As many [nondual](Nonduality) spiritual teachers point out, most spiritual or meditation practices are dualistic or indirect: [[Most spiritual paths are indirect]]. For example, mindfulness meditations instruct us, the observer or witness (one thing), to pay attention to the breath (another thing). These dualistic or indirect practices can also teach [[Parts]], for example the mindful witness part, to suppress other parts that are distracting from the goal of paying attention to the breath. While the strengthened role of the mindful witness part ([[Indirect spiritual paths can strengthen the role of burdened parts]]) may seem like progress, it comes at the cost of bypassing trauma and exiling valuable parts of us: [[Spirituality can be used to bypass trauma]] and [[Parts are valuable]]. Related: [[Indirect paths can encourage internal polarization]]