Oneness (TIWC - July 10, 2007)

Infinite Peace!

Oneness was the theme last Tuesday (July 10th) @ the Inner Work Circle and our main facilitator aptly was Mr. Ding Reyes- advocate of synergy and conscious oneness.

To start off the discussions Ding engaged the group in a creative activity to illustrate the key points. We all had papers and pencils, and we were asked to draw the object infront of us in the middle – a glass of iced water. From this exercise, the concept of oneness was expounded on…

What prevents oneness, as pointed out, is separation. What leads to separation are boundaries.

When we were asked to draw ice and clouds we automatically drew (black) lines to define the boundaries of these images (in reality, there are no lines around them-- just edges). This is how natural and automatic it is for us to create boundaries while trying to define objects, images and even concepts. This can be illustrated in many more ways, especially through those optical illusion images and puzzles. Our physical senses naturally rely on these adjustments and modifications we create in order to perceive.

This holds true with concepts or phenomenon in which we naturally need to label or categorize into words in order to define and make sense of them. Lines, words, labels are boundaries which, though maybe useful, are also what causes separation and gets in the way of oneness.

These boundaries are tools, very useful tools indeed. But like all other tools, we use these for particular tasks only and we leave them behind or set them aside while we no longer need them (unless you’re a handyman by profession—but even they need to set their tools aside while not at work!). The point is we should not all the time identify ourselves with and be fixated to these tools-- these boundaries, these words/terms, these labels and categories, these belief systems, this skin color, this body, this ego.

Much as our individual selves, our own experiences are our reality, so is the reality beyond the Self – the “others” or (a better term Ding suggests: “our fellows”).

The challenge now that we need to respond to is transcending the boundaries that limit us to our individual selves, and expanding our experiences and our realities to include our belongingness to each other, our interdependence and interconnectedness— our being part of the Bigger Self (“OurSELF”).


Next Tuesday (July 17) we will be exploring the senses we have not yet taken up: “Taste & Smell”.

What kinds of odors, scents/aromas are memorable to me? What memories do these bring back to me?
What particular food do I like and don’t like? What food will I allow myself to take? What food will I not allow myself to take?

Prepare to share your reflections on Tuesday and let’s learn more again (or be aware again) about ourselves as we strive to be the change we wish to see in the world.

See you then!

Shanti!
O.