Spiritual Realization: Awakening, Nonduality, and No-Self

By Tchiki Davis, M.A., Ph.D.
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The life journey has the potential to lead us all to spiritual realization—a direct knowing of reality that goes beyond ordinary perception, religious dogma, or intellectual understanding. Spiritual realization is not a single event but a dynamic unfolding. It can take the form of sudden insights, gradual deepening, or profound breakthroughs that forever change how life is experienced.

But not all realizations are the same. Different traditions describe various stages of awakening, ranging from the initial glimpse (kensho) to the dissolution of all sense of self (anatta). Moreover, as Ken Wilber and integral theorists have noted, the way we interpret these realizations is filtered through our developmental stage of psychological growth. That means two people may have equally genuine spiritual awakenings but interpret and embody them in vastly different ways. These interpretations depend on whether their remaining self-concept is anchored in pre-conventional, conventional, or post-conventional perspectives.

In this article, we’ll explore what spiritual realization is, then examine three primary stages of realization--initial awakening, nondual realization, and no-self realization—while also showing how our psychology shapes each stage.

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What Is Spiritual Realization?

At its core, spiritual realization is the recognition of a deeper dimension of existence that transcends the ordinary sense of self. It is often described as awakening to one’s true nature, discovering unity with all of life, or directly perceiving the emptiness at the heart of reality. Unlike beliefs or philosophical ideas, spiritual realization is experiential—it shifts the very center of perception.

Yet realization is not uniform. It unfolds in layers, and each layer exposes illusions, attachments, and identifications that previously went unquestioned. What begins as a glimpse of awakening may later deepen into the direct experience of nonduality, which may ultimately dissolve into the radical insight of no-self. Each of these realizations reveals progressively deeper truths about who we are and how reality functions.

The Psychology of Spiritual Realization
Still, spiritual realization does not occur in a vacuum. Our human psychology—the developmental stage of our ego, our worldview, and our unresolved conditioning—colors how we interpret and embody these realizations. As Ken Wilber and Susanne Cook-Grueter point out, awakening can be filtered through perspectives ranging from first-person (pre-conventional) to fifth-person (integral and transpersonal). The higher the developmental stage of the remaining self, the easier it often is to navigate the path of realization without getting trapped in distortions and illusions.

Stage One: Initial Realization (Awakening)

The first stage of spiritual realization is often described as awakening. This is when the veil of ordinary perception briefly lifts, and we directly sense a reality beyond the personal self. It can feel like waking up from a dream, realizing that the self is not bound to thoughts, roles, or identities.

However, awakening is not one-size-fits-all. Its expression depends heavily on the developmental stage of the remaining self-concept.

1st-person perspective (pre-conventional): If awakening occurs while the majority of the self is rooted here, it may be interpreted as a highly self-centered event. A person may believe they alone are God or that no one else could possibly attain such realization. This can create a sense of grandiosity or spiritual narcissism.
2nd-person perspective (pre-conventional): Awakening here may be experienced through a rigid dualistic lens. One may believe that only certain people or groups can awaken, often leading to cult-like dynamics where insiders are deemed enlightened and outsiders are condemned.
3rd-person perspective (conventional): Awakening at this level may be filtered through the achiever self. A person might interpret it as a sign that they are special, chosen, or on a unique mission. The belief that “I, the doer, have awakened” can make it difficult to see through the illusion of the separate self.
4th-person perspective (post-conventional): Awakening through this lens often involves the intellect. The individual may take on new spiritual concepts, systems, and ideas, becoming fascinated with exploring and analyzing their new reality. While this can deepen insight, it also risks turning realization into a conceptual exercise.
5th-person perspective (transcendent): At this level, mental constructs (including the conceptual self and conceptual reality) are already beginning to dissolve. Awakening tends to be integrated more easily, with less resistance from ego structures. The person may move quickly through further stages of realization.

Thus, the first awakening is not just about “waking up”—it is also about how the human mind, in its developmental stage, interprets and embodies the glimpse and the shift.

Stage Two: The “Down and In” Process of Realization

Adyashanti, a contemporary nondual teacher, often describes awakening not only as a movement of “up and out” into transcendence (stage 1) but also as a movement “down and in” (stage 2). The “down and in” process emphasizes embodiment, intimacy, and a radical acceptance of the human dimension.

