--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our belief in a world external to…" description: "\"“Our belief in a world external to ourselves, filled with things and people that are not us, is an overwhelming fact of our existence. But similarly, o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/james-m-corrigan-245547_dual-nature_our-belief-in-a-world-external-to-oursel_2843409.jpg" --- # Our belief in a world external to ourselves, filled with… ![“Our belief in a world external to ourselves, filled with things and people that are not us, is an overwhelming fact of our existence. But similarly, our absolute certainty that there is more to reality than just this physical world is a spiritual fact that bears more truth than any other in our…” quote by James M. Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/james-m-corrigan-245547_dual-nature_our-belief-in-a-world-external-to-oursel_2843409.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/james-m-corrigan-245547_dual-nature_our-belief-in-a-world-external-to-oursel_2843409.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/james-m-corrigan-245547_dual-nature_our-belief-in-a-world-external-to-oursel_2843409.jpg) > ““Our belief in a world external to ourselves, filled with things and people that are not us, is an overwhelming fact of our existence. But similarly, our absolute certainty that there is more to reality than just this physical world is a spiritual fact that bears more truth than any other in our lives. We seek to explain this spiritual nature as some metaphysical reality, accepting the constraint of Science that will not allow for any usurpation of the actuality of the physical universe. And we flounder trying. Once we allow our thoughts to be forced into some metaphysical realm, we find ourselves stripped of that single most important validation of spiritual truth – the undeniable presence at the heart of our existence. This is the spiritual truth that we seek, and it is not to be found in the physical reality of Science. The physical reality of Science is to be found in it! “An Introduction to Awareness” is a philosophical journey that takes the reader into the heart of this pure presence of nondual reality – a reality in which the spiritual is not metaphysical, but actual, in which physical reality is 'a machine in the ghost'. This pure presence that we cannot deny is the awareness that lies at the heart of our experiences and thoughts. This irrefutable truth is used as a starting point in a processual analysis of awareness, and of our ideas about existence and self, leading to a clear understanding of the nondual nature of reality as the pure presence of non-individuated Awareness.”” James M. Corrigan ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that true spiritual truth is found in nondual awareness, not in metaphysical speculation or scientific materialism. **In simple terms:** Spiritual truth lies in pure awareness beyond physical or metaphysical concepts. Key Takeaway Seek direct experience of nondual awareness. Themes spirituality philosophy nondual awareness reality existence Mood contemplative inquisitive serene Type Dual nature:1 Faith:0 Philosophy:0 Religion:0 Spiritual nature:0 Spiritual truth:1 Starting point:0 Philosophy of Mind:0 Existence Spiritual:0 Metaphysical Reality:0 Spiritual Metaphysical:0 Reality Spiritual:0 Nondual Reality:1 When to use this quote - meditation practice - philosophical study - personal reflection - spiritual counseling Key Concepts nondualism metaphysics science vs spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can one experience nondual awareness? - What limits do science and metaphysics have in describing consciousness? A Different Perspective Scientific approaches may not capture subjective experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dual nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dual-nature/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-nature/) [Spiritual truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-truth/) [Starting point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-point/) ## Related quotes > [When spiritual, metaphysical, material, or immaterial events come into my life, I can only fix them by way of painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beckmann/when-spiritual-metaphysical-material-or-immaterial-events-come-into/) [Max Beckmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beckmann/) > [“Beyond the spacetime continuum is the metaphysical Reality of the Absolute (the Being and Nonbeing).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/beyond-the-spacetime-continuum-is-the-metaphysical-reality-of-the/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [In the American Metaphysical, reality is always material reality, hard, resistant, unformed, impenetrable, and unpleasant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/in-the-american-metaphysical-reality-is-always-material-reality-hard/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [The point is that (little-t) truth is a matter of definition relative to the grid one is using at the moment, and that (capital-T)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaclypse-the-younger/the-point-is-that-little-t-truth-is-a-matter-of-definition-relative/) [Malaclypse the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaclypse-the-younger/) > [“To whatever extent your mind is aligned with love, you will receive divine compensation for any lack in your material existence. From spiritual substance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/to-whatever-extent-your-mind-is-aligned-with-love-you-will-receive/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We cherish and appreciate those who dedicate their lives to learning the Torah. However, without physical existence, there is no spiritual existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoav-gallant/we-cherish-and-appreciate-those-who-dedicate-their-lives-to-learning/) [Yoav Gallant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoav-gallant/) > [“Material things have closed boundaries; they are not accessible, cannot be penetrated, by things outside themselves. But one's existence as a spiritual being involves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/material-things-have-closed-boundaries-they-are-not-accessible-cannot/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [“You and I were created for a purpose far greater than to lie stretched out in front of a fire sleeping the day away.