The ultimate goal of a yoga practice and the eighth limb of the eight limbs of yoga is Samadhi, which is often described as a complete meditative state of oneness. But what does this mean? It is often thought of as a state of a thought-free mind connected with the body, but this would make it a goal of the separate individual. On the contrary, the oneness of Samadhi is an awareness of the oneness and interconnectedness with All: the divine, the universe, the mundane, and all sentient beings. The complete meditative state is not a form of escapism for the individual, but a cessation of letting the chatter and worry of the ego-mind cloud the awareness of our interconnectedness. A meditative state is a state of complete awareness of the oneness of All.
In an interview with Time magazine, astrophysicist Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson was asked: What is the most astounding fact you can share with us about the universe?
He answered: We are part of this universe; we are in this universe, but perhaps more important than both of those facts, is that the universe is in us.
Everyone and everything on this planet and throughout the universe is made of all the same atoms, particles, quarks, strings, etc. We are all interconnected from the most subtle to the most concrete levels of energy, existence, and being. Let’s all make an effort each day to broaden our awareness of our interconnectedness, and hence our compassion, for we are all part of the whole and the whole is all of us.
Through the Peacock's Eyes 
Thank you for this. I am thinking a lot about dream yoga these days, and at it’s heart is still this concept. Connection and unity are so essential to my understanding of the universe. But on another, lighter note, in high school I very much enjoyed referring to the “fundamental interconnectedness of all things” from Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, by Douglas Adams. Another one that deserves being pulled down from the dusty shelves and revisited, methinks!
My post today felt as if it had a little of that oneness feeling in it. Really, I think you see so much of what is happening your practice when you are off the cushion and out in the world and not judging. Not reacting. Not attaching yourself to the events, but rather feeling yourself fluidly connected to it all. Lovely piece.
Thank you! ❤
I have a very worn, coffee-stained copy of Alan Watts’ The Art of Contemplation, which I first read back in the early/mid 90’s. It’s a short little booklet, but parts of it have, nevertheless, stayed with me for the past two decades. In the opening paragraph, he says,
“The individual is an aperture through which the whole energy of the universe is aware of itself, a vortex of vibrations in which it realizes itself as man or beast, flower or star – not alone, but as central to all that surrounds it. These centers are not, as may seem, apart from their surroundings, but stand in mutual relationship to them – center to circumference – in the same way as the magnetic poles. It is thus that each center anywhere implies all other centers elsewhere. The individual is not, therefore, only a center. He is the entire surround centered at this time or this place…”
The ancient Greek/neo-platonic idea of the mirroring between the macrocosm and microcosm fits here, too. It’s also something I’ve come to witness more and more in my meditations. I may hear birds singing outside, for example, but what that song becomes is the Voice for God, if I choose to listen for it. I find God in everything and His voice in all movement. 🙂
Thank you for adding this wonderful Alan Watts quote! Indeed, the voice of God (vibration/energy) is in all. I wrote a couple of posts on this on one of my other blogs:
https://miraclesblazinglight.wordpress.com/2014/12/04/the-name-of-god/
https://miraclesblazinglight.wordpress.com/2014/10/09/the-word-and-voice-of-god/
Have a beautiful day! Namaste _/l\_
Hey Julianne. Great post! Recently as I shared with Linda when she mentioned eggs, that I have been working on a presentation for my Mythology class on, The creation from the Egg, myth from the Brahