Hi there,
On Thursday I enjoyed chatting with Angelo DiLullo, a popular nondual teacher, about his direct experience of ‘formless nonduality’, his thoughts about not having any, the need for shadow work, and how to spot the red flags of problematic teachers.
It seems every month we hear of some new scandal amongst spiritual teachers.
In this conversation, I propose that meditation teachers could seek out supervision of the kind that is normal amongst therapists. I'm not sure how to promote this idea, so I'm open to ideas.
Awakening - helpful or harmful?
Since recording the chat, I've reflected further on awakening, and how it can show up in both healthy and harmful ways.
After all, the techniques that normally foster empathy and social wellbeing (which include a narrative sense of self and imagination) can be in tension with meditation techniques aimed at awakening and personal wellbeing (which can include silencing thought and imagination).
Some people have ‘heart-opening’ awakenings that are followed by increasingly ‘pro-social’ behaviour. In other words, they become more nice. Thanks heart-openers! I think you're great and you're fun to hang out with.
But it seems obvious to me that others have shifts in their subjective experience of reality that reduce their personal suffering, without updating their ethics or behaviour. It's even conceivable that removing concern for approval could lead to worse behaviour.
I appreciate the ‘take no prisoners’ approach of Angelo and others, and their dedication to “waking up” anyone willing to listen. It reflects his personal experience of this path which resulted in reduced suffering and integrated with a ‘normal life.’ (Angelo works as an anaesthetist and runs a successful youtube channel and retreat schedule). He offered me some useful feedback and advice that I've appreciated.
But if I've understood the neuroscience behind Shamil Chandaria's course, even very basic functioning isn't possible without some part of the mind creating maps and meaning. It's a requirement for even basic actions like walking, perhaps even for the immune system.
Whilst we can ‘wake up’ from many distorting beliefs, I personally suspect that a total deconstruction of all perceptual filters is impossible whilst living. Any realisation of ultimate truth is likely an illusion. (Because I'm certain that absolute certainty is suspect, I'm not even certain of that!)
So I resonate with Shamil's approach (inspired by Rob Burbea amongst others) of engaging in the project of deconstruction alongside a conscious reconstruction of beneficial maps and meaning. Ones that increasingly widen our circle of concern, and lead to outcomes that benefit all aspects of life.
It's also why I like idealism. Not because I'm certain that it's true, but because it's a “better story” than most, can be experienced directly, and if digested, naturally widens the circle of concern to include all sentient beings.
Below is the chat with Angelo. Curious to hear your reflections! You can share thoughts in the comments under the video, join our community WhatsApp group, or follow on Substack.
With thanks!
Amir
(It is also increasingly acknowledged that techniques aimed at awakening can themselves cause harm - if you, or someone you know is encountering challenges, you could recommend Cheetah House - Help for Meditators In Distress.)
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