Neither eternal nor finite, neither eternalism nor nihilism, rather it is the great non-dual or advaya statement of both/and -- both but neither by itself. "And" in the sense of a greater synthesis or unity -- call it the tantric Siva/shakti if one likes.
Neti Neti as the body too -- the body too! We are the body of God
So on one level neti neti says, "not self not self", not small mind self, not just individual mind, "not ego not ego", not duality. not separateness, but in doing so it affirms its own negation in a greater affirmation as we will see. Too often dualistic interpreters (see introduction above) take this as a dualistic statement saying "separate" from the body (as ego identifies with the body, separate from nature, the earth, the senses or even entire world of form. But that is an oversimplified mistake throwing the baby out with the bath water unless one understands that this statement is an affirmation of the integrative non-dual state where no thing is separate. But dropping the ego is only one step within the integrative step (re-integrating with the whole).
As a spiritual saying, net-neti, can only be understood correctly within a spiritual context of union with Universal Spirit, not within a dualistic alienated context. Anyone who has practiced yoga as a spiritual practice consistently over time begins to be familiar that they they exist within a larger relational boundless framework; i.e., nothing exists in and by itself -- in a vacuum as an ego. Indeed these interconnections between all beings, all of creation in All Our Relations is the realization of the non-dual Great Integrity which is yoga.
The error of the mind that must be pointed out here is that a negation must also be an affirmation of something else, unless it becomes a mere aversion where one creates negative karma by trying to escape, avoid, isolate, or separate one from "some thing" (usually the body, natural feelings, and the natural world). That is not yoga where we are looking for integration. Rather when a yogi starts to realize the greater wholeness of an expanded realm of consciousness and being, he/she gladly surrenders his/her previously conditioned limited sense of "self" consciousness (asmita), recognizing it as an impediment/obscuration (klesha). thus suffering (dukha) is avoided and happiness and bliss eventually realized in Sat Chit Ananda.
Thus authentic spiritual practice in yoga is aimed at realizing the "Reality" and truth of this non-dual transpersonal omnipresent and all knowing universal boundless Mind which is expressed through every cell in the body subjectively as well as objectively (united). Intelligent spirit is not only seen as manifest in the physical body but also in God's body, nature, and the entire manifest universe simultaneously as sacred presence --who we really are (swarupa) in context of total boundless space and absolute time.
For a real yogi such is not derived intellectually or conceptionally -- they are not just words or philosophy, but rather as an expression of direct yoga experience. Hence it is fundamentally non-dual (based on union/integration) versus a separation from "something". Here we must be careful to be discerning and not to be confused as this is a common error. It is in this sense thus "neti -neti" is an affirmation of the all inclusive, omnipresent, non-dual, universal, and transpersonal identity which knows no bounds -- often called Brahman in Sanskrit, called, God, in the west, or nirbija samadhi in traditional yoga, but at the same time it is not a negation of the physical relative world (as is often assumed). Rather on a higher level neti-neti means that we are neither just Brahman separate from the world, nor of the the world, neither exclusively absolute nor exclusively relative, but both/and. As such it is not just a negation, isolation, nor exclusion, but more so a great affirmation of sacred non-dual universal presence -- the boundless realm of All Our Relations.
However the academician, the orthodox scholar, the pandit, self gratuitous intellectual, the religionist, fundamentalist, and/or the normal left brained dominated (unbalanced) but unfortunately "normal" person (who is submersed chronically in the duality, bias, and fragmented thought processes of the normal "i-it" limited context) carries with them the biased filter of a pre-programmed self perpetuating inability or ignorance (avidya) preventing them from expanding beyond their self imposed dualistic mindset prison -- held together by rigid mind constructs, concepts, artificial half truth belief systems, preconceptions, analytical reductionism, prejudice, pride, arrogance, etc. Such (albeit normal) people who have become inured to such negative programming having adopted habitual distorted standpoints, their minds have become chronically artificially alienated from living spirit. Thus they see spirit or God outside of everyday life. Once that alienation occurs then they assume that God or spirit exists in death or outside of nature. Yet the opposite is of course what is needed, They simply need to bring spirit back into their lives rather than further pushing it away by simplistic false assumptions.
