Topic
started: 10/15/2008
Is oneness an experience or a state? How do you define oneness? How do you reconcile oneness and diversity? Is oneness something to be afraid of?
Oneness just is, I don't think we should want an explanation or definition for it, because we would end up making a "twoness" out of it.
Oneness is most likely both an experience and a state, probably something that you could not reach if you were afraid of it. It has to be embraced and welcomed in order to be attained. As for defining it... I imagine it would be experienced differently by every individual, so it seems difficult to define. I find it tricky to define things like spirituality, meditation, and god, and I think these things (oneness included) can be so internal that it might indeed require a separation from the experience in order to explain it. This is, I suppose, somewhat in agreement with elias's statement.
Elizabethmay - I'm intrigued by your suggestion that oneness is probably something that cannot be reached if one is in fear. That rings true to me! And, the implications of that seem to be vast. Given our seeming propensity for protecting our individuality, going the other direction toward oneness is like swimming upstream. And yet, successfully overcoming this inertia toward separation, reinforced as it is our culture, may well be critical for our survival. How ironic.
Yet, as soon as I feel overwhelmed by the scope of this macroscopic task, I remember that a microcosm of it is something I experience daily: how do I open up to those closest to me? how do I build trust in others and allow intimacy of shared thoughts and feelings? It seems to me these 'simple' daily challenges are stepping stones toward building trust with our neighbors and those outside our borders (whereever we draw them).
So 'embracing and welcoming' oneness without fear may well begin with building trust with our own self and those closest to us. Now THAT's something I can practice!
I like the swimming upstream analogy, that really hits the nail on the head.
You have managed to really put it into perspective, though! This is another time when the mantra of "think globally, act locally" is very applicable and helpful.
Of course, as is always important, your post leaves me feeling a lot more hopeful that oneness is attainable! :)
Agreed! Embracing the "whole", accepting the "other" and exploring the concept of "oneness" can only occur once we accept, trust and are confident in ourselves...we must understand that the concept of oneness does not challenge our individuality; it compliments it, and vice versa - our individuality compliments the "whole". What a circular idea...
Yes! You've shared a compelling set of experiences, and I love your metaphors (puzzle pieces, musical instruments), but what really gave me the final kick was your take-home statement at the end, illustrated by your visiting your relatives, making proactive changes in their lives that weren't necessarily fully understood by them, but you had their implicit trust and they felt your loving intention.
"I believe this heart level of being is where we operate divinely."
"Words and concepts no doubt have their place...but...embodying the practice of oneness...wherever we are, within each experience IS our essential nature and most important contribution NOW."
Those two statements are ones I'm enjoying dwelling on. Not only do they feel true, but the second one is really quite radical, and makes your point: When, from our heart, we truly practice oneness in the moment of our day-to-day activities, that IS our essential nature. It isn't supporting a concept, or an ideology or an ego. Rather, it IS our true nature of oneness manifesting in the world. No wonder it is our best and most important contribution we can make.
Thank you, Lisa, for sharing your powerful experiences and insights. It seems that to the degree we can BE in this space you describe, the puzzle pieces may well begin to come together...
In your travels, when you are with strangers, say, in public, as opposed to relatives, and you're practicing embodying oneness through acceptance, unconditional forgiveness, deep compassion, and honoring diversity in all forms..do you notice your way of being having an effect on them, too?
HI Lisa, I appreciate your attention and intention. I do feel that our being present to oneness is transcendent and that also an evolution in consciousness is happening. There was a fun Tolle analogy where he compares our own heightened consciousness to one of a burning log and that log or burning can ignite in others. This gives me hope and strengthens my own journey.
-A
In the context of global oneness, oneness is of course a state. In that context, as individuals oneness may be experienced as interpersonal harmony, an emotional/mental state and the like.
I don't really understand why there'd be the question of reconciling oneness and diversity, after all unity does not mean uniformity.
As for oneness being something to be afraid of, this of course would stem from a view that ones identity is derived from separation, (a lack of unity?) rather than a part of a single whole with diverse aspects. Perhaps this is the key here, most people have been so conditioned to think in terms of defining themselves as someone separate that they don't see the possibility of being a unique part of a unified whole.
If Oneness were an experience, it would be some place I could go to and enjoy as I would a vacation or a movie. And, then, afterwards, as with a vacation of a movie, I would return back to home.
But, no, Oneness is not an experience, not a pleasure, not a toy to pick up and play with in between making love and working and making money. No, Oneness is a state --- the state of being all of us are already in. It is our natural state of being. But, we do not _know_ this.
We think our being is centered in this sheath of flesh and blood and we focus most of our life upon feeding it, and pleasuring it, and clothing it --- oblivious to the truth, which is that this vessel of flesh is not my being. It is not who I am.
I am you and you are me and we are they and they are we and All are inextricately connected as One. This is Oneness, our natural state of being. But, we do not _know_ this.
Diversity is a distraction from Oneness. Why is it necessary? Any reason which suggest it is a good thing leads back to the notion, false, that we are not One.
Ego is the polar opposite of Oneness. It, Ego, wishes to survive and, hence, is afraid of, and will fight against Oneness. When we think we fear oneness, what is really occuring is that we are identifying with Ego -- and, hence, are moving away from Oneness.
Sign in or become a member to add a comment. It's fast and free.