Daniel Shai.png — Daniel Shai

Non-dual teacher and awakening guide

“Non-dual” is a spiritual understanding in which we recognize that we as individuals are not actually separate from anyone or anything, that we are all one.

Finding a teacher who can guide you on the path to this understanding is rare.

But what’s even rarer is finding a spiritual teacher that will also promote individual empowerment.

Daniel Shai, the guest of this most recent podcast episode, is one such teacher.

As Daniel put it, “Don’t suppress individuality until a certain point. The absolute should never mean we don’t take care of things on the relative level.”

We live in modern society, which means we still need to do our best to make money, maintain relationships, and uphold all our commitments.

While it’s not practical for us to go sit in a cave or monastery all day, blissed out in meditative states, the good news is this isn’t necessary in order to find spiritual contentment.

In fact, if you want to find real peace, you’re better off just giving up the search.

According to Daniel, in the end, all those spiritual states turn out to be “empty promises” anyways, transitory experiences that leave you unfulfilled.

In this episode, he shares what’s worked for him in finding true fulfillment.

Show Highlights

What non-dualism is
How teenage bouts of fatigue and depletion catalyzed Daniel’s spiritual search
Why “nothing works” when trying to find spiritual peace
How to strike a balance between practical individual needs and absolute spiritual truths
How to open up to your unique path and stop trying to be someone you’re not
Why it’s necessary to crush the hope of the spiritual seeker
How to stop getting in your own way (and in the way of your peace)
What spiritual practices Daniel tried that proved futile and useless
How the body takes on physiological burdens to reinstate a sense of separateness
A fascinating and anti-climatic story about Daniel’s experience with a guru
Why it’s futile to try to maintain meditative states
Why is doesn’t matter if you decide to fulfill your desires or not fulfill your desires