This is not to say that intellectual or rational function is "bad". Rather it can be misused/overused to create lifeless and artificial mind constructs that preclude spirit and dishonor life. These ignorant mind fabrications can box man in to very limited conceptual frameworks and self limiting beliefs which compound his suffering and alienation if not surrendered to the larger innate intelligence behind the intellect (buddhi) and which animates it. Logic without inspiration thus gets in the way of universal boundless mind, thus creating an artificial split (duality) between the one who views (a false identification of separateness or ego) and the object that is being viewed, and thus the process of viewing (or consciousness) becomes severely obscured, conditioned, biased, frozen, and self limiting. This is the common assumptive trap of extractive reductionist mentation or over objectification of the right brain imbalanced person (a widespread epidemic in the modern world). Simply the buddhists call this subject/object duality, or one may simply call it cerebral over dominance or fixation upon a false identification.
A yoga practitioner (sadhak) or true spiritual seeker asks the fundamental question of the spiritual seeker -- the one who inquires, explores, searches, and observes -- who practices self observation and self study (swadhyaya), thus removing the bias and prejudice of the a separate observer. Such a seeker is not interested in the small answers and the inquiry is not put in words, other than into the nature of inquiry itself. By inquiring "who am I", one defines oneself in terms of everything else. As such it is the primal question whose ultimate answer everything else understood. The answer is not separate, not separate. Neither the body, nor not the body, rather the selfless unselfish state of pure being (Sat) both the body and eternal spirit as embodied spirit when we allow it happen. Otherwise we exist spiritually estranged and disempowered in spiritual self chronic alienation (sin).
Spiritual practice as such then is the remedial adjustment for the skew introduced by the conditioned small self (limited viewer which introduces time/space bias) in favor for the transpersonal universal spiritual boundless view. Sadhana thus brings us back into balance and harmony. That this REALITY is possible and that it involves an inner awareness; i.e., an awareness of "self" is the assumption that separates the spiritual explorer from the assumptive limitations and beliefs of an ordinary scientific/philosophic inquirer.
So this again leads one to ask the spiritual question, who am I? Thus in authentic yoga sadhana of swadhyaya (self study) this exact process of inquiry into Self nature is engaged, not the study of what books, scripture, priests, or external authority figures or status quo structures tell us who we are. The successful answer to this question depends on LISTENING/ASKING going deep into that very process of inquiry itself. This is called BEING OPEN in dhyana (meditation) practice.
There one will encounter demons (phantoms of the dualistic mind which one can apply "neti-neti", neither this nor that -- not self not not self. Going into that light of knowledge itself leads to what is called self realization in the spiritual context. If the answer is found in a book, external authority, scripture, or consensus reality then the book answer is temporal, prejudiced, contrived, and "religious" (conforming to an external authority) versus spiritual and universal which assumes that the answer has come about experientially from a subjective inner realization. The former conclusion (which is the norm) is achieved through conformity and memorization, while the latter is achieved at first through critical and creative thought (neti-neti) and then from there non-dual integration is based upon the highest Universal Eternal Omnipresent Source which is eternally present -- which is omniscient as well as omnipresent -- eternally here and now as beginningless and endless boundless universal Mind.
Thus the first step in this spiritual process is to make the inquiry which must challenge all sacred cows and institutionalized authority. The second step when this external knowledge (knowledge about something) and programming has been discarded, then one has space for the inner clarity and grace to arise (prasdam) which is subtle beyond the most subtle -- objectless. How else could one know the true Self who is not bound by objects, if not from every cell in your very body and every cell in the universe and every non-cell, and non-atom. This is beauty and completion (of karma) -- ultimate fulfillment and Grace.
This is the reason that yogis and true seekers meditate (practice dhyana) and perform spiritual practices (sadhana) in order to penetrate the veil of illusion, to remove conditioned ignorance, to free themselves of conditioned bias, beliefs, prejudice, propensities, habits, limitations, and karma, and thus to eventually abide in the Great Integrity -- the Great Universal Consciousness and Beingness which is supra-human, i.e., it includes the human realm and earth realm, but is neither anthropocentric nor dualistic. To limit, reduce, or impose human terminology, symbolism, and language into this realm, is exactly the self imposed barrier which the intellectual suffers and becomes imprisoned. Thus neti -neti can also be translated, "not just that, but more than that - more than just that, much more", a heretical interpretation to the orthodox academician to be sure. We are more than that. In other words it is a spiritual statement only if it is an affirmation of the presence of an all inclusive spirit; i.e., that it calls that forth as it discards the ego (false and limited view of a separate "i". It does not negate nature, but rather false views and delusion
Unfortunately, in both the East and the West the common man substitutes belief, pramana. academic book knowledge, or such for wisdom or gnosis, but the yogi does not fall victim to that trap. Those who are tied to the sterile puppet strings of reductionist thinking of the intellect (immersed in the limitations of symbolic world and duality) interpret the expression neti-neti, as "not this body, not this body" even though the body has nothing to do with the Sanskrit word, neti. Rather this occurs because of the intellectual's ingrained dualism, i.e., that says that God or Spirit has to exist elsewhere -- not here not here they are saying. Some where else -- somewhere else! This self defeating estrangement puts the intellectual into self imposed spiritual alienation and by definition distances them from God, Spirit, sacred presence, union, or samadhi -- the living world of "All Our Relations". This is the "normal" and common, but unnatural alienated world of institutionalized spiritual Diaspora, corruption, fragmentation, and sin. This is the affliction that authentic yoga attempts to alleviate and eventually remedy. This institutionalized anti-body and anti-nature prejudice unfortunately has become the acculturated and authoritative standard interpretation (no matter how absurd it appears to a true sadhak). Rather in truth, neti - neti means that we are not separate, that this body does not exist separate from millions of years of co-evolution with the universe. that this body is a manifestation of beginningless love -- of eternal spirit right here in the present as a representative of eternal presence -- of love loving love.
