Reality Cannot Be Known By The Mind

I used to practice Buddhism in my youth assiduously, which taught that reality was a process (dependent origination), not an absolute (Atman). Later in life, a sudden significant and dramatic experience occurred that instantly changed my perception of everything whilst contemplating "my" awareness and opening to the possibility that it was impersonal when all was one. I no longer existed, and there was what can best described as an invisible reality that seemed to be everything appearing as something (the body and mind and world). Following this, there was an investigation of Advaita Vedanta and direct path teachings that seemed to suggest an ultimate absolute, unchanging reality - Atman - the true self.

I like Eckhart Tolle's answer - Self or No-self are metaphors for the same experience, and once this is understood, doctrinal differences disappear. I like Francis Lucille's answer - our minds cannot know the fundamental nature of reality, though we may attempt to label it one way or the other. But that is not a problem because we are that reality and can directly experience being it and benefit from this conscious awareness of it. I like the quote from the Buddhist teacher Nichiren that states, "The real meaning of Shakyamuni Buddha’s appearance in this world lies in his behaviour as a human being. How profound!” (The Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 2 [2nd ed], p. 240)." The true test of any teaching of inner peace and wholeness, in the end, comes down to how it impacts our behaviour amidst the challenges of daily life and does not transcend this human experience, which is a beautiful expression of our true nature. However, that is described.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_influences_on_Advaita_Vedanta

Happy 2025.

Love Freyja