Ep. 235 | In the 18th dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, Hameed Ali delves into the fascinating subject of how the physical world is related to the absolute. From a nondual perspective, reality includes the physical world, he explains; the world cannot be reduced to an illusion. Material reality is every bit as compelling as the spiritual perspective, he continues. How we perceive it depends on where we find our stance, what we are immersed in—in the formless or the world of form. Hameed recognizes and honors physical reality, while describing material o...
Ep. 235 | In the 18th dialogue of the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, Hameed Ali delves into the fascinating subject of how the physical world is related to the absolute. From a nondual perspective, reality includes the physical world, he explains; the world cannot be reduced to an illusion. Material reality is every bit as compelling as the spiritual perspective, he continues. How we perceive it depends on where we find our stance, what we are immersed in—in the formless or the world of form. Hameed recognizes and honors physical reality, while describing material objects as expressions, or glimmerings, of the ground of being—the physical and the ground of being inseparable, whether pure presence or pure emptiness.
And how does the relationship between creator and creation relate to the individual? Hameed presents his mystical theology: a triadic reality formed by God, the individual, and the physical world, where each maintains its own truth. Because the absolute is inherently not self-aware, it needs an individual to become aware of itself, he explains. We are its “knowing instruments.” Hameed’s mystical theology, establishing the relationship between the human being, the world, and God, or true nature, is both elevating and grounding, enlightening and somehow comforting. The essential puzzle pieces of reality fitted together, creating unity. From atoms and quarks to what happens after death and how all dimensions can possibly exist in exquisite harmony when there is so much disharmony in the world, this conversation is far ranging, stimulating, and punctuated with laughter, as Hameed, Roger, and John continue to explore The Inner Journey Home. Recorded May 14, 2026.
“When we experience the absolute, we see it as the truth of everything, the nature of everything—all are glimmerings of the absolute.”
Topics & Time Stamps
- Introducing dialogue #18 in the A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series, an exploration of the chapter titled “Reality” in Hameed’s magnum opus, The Inner Journey Home (00:49)
- Hameed explains how the Path of Love Series relates to the The Inner Journey Home/Wisdom Series (04:51)
- Seeing the physical world from the perspective of the absolute (06:10)
- Why do we experience the world as so very solid? (09:28)
- From the absolute perspective, material objects are glimmerings of the ground of being (11:49)
- From the scientific perspective, the physical world is “rock-level real” (14:45)
- The physical world should not be reduced to an illusion; it has properties that cannot be denied (18:13)
- In the physical world, death means no longer alive; spiritually, death is a transformation (21:50)
- Does the individual soul continue after death? (25:04)
- Why isn’t everyone awakened if we’re all part of the absolute? (26:40)
- Standing in the absolute, all dimensions are inseparable, existing in exquisite harmony, but this does not negate people’s experience of disharmony (30:38)
- The absolute is inherently not self-aware, that’s why it needs an individual to become aware of itself (32:56)
- The divine coma is the entry to the absolute (35:38)
- The relationship between the human being, the world, and God (38:59)
- Is there a personal God? (41:47)
- You can be an individual without being separate (47:33)
- God fulfillment & soul fulfillment are one and the same (50:36)
- The concept of service has many stages (52:57)
- Hameed’s mystical theology: a triadic reality, each with its own truth (57:06)
- The dimension of energy (01:04:26)
- Reality appears differently from different perspectives; this teaching is from the nondual perspective (01:06:10)
- Dzogchen & Hameed both give an inherent meaning to life; traditions espousing illusion do not (01:09:19)
- Individual creativity gives voice to the creativity of the universe (01:12:24)
Resources & References
- A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), founder of The Ridhwan School, home of The Diamond Approach
- A. H. Almaas, The Inner Journey Home: Soul’s Realization of the Unity of Reality
- Advaita Vedanta
- Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, I Am That
- Beginning of a famous Hadith Qudsi: “I was a hidden treasure and wanted to be known…”
- Sufi master Ibn Arabi, “God needs a soul just as much as a soul needs God.”
- A. H. Almaas, The Pearl Beyond Price: Integration of Personality into Being: An Object Relations Approach
- The Path of Love Series with A. H. Almaas, Deep Transformation podcast series
- Meister Eckhart, German Catholic priest, theologian, philosopher & mystic
- Ramana Maharshi, Hindu sage and liberated being
- Longchenpa, Dzogchen poet
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The A. H. Almaas Wisdom Series generally follows the sequence of Hameed’s magnum opus, The Inner Journey Home (which John describes as psychoactive and spiritually, psychologically, and intellectually transformative), so listeners may want to get a copy of this book, to study and follow along on this exhilarating path of awakening.
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Special Diamond Approach Course Discount for Deep Transformation Listeners
If you are interested in taking a course offered by Diamond Approach Online, Hameed’s team at the Ridhwan School have offered a special 20% discount for Deep Transformation listeners. You can access the Course Catalog here: https://online.diamondapproach.org/catalog/. And enter the code DTP20 to receive your discount when you sign up.
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Hameed Ali (A. H. Almaas) was born in Kuwait in 1944. At the age of eighteen, he moved to the U.S. to study at the University of California in Berkeley. Hameed was working on his Ph.D. in physics when he reached a turning point in his life and destiny that led him to inquire into the psychological and spiritual aspects of human nature rather than the physical nature of the universe. He left the academic world to pursue an in-depth journey of inner discovery, applying his scientific precision and discipline to personal, experiential research. This included study with different teachers in different modalities, extensive reading, and continuous study of his own consciousness in an effort to understand the essential nature of human experience and reality in general.
Hameed’s process of exploration led to the creation of the Ridhwan School and, with his colleague Karen Johnson, resulted in the founding and unfoldment of the Diamond Approach. He is the author of 20 books, including Nondual Love: Awakening to the Loving Nature of Reality, Love Unveiled: Discovering the Essence of the Awakened Heart, Keys to the Enneagram: How to Unlock the Highest Potential of Every Personality Type, The Unfolding Now: Realizing Your True Nature through the Practice of Presence, and more.
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Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell
