Toxic Being or "Pure Being" is Pure Bullshit.

Here is a typical non-dual quote: “Awakening is the experience of Pure Being.”

Abstractions such as this compel the non-dualer wannabes to consider "Pure Being" as individually attainable and then work to attain it.

“Hey, Joey, look at me! I’m Pure Being, bro!”

The problem is that "Pure Being" is another egoic delusion and, therefore, you will never access it, because it’ll never be “pure.”

So maybe you should accept the toxicity of Being?

If it’s relating to the world that you find ‘toxic,’ and thus seek to ‘purify,’ than count Being out of that equation (oh, it’s still there, you just don't realize it because you consider it 'impure').

Of course, you can conjure up all manner of meditative neurochemical imbalances, get some great whiz-bangs, and call that an experience of “Pure Being.” But then, you can also have an exhilarating bowel movement and call that an experience of Pure Being. What's the difference? (had one just this morning!).

Being is experienced in relationship and it is never “pure,” or free of engagement, although the depth of that engagement may be self-limiting. Pick and choose a "path" to Being and, make no mistake, your engagement with Being may Be significantly curtailed.

Being don’t need no stinkin “spiritual path” to Be.

You certainly experience a separate ‘self,’ but that self is always in relationship to other separate selves. Being knows it is Being through engagement with an experience of a ‘world.’

Hey, maybe that’s why the experience was conjured up in the first place! Ya think?

Your Being is never NOT in relationship. Being does NOT exist free of engagement and the fact that you believe it does, results in your failure to experience it (because you’re off on some mountain top seeking “Pure Being”). Being is always engaged and Being NOT in relationship, is just NOT Being and that’s impossible! (so furgetboutit).

Just because your not all comfy cozy with what you’re Being with, is not the fault of Being. Nope, that’s just ego-self informing you what you should and should not Be with (or ‘do’). But that’s Being too, only you think not and decide to meditate for 20 years to find it (lucky for you that too is Being, only stop complaining about needing to "awaken").

However, you may find that the deeper you engage the ‘world’ you are Being with, the more intense that relationship is experienced and the more Being is accentuated and 'known.' (so come down from your mental mountain top and engage with your experience of a 'world').

The “I AM” is another mirage of an ego-self relating to its own self-construction at the expense of Being.

There is no “I” separate from Being engaged with “them.” You will know your Being through Being with others, all Being in a ‘world.’ However, you’re gonna need to BE with all of it. Exclude parts and ego has taken over and you’ll just complain about it not Being the way you want.

BEING WITH OTHERS IN A 'WORLD'

However, one day your ‘self’ will choose another ‘self’ to deeply engage with and we all feel that pull eventually (although we erroneously attribute it to bodily drives and instincts). This can actually be a quick and easy way of experiencing Being. Unfortunately, the very nature of your ego-self (“I”) will impede and limit the depth of that engagement and you will come close to the opportunity to experience Being (as 'one,' with and through another), only to extinguish it with "your" conditions.

You may never forget the intensity of that experience, and how it caused you to fully and deeply engage WITH your ‘world,’ but you may fail to realize that it was “you” who chose to end it. Nevertheless, when this is finally realized, you can always choose again and this time make the right choice. Eventually the right choice will be made and that's certain, so don't sweat it.

(Artwork by Leo Plaw)