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May 26, 2025 32 mins

What if everything you knew about reality was an illusion?


Continuing our series on Consciousness and Non-Dual Philosophy, In this episode, “Why is there suffering?”, we answer some common questions asked on this topic:


  • Why is there suffering in the world?
  • Am I the cause of bad things happening to me?
  • What is my purpose if everything is one?


Here’s a quick recap of what we covered:

The Three Principles of Non-Dual Philosophy

  • Everything is consciousness—without exception.
  • Consciousness is one and indivisible. There is not ‘consciousness and something else’—it’s all one.
  • YOU are that consciousness!

We explore why the intelligence that created the world would allow bad things to happen. Why is there war and evil? How am I responsible for the events that happen to me in my life?

Dr. Rob breaks it down for us that these tough questions usually come from the ego’s limited perspective. Instead of blaming ourselves, we are invited to see that we are part of the whole, much like branches on a tree. Yes, tragedy and injustice exist in the play of Maya (illusion), but our awareness of them is what connects us, not makes us to blame.

Key Points:

  • The three foundational principles of non-dual philosophy and how they apply to daily life
  • Why bad things happen to individuals and the world at large from the lens of consciousness, ego, and Maya
  • The purpose of suffering, personal identity, and how trauma fits into the greater play of life
  • Finding personal and universal purpose: the role of creation, individuation, and the power of inner work

✨ Exercise for the Week Ask yourself: What if I am one with everything? Meditate on that. Notice what arises.

00:00 Introduction
00:15 The Paradigm Shift: Consciousness & Non-Dual Philosophy
01:23 Three Principles of Non-Duality
04:43 Why Do Bad Things Happen? Suffering, Ego, and Responsibility
10:37 Personal Suffering and the Purpose of Pain
12:26 Maya, Duality, and the Nature of Reality
15:37 Healing, Changing Patterns, and Free Will
18:11 Creativity, Evolution, and Lila
19:36 Purpose: Are We Born With It or Do We Learn It?
25:32 Theory, Practice, and the Path to Individuation
26:33 Shadow Work as a Path to Oneness
29:40 Practical Wisdom and Final Thoughts



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