The Illusion of Separateness

​Throughout history we have spent most of our lives defining our differences. We have different cultures, ethnic backgrounds, religions, etc.  Even when we find ourselves within the same culture, we define ourselves by sub-cultures, different groups.  If you look at a group that appears the same, under closer examination, you will find a variety of ways they have defined themselves differently.
 
Take a high school, for example, that is located in an area that appears to have the same cultural background. When we go into the high school, we soon discover there are many different groups that have formed.  They might have divided themselves by labels such as rich/poor, popular/nerd, bright/slow, athletic or by physical characteristics.  The list could be endless.  In reality, these teens are far more alike than different; that is, insecure, scared, wanting to belong, trying to find their identities as they all fight their way to maturity, etc.
 
What would the world look like if we focused on how we are the same.  As a species, we are 99.9 percent genetically identical and only .1 percent different. We also long for the same things in life, which is to love and be loved and to have positive relationships with those in our lives.  If this is who are as a species, then why, we ask, do we spend so much time and energy defining the .1 percent of our differences?
 
We can choose to transcend these historical patterns of behavior and begin to acknowledge who we really are as human beings. The heart is the natural vehicle to bring us together as one human family.  When we use our hearts to guide our actions, we can experience each other as the same and our differences will slowly disappear.
 
Let us examine how we relate to each person we meet or have in our lives.  What do we experience when we see that person?  We can then take a moment to see if we are viewing that person through our hearts.  If we are, a spontaneous smile will automatically appear.  If we are not then we can re-direct our thoughts to do so and the smile will come.
 
Experiencing each other from our hearts may seem like a small, insignificant action but when these actions are added together it becomes a giant wave of harmony.  This is our “Yin Spirit”, our humanity, which will ultimately break the illusion of separateness and we can truly become one human family.

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