Exploring Non-Duality
Ivan Rados on Ego, Consciousness, and Inner Awakening
MYSTIC MAG ( www.mysticmag.com )
Predrag Vlatkovic Writer - Published On August 31, 2024
Exploring Non-Duality
In this insightful interview with Ivan Rados, MysticMag delves into the profound journey that led him to become a non-dualistic spiritual teacher. Through a personal awakening experience at the age of nine, Ivan shares how his understanding of ego, consciousness, and the nature of reality shaped his path to non-duality, offering readers a glimpse into the deep wisdom that guides his teachings today. Continue reading to learn more.
Q. - Can you please introduce yourself to our readers and tell me what led you to become a non-dualistic spiritual teacher?
A. - Who am I? I could call myself an artist, meditation master, or spiritual teacher, but beyond all definitions, I can only conclude that the real ‘me’ is indefinable.
Consciousness itself cannot be defined. We attempt to describe it, but in doing so, we miss the essence of being. Seeking meaning creates metaphysics and philosophy, leading us in circles without true understanding. Sitting alone with oneself is the greatest miracle—it needs no explanation, no thinking. When alone, you don’t know who you are relating to; with others, you are defined. But at a higher level, the identity that interacts with others is not who I truly am; it’s who I pretend to be in a dualistic world. So, who am I? I don’t know, but I know that I am. This is not a philosophical statement; it’s an echo of non-duality. My journey to non-dualistic teaching began with a personal experience at age 9, my first awakening to non-duality.
I was born in 1962 in the former Yugoslavia, under the socialist regime of Marshal Tito. Tito was revered as a near-saint, and at school, we were expected to idolize him. When I was 9, Tito visited our town. We were required to dress in pioneer uniforms and wait for hours to catch a glimpse of him. I desperately needed to use the bathroom, but my teacher forbade it, saying Tito would never forgive my disloyalty. As Tito’s convoy sped past, I had an uninvited thought: does Tito need to pee like me? This scared me, and I peed myself in front of everyone. My embarrassment and the realization that Tito was just a human marked a turning point. From that moment, I became aware of my ego and its limitations. I could no longer conform to societal norms or the authority around me. I began relying on my intuition and inner knowing. By age 10-11, I was devouring spiritual books, searching for something more. I vowed never to surrender to anyone or anything that wasn’t real to me. Society’s conditioning and politics couldn’t penetrate my determination to stay true to myself.
At an early age, I became aware of my ego, recognizing that society gives you an ego, and people nourish it. I learned to use my ego rather than letting it use me. That event—my ‘disloyalty’ to Tito—was my initiation into non-dualistic teaching. I realized that living with the ego means missing out on your true self. Meditation became my sanctuary, my reality, and my path to individuality. Personality is a mask given to us by society, but individuality is born within us. I never sought respectability or material gain; I only sought truth and love for who I am. Today, I am known as a non-dualistic teacher, but that definition is not who I am. I make no distinctions or categorizations. All is One, and we are all essential parts of it. There is no one in existence except me, and that is the same for you and everyone else.
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