The alienation of man from Spirit and Source (his true authority) has become institutionalized by greedy and exploitive priests and kings who thrive on manipulating others. These vampires create confusion on purpose in order to dumb people down and create a fundamental self doubt, which thus creates dependence upon these external authoritative structures, institutions, empires, kingships, priesthood, hierarchies, institutions, religions, etc. Of course those entrenched and dependent on this structure will deny this.
For example, neti neti as interpreted by some Vedantists (not all) is a form of denial of and escape from the world, of embodiment, of aversion to and fear of nature, creation, and embodiment. It's an easy way out/copout, but is none-the-less very seductive to the confused masses. The self delusion rap goes like this; "Just pretend that the world doesn't exist, that life is an illusion (maya), numb yourself out to it, the body, the senses, and sever all bonds to it, and then all your problems will go away. All suffering is just an illusion, war, torture, disease, poverty etc., is an illusion". In short rationalize out suffering and rationalize in Brahman. Take that as one's acting role as if playing in a theatre. Such is the pretentious play of those lost within inorganic and contrived self fabricated and sterile mindsets based on preferential thinking (raga/dvesa as attachment and repulsion). Obviously kleshas and ignorance such as raga/dvesa can not be remediated through application of raga (preference) or dvesa (dislike and escapism), nor can nirvikalpa samadhi be realized through utilizing vikalpa.
Yes, many attachments such as to the body go away when the physical body dies, but who dies and who dreams on, and what about those attachments to form (raga), fears (dvesa), and ignorance which will cling to new forms and future rebirths. What about future generations and the welfare of our children? What about the future of the human species and the planet? These are human questions which beg the question of why human birth in the first place which are too earthly questions for the orthodox Vedantist.
The narrow minded Vedantist interpretation of neti - neti precludes and escapes nature, embodiment, and differentiated consciousness, focusing on an isolation toward Source only or monism. Monism is not non-dual but rather one way. Orthodox escapist vedanta is thus monist -- a force moving away from differentiated consciousness while labeling everything Brahman at the expense of everything else.
They deny or ignore that they have created a split between spirit (Brahman) and Nature (embodiment); yet at the same time mistakenly call their philosophy non-dual. As such Vedantists are as other worldly as fundamentalist Christians who believe that God is in heaven (not here). Heaven is where they will go AFTER they die. That is another word, for institutionalized spiritual estrangement -- something emperor Constantine created in the 4th century at the Nicene Council with a design to own the world. Jesus of course never indicated anything as absurd as a distant God. He said: "My God is of the Living". In the Nicene council that established the legitimacy of the bible, only those representatives chosen by the Roman emperor, Constantine, were invited. Even some of these could not be made to agree to a new church based on Paul's doctrines of sin, so they were condemned and banished . The main controversy stemmed from what was called the Nicene Creed, a statement of Christian faith that was adopted by the Nicene Council which clearly affirmed that heaven was elsewhere than here.
