The concept of non-dualism is contrasted to that of dualism - the notion that existence consists of two realities. These two realities can often be called "mind and matter" or "God and the world". Non-dualism suggests that there is no separation. When you enter the body deeply, there is no longer the sense of "I am observing the inner body" and there is no longer the sense of "I am feeling the inner body", the duality disappears. This recognition comes not through the mind, but through presence. You are present of your body just as you are present that which pervades the body. The duality disappears. In reference to the path of self-effort and the path of surrender - spiritual practice is not like a course that you graduate when you finally make it to a state, that you go through this step-by-step process until the completion of the course. Regarding the time involved in spiritual practice is the drawback with most spiritual practices. They give you time to get better and better at it, and to work towards the future goal of finding yourself, and that requires self-effort. Self-effort is like will power, and will power seems to yield results, but they are never lasting. There must be a certain degree of discipline because when you initially enter this path of self-discovery, effort most-definitely predominates. And it's only progressively that effort gives place to surrender. Surrender implies a transition from resistance to non-resistance. The transition is surrender. Surrendering is both passive and active. Presence is an intrinsic aspect of the surrendered state. This then becomes less of a paradox and more of an absence of desire.