I believe it was Rumi who once said, “You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in one drop.”

I’m paraphrasing, I’m sure of it; but, I believe the essence is still very much there.

It took me nearly 40 years before I finally understood the true depth of these words; that this sense of self was perhaps our greatest illusion. I mean, to think that “I” wasn’t so much an insider looking out, but rather – more so, a reflection of a much greater whole.

Whether your spiritual path embraces the teachings of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, or Taoism – it’s clear, that our struggles begin within this illusion of self. Somewhere in our development, the labeling begins – this is tree, I am human.

We compartmentalize everything into pieces and parts, instead of holding true to the foundation of our interconnectedness.

Ironically, it’s through this process of discovery, that we become invariably disconnected from the ‘whole’ of humanity – seeing only that which we wish to believe.

“This life’s dim windows of the soul
Distorts the heavens from pole to pole
And leads you to believe a lie
When you see with, not through, the eye.” ― William Blake

In other words, how can we ever break free from this illusion of our separateness, without first developing the full depth of our vision? In welcoming our spirit, perhaps we may begin to embrace this world.

And, as Thich Nhat Hahn suggests, that we might finally awaken to the interconnectedness of all living beings.