Devotion has traditionally been related to dualistic teachings.
The reason for this is that "the other" is required. Devotion
is always between two, you and the beloved. The non-dual
teachers are quite clear that you ARE the beloved and there is
no separation, so no need for devotion.
That said, even among non-dual teachers there have been great
devotees.
Poonja-ji used to say that it was his preference to be born
again for the sake of devotion, yet he was simultaneously
convinced that it was impossible to be born again, because he
knew himself as that which was never born to begin with. So
there is some paradox there.
To be in Devotion and be awakened to the non-dual is
sometimes called "Parabhakti", translated as "Beyond Devotion"
or even "Devotion to the Beyond". Among those who are not
dualistic, there is a paradox in Devotion because you must allow
yourself to be identified with the limited, even if you know
that you are beyond it as well. That is the only way.
So I can say a little from my own experience.
First we must awaken to Consciousness. That's the first step.
Often people ask, " What is it that awakens to Consciousness?"
The spiritually correct answer is, "Consciousness awakens to
Consciousness itself". Regardless of the truth of it, past a
certain point, I don't find that to be a particularly helpful
answer. If you want to go the next step, you might consider that
consciousness has no need to awaken to itself, it's already
self-aware! What awakens to Consciousness is always the
body/mind. That is a key to embodiment.
Here's a three-step recipe of self-enquiry. You can take as
long as you need to do it; years even… but don't skip the order:
1) When ready ask,
"What if I am that which is aware of all that arises? "
Recognize yourself as pure consciousness, inseparable from
the infinite unmanifest absolute.
In other words identify as consciousness that is beyond the
body/mind and all manifest existence, yet contains them.
Notice all that arises is arising in and as that
consciousness.
Steep until ready.
2) When ready ask,
"What if I am that which continues to arise?"
Recognize yourself as that which arises as the limited
body/mind, inseparable from the vast matrix of all manifest
existence.
In other words identify as the body/mind, that which is
both in consciousness and yet a form of it.
Notice the experience of recognizing pure consciousness has
always been experienced and recognized by the limited
body/mind and no one else.
Simmer until ready.
3) When ready ask,
"What if I am both that which is aware of all that arises and
that which continues to arise? And what if I favor neither
identity but embrace them as if they were both true?"
Recognize yourself as both pure consciousness, inseparable
from the infinite unmanifest absolute, as well as that which
arises as the limited body/mind, inseparable from the vast
matrix of all manifest existence.
In other words identify as consciousness that is beyond the
body/mind and all manifest existence, yet contains them.
And yet identify also as the body/mind and all manifest
existence, that which is both in consciousness and yet are
forms of it.
Notice all that arises is arising in and as that
consciousness, but also notice that the experience of
recognizing pure consciousness has always been experienced and
recognized by the limited body/mind and no one else.
This is a contradiction beyond logic that can be known when
ready. It is the paradox that we are. The effect of this
recognition is to live in an affected sensitivity founded in a
space which is always unaffected. This new identification is
more than recognizing the manifest life as a form of
Consciousness; it is also simultaneously recognizing that the
experience of realizing Consciousness is a form of the
manifest life. It is not simply reducing life to a
sub-category of consciousness and not reducing consciousness
to a sub- category of life. It is the embracing of both views
being true, both sequentially and simultaneously.
The result is to be dropped between the source and it's
manifestation. The “gap” between Consciousness and phenomena
is our fullest place of identification, here we are: stretched
to encompass all of our experience. Only in this gap can we be
both, and honestly include all of what we know as ourselves,
without dismissing anything.
This gap is paradox itself. It is the place of meeting of
both Consciousness and It's Power, both God and Goddess, both
Shiva and Shakti. That meeting place is the place of Divine
Sensitive Desire. I feel it to be our Essential Sensitivity.
It is of the nature of a rub, a yearning, a friction, desire.
Here we are literally the Peace-Filled Desire of the infinite.
It is most certainly not simply peace for it's own sake,
neither is it simply movement for it's own sake.
The less conscious it is, it functions as the source of all
our petty desires. The more conscious it is, it is the
yearning in manifest form for that which is beyond, it is
never satiated, and always enough. You can also say it is
always satiated but never enough. It is the thrill and
suffering of the universe.
It is the meeting of Duality and Non-duality.
It is the Heart of Devotion.
It is the yearning in the awakened soul (that knows that
she is God), to meet and merge with God and the disappointment
of such a soul in the face of every limit.
It is the Goddess Devi questioning Siva, as if she didn't
know.
It is Ram crying for Sita.
It is the sacred heart of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin.
It is the incarnation of Krishna and the Crucifixion of
Christ.
It is the spontaneous Bodhisattva desire to embrace every
limit for the sake of every limited being, while knowing that
in the absolute truth there are no limits and limited beings.
And although there is no time, it is to carry that desire
forever.
It is not an idea or ideal, it is a fire.
