Living without why and non-duality: an existential and spiritual approach
The search for meaning is a natural tendency of the human mind.
We are constantly looking for reasons, objectives and explanations to justify our actions and give purpose to our existence.
However, certain philosophical and spiritual traditions invite a radically different approach: to live without why.
This expression, attributed to the mystic Master Eckhart (1260-1328), joins the teaching of non-duality which transcends the distinction between subject and object, between good and evil, between cause and effect.
Living without why: a mystical radicality
Meister Eckhart, Dominican theologian and Christian mystic, expresses the idea of a life freed from all conditional intentionality: “The noble man is he who lives without why, who does not seek to possess, to obtain a reward, but who simply is. »
This idea is consistent with the notion of detachment preached in mystical Christianity, notably among the Beguines and John of the Cross.
This detachment does not mean indifference to the world, but a profound abandonment to immediate presence, without calculation or expectation of return.
Non-duality in Eastern philosophy
Nonduality (or advaita in Sanskrit) is a central concept in several Asian spiritual traditions, including Hinduism (Advaita Vedānta), Buddhism (Madhyamaka and Chan/Zen), and Taoism.
Advaita Vedānta
In the teaching of Shankara (8th century), the ultimate reality (Brahman) is unique and non-dual.
The perception of separation between oneself and the world is only an illusion (māyā).
Living without why would then mean realizing that everything is already accomplished in the present moment, without the need for justification or search for meaning.
Chan and Zen Buddhism
Zen, from Chinese Chan, emphasizes the importance of direct experience and spontaneity.
A famous Zen kōan illustrates this idea well: “When I eat, I eat.
When I sleep, I sleep. » In other words, the mind fully present in the moment does not need a reason to exist.
Contemporary approaches: neuroscience and psychology
The psychology of mindfulness
Modern psychological approaches, notably mindfulness, advocate an attitude of acceptance and presence in the present moment. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), points out that the mind is often trapped in a constant narrative of causes and consequences, which can be a source of suffering.
Neuroscience and the experience of the non-self
Cognitive neuroscience has demonstrated that the feeling of a stable and separate self is a neural construct.
Brain imaging studies show that meditation can reduce the activity of the default mode network (DMN), a network involved in self-reflection.
This phenomenon could explain why advanced meditation practitioners experience a dissolution of the duality between self and the world.
A path to freedom
Living without a why does not mean giving up action or responsibility, but rather giving up the illusion of absolute control over life.
This approach joins Western and Eastern mystical traditions, as well as modern perspectives in psychology and neuroscience.
In a world dominated by productivity and the constant search for justification, living without why can be a path of profound liberation, allowing you to experience life in its fullness, without expectations or attachment.
Bibliography and references
– Eckhart, Master. Sermons and Treatises.
– Shankara. Vivekachudamani (The Jewel of Discrimination).
– Suzuki, Daisetz Teitaro. Introduction to Zen Buddhism.
– Kabat-Zinn, Jon. Where you go, you are.
– Varela, Francisco. The bodily inscription of the spirit.
– Damasio, Antonio. Descartes’ error.
