“Non-duality” in Advaita Vedanta versus “Non-duality” in Buddhism

“Non-duality” in Advaita Vedanta is totally different from “non-duality” in Buddhism

because the former is discovered through Samadhi, while the latter is discovered
through Vipassana.

The nature of Samadhi is perception shutting down to activate a new mode of

apperceiving, one totally different from the usual five sense mode of perception. That’s
why one feels that everything in daily life disappears, and he and the universe assimilate
each other in Samadhi.

Therefore, in Advaita Vedanta, Samadhi would lead to the insight of nondifference of

subject and object, and the unity of Atman and Brahman. That’s the essence of “non-
duality” in Advaita Vedanta.

The nature of Vipassana is enhanced awareness induced in meditation (after Samadhi),

which makes contemplating the five aggregates possible, just like “watching” a slow-
motion film.

According to the empirical materials of Theravada Buddhism, if we regard each

aggregate as an “awareness” which is the state of being conscious of something, then
contemplating the five aggregates would reveal the existence of “awareness of
awareness”. For instance, when one feels happy, one knows that one is happy. (Note
that feeling happy is not the same as knowing that one feels happy.)

Moreover, contemplating the five aggregates would discern that “awareness of

awareness” arises a moment after each aggregate and they do not appear simultaneously.
Thus, one may realize that the notion that there is a constant self experiencing/observing
all aggregates just results from “awareness of awareness” appearing between any two
aggregates, something that under ordinary conditions happens very quickly. (That's like
a torch spinning so fast that it looks like a ring of fire.) This would lead to the insight
of “non-self” which means no subject of awareness (or consciousness).

Furthermore, one may infer that there is neither subject nor object of “awareness”.
There is only consciousness. That’s the essence of “non-duality” in Buddhism.

Buddha didn’t attain enlightenment after achieving the fourth jhana and even the
highest formless jhana, until he realized the role of Vipassana six years later.