Truth Message, Part I: Oneness is a spiritual word readily used in our post-modern life. Yet, the word goes back to at least 1200 CE. The word relates to accord, agreement, unity, even oneness in uniqueness according to etymonline.com.

The master teacher, Jesus gave us a commandment on oneness in John 15:12: “This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you.” There are many references to the idea of unity and no separation from one individual with another. Words like harmony, love, wholeness, and unity exist, pointing to the description of oneness.

Nevertheless if we get too attached to the world view, we see, hear, and read of duality, separateness, or worse. That is why the mystics among us and throughout human existence have spoken of the need to rise within oneself to the purified view and divine vision of togetherness, harmony, divine love, and the many ways in which we are each united with one another. As our heart expands in love, we come to understand and realize our true oneness with one another.

For the reason of sharing with each other, we create, are inventive, and give out of the celebration of joining our happiness and gift with the world of people, in the places we frequent, and in adding to the beauty of things we collectively see, use, need and enjoy. The crafts, art, inventions, ideas, language spoken and unspoken, and creativeness we share with others connect us.

I believe one of the purposes of ceremony, religion, gatherings, our individual faiths and collective grieving is to unite us not divide us. Each major Faith believes in Oneness, a credo of bringing together for the sake of harmonizing:

“There is one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all.” –Christianity; “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?” –Judaism; “He is the one God hidden in all beings, all-pervading the Self within all beings, watching over all worlds, dwelling in all beings, the witness, the perceiver.” –Hinduism; “Remember even when alone that the Divine is everywhere.” –Confucianism; “There is but one God whose name is true. He is the creator, immortal, unborn, self-existent.” –Sikhism.

“Master of his senses and avoiding wrong, one should do no harm to any living being, neither by thoughts nor words nor acts.” –Jainism; “Shall I tell you what acts are better than fasting, charity, and prayers? Making peace between enemies are such acts; for enmity and malice tear up the heavenly rewards by the roots.” –Islam.