Interconnection and Interdependence

Each day this week I will discuss the evidence for our interconnection in the world. Our feelings of separateness can lead us to feelings of dissatisfaction because we have lost our connection to the universe, to who we really are.

Most spiritual traditions attempt to teach us how to realize a unity of mind, body and spirit; to expand beyond our societal traditions of individuality and disconnectedness. My purpose here is not to deny your individuality, but to expand your vision of yourself with the evidence of your connection to the universe.

Today – Origins - A Moment in Singularity (a.k.a. The Big Bang)
Tuesday - Holarchy
Wednesday - Chaos and the Hidden Order of Life
Thursday - Synchrony
Friday - Time and Place

Origins - A Moment in Singularity (a.k.a. The Big Bang)
According to the theory of general relativity, the initial state of the universe just prior to the Big Bang, was a gravitational singularity. Imagine all the matter and energy of the universe condensed into a single focused point. And then, BANG!!!!

In that moment before the Big Bang all matter and energy was in close proximity, including the tiny amount that would become us. Let me say that again, to our best understanding, all matter and energy arose at the same time and in the same moment, leading to us as beings.

The materials that we are made of are the same materials that the oceans, and land, all the animals and plants are made. The air that we breathe, the water that we drink is shared with all living things, now, in the past and for ever more. As far as scientists know, no matter or energy is destroyed or created, only converted into a different form of matter or energy. Forms may change, the materials and energy stay the same (e=mc2).

In the pursuit of superconductors, scientists have developed new understandings of atoms and how they act. Starting with theories by Einstein and Bose in the 1920’s, scientists recently reported making atoms work in unison at very low temperatures. This has demonstrated interconnectedness at the atomic level. As this is the very substrate of life, our connection to the universe actually starts here.

With the advent of genetic research we find that the average two unrelated humans share 99.9% of the same genetic material. Humans share 98% with chimpanzees, 79% with whales, dolphins, hippos and camels. Clearly, we are more genetically and physiologically related to other animals than not.

So, from the beginning to now, and into the foreseeable future, the physical connections between us and everything else can be found everywhere we look.


Photo by laura_world_wide via deviantart.com

Religion as Path

I heard recently that over 70% of people surveyed characterized themselves as spiritual, and 40% as religious. This should not be surprising. If you look closely at our diverse religions, they were founded in a tradition of spirituality, based primarily on human spiritual experiences. In my mind, each religion has developed a unique path to a spiritual life. While each of the religious paths may be distinctive, while the spiritual destination may have slight differences, I see more likenesses than not.

The spiritual seeker will choose a path. There are many. The great religious traditions each offer such a path.

When the destination is achieved, when spirituality is realized, the path will have served its noble purpose.

A spiritual life is the objective; religion can serve as the path to that destination.

The Teacher

There is honest disagreement about the need for a spiritual teacher. For me, it is very clear, there is only one teacher that can show you life’s purpose, that can bring you home, and that is you. You are the only one. You must find the strength. You must find the way. You must hear the song. It is all up to you. It starts with one desire, the desire for freedom. It ends with no desire at all, in a world without words, where you have always been, nothing special, the simple magnificence of being and grace.