The “down and in” movement is not about escaping the world or leaving behind the human experience. Instead, it is about turning toward what we often avoid: our feelings, our shadow material, our conditioning, and the tender places within us that remain unresolved. Whereas our initial realization reveals our nature as open awareness, the “down and in” process brings that realization into the body, the heart, and the very fabric of our humanness.

What Is Realized in This Process

The Inclusion of Humanity in Awakening
In the “down and in” process, we discover that awakening is not just about transcending suffering but also about fully meeting it. We realize that the human personality, with all its wounds and limitations, is not an obstacle to awakening but part of what is illuminated by it.
The Healing of Separation Within Ourselves
As awareness turns inward, it shines into the places we have disowned. This often means feeling into emotions we’ve suppressed or beliefs we’ve resisted. In this way, realization heals the inner divisions that kept us split between the spiritual and the personal.

Many seekers experience a powerful awakening “up and out” of the self but then struggle to integrate it. They may avoid unresolved emotions, relational challenges, or the messy aspects of human life. The “down and in” process corrects this imbalance by grounding realization in the full spectrum of our being.

Stage Three: Nondual Realization

Beyond the initial awakening lies nondual realization. This stage goes deeper than recognizing awareness—it is the direct insight that there is no separation between awareness and experience. Subject and object, perceiver and perceived, collapse into one seamless reality. Everything is seen as a manifestation of consciousness itself, without a witness.

In nondual realization, the ordinary duality between “me” and “world” dissolves. The ocean and the wave are recognized (and experienced) as one substance. It is not that the self disappears completely yet, but rather that the illusion of being separate from life is clearly seen through.

Again, how this realization manifests depends on developmental stage:

1st- and 2nd-person perspectives: Nondual insight may involve the sense of merging with physical objects (as the psychological self still views itself as physical). "I am the trees” or "I am everyone".
3rd- and 4th-person perspectives: Nondual insight may involve the sense of merging with physical and subtle objects (as the psychological self views itself as physical and mental). "I am the trees” and "I am the thoughts and emotions".
5th-person perspective: Here, nondual insight is less about merging and more about seeing that no separation was ever real in the first place (as the psychological self sees that it is entirely constructed from formless forms).

Nondual realization is profoundly liberating, but if filtered through earlier psychological structures, it can still generate distortions. Developmental growth provides the stability needed to see through all spiritual illusions. Thus, this type of realization tends to happen to people later in life when they are more developmentally grown. But even older age isn't a guarantee—psychological development requires effort too.

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Stage Four: No-Self Realization

The deepest stage of spiritual realization is no-self realization. Here, the very sense of being a separate “I” dissolves completely. Even the subtle identification with being awareness, the witness, or consciousness itself falls away. What remains is a radical freedom in which reality simply is—without any self-center interpreting or owning it.

This stage is often described as the end of seeking because the one who seeks has vanished. Experience unfolds spontaneously without reference to “me” or “mine.” The dual illusions of both self and non-self dissolve, leaving only suchness—life as it is, without separation, boundary, or center.

No-self realization reveals the final illusion: that there was ever a self (or a world) to begin with. This stage is both the most freeing and the most radical, for it leaves nothing to grasp, nowhere to stand, and no one to claim realization.

Although there is not enough research to say for sure, it seems that once the entire conceptual self is gone, there is no remaining psychological self (or developmental stage) to interpret realization other than as it really is.

How to Identify Your Stage of Realization and Developmental Stage

One of the challenges on the spiritual path is that realization and psychological development rarely unfold together. You may have touched a deep awakening while much of your personality still operates from an earlier stage of growth. Becoming aware of both dimensions—the stage of realization and your developmental stage—can help you orient yourself more clearly.

Identifying Your Stage of Realization
Ask yourself the following questions to sense where your realization might currently be:

Initial Awakening: Do you experience moments where awareness seems separate from your thoughts and emotions? Do you sense that there is a background presence that watches experience unfold, even if you often slip back into ordinary identification?
"Down & In" Realization: Do you feel flooded by old traumas, attachments, and suffering? Is there a sense that your old coping mechanisms are no longer working?
Nondual Realization: Is it visually obvious that there is no separation between "separate" objects? Do sounds and sensations lack boundaries, a location in space, or a location in time? Do you feel that the boundary between self and world is dissolving?
No-Self Realization: Has even the subtle sense of being a witness or “awareness itself” fallen away? Does life feel centerless, as though there is no one behind experience at all? Is the sensation of self in the body—and the belief in a thinker, knower, or protector—fully dissolved?

