INTRODUCTION

Many contemplative Eastern traditions, particularly those with a non-dual orientation, converge on the insight that freedom is realised in surrendering the project of a separate self. Today, these same paths are often pursued within the logic of our ‘achievement society’ that valorises self‑optimisation and quantifiable results. This tension leaves practitioners suspended between an explicit injunction to surrender and an implicit demand to perform spiritual progress. My dissertation investigates the lived experience of this paradox. Employing phenomenology, autoethnography and critical discourse analysis, it examines the confusion and distress that can arise at this impasse, as well as the integrated ways people learn to practise when they face the paradox directly and with awareness.

 

THIS RESEARCH INVESTIGATES

• The phenomenology of “spiritual achievement” cultures and their impact on the integrity and authenticity of contemplative practice
• The mechanisms by which commodified iterations of mindfulness and non-dual teachings may inadvertently perpetuate, rather than facilitate transcendence of, achievement-oriented modes of consciousness
• The intrapsychic and existential implications of pursuing self-transcendence (or the diminution of egoic reification) within cultural frameworks that may offer superficial solace (i.e., “palliative” supports) without addressing foundational disjunctions

 

METHODOLOGY

Employing transformative research methodologies congruent with the ethos of transpersonal psychology and contemplative inquiry, this study integrates:

• In-depth, hermeneutic phenomenological interviews with seasoned practitioners engaged in non-dual paths
• A critical discourse analysis of contemporary non-dual literature, teachings and online communities
• Autoethnographic reflection, documenting the researcher’s own experiential engagement with the research problematic, acknowledging the scholar-practitioner stance
• A cultural critique, drawing significantly upon Han’s conceptualisation of “smooth” spirituality and its societal implications, to contextualise the individual experiences within broader socio-cultural dynamics

 

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

This research forms the foundation for ongoing PhD work and the forthcoming book “Teachings from the Mountaintop: The state of Non-duality.” A critical examination of how non-dual wisdom has been transformed by its encounter with late capitalist culture.

 

RESEARCH PARTICIPATION

I am seeking participants for this ongoing research in two categories:

Category 1: Impact Documentation
Individuals who have experienced psychological distress, spiritual crisis, or other difficulties related to non-dual teachings or practices. This includes experiences of:

• Spiritual bypassing or premature transcendence attempts

• Disorientation from rapid or unsupported practice

• Conflicts between traditional teachings and therapeutic frameworks

• Isolation or abandonment within spiritual communities

• Other psychological impacts from engagement with non-dual traditions

 

Category 2: Committed Practitioners
Householder practitioners with substantial non-dual experience (minimum 5 years consistent practice) who can reflect on the cultural tensions between achievement-oriented society and contemplative development. Particularly seeking those who have:

• Navigated multiple teaching contexts (therapeutic, traditional, hybrid)

• Experienced the commodification of practices they hold sacred

• Struggled with achievement-oriented approaches to non-achievement

• Developed insights into cultural vs. traditional frameworks

 

CONTACT

If you have been affected by the issues outlined above, or are an experienced practitioner interested in contributing to this research, please contact me directly. All communications are confidential and participation is entirely voluntary.