It is remarkable that Vedanta also creates that same alienation from Spirit (the well known Brahman- Maya split) while calling it non-duality. That represents a deep duality, dissociation, and denial. The deepness of that denial is that the Vedantists think that they are non-dualists (most of them), but have in Reality created their own drama which may I add won't end until they drop their own self imposed Vedantic filter. In both systems there exists a fear of nature, the body, and embodiment -- a statement of enduring suffering and denying fulfillment in trade for some distant far off time. In order to deal with the fear and trauma of existence brought upon one's state of confusion, one dissociates from "self" and embodiment -- from even an association with the body or life. Such systems reinforce an alienation from our own feelings. Such dogma males us believe that sex, pleasure, bodily feelings, connection with the world or our animal nature is bad. Implied in that assumption is that we should ignore or over come the body and our feelings. In that sense there is the idea of sacrifice without reward or a delayed other world reward. However in truth the body is god's temple and our feet and arms are his limbs. True non-duality (call it advaya if you like) synchronizes non-differentiated consciousness or absolute reality with differentiated consciousness (relative reality), one not excluding the other in true non-duality (advaya) with neither extreme existing by itself or negating/excluding the other. Thus neti/neti is neither an undifferentiated consciousness (Brahman) interpretation, nor a differentiated consciousness (maya), but rather both/and. A monist would state that only only Brahman or the eternal is real to the exclusion of the temporal, while a non-dualist would recognize the relative and absolute truths as mutually co-arising.
Here we come to the true value of the saying, neti neti as being neither monist, neither one extreme nor the other, neither up,. nor down, but rather non-linear and multidimensional. If one searches inside to the observer - to see how his conditioning and prejudice (vrtti) colors the field of consciousness, one would eventually have to ask who is self and where does it abide? Religionists do not embark in such a genuine inquiry because they are compelled to follow their politically correct external authoritative traditional dictates, and not contradict or question it. However after a thorough spiritual inquiry by true seekers, no one has been able to find a separate self, or ego. Where does it abide? This separate self or ego is the simple dualistic question, but no one has been able to find it. After a logical search most people mistake that the ego is defined by the physical limits of the body; i.e., where the body ends, the ego ends. Hence in this situation, the term, neti neti does mean; no, I am not just the body -- not the physical body only, in the sense we are not the ego, rather we are more than that. It says we are more than a thing that dies but also this thing that dies AND also includes this thing that dies and more than that. The yogi gets this answer not by logic alone, but from direct experience of that expanded boundless universal awareness brought through dhyana and samadhi -- from the open heart. That experience informs then the frontal cortex and thus the logic of it is inspired through direct experience of the opened heart dictating to the open mind.
So that most common mistake by the closed minded, logician, philosopher, religionist, or cortically dominated man is the most common mistake -- the preferential assumption that the body is not real or spiritual because of great pain and dvesa (repulsion). Neti neti really means is that the body is only a small part of who we really are in terms of the big Self of All Our Relations. It is part of the omnipresent magical and intelligent great matrix of Siva/shakti. The Great Integrity is just that, all inclusive, omnipresent, universal, innate, and non-fragmented by definition so how could it not include the body and the entire cosmos? The only thing it does not include is the delusion of the ego -- that somehow the body is the ego or that any thing exists by itself in a vacuum. The "i" in Reality is empty and vacuous -- there is no "i". This is the transpersonal., both/and, non-dual realization that authentic yoga (reunification) brings.
Thus the true interpretation of neti-neti is that we are not this, not that -- not any "thing" separate. Neti-neti states clearly that we are not "just" that or this, i.e., that we are not separate and limited beings but rather thou are that, i.e., that our true identity is Brahman, not the limited and biased spin of ego (the delusion of being separate). In truth we live in sacred presence, but we are asleep in ignorance, delusion, and forgetfulness. Thus a Sufi affirmation to the divine goes; "I am nothing at all by myself. Only YOU exist -- God is everything"!
Just as the stars and valley are obscured by clouds and fog, they none-the-less exist as they are. The clearing of the clouds and lifting of the fog alludes to the process of purifying the matrix and lifting the veil of ignorance and illusion. This egohood only exists in our mind -- it is a shared hallucination although a powerful one. Although many people may "act out" from this neurotic state, and thus mutually serve to amplify the illusion, it does not follow that it is none-the-less more real. Ego reality is "in Reality" an empty illusion -- void.
The non-dual unitive process includes these process of going toward primal beginningless and the evolutionary creative manifestation from Source. It is likened to a pillar of light instantaneously transporting us to the non-dual timeless Now (beyond before the beginning and after the end in the Beginningless never ending/ever-new/ever-now-ness) which is both nowhere and everywhere, neither one nor the other, and neither neither (neti neti). Only this Reality can be said to exist with certainty .