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spyridon-bailey/you-and-i-were-created-for-a-purpose-far-greater-than-to-lie/) Spyridon Bailey > [The spiritual life is not a life before, after, or beyond our everyday existence. No, the spiritual life can only be real when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-spiritual-life-is-not-a-life-before-after-or-beyond-our-everyday/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Man is in reality a spiritual being and only when he lives in the spirit is he truly happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/man-is-in-reality-a-spiritual-being-and-only-when-he-lives-in-the/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [When contemplating a work of art it is possible to perceive if it has been created according to the eye or to the spirit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-van-doesburg/when-contemplating-a-work-of-art-it-is-possible-to-perceive-if-it-has/) [Theo van Doesburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-van-doesburg/) > [Everything is just electricity and magnetism; everything is only an illusion. The reality is in the spiritual plane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lobsang-rampa/everything-is-just-electricity-and-magnetism-everything-is-only-an/) Lobsang Rampa > [“True spirituality covers all of reality. There are things the Bible tells us to do as absolutes which are sinful- which do not conform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-a-schaeffer/true-spirituality-covers-all-of-reality-there-are-things-the-bible/) [Francis A. Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-a-schaeffer/) > [I experienced the reality of the spiritual body and learned that it has every faculty of the physical body, though with greater sensitivity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/i-experienced-the-reality-of-the-spiritual-body-and-learned-that-it/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [If we are to go forward, we must go back and rediscover these precious values - that all reality hinges on moral foundations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/if-we-are-to-go-forward-we-must-go-back-and-rediscover-these-precious/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## More Dual nature quotes > [Ultimately, we are not seeking others to bow to, but to reinforce our individual natures, to help us suffer our own choices, to guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/ultimately-we-are-not-seeking-others-to-bow-to-but-to-reinforce-our/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [We early arrive at the great discovery that there is one mind common to all individual men: that what is individual is less than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-early-arrive-at-the-great-discovery-that-there-is-one-mind-common/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [An artist is only an artist on condition that he neglects no aspect of his dual nature. This dualism is the power of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/an-artist-is-only-an-artist-on-condition-that-he-neglects-no-aspect/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [Every individual nature has its own beauty. One is struck in every company, at every fireside, with the riches of nature, when he hears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-individual-nature-has-its-own-beauty-one-is-struck-in-every/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“transformational leaders understand (at least implicitly) that human beings have a dual nature. They set up organizations that engage, to some degree, the higher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/transformational-leaders-understand-at-least-implicitly-that-human/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [Sensibility... is a direct and particular reaction to the separate and individual nature of things. It begins and ends with the sensuous apprehension of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/sensibility-is-a-direct-and-particular-reaction-to-the-separate-and/) [Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/) > [“Just as the migratory and nest-building instincts of birds were never learnt or acquired individually, man brings with him at birth the ground-plan of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-stein/just-as-the-migratory-and-nest-building-instincts-of-birds-were-never/) Murray Stein > [“One fine moonlit night, Mortain and his Wild Hunt were riding through the countryside when they spied two maids more beautiful than any they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lafevers/one-fine-moonlit-night-mortain-and-his-wild-hunt-were-riding-through/) [Robin LaFevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lafevers/) > [What people think is their individual nature is just a bundle of thoughts, emotions, ideas, opinions, and prejudices. The world can do without this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/what-people-think-is-their-individual-nature-is-just-a-bundle-of/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [In war there are none but particular cases; everything has there an individual nature; nothing ever repeats itself. In the first place, the data…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/in-war-there-are-none-but-particular-cases-everything-has-there-an/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [Always the edge of the sea remains an elusive and indefinable boundary. The shore has a dual nature, changing with the swing of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-carson/always-the-edge-of-the-sea-remains-an-elusive-and-indefinable/) [Rachel Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-carson/) > [“As a creature with a dual nature, to deny one risked the other. Several shifters had chosen one side, human or wolf. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trina-m-lee/as-a-creature-with-a-dual-nature-to-deny-one-risked-the-other-several/) [Trina M. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trina-m-lee/) > [Individuality in universality is the plan of creation. Each cell has its part in bringing about consciousness. Man is individual and at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/individuality-in-universality-is-the-plan-of-creation-each-cell-has/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“All the jokes about men sitting down on their hats are really theological jokes; they are concerned with the Dual Nature of Man. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/all-the-jokes-about-men-sitting-down-on-their-hats-are-really/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“human nature of their origins runs counter to the prevailing cultural view of the ancient Near East. In the Genesis narrative, we see man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/human-nature-of-their-origins-runs-counter-to-the-prevailing-cultural/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) [Browse all 38 Dual nature quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dual-nature/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Our belief in a world external to ourselves, filled with things and people that are not us, is an overwhelming fact of our existence. But similarly, our absolute certainty that there is more to reality than just this physical world is a spiritual fact that bears more truth than any other in our lives. We seek to explain this spiritual nature as some metaphysical reality, accepting the constraint of Science that will not allow for any usurpation of the actuality of the physical universe. And we flounder trying. 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