Outshining Division and Transcending Reductionism in the Field of Psychology: A Critical Review of Nondual Psychotherapy Matthew Jones A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Psychology August 1, 2018 Unpublished Work Copyright 2018 by Matthew Jones All Rights Reserved ii Outshining Division and Transcending Reductionism in the Field of Psychology: A Critical Review of Nondual Psychotherapy ____________________________________________________________________ A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Psychology _____________________________________________________________________ Matthew Jones 2018 Approved By: ____________________________________________________________________________ Claude Barbre, MDiv, PhD, LP Chairperson Associate Professor ____________________________________________________________________________ Todd DuBose, MDiv, PhD Reader Associate Professor iii Dedication First and foremost, this dissertation is dedicated to my wonderful wife, who walked with me on this strenuous 5-year journey, supported the painstaking hours I devoted to the writing of this monstrosity, and gracefully tolerated the seriousness instilled in me during this process. I look forward to sharing more lightness and laughter in our next chapter and cannot thank you enough for your unwavering love and compassion. This dissertation is also dedicated to our amazing dogs, Sigmund and Tallulah. His charm and insatiable stubbornness make each day brighter, while her playfulness and youthful spirit infuses our lives with vigor. Even with the occasional bouts of sleep deprivation that accompany raising a puppy, I love our family and appreciate the constant reminders about what’s truly important in life. On that note, this dissertation is also dedicated to my Beloved Guru, Parama-Sapta-Na Adi Da Samraj, who inspired me to write this topic in the first place. Thank You for Your guidance and wisdom, and for the blessing of opening my heart to the Radiance of Your Divine Spiritual Presence. I am eternally grateful, profoundly humbled, and always bowing to You, Love-Ananda Heart-Master Da. You saved my life and showed me a way home. Da. iv Abstract In this research, the movement of nondual psychology is investigated by employing a critical review of the literature methodology. An exploration of nonduality and nondual interventions described in the ancient wisdom tradition of spiritual adepts, sages, and gurus is conducted. Following this exploration, nondual psychology and non-dual-psychotherapeutic interventions are critically reviewed, demonstrating the state of non-dual-psychotherapeutic literature and highlighting the significant benefit of psychology’s engagement with nonduality—namely, reinfusing spirit into psyche and discovering the true therapeutic mechanism of change. The findings of this study not only provide nondual psychology with a foundation for future inquiry and integration with existing psychological theories, but also challenge the materialistic and reductionistic underpinnings of modern, Western psychology. In total, this dissertation illuminates the considerable value that the spiritual and philosophic realization of nonduality provides to the theory and practice of psychotherapy. v Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction……………………………………………………………………………1 Chapter 2: Methodology…………………………………………………………………………11 Comprehensive Review and Analysis of the Literature………………...……………….…….11 Positioning of the Researcher……………………………………….………………………....12 Dissertation Structure……………………….………………………………………………….12 Summary…………………………………………………………………………………….…15 Chapter 3: Limitations of Discussing Nonduality…………...…………………………………..17 Language: Complexities and Challenges………………………………………………………17 How to Read Nondual Literature…….…...…….………………………………..………….…22 Summary…………....………………...…………………………………………………….….27 Chapter 4: Descriptions and Definitions of Nonduality..…………………………..……………29 Introduction……………...……………………………………………………………….…….29 Models of Transpersonal States of Consciousness……………….………………………..…..29 Descriptions of Nonduality According to Realizers……………………..…………….……....35 Descriptions of Nondual Realization, Awakening, and Enlightenment…………………….…42 Descriptions of the Self-Contraction, Ego, Body–Mind Complex, and Self…………………..51 Summary…………………………………………………………………………………….…58 Chapter 5: Nondual Interventions According to Nondual Realizers……...……………………..61 Introduction…….........................................................................................................................61 The Guru Function......................................................................................................................61 Mirroring and Self-Inquiry.........................................................................................................67 Meditation and the Manipulation of Attention...........................................................................71 vi Limitations of Seeking Realization or Enlightenment................................................................74 Summary……….........................................................................................................................76 Chapter 6: Defining Nondual Psychology and Nondual Psychotherapy…….…………………..78 Introduction…….........................................................................................................................78 Differences Between Nondual and Traditional Psychotherapy..................................................78 Basic Tenants and Values of Nondual Psychotherapy and Nondual Psychology….….............90 The Importance of Awakening in Nondual Psychotherapy......................................................102 Summary…………...................................................................................................................105 Chapter 7: Nondual Psychological Interventions and Methods...………………………………108 Introduction…….......................................................................................................................108 The Therapeutic Relationship and Being Together..................................................................108 Sacred Mirroring and Original Speech.....................................................................................114 Inquiry and Koans….................................................................................................................118 Nondual Psychotherapeutic Approaches and Integration With Western Psychology..............122 Summary……….......................................................................................................................135 Chapter 8: Nondual Psychotherapy: Transcending Reductionism in Modern Psychology….…139 Introduction…….......................................................................................................................139 Reductionism and Materialism in Modern Psychology............................................................139 Transcending Reductionism and Outshining Division.............................................................147 Summary……….......................................................................................................................151 Chapter 9: Conclusion………………………………………......………………….…….……..154 Summary of the Critical Review...............................................................................................154 Limitations of the Study……....................................................................................................166 vii Implications for Further Research............................................................................................168 Significance of the Study..........................................................................................................173 References…………………………………………..…………………..………………………178 viii 1 Chapter 1: Nature of the Study Background As the field of psychology privileges its march toward the medical model of scientific reductionism, or reducing complex interactions into the sum of their parts (Notterman, 2000, 2001), it is of grave importance that practitioners question this movement toward a renewed positivism and materialism. Rather than blindly supporting the movement of American psychology toward smaller mechanisms that reportedly account for higher order processes (Robinson, 1995), it is important for voices within the psychological community to critique the root cause of this shift and the unspoken agreement that the psyche pertains to the mind, or even the brain alone. As noted by Notterman (2000), the prefix of psychology is the Greek word psyche, which means breath and spirit, but has evolved to be understood as soul in the East and mind in the West. This is to say that the reification of psyche toward spirit not only challenges scientific, materialist dogmatism in the field, it also propels Western psychology back toward its roots to earlier form of healing found in indigenous healers, shamans, and sages. One ancient form of healing that continues to animate today is found in the spiritual and philosophic phenomenon of what has been called nonduality. At the heart of traditions such as Buddhism, Taoism, Advita Vedanta, various yogic traditions, and mystical Christianity, Judaism, and Islam is the spiritual and philosophic realization