I've been studying non-duality intensively these last few months. I've done thorough self-inquiry, and followed teachers from all kinds of non-duality paths, from traditional Advaita Vedanta to the Direct Path and to radical non-duality (there is only " ").
And although I found a lot of peace, wisdom, strength and even blisfull experiences, something just did not sit right with me.
I could not correlate this with the manifestation path that I studied for many years now (in all its forms like LOA, Neville Goddard's teachings, shifting etc.)
At its core, ND teaches that we are all one awareness, the observer or Brahman: formless, timeless, infinite. The illusion of life just happens spontaneously, we just have to observe, let it play itself out as it will. And we will find ultimate peace as soon as we realize that we are not the body or the mind, that all that can be observed is Maya, illusion. And all desires fall away, should fall away, as they belong to the ego, which is also an illusion.
This means we are 'God' but a pretty impotent one. We are not a do-er, just being.
Honestly, for a while this shifted me into a low-key depression. Because what is the point of living, if it is all an illusion anyway, one that cannot be controlled or changed, that you just have to observe. Where is the fun, the joy, the zest for life in that? Just kill me now so I can be done with it, to be honest. Especially on the bad days.
And purely philosophical, logical, there was a breaking point. Brahman is not a do-er, just awareness, no desires or action. But still there is life, creation happening, just 'arising', as illusion? Seems like a subtle duality. Even the Advaita Vedanta scholars stumble at this point if you really listen.
Brahman started to feel like an infinite couch potato, it just did not sit right with me.
And why are so many channelings, from Seth to Abraham Hicks to The Course of Miracles talking about the ultimate Power of god, god as the Creator, you and me as the image of god and therefore equally powerful? There is no power in awareness only.
Besides, manifestation works, in all its forms. I absolutely know it does, from myself and people around me. But manifestation implies a chooser, a do-er, deliberate change/action. Which AV or " " will tell you is again an illusion created by a non-existing ego.
WTF ??? I was starting to get really confused.
But then I stumbled on another non-dual philosophy which has finally made everything click: Kashmir Shaivism.
Here the passive Brahman takes the form of Shiva/Shakti, the ultimate Consciousness/power that creates, destroys, hides and shows itself, not as a duality, but because that is its ultimate nature.
This philosophy makes so much more sense to me. It implies creative power and living, experiencing as playfulness, not to satisfy an ego, but because of a deep inherent joy and passion.
If anyone else is interested in this philosophy: I found some brilliant videos on YT-channel Nish the Fish. There are a lot more on this channel, all interesting and uplifting although not all about non-dual Shaivism. He does not talk about manifestation, but he does not need to, this idea of God (= you = me) fits manifestation and life experience so much better. It gave me my power and passion back.