70 – Oneness

With spring-summer season here, I know increased work hours will cramp my schedule. Because my experience tells me that I don’t enjoy the feeling of being rushed or behind on blogging, I have reduced my posts from three per week to two: Tuesdays/Wednesdays and Saturdays. There could be an occasional extra on Thursdays.

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I like walking on the beach. It is good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.

I recently listened to a podcast that introduced me to something I didn’t know; The Overview Effect. So I did a little additional reading, and now the thought is stuck in my head. Many astronauts have experienced The Overview Effect in some way – spiritually, philosophically, scientifically, religiously, or emotionally.

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From space, astronauts see Earth as humanity’s special place. They experience a high level of awareness – a sense of connections – a feeling of being part of something bigger. They sense wholeness and sameness – identity and harmony – collectively, a sense of oneness.

Only a tiny fraction of Earth’s eight billion people have traveled into space – about 500-600 people. I think about the astronauts from different nations spending time together while viewing Earth below. Astronauts of different genders, races, and customs working together as one in a common mission without boundaries.

Looking at Earth from the outside changes one’s perspective – a perspective only that tiny fraction of us understands. The bright blue and white beaming in a black background is the place we call home. All of us living on an orbiting oasis in the vast desert of space. We are all on this cosmic journey together on a speck in the universe that is Spaceship Earth.

I look around my surroundings to see the land and sea covered by a blue sky with scattered white clouds – so I can’t imagine the black background of space. After all, I can’t believe it is like the black of our night.

We are the only species capable of reflection, problem-solving, and change. We are the only species that can solve complex problems together. We are the only species who can understand that we are in this together. We are the only species that can view the world as one. Yes one – a oneness without labels.

I think about a movie scene that has stayed with me since I first saw it many years ago. I am not a Trekkie. In a conversation with humans on Earth, a Vulcan describes how humans favor solving problems with fights and wars overusing the mind. Yes, that’s us because human history supports that statement.

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Thinking about that scene reminds me that humanity has more in common than differences – yet human behavior plays to the differences among us – especially skin color, religion, dress, language, and customs – let alone political ideologies and economics. Behaviors we use against others having the same DNA.

I think about how humans have traveled throughout history – from the African plains to different lands. Sailing across vast oceans, then going into space and to the moon. Exploration is undoubtedly embedded in human DNA.

We are the only living things capable of compassion and connectedness. We are the only ones capable of seeing something bigger for a better world – a world of doing good and right – a world of tolerance and respect – a world of the Golden Rule. We are the only ones capable of looking within ourselves – becoming aware of the cosmic perspective that we are the one species on the one planet who can make the biggest difference. That’s human destiny.

I think about the great religions of the world that many focus on their differences as barriers separating us. Instead, I wonder about their similarities – honesty, generosity, forgiveness, morality, peace, harmony, doing no harm, plus love and respect for others.

I wonder if humanity is capable of viewing the world as one, acting as one species for the good of all – acting with one destiny. In the end, oneness to me probably is a utopia – an imaginary ideal place – an ultimate desire – a Shangri-La, Nirvana, or Eden in my mind – but it is still worth pondering as I walk.

However, selfishness is part of being human – then toss in the need for power and control. Theoretically, I think humanity can achieve oneness, but in reality – not so much. Maybe goodness is the closest thing we can get to oneness.

I think about Matt Harding with his Where’s Matt? videos of him traveling the world to get others to do his simple dance with him. Initially, viewers focus on the places – but the more one watches, the focus changes from the places to the people. The look on faces is priceless. Strangers together – many times not knowing each other’s language – and the faces are telling a story of goodness – a story inspiring oneness.

Heavy thoughts for my day, but to me, worth the thinking energy. I continue to believe that the majority of the people in the world are good – and they are the ones who go about daily life and communicate across languages with smiles, dance, music, kindness, and acceptance. Just like Matt Harding. These are a few of the reasons I like walking on the beach. Besides, it’s good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.

See what other bloggers have written about oneness

• Laughter: The Universal Language (essay)
• Splinters of the Oneness (poem)
• Stardust and Spirit: Oneness in all that is (essay)
• Pondering (poem by a visitor here)

Next Post: Brain Language – Tuesday 4 May @ 1 AM (Eastern US)

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