There are many – innumerable – facets of life and reality.
And different practices and explorations naturally and inevitably focuses on one or a few of these.
That’s how it has to be. Practices are tools, and tools often have just one or a few functions. They do some things well, and other things not at all.
Inquiry can help us see what’s already here, and what’s not here but seemed very real initially. It can help us align more consciously with reality, which is often a big relief. It can even help us see that reality is kind.
Heart practices can help us find love for our world. For ourselves, others, parts of us, situations, life, Existence, and God.
Body inclusive practices can help us release tension, or experience ourselves as a body-mind whole, or just be more aware of what’s happening physically and energetically.
Happiness practices, as described by for instance Sonya Lyubomirsky, can help us feel more alive, excited about life, and aligned with what feels meaningful and satisfying to us.
And so on. One does not exclude another. In reality, they all work hand in hand. They complement each other. They help us explore different facets of life and existence.
I was reminded of this since I have seen some non-dual folks exclude practices that explores other facets of life and reality, for instance heart practices, or happiness practices. I assume what happens is that they (a) identify with their own practice and tradition, (b) don’t recognize that it’s tool meant to invite exploration of one or a few facets of life and reality, and (c) exclude or put down other practices or traditions which address other facets of reality and life. It’s a mistake we all can make, unless we recognize the dynamics behind it.
I am, of course, simplifying and glossing over things here. (As I do in all of these writings.)
For instance, when we recognize what we are – that which experience happens within and as – any other facet is recognized as part of that. (A thought may also call this awareness, or Spirit, or Ground, or something similar.) We can say that anger and joy are two facets of life, and recognizing what we are is another, but they are not facets in exactly the same way. Anger and joy are experiences happening within and as what we are. I didn’t want to go into this since there is a lot of differentiation that needs to happen here.