These questions are not meant to be definitive tests but reflective pointers.

Identifying Your Developmental Stage
To get a sense of where you are developmentally, consider the following tendencies:

1st-person (egocentric): Do you often see life primarily in terms of “me” and “mine”? Do you interpret experiences as if they apply only to you? Is it difficult to empathize with another person's opinion or understand why others are upset with you?
2nd-person (ethnocentric): Do you feel strongly that your group, tradition, or worldview is right and others are wrong or misguided?
3rd-person (conventional): Do you see yourself as a doer, achiever, or someone seeking a purpose? Is your identity closely tied to roles, goals, and accomplishments?
4th-person (post-conventional): Do you thrive on analyzing, comparing perspectives, and absorbing new ideas? Do you identify most strongly with your mind and its capacity to understand?
5th-person (integral/transcendent): Do you sense that perspectives themselves are socially constructed? Do you find that you mind can no longer hold concepts together or believe in their permanence?

By reflecting on both sets of questions, you may notice how your realization is colored by your developmental stage. For example, you may have had a glimpse of nonduality but still interpret it through a conventional achiever lens, leading you to see yourself as “special.” Or you may have tasted no-self while your mental self continues to analyze and grasp for concepts.

Why This Matters
Seeing clearly where you are helps reduce confusion and self-deception. It can prevent the distortions that arise when awakening is filtered through earlier psychological development. Just as importantly, it encourages compassion—for yourself and others--

since everyone’s journey is vastly different, shaped by both realization and development.

Quiz: Where Are You on the Path of Realization and Development?

One challenge on the spiritual path is that realization and psychological development often do not unfold together. This worksheet helps you reflect on two dimensions: Stage of Realization and Developmental Stage. Read each row and check the boxes that feel true for you. When finished, click Calculate Results to see which categories had the most checks. These are reflective pointers, not diagnostic labels.
©awakeningcollective.org

Stage of Realization

Stage	Reflective Questions	Check if true	Notes
Initial Awakening	Do you experience moments when awareness feels separate from your thoughts and emotions? Do you sense a background presence that watches experience, even if you often slip back into ordinary identification?
"Down & In" Realization	Do you feel waves of old trauma, attachment, or unresolved suffering surfacing as part of awakening? Is there a sense that old coping mechanisms are failing and you are being invited to meet what was avoided?
Nondual Realization	Does it feel obvious that there is no real separation between so-called separate objects? Do sounds, sensations, or perceptions lack fixed boundaries or a precise location in space and time? Is the boundary between self and world softening or dissolving?
No-Self Realization	Has even the subtle sense of being a witness or "awareness itself" fallen away? Does life feel centerless, as though there is no one behind experience at all? Has the felt sense of a thinker/knower/protector in the body dissolved?

Developmental Stage

Stage	Tendencies to notice	Check if true	Notes
1st-person (Egocentric)	Life is mainly "me" and "mine." Experiences are interpreted as applying only to you. It can be hard to empathize with others or see why someone else might feel differently.
2nd-person (Ethnocentric)	You strongly identify with a group, tradition, or worldview and feel it is right while others are wrong or misguided. Loyalty and boundary maintenance tend to be emphasized.
3rd-person (Conventional)	Identity is closely tied to roles, achievement, purpose, and being a "doer." You may pursue goals, status, or service as part of who you are.
4th-person (Post-conventional)	You enjoy analyzing and comparing perspectives, absorbing new ideas, and identifying closely with the mind's capacity to understand. You notice the limits of fixed views and like to synthesize.
5th-person (Integral / Transcendent)	You see that concepts are socially constructed and lacking boundaries; the mind can no longer hold concepts as permanent or real.

How to read these results

The checklist tallies the statements that feel true for you in each category. This is a reflective tool only.

Final Thoughts on Spiritual Realization

Spiritual realization is one of the most surprising human possibilities. It unfolds in stages—from the first awakening all the way to the radical insight of no-self. Each stage strips away layers of illusion, bringing us closer to reality as it is. Yet, as Ken Wilber’s work reveals, these realizations are never independent of our developmental stage. The self that remains colors how awakening is understood, lived, and expressed.

For seekers and teachers alike, this perspective is invaluable. It reminds us that spiritual growth is not just about chasing experiences of realization but also about cultivating psychological maturity. When realization and development go hand in hand, awakening becomes not just a momentary glimpse but a stable, embodied freedom that transforms how we live, love, and serve the world.

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