Fruition vs. Non-Dual Awareness

Hi,

I read Daniel Ingram's MCTB book about a year ago, but due to some difficulties did not get stream-entry earlier in the year, and am getting serious into practice again. I was a participant in the dharma overground, but have lost interest in the site since the AF stuff became really popular.. However, despite my knowledge I was not aware that the non-dual and fruition were separate things? I have read a lot of the baptistshead.co.uk where Alan Chapman refers to fruition as the non-dual. I have searched the message board and have read a little on this, but was hoping someone could explain this to me a little better as this site seems to place the non-dual as 3rd gear...

Can you obtain the non-dual by sitting as "the witness" without obtaining to stream-entry? As I understand fruition, it is a non-event followed by the feeling of going somewhere pleasant. But what is the "non-dual awareness" this site is referring to and why are they often used interchangeably? What is the relationship between "non-dual awareness" and "furition" (if any?) and how have they been integrated in this 1st, 2nd, 3rd gear formulation? Meaning you should develop along the burmese map of insight up to arahat, but also should be cultivating the ability to enter the "non-dual awareness" at whim (entering 3rd gear)? Please explain. Thanks!

Sorry if this sounds like a newb question, but despite all my study, I still run into things I feel I should know by now....like this..

First of all, welcome to KFD!!

Secondly, always feel free to ask questions! that's what our community is all about!
Now to your question. Fruition is one of the stages of insight, corresponding to the cessation of phenomena (nibbana). After it, a whole cycle of insight has been completed and a path attained (stream entry, and 2nd path). One can experience fruitions after attaining path during a review phase, during the culmination of a new cycle of insight, and/or at will at a later time of one's practice (after stream entry). Depending on which door they are experienced through, they will have a different "feel" right before and right after it (Nirodha is also another way to experience cessation, but it is a totally different beast, as it isn't necessarily connected to the cycle of insight).
Non-dual awareness is pretty much what you will eventually find out it is your true nature (recall the Buddha saying: in the seeing, just the seeing, there is no observer or object being observed. In the hearing, just the hearing, etc). So Basically there is only awareness of phenomena arising, and there is no object or observer actually present. This is the what you find out as you gain insight to the true nature of phenomena. Non-dual awareness is the true nature of 3rd gear, nothing is conditioned: nothing to be done, nowhere to go to, nothing to do, to be, or to become. Simply surrender to the hear and the now. To shift into this 3rd gear it is something that, in my experience, is a lot easier once one attains higher paths, and it is certainly a lot easier to stay in 3rd gear the higher the path attained. 3rd gear becomes another choice on how to experience phenomena for those post 4th path (although not necessarily exclusive only to post 4th pathers). With that said, it seems to be a natural progression as one moves up the paths to be able to experience phenomena as non-dual awareness more and more.
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So, you cant really experience phenomena from a "non-dual" point as a witness, as a witness is something conditioned. Something (or someone) watching something. There cannot be dualities in 3rd gear (by definition). Kinda like becoming the watcher and the watched (again, in the seeing, just the seeing, there is no observer or object being observed). Noticing phenomena as the "witness" (aka 2nd gear) however is a really powerful tool in working towards dis-embedding from the sense of "self" (the sense there is an observer, or witness). 2nd gear allows the yogi to use the idea of an observer or witness in order to eventually realize there isn't really one to begin with (Kenneth uses the analogy of using a wood stick to stir a fire. In the process, the stick eventually burns and one is left with nothing but pure awareness). You can practice 2nd gear at any time of your development and is always bound to yield results. It's truly great, IMO.

Lastly, I would advise you to see if you can go ahead and meet with Kenneth. His experience with the 3 gears is unparalleled (as he is the one that came up with the whole concept). In the meantime, please feel free to bring on any questions you may have about your practice!!
hope to be able to read a lot more about your practice!!

Jorge Freddy!

Okay, thanks. I was under the impression that the two may be separate paths of development because it talks about in this site that there are two competing theories about primordial awareness vs. ceaseless interdependent phenomena. Where non-dual awareness would lead to primordial awareness (where this site references zen and advaita vedanta) and "fruition" referring to ceaseless interdependent phenomena (conservative Theravada). However, it seems that going through the paths is definitely a good idea, either way, and that I can make up "my mind" once I get there, regardless of method.

I am confident good practice will clear this confusion up in time. I will be practicing both methods. It seems simple enough, because the "who am I" is just as easily done off cushion as on. Whereas vipassana is typically done best while on the cushion. This gear method just makes my idle time all the more productive!