Oneness By Glen Kezwer, Ph.D. Author for TransformationMeditation.com He who has known that his own self and the self in all beings are one and the same, acts freely and effectively in the world, yet his essence is untouched by his actions.     - Bhagavad Gita. Chapter 5, Verse 7. The fundamental nature of the universe is one of an overriding, indivisible Oneness. For me, the knowledge or realization of this fact is the most significant benefit that accrues from the practice of meditation. It is what I call the “vision of Oneness.” When we sit and close our eyes, all differences, distinctions and divisions which are evident in the world are dissolved. The inner space we perceive at that time has no separate parts in it. We are bathed in a sense of the Oneness of all of existence. There is no dividing line between who we are and what we perceive. Perceiver, perception and that which is perceived have merged into one reality. The word ‘unity’ is often used to describe this experience, but that term falls short. Oneness does not mean that various disparate elements have somehow blended together to create one whole; rather it means that the whole alone exists. It is the opposite of what one might call the sense of separation, otherness or duality. Because Oneness is difficult to conceive of on the level of the mind, a few examples are useful to point our thinking in the right direction. Look at the waves on the surface of an ocean. They are each unique; some are tall or short, white-capped or clean, fast- or slow-moving, moving parallel to the shore or at an angle, and so on. Yet, despite their infinite variety of characteristics, all the waves have the essential property of being water. Water is the ‘oneness’ or ‘sameness’ that permeates all of these waves. If we dive beneath the surface to stillness beneath the waves, this oneness becomes evident. Another example pertains to gold ornaments. Earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets all look and feel completely different, but the one aspect that unites them all is their ‘goldness.’ Each ornament, despite its appearance, is essentially gold, just as each wave is water. When you look at the eyes of another human being, you see a radiance behind those eyes. Oneness means that you know that the light from each person’s eyes is one and the same light. When we view the world with the vision of Oneness, we are seeing not only all the separate elements, but we are at the same time aware of the one source or underlying substance that is behind the universe, an intrinsic reality which is one and the same everywhere. Is it difficult to attain this vision of Oneness? Yes. Is it worth doing? In my opinion, definitely. Now let’s apply this concept to our daily life. Suppose that everything, including ourselves, is the manifestation of one essence. Understanding this, what changes will it make in a person’s life? Well, imagine that you knew that everything is you—not you, the physical body, but the essential, cosmic you. You would have no tension, apprehension, or fear because everything you see, everybody you encounter is none other than your own being. You would be able to foster a universal empathy and respect for all of humankind because they are you, as your own being. Of course, this does not mean that you would lose your discrimination about how to conduct yourself in the world. Oneness does not mean love for all; it means respect for that same being in all. You would still know an enemy from a well-wisher, a cheat form an honest person, and a friend from an opponent, and deal with them accordingly. But your ability to manage the world would come from an all-encompassing perspective. If you knew, “I alone am everywhere,” where would there be a place for hatred or enmity? Of course, taken on the level of the individual this statement seems narcissistic in the extreme, until it is realized that the “I” referred to is not that of an individual person, but rather the “I” of the cosmic essence which we all are. What I am describing is the full realization of the vision of Oneness. This can take a long time to fulfill, but as human beings seeking this vision we can move towards it in a progression, a little at a time. The more we develop the ability to perceive the world in the light of Oneness, the more our tension, worries and insecurities relax and our peace of mind, happiness and effectiveness increase. We see the benefits as our meditation practice continues. Our minds, accustomed as they are to a waking-state vision of things, cannot conceive of Oneness. However, using the guidance of the metaphors given above and the various other descriptions of Oneness which are available, the practice of meditation brings us to its realization. The key is to bring forth that vision of Oneness which is experienced in meditation into the waking which we enter when we re-open our eyes and once again find ourselves in the world. When this transition is no longer a transition from one thing to another, but simply a continuation of the same essential reality, then the vision of Oneness is complete. To learn about Glen Kezwer’s course, The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita, and to order his book, Meditation, Oneness and Physics, from Transformation Meditation Online Institute, please go to Transformedu.com. View Glen’s nine-minute video on the Gita, or listen to his thirty-minute podcast by clicking here, and then clicking on “Listen to His Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita.” Glen can be contacted by email. Glen Kezwer, Ph.D., is the author of Meditation, Oneness and Physics and The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita Home-Study Course. He holds a doctorate in physics. In 1982 he joined a meditation institute in northern India. Since that time he has studied and practiced the science of meditation, published articles and taught meditation and its concomitant philosophy. He has lectured extensively in India, the United States, Canada, and Europe, and has been an invited speaker at various conferences. He has personally practiced meditation and the principles of Indian philosophy, applying them in his own life. He has found the truth of the vision of Oneness espoused in the Gita, where all of creation is seen as one unique, undivided existence. The results of such practice are happiness, clear thinking, peace of mind, self-sufficiency and fearlessness. RETURN TO OMPLACE HOME