This non-dual process in which all are kind is non-linear and non-dual BOTH/AND simultaneously like a non-dual pillar of light going up and down, neither up or down, neither both, but both/and. In authentic yoga we are this non-dual pillar in the activated core/heart reached through the middle innermost central channel (within the sushumna)
Thus we are not "just" the physical body which is ever changing, temporary, and corporeal, but at the same our identity must include the body (in the greater context) in each sacred eternal moment. This is the salient point. The orthodox scholar, dualist, and common man mistakes the expression to say that we are not the body, but the yogi takes it to say that we are all inclusive, the body, and the river, and the stars -- not just one of these limited and false identifications. In other words, the words, neti-neti, can not be viewed successfully as an exclusive statement out of context with Brahman, but rather as an inclusive affirmation of Brahman -- of an all inclusive reality where there is no separation. The yogi as a true seeker/rainbow warrior learns to see spirit in all things -- learns to see the continuity of eternal spirit in all of creation at all times. As Van Morrison has put it, "Spirit Don't Ever Die". It exists NOW.
On the Connection between Buddhist Anatta/Anatma, Sunyata, Nondualism, Advaita/Advaya, and (Atman/Brahman Unity Utilizing Neti- Neti as the Integrative Key
Neti neti is a saying found in the Upanishads and especially attributed to the Avadhuta Gita. Literally it means neither this, nor that. Considerable debate has arisen over specifically "what" (if anything specific) does it really refer to? As discussed above, the most common Hindu anti-nature or escapist view is that it is a statement of transcendence (escape) saying in effect, one is not the body, not identified with nature, and thus one doesn't belong on the planet -- one avoids death and suffering. Simplistic but appealing to the escapist mind none-the-less. Since it is said twice some say that it says, I am neither the body AND not the mind -- my true identity is not confined to either existence, nor non-existence, but rather a larger Reality which encompasses/includes both. A cogent point to remember is that neti is repeated TWICE, rather than as a single negation "once", so we will take it as meaning"neither and nor).
Classically it is said to be an affirmation of the Great Integrity, often called Brahman which unites one as part and parcel with the whole. However the orthodox then define Bahaman as something separate from what they call Maya which is usually defined as temporal existence. Hence they create an opposing duality (between eternal and temporal). However in some schools and especially in tantricism which evolved from the latter Yoga Upanishads and after (such as the Buddhist and Kashmir tantricism) neti-neti can be interpreted as an all inclusive statement of true Universal identification which is both undifferentiated and differentiated -- as not being separate; i.e., I am not an ego or separate "self". Rather I identify and belong to the greater whole. That can be ascribed to the first neti of neti-neti.
But the second neti can say I am not just the whole but also the parts of the whole -- I am both at the same time. Thus one may say that it is an affirmation of the Buddhist idea of anatta or anatman, the unreality of a separate self or ego (that the ego is a fabricated delusional only existing in ignorance of the Great Integrity which bind us all -- Reality).
So just as the first neti can say no to a separate observer (ego) free from subject/object duality, the second neti can be said to be a statement that affirms the emptiness of the object -- that it doesn't exist by itself. Thus neti neti is best understood as an affirmation statement that we are not just the body, not an ego, and not separate, but also that we are not not the body -- that the body is part of a far more vast interconnected web of all life both of form (saguna) and the formless (nirguna). “Neti neti” can be said to be a deep ultimate statement of non-duality beingness, neither one or the other, but rather both/and – neither form nor void but both form and void, neither just body or separate from body, but body and spirit both.
If the Buddhist term, anatta (anatma in Sanskrit), just means the fabricated delusional non-existence of the ego (a separate self), then there is no contradiction with Buddhism with this. Confusion arises when either Buddhists misunderstand the non-dual intention in neti, neti as a disowning of any idea of separate self; or where Hindus become confused that Brahman is a larger ego (soul) or separate self identification that can be conceived or owned; or when Hindus believe that Buddhist anatta is a nihilistic statement that denies existence completely. Such confusions arise only because of not listening fully or thoroughly studying the other’s point of view.
Thus anatta in Pali (anatman, in Sanskrit) quite clearly confirms the reality of no separate self and the emptiness of any separate object whatsoever (the affirmation of emptiness or sunyata). The Vedantic statement that Atman and Brahman are united as one is thus a statement of no separate “self” also. Indeed atman does not exist separate, but rather only when integrated with Brahman. Although Shankara the first systematizer of Advaita (unqualified non-dualistic) Vedanta (culmination of all revelations) is credited with arguing against the Buddhists, however if one studies his commentaries, one simply sees that his intent was simply to defend, promote, and reform Hinduism, rather than to attack basic Buddhist ideas. Buddha also did not challenge basic Hindu assumptions, rather than attempt to free people from dependence upon ritual, custom, ceremony, hierarchy, caste, and dependence upon ancient scripture. Buddhism can be seen as Hinduism which is stripped of all its local, provincial, and non-universal ritual and cultural trappings. So although rather heretical, one may postulate that there is not a large gulf between the two religions as religious zealots and defenders amy claim; rather the same truth is being stated within two different culturally described contexts.
