**⏺️ With:** [[Nonduality]], [[Ego Splitting]] **\#️⃣ Tags:** #Philosophy > **🌱 Planted:** Thu 24 July 2025 --- At the most basic level, duality is the idea that there's two. As in, there is separation between subject and object... A sense that 'I' am here, and the world is out there. It is the fundamental division between self and other, mind and body, good and bad and right and wrong. This is how our normal waking consciousness tends to perceive reality. This happens because of the [[Ego Splitting|ontological nature of the Psyche to split itself]]. Through duality, we can learn, discern, compare, contrast and know ourselves. But, it also fragments our experience and carries us away from our wholeness and [[Presence|True Nature]]. In the grander scheme of things, this fragmentation appears to serve a fundamental purpose and that purpose is: without this split, there would be no way for us to know ourselves? Why? Because you can only know yourself when you take a subject/object dichotomy. When the subject/object dichotomy collapses, you aren't learning, discerning, comparing, contrasting or knowing yourself... you are just Being yourself (as [[Presence]]). At the highest level of reality, the absolute, duality is also the way in which [[Consciousness]] is able to know and experience itself. In reality though (the true nature of reality), there is no separation. This is known as [[Nonduality]].