Facets of Unity: The Enneagram of Holy Ideas

by A.H. Almaas

In the Diamond Approach, we find several dimensions of Being which involve a perception of nonduality. Many seekers who approach or read about the understanding of unity or nonseparateness associate the idea of unity with a kind of homogeneity. For example, on one level of perception the seeker sees directly that all of manifestation is made of one medium. In this perception, the emphasis is on the awareness that everything is made of one something, one substance, and discrimination of different aspects of manifestation is not part of the experience. This is what we call unity. Another level that involves a perception of nonduality is the nonconceptual, that is, direct awareness of reality more fundamental than or prior to conceptual thinking. Here, too, there is a sense that there is “one thing” which constitutes all of reality, and from this perspective it is clear that there are no separate objects. Reality on this level can appear as one solid “block” which cannot be separated even conceptually. Another level of perception which includes awareness of nonduality is what we call oneness. In this perception, the awareness of nonseparateness is clear, but within that whole, unified reality, discrimination is present. One sees the different colors, forms, and movements within manifestation, without those differences appearing as separating boundaries.