Edgar Acosta, MD.
Mental and emotional well-being expert
Exploring non-duality
Meditación Advaita Vedanta
What is Advaita Vedanta?
Advaita means "not two" or "non-duality," and Vedanta translates as "beyond the Vedas." Advaita Vedanta is a metaphysical interpretation of Vedanta philosophy that seeks to unravel the essence of non-duality, revealing the underlying unity of all that exists.
Non-duality represents an unlimited knowledge in which the apparent separation between subject and object dissolves, an experience reached in deep meditative states known as Samadhi. Imagine a raindrop falling into the vast ocean, losing its individual identity to merge with the immensity of the sea, where it is no longer distinguishable as an isolated drop but becomes part of an ocean of indistinguishable drops.
Advaita Vedanta philosophy teaches us that, like the drop of water, our individual consciousness (buddhi) can be recognized as the Non-dual Absolute Consciousness (Brahman). Through the contemplation of mental emptiness and repeated immersion in non-dual states of consciousness, the practitioner dismantles the cognitive habits that perpetuate the illusion of differentiation.
Through meditative practice and deep reflection on the Slokas, you will discover for yourself the nature of non-duality and its inherent qualities of Absolute Existence, Consciousness, and Bliss (Sat-Chit-Ananda). This exploration not only purifies the mind but also awakens an intimate connection with the ultimate reality, where the seeker and the sought unify in an eternal dance of consciousness and knowledge.
Inner practice
During the MAV course, we will practice the canons of Advaita Vedanta meditation, based on Sesha's methodology, which teaches us two ways to focus attention, depending on whether the physical senses are activated or deactivated.
The internal practice occurs when attention is withdrawn from the physical senses and concentrated on the observer of the inner world.
This practice begins by differentiating the observer from the mental contents until the mind quiets and internal emptiness is contemplated. This is the first non-dual state of consciousness experienced in Advaita Vedanta meditation.
As the practitioner maintains attention, the emptiness leads to various deep states of meditation, known as Samadhi.
External practice
In the MAV course, we will also explore another way of perceiving non-duality: the external practice, which occurs when the physical senses are active and attention is directed toward sensory objects.
The essence of this practice is to observe the external world without a sense of self. It is crucial to witness sensory phenomena without categorizing them by names or forms.
Gradually, the observer perceives themselves in the entire sensory field, like a raindrop merging with the sea. This leads to deep states of meditation, known as Samadhi, which allow for the perception of information beyond the sensory field.
A personal story about Advaita Vedanta
My first contact with Advaita Vedanta was in 2018 while studying for the REMIND Master's at the University of Barcelona. During some Vedanta classes with Sesha, amidst several meditations facilitated by him, I experienced an unusual meditative state: a void of thoughts where there was no separation between the perceiver and the perceived. These states lasted several minutes, although time became irrelevant in the face of a profound connection with a form of being free of action, where a new certainty was established: I am nothing.
Immersed in these experiences, I spent several months reading Sesha's books, which explained his meditation method and the higher states of consciousness, along with the Slokas of the Atmabodha, which expanded my understanding of non-duality. At the same time, I dedicated myself to daily meditation practice, driven by the thirst to experience non-duality again and to understand firsthand what Sesha described in his writings.
In December of that same year, I enrolled in a three-day retreat at the Zen Center of Barcelona. The first two days, I encountered several physical and mental obstacles that discouraged me. I felt I was not in the best condition to meditate so strictly. However, several monks and practitioners at the center encouraged me to continue, so I decided to stay for the third day.
That night, between 10 and 11 pm, I felt that state of thoughtless void again, but this time there was something different: I was also aware of all the sensations around me. Every sound, every movement, and every breath of others were captured by my attention. I remained very still and attentive to this new state, where the inner and outer seemed to have no boundaries. Suddenly, I perceived something different; a space of new information where, by focusing, I could contemplate symbols, cultures, and human civilizations in a matter of seconds. What followed is difficult to put into words, but it was like a journey through the history of the universe, witnessing the creation and destruction of planets, stars, and other celestial objects.
I don't know how long I was there, but I remember that when the bell rang to practice kinhin, my body was so numb that it was difficult to stand up. Everyone else was already standing, and with great effort, I stood and practiced. During the kinhin, my attention returned to the body and sensations, while the mind remained silent. Then, we sat down again in zazen to meditate, and that deep state of non-duality resumed.
I understood that there is no death and that the only thing that truly exists is the capacity to witness a constantly changing universe. Lifetimes and millennia can pass in seconds; there is no constant time. I also understood that the "seeker self" disappears under the certainty that what it has been seeking has always been there, waiting to be seen. Although non-dual experiences are impermanent, the knowledge they leave as a mark changes the understanding of oneself, life, and reality.
From that experience, I spent several months designing the MAV course. I taught it to a private group at Yoga Bindu Barcelona, and there I realized that other people, with and without meditation experience, could also perceive non-duality through Sesha's method.
The learning continues and no book can teach you more than experience. I invite you, just like myself and others who have taken the course, to experience non-duality on your own. By practicing meditation efficiently, your "seeking self" can find its rightful destination.