Similarly sunyata (emptiness), is a broader application of the Buddhist statement of anatta, saying that neither the observer nor the observed – neither the object nor the knower of the object have any real ground -- any objective basis in Reality. Rather the basis or ground is their inherent emptiness in themselves; i.e., no objects or observers exist in Reality separate from the universal boundless Mind. Without this complete integral boundless universal perspective, all other views are biased, distorted, prejudiced, fragmented and corrupt by definition. Here neti/neti again is remembered neither observer, nor observed, not one or the other, but both/and inside an all inclusive whole. Radical that it may seem to religionists, neti, neti, and sunyata seem to be pointing to the same truth. This is why net is repeated twice. It is the way one says neither one nor the other, but both/and -- a bigger complete view is realized in Mahamudra.
Of course orthodox by the book dogmatists and ideologues will stick to the old doctrine unmoved and unable to think outside their box. There one can interpret the Buddhism very strictly via Theravadin or Mahayana doctrines, but I will use tantric and dzogchen/mahamudra interpretations which will not satisfy most doctrinaires. Similarly orthodox Vedantists will interpret this within their own box of course, but I will take the Kashmir Tantric view to reconcile with the Buddhist view to show that neti/neti is an advanced non-dual statement relevant to all.
In the true non-sectarian yogic tradition what ends is ignorance -- the process of denying or limiting Reality as-it-is through ignoring what is. When we ignore something then we have distorted views. One could call it we are suffering from delusion. When this confusion, delusion, ignorance or illusory bias is removed, then we see things as they are -- Reality. This Reality in tantra and dzogchen/mahamudra is profound synchronization of absolute and relative truth, shiva/shakti, right and left channels, pingala/ida, undifferentiated and differentiated consciousness and so forth. It is not a denial of the temporal as if samsara were separate from nirvana, or that nirvana was not found in samsara, or that shiva was not inside shakti, and so forth simply affirming the eternal presence Now in sacred presence - the basis of true spirituality.
This occurs when awareness and energy is synchronized in the deepest recess of the nondual central channel (the avadhuti, kun dar ma, or sushumna).
From the Hevajra tantra Chapter One
Buddha replied, "There are thirty-two nerve-channels. These thirty-two are the bearers
of the bodhicitta and flow into the center of Great Bliss. Among them three nerve-channels,
Lalana, Rasana, and Avadhuti are the most important. Lalana has the nature of Wisdom
and Rasana of Skillfull means. In the middle, between them is Avadhuti, free from the
duality of subject and object. Lalana is the bearer of Aksobhya and Rasana is the bearer
of Rakta. The bearer of both Wisdom and Moon is known as Avadhuti."
Non-dual (advaita) actually means (divitiyam nasti). However purists in Hindu tradition actually mean, eka vastu vada (there is no second substance except the Brahman is the only thing that exists as if it is separate from the physical created world or universe). This is actually a dualistic confusion of course and is really monism, rather than nondualism. Thus within this orthodox definition of Brahman, the word, eka vastu vada, is more accurate to what they mean, than the word, advaita.
However Buddhism also uses the word, advaya more than advaita to connote "'not two" i.e. free from the two extremes (skt. dvaya anta mukta) of samarupa (the tendency to see things as really existing) and apavada (the tendency to see things as non-existing). Free from these extremes is the famous middle path (free from eternalism and nihilism) taught by Buddha. Advaya is not of a thing (the one and only thing) like Brahma but a description of the svarupa of samsara )as things really are in their relative connected sense). That is why in tantra samsara which is illusory, but not an illusion is transformed into advaya jnana (nondual wisdom) in Buddhism whereas in Hinduism the illusory samsara vanishes and the true eternal unchanging Brahman dawns, but too often within the orthodox schools at the expense of diversity (excluding or denying the relative world) hence being escapist and unworldly stripping spirituality and God from embodiment.
