The Journey from “I” to “One”

For the most part, our life experience is bound by our identification with the “I”, the self.

Authentic spiritual masters, genuine gurus, sages of different traditions, and even modern scientists, however, all point to the interconnected reality of our existence.

All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything. ~ Swami Vivekananda

Why struggle to open a door between us when the whole wall is an illusion? ~ Rumi

Your very nature is being part of larger and larger spheres of wholeness. ~ Jon Kabat-Zinn

You are the Universe expressing itself as a human for a little while. ~ Eckhart Tolle

Quantum physics thus reveals a basic oneness of the universe. ~ Erwin Schrodinger

As practitioners, we may even have an experience or some experiences of this interconnectedness or oneness.

In spiritual moments we nearly perceive a grand, divine conspiracy of interconnectedness between us and everything. ― Bryant McGill, Simple Reminders: Inspiration for Living Your Best Life 

Whether we have had such experience(s) and yearn to consistently experience it, or yearn to have such an experience in the first place, a key seems to be a necessary shift in the mindset, in the perspective we live with, a departure from the “I”-centric approach.

How can one go about it? The wise ones have left us clues …

Embrace all things as part of the Harmonious Oneness and then you will begin to perceive it. ~ Lao Tzu

Sounds awesome! Yet, I’m left with the question … How can I “embrace all things as part of the Harmonious Oneness” when I find myself stuck so often in the drama of the “I”?

For one part, there are the precepts of Usui san, and the meditations in the system of Reiki. These are tools to use in our consistent practice to progressively release the grip of the “I” in our lives.

Still, often enough, for me, the gap between “I” and “One” often seems too wide to bridge. Can there be a stepping stone along the way, between the “I” and “One”? 

To me, one such stepping stone is embracing the attitude of “We”. And here too, the ancient sages have left us practical clues in the form of prayers that embrace the “We” rather than just the “I”.

Om, May All become Happy,
May All be Free from Illness.
May All See what is Auspicious,
May no one Suffer.
Om Peace, Peace, Peace.
~ “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah”, The Upanishads

May peace radiate there in the whole sky
As well as in the vast ethereal space everywhere.
May peace reign all over this earth, in water
And in all herbs, trees and creepers.
May peace flow over the whole universe.
May peace be in the Supreme Being Brahman.
And may there always exist in all peace and peace alone.
Aum peace, peace and peace to us and all beings!
~ “Om dyauh shantir”, Yajur Veda, Translation by Swami Abhedananda

It occurs to me that, as a matter of practice, our intentions and our prayers could extend from the narrow realm of the “I”, to the slightly broader realm of those we know and care for, to “We”, which in its broadest form can represent “All beings” and the “Universe at large”! This is perhaps one practical implementation of what Usui san tells us through the precepts: “Show compassion to yourself and others”!

In turn, the journey from “I” to “One” need not be this unfathomable leap, or a frustrating experience, but rather based on a sensible and conscious shift in practice and thinking and living from “I” to “We” to “One”!

That’s just one practitioner’s opinion, as always. Could this help? Do share your thoughts in the comments below.