I took a short hiatus after losing my beloved companion, Koji. Not having him around made it much more difficult to push onward towards my goals of reforming my core values, however, I know that he is always with me through the memories I have with him as well as the effects he had on me that will stay with me forever. The value I explored next was Unity which is extremely relevant to my life after losing someone close to me. We are all connected in one way or another and when we begin to accept this connectedness rather than resist it, humanity will be able to come together and find contentment in each other. I hope you enjoy the rest of the post.
Formal Definition
- a condition of harmony
- a totality of related parts: an entity that is a complex or systematic whole
Origin
c. 1300, “state or property of being one,” from Anglo-French unite, Old French unite “uniqueness, oneness” (c. 1200), from Latin unitatem (nominative unitas) “oneness, sameness, agreement,” from unus “one” (from PIE root *oi-no- “one, unique”)
*oi-no-\
Proto-Indo-European root meaning “one, unique.”
It forms all or part of: a (1) indefinite article; alone;
Personal Definition
In order to embody the idea of Unity, one must look within. I believe the first of the two main parts of instilling the idea of Unity is closing off the outside and cultivating a relationship with, there are many words for what I am trying to express so I will list a few, God, All Consciousness, Tao, the Universe, Source, and our true selves. This involves a consistent and purposeful practice of meditation and reflection. The second part is applying what is learned through this cultivation to connect with and uplift others.
Unity: The purposeful act of looking within oneself to cultivate a deeper relationship with one’s core being, then utilizing this experience to connect with and uplift others.
Quotes
“I do believe that the original sources of all religions should be taught, because with that we will find our similarities, not just our differences. I believe that if Mohammed, Buddha, Jesus, and Moses all got together they would be best of friends because the spiritual basis of all religions is something that builds unity.”
-Yehuda Berg
“Wisdom is nothing but a preparation of the soul, a capacity, a secret art of thinking, feeling and breathing thoughts of unity at every moment of life.”
-Hermann Hesse
Symbol
I decided to represent Unity with a layering of three ideas. The first is the simple dot in the middle which represents individuals fully succumbing to the ego. The closed eye behind it symbolizes the process of looking within and closing oneself to the outside world. The final image is the outside circle with feelers coming off it. This represents the later phase of Unity where individuals continue their journey through connecting and sharing with others.
Poem
“Unity”
We are all one, we are all one,
This truth cannot be outrun;
We are all one, we are all one,
Now it has truly begun.
Separate yourself from outer reality,
Sink into the realm of possibility
To see, simply go blind,
Deep within, you will find
Sublime experiences, beyond imagination,
Endless potential, all your creations
Find your true self and be set free,
Behind the door, more than you can see
We are all one, we are all one,
This truth cannot be outrun;
We are all one, we are all one,
Now it has truly begun.
Painting
The painting consists of several individuals all with their eyes closed and an essence source emerging from each of their heads which flows upward where they all blend and meld together. Their eyes are closed to signify the necessity of looking within oneself to find Unity. The color leaving each being are different to represent how each person is unique based on their combination of ancestors and collection of experiences. All the colors come together and blend when they meet in order to show how all of us have a deep-rooted commonality that connects us all.
Questions and Answers
Why is this a value you want to instill in your life?
At the core, we are all the same. Resisting this idea and giving in to ego leads to a powerful dichotomy within us. I want this value in my life because accepting and embodying it leads to peace within us. This is because we experience fewer battles between our true core self and the assortment of other identities we employ day to day depending on the situation we are in. I also believe in death we are reunited with the source that binds all of us and through valuing Unity, one can better understand and prepare for death.
What activities bring out this value?
Meditation is an excellent way to explore this value. It facilitates the process of looking deep within ourselves and getting closer to our true and natural state of being. It also allows us to separate ourselves from our ego and see others for who they truly are rather than the constructed image we have created based on our preconceived notions and assumptions.
How would the world be different if more people identified more with this ideal?
I am seeing the common theme of improvement and peace with this question throughout all the values. Unity is no different. If a greater number of people were to seek unity with other beings, with nature, and with the Universe as a whole, frivolous frictions would subside and humanity would grow and prosper at an increased rate. Each individual would be much more versed in seeing the connectedness of all things and would be able to better relate to other living things. I believe this would be tremendous in helping shift humanity’s relationship with nature and the Earth as a whole.
What image comes to mind when visualizing this ideal?
I visualize an immense light source around me and feel my body surrender to its power. I see myself becoming one with this intense source of energy. I also see a large gathering of individuals each with a small sphere of energy located in the heart and a thread that spans upward connecting to a sun-like image with all other threads.
How can people who want to do this first take steps to include it in their daily routine more?
Start a simple meditation practice for as little as a minute a day. The most important thing when beginning this practice is consistency and starting small will make it much easier to convince yourself to follow through on the days that just are not going your way.
If you have any other questions you think would aid in the understanding and development of future ideals, please leave a comment below!
Songs
The following playlist is the beginning of my collection of songs that I believe embody Unity:
If you have any other songs you think would fit in the playlist, please leave a comment down below letting me know!
Next Value: Integrity
I am continuing on my journey with the ideal of Integrity. Something I have struggled with throughout my life is not always telling the complete truth. Whether it be to avoid embarrassment and shame, to avoid hurting someone’s feelings, to impress others, or for no good reason at all. It is a habit that I have been wanting to alter for quite some time and I am looking forward to dedicating myself to honesty. Lying creates dichotomies in the body which leads to all sorts of problems like intense feelings of guilt and clashing identity of the self. In the end, lying always seems to simply delay what will inevitably come to light, and often the longer the delay the more severe the consequences.
Make Today Your Best Day Yet!
“Life is a series of fresh starts, the frequency of use is up to the individual”
~Zak Keller aka amusingmonk~
Amusing Monk 