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What’s Beyond Manifesting? A Non-Dual Perspective on Neville Goddard & Advaita Vedanta

Writer's picture: Vimida DasVimida Das

Introduction Manifesting gets some wild reactions, doesn’t it? For some people, it's the secret to achieving everything they’ve ever dreamed of, while others think it’s just a gimmick that keeps people trapped in illusions. So, where do you stand? Is manifesting the end-all-be-all of personal growth, or is there something deeper behind it?


In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at manifesting from a non-dual perspective. We’ll explore how Neville Goddard’s teachings on imagination and Advaita Vedanta’s philosophy of oneness come together to offer a more holistic understanding of manifestation. And, if you haven’t yet, be sure to check out our latest video that dives into this topic even deeper! [Watch the video here]



What is Manifestation, Anyway? Manifesting, in its simplest form, is the act of bringing something into existence through thought, belief, and feeling. Whether it’s manifesting wealth, success, or a specific person, the idea is that your thoughts create your reality. But is that all there is to it?

For many, manifesting is seen as a powerful tool to unlock their desires. Yet, others argue that it keeps us stuck in the illusion of separation from our true nature. They see it as a distraction, something that keeps us focused on material gain rather than on spiritual growth. So where’s the truth? The real answer may lie somewhere in the middle.


Neville Goddard: Imagination as God Neville Goddard’s teachings take us deep into the power of imagination. He taught that our imagination is not just a tool to create the life we want but that it is divine in itself. Goddard famously said, “The world is yourself pushed out.” This means that your inner state, your thoughts, and the feelings you associate with them are creating your external reality.

In his view, manifestation isn’t about begging for something outside yourself. It’s about realizing that the power to create already exists within you. When you imagine something with emotion and belief, you’re not simply wishing for it; you’re activating your divine nature. Your imagination, in Goddard’s framework, is not only powerful—it’s sacred.


Advaita Vedanta: The Ocean and the Wave Now, let’s take a step into the ancient wisdom of Advaita Vedanta, an Indian philosophy that teaches non-duality. The essence of Advaita is simple: there is no separation between you and God, you and the universe. Imagine God (or Brahman, as it’s called in Advaita) as the ocean. You, as a human, are like a wave on that ocean. From the surface, the wave seems separate, but it’s made of the same water as the ocean—it never truly left the ocean, and it will eventually return to it.


An illustration of waves blending into the ocean, symbolizing Advaita Vedanta’s teaching of oneness with the divine.
Waves merging into ocean, symbolizing Advaita Vedanta's teaching of oneness with divine

Advaita teaches that the part of you that thinks you’re “you” is just the surface. Your deeper, truer nature is the ocean. Realizing that you are God—at your core—is the ultimate awakening. It’s not something you become; it’s something you remember.


The Middle Ground: How These Teachings Connect So, where do Neville Goddard’s teachings on manifestation and Advaita Vedanta meet? The common thread is the realization that you are not separate from the universe. In Goddard’s words, "The world is yourself pushed out." In Advaita, the world is seen as an extension of the same divine energy that you are.

Goddard’s approach is practical: use your imagination to bring your desires to life. But Advaita reminds you that your desires aren’t separate from you—they are expressions of your true divine nature. Manifesting is not about reaching outside yourself for something you lack; it’s about awakening to your own infinite potential.

Both teachings tell you one thing: you are the creator of your reality, and that creation is already within you. Whether you’re imagining your dream life or awakening to your true self, both paths lead to the same place: you are already whole.


Bridging the Gap: Manifesting as Awakening In the end, manifestation isn’t just about getting things—it’s about the realization of who you truly are. Goddard’s teachings help you harness your imagination to shape the world around you, while Advaita Vedanta encourages you to realize that you are, in fact, the ocean itself. The real work is in the awareness that you already have everything you need—you just have to wake up to it.

So, is manifesting the end-all-be-all of personal growth? Not exactly. But when you understand it from a non-dual perspective, manifesting becomes a way to align with your true nature and awaken to the infinite power within you.


A conceptual image of a bridge symbolizing the connection between manifestation and non-dual awakening.
Bridge symbolizing the connection between manifestation and non-dual awakening

Conclusion If you’ve been feeling like manifesting is just about getting things, hopefully, this blog helps you see the bigger picture. Manifesting isn’t just a tool for material gain—it’s a pathway to remembering who you really are.


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