Further, monism says that there exists only the observer, as if the whole is a separate object. That is the common mistake of selfhood (ego) where we ascribe name and form and "self/ego" to that which is unbounded, infinite, ineffable, universal, and totally incapable of being objectified. But really Brahman as the absolute can not be an object and the "self" can not identify with "it" as such without falling into dualistic delusion. Such an experience is impossible, otherwise the ego would try to grasp unto it (as it does). Thus monism is really a dualistic system -- an error in which one acknowledges the source/creator by negating or ignoring the creation – where the observer is separated from the observed. Monism is a one way street. In relative reality "everything" is not the same, rather life is infinitely diverse and rich, but at the same time it is interconnected --part of a greater whole. Rather non-duality in net/neti indicates clearly that creator (as source) and creation (as active manifestation) are not separate, just as a fire was started by a spark -- the spark is implicate to it. They can not be separated one from the other without creating a dualistic limitation.
Rather the case is that undifferentiated reality (absolute truth) coincides with differentiated reality (pratityasamutpada or relative truth) in sacred presence. here both are acknowledged as well as linked in yoga. In monism however everything is confused with everything else. In other words it is quite different to say that only undifferentiated reality (absolute truth) exists and differentiated reality (relative or conventional truth) does not -- either one or the other, rather in true non-duality both exist AND do not exist – neti/neti. Monism thus is more like dualism. Cogently, non-duality is not monism. Neither exists separately from each other so in the non-dual Buddhist school it is simply said that no separate thing exists, not even emptiness is a thing.
Again I quote from Bede Griffiths and Georg Feuerstein both mature observers of both western and eastern scenes.
"Advaita (nonduality) does not mean "one" in the sense of eliminating all differences. The differences are present in the one in a mysterious way. They are not separated anymore, and yet they are there."
Bede Griffiths (1997)
"The difference between monism and nondualism is subtle but important. The question is whether or not the linguistic expressions by yogins etc. reflect their actual realization. Could it be that an adept has broken through to nondual realization but is still caught in monistic language?
There is no question in my mind, for instance, that many of the statements in the early Upanishads point to genuine transcendental, transconceptual realization but resort to poetical/mythical/symbolic language that could give an inexperienced reader a different idea. In other words, there is not inevitably a perfect match between experience and language. This is a critical fact, which we need to bear in mind when looking for Upanishadic passages that testify to either monism or nondualism."
George Feuerstein
It is not a coincidence that the years after Vedanta (circa 600 AD) and Buddhist non-duality as elucidated by Nagarjuna (circa 300 AD) and his non-dual doctrine of sunyata, Shankara with his non-dual doctrine of advaita vedanta (circa 700 AD) contributed toward the eventual heyday era of Buddhist, hindu, and especially Kashmir tantra, hatha, tantric yoga kundalini yoga, and shakism. Such preliminaries posited the ground for such advanced practices. Tantra and Hatha yoga certainly improved upon these rudimentary formulations of an all inclusive living and organic non-dualism (advaya) evolving into even more efficacious practices of integration such as Sri Vidya, the body as a magical yantra (trul Khor in Tibetan), the sadhana of inner heat (kundalini or tummo), the Six Yogas of Naropa, the doctrine of harmonizing the five koshas (sheaths), working with the inner winds, channels, and bindu, and so forth whose body/mind wholistic practices continued to evolve up until the Moghul invasions of India.
Conclusion
The major "problem" which arises for the intellectual, fundamentalist, philosopher, and others lost in dualistic thinking is that they have become addicted to navigating "reality" through a veil of deadened and numbed out chronic processes of chronic extraction and over objectification -- through separation -- an exclusiveness (reductionism, analytical mentation, comparative analysis) without placing their data within a wholistic context, integration, harmony -- of the Great Integrity where all the seemingly dualistic parts are seen in relationship with all others in all of time. Indeed, such a world appears broken and fragmented due to self sabotage. Such folly! The yogi however entertains the notion that Humpty Dumpty can be put together again.
A true spiritual seeker places his/her predilections and prejudices aside -- offering it up as a fire offering while making an affirmation that all of his/her activities be reordered and placed in alignment and harmony with the universal timeless guidance of a sacred transpersonal non-duality -- the world of Grace where Maheshvara (the param-purusha resides). In indigenous terms the Great Integrity of "All Our Relations") is a holographic realm of profound and sacred suchness. A true sadhak (practitioner) will not allow themselves to be swayed, distracted, nor dissipated by the intellect or conceptional processes. "Here" in this sacred presence, which is not based on intellectual reductionism, the eternal timeless reality (creator) bleeds through and is revealed in every action of creation -- as divine shakti and as such in yogic terms siva/shakti is in perfect balance, harmony, and synchronicity. "HERE" yin/yang are in perfect balance and thus the complete Tai-Chi is accomplished. "HERE" father/mother, sky and earth, spirit and nature, pure consciousness and pure beingness exist as a self supporting mutuality -- as embodied LOVE. In indigenous time we learn to see and acknowledge Creator in all of Creation -- we can not do this "alone".
