Devotion has traditionally been related to dualistic teachings.
The reason for this is that "the other" is required.
Devotion is always between two, you and the beloved. The non-dual teachers
are quite clear that you ARE the beloved and there is no separation, so no
need for devotion.
To be in Devotion and be awakened to the non-dual is
sometimes called "Parabhakti", translated as "Beyond Devotion" or even
"Devotion to the Beyond". Among those who are not dualistic, there is a
paradox in Devotion because you must allow yourself to be identified with
the limited, even if you know that you are beyond it as well. That is the
only way.
So I can say a little from my own experience.
First we must awaken to Consciousness. That's the first
step. Often people ask, " What is it that awakens to Consciousness?" The
spiritually correct answer is, "Consciousness awakens to Consciousness
itself". Regardless of the truth of it, past a certain point, I don't find
that to be a particularly helpful answer. If you want to go the next step,
you might consider that consciousness has no need to awaken to itself, it's
already self-aware! What awakens to Consciousness is always the body/mind.
That is a key to embodiment.
Here's a three-step recipe of self-enquiry. You can take
as long as you need to do it; years even… but don't skip the order:
1) When ready ask,
"What if I am that which is aware of all that arises? "
Recognize yourself as pure consciousness, inseparable
from the infinite unmanifest absolute.
In other words identify as consciousness that is beyond
the body/mind and all manifest existence, yet contains them.
Notice all that arises is arising in and as that
consciousness.
Steep until ready.
2) When ready ask,
"What if I am that which continues to arise?"
Recognize yourself as that which arises as the limited
body/mind, inseparable from the vast matrix of all manifest existence.
In other words identify as the body/mind, that which is
both in consciousness and yet a form of it.
Notice the experience of recognizing pure consciousness
has always been experienced and recognized by the limited body/mind and
no one else.
Simmer until ready.
3) When ready ask,
"What if I am both that which is aware of all that arises and that which
continues to arise? And what if I favor neither identity but embrace them
as if they were both true?"
Recognize yourself as both pure consciousness,
inseparable from the infinite unmanifest absolute, as well as that which
arises as the limited body/mind, inseparable from the vast matrix of all
manifest existence.
In other words identify as consciousness that is beyond
the body/mind and all manifest existence, yet contains them.
And yet identify also as the body/mind and all manifest
existence, that which is both in consciousness and yet are forms of it.
Notice all that arises is arising in and as that
consciousness, but also notice that the experience of recognizing pure
consciousness has always been experienced and recognized by the limited
body/mind and no one else.
This is a contradiction beyond logic that can be known
when ready. It is the paradox that we are. The effect of this recognition
is to live in an affected sensitivity founded in a space which is always
unaffected. This new identification is more than recognizing the manifest
life as a form of Consciousness; it is also simultaneously recognizing
that the experience of realizing Consciousness is a form of the manifest
life. It is not simply reducing life to a sub-category of consciousness
and not reducing consciousness to a sub- category of life. It is the
embracing of both views being true, both sequentially and simultaneously.
The result is to be dropped between the source and it's
manifestation. The “gap” between Consciousness and phenomena is our
fullest place of identification, here we are: stretched to encompass all
of our experience. Only in this gap can we be both, and
honestly include all of what we know as ourselves, without dismissing
anything.
This gap is paradox itself. It is the place of meeting
of both Consciousness and It's Power, both God and Goddess, both Shiva and
Shakti. That meeting place is the place of Divine Sensitive Desire. The
WDM teachings refer to it as "the Core Wound". At this point I feel it to
be and prefer to refer to it as our "Essential Sensitivity". It is of the
nature of a rub, a yearning, a friction, desire. Here we are literally the
Peace-Filled Desire of the infinite. It is most certainly not simply peace
for it's own sake, neither is it simply movement for it's own sake.
The less conscious it is, it functions as the source of
all our petty desires. The more conscious it is, it is the yearning in
manifest form for that which is beyond, it is never satiated, and always
enough. You can also say it is always satiated but never enough. It is the
thrill and suffering of the universe.
It is the meeting of Duality and Non-duality.
It is the Heart of Devotion.
It is the yearning in the awakened soul (that knows
that she is God), to meet and merge with God and the disappointment of
such a soul in the face of every limit.
It is the Goddess Devi questioning Siva, as if she
didn't know.
It is Ram crying for Sita.
It is the sacred heart of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin.
It is the incarnation of Krishna and the Crucifixion of
Christ.
It is the spontaneous Bodhisattva desire to embrace
every limit for the sake of every limited being, while knowing that in the
absolute truth there are no limits and limited beings. And although there
is no time, it is to carry that desire forever.
It is not an idea or ideal, it is a fire.
Bring to a boil.
2005 Krishna Gauci