What is Right Discrimination?

According to the classic non-dual texts, one of the qualities we need to cultivate on the way to higher knowledge is right discrimination. What does this mean?

The Sanskrit word for this idea is Viveka. It means the ability to discriminate, or discern or distinguish, truth from falsehood, or the real from what is unreal.

From the non-dual teachings we learn that, to begin with, our knowledge of the world and ourselves is incomplete and in fact rather distorted. No-one doubts that our knowledge is limited, that is why we seek more of it through science and philosophy and other ways.

The non-dual teachings, and other wisdom traditions, point out that our knowledge not only incomplete but also positively distorted. Somethings appear to be real and important to us, but they are not so.

In the search for illumination and inner freedom, we do not need to seek a divine being that is far from us. The need is to see truly, to see beyond illusion. And Viveka is the ability to do this.

The essential difference is between appearance and reality. Between how everything appears, through the senses and mind, and it’s true nature in itself.

The non-dual teaching is that the test of Reality is unchangeability. What is ultimately real is unchanging, ever-abiding, indestructible.

We practice and cultivate viveka by seeking what is unchanging, in our own immediate experience.

There is more on the theme of right discrimination in the My Practice section.