In this non-dual/transpersonal world of an all inclusive Brahman, divine shakti is seen in the tree, the river, the flowers, the stars, the ocean, and even in the human animal. It is beyond objectification or elaboration. "It" as such can not be known or owned. The only place it is not seen is in that which is unreal, make believe, symbolic -- that which is illusory, false, or what is considered to exist in isolation in the frozen and deluded corrupted fragmented sphere of ego (limitation and individual "self hood"). This latter sphere (the delusional reality of the ego) only exists in the deluded mind, so it is not considered real (although it colors "reality" for those who are deluded in superficial appearances).
"Neti-neti" does not mean that we are not this body, only that we are more than this body -- We are the Long Body -- the Big Universal Unbiased Boundless Mind in which all things see from simultaneously. Here everything is alive. The human animal is a vital part of creation and it is up to humans to claim their rightful place in harmony. This body is not separate from this body in context of the larger body of an all inclusive interpretation of Brahman (what the indigenous Americans call the Long Body) where we are all relatives. While in this Reality, no separate "i" exists. This "reality" is neither exclusively eternal,. nor exclusively temporal, rather it is both/and (neti/neti). It is the result of the marriage of crown and root, sahasrara and muladhara, pingala and ida, shiva/shakti, spirit/nature, objective/subjective, consciousness/beingness. Such is truly non-dual and synergistically synchronistic. It can not be realized through while remaining bound by the limitations of logic or analytical thought, but rather it comes from a more inclusive intelligent direct Connection/Union.
Indeed we would be misled to identify with just the physical body out of context with how it arrived here, the process of creation and evolution -- who and what it really is -- we would be lost in an illusion and limitation, false identification subject to narcissism, delusional self aggrandizement of the illusion of separate self (ego), and all the rest of the many demons of ego delusion such as self pride, nationalism, racism, fame, status, envy, hatred, greed, lust, and the afflictions which stem from this false identification (the unfortunate common milieu). So in context, in light of "reality" and "truth", the world of separateness is not only an illusion, it doesn't really exist, i.e., it is a void.
This is the true meaning of "neti neti" -- the ned of spiritual self alienation. The process then is in arriving home to indigenous space. When we arrive, we wake up to see that we are profoundly present -- we become at one with sacred presence.
Thus the expression, neti neti, in context means we are the great LONG BODY all together taken as a whole, not separate from God's infinite parts --THAT is our TRUE NATURE residing in this transpersonal spiritual fullness and wonder -- this natural, profoundly intelligent, and wholesome expression of complete and continuous integration and synchronicity with all things past present and future. In the Heart then, neti - neti means not separate, not separate -- not apart -- and thus we put to rest limited self imposed false identifications, habits, and beliefs and thus the "reality" of yoga -- of a world inextricably bound together in its continuity is realized. HERE Self acknowledges Self -- eternal Love recognizes eternal love -- we express the love which is our hearts. It is from this core beingness -- this abiding in the true self nature of the natural unconditioned universal mind -- this as pure core/heart center -- where we learn to respect, affirm, and acknowledge in All Our Relations -- serving as the fount of great integral beingness -- that we increasingly draw our sustenance, sense of balance, sense of centeredness, peace, security, inspiration, and eventually identity from -- from the HRIDAYAM which is the HEART OF HEARTS where the omnipresent teaching of the always present teacher (as eternal presence) intimately reveals in self liberatory revelation. HERE we cease to be betrayed, abandoned, ignored, and afraid as we cease to betray, abandon, ignore, and fear. HERE neurotic compensatory desire ceases -- the vrttis are annihilated (nirodha) and we rest in our true nature (swarupa).
The ineffable great ground of pure beingness and consciousness, disclosed through the removal of falsehood (neti.neti) reveals our true and essential nature (eternal, uncontrived, natural, innate, and "self" abiding) -- from which all are related -- the spark behind the flame and the flame are one, not two) -- the sparkling spirit which animates and breathes life into the world at each and every moment unending. Even HERE- all-ways/always HERE. We are that great wonder-- Om Tat Sat!
Tat Tvam Asi -- That Thou art -- We are THAT Boundless Great Integrity -- The reality where all relations of a separate "self" are seen as an illusion, where, the Reality of All Our Relations shines bright ... and THAT is how it really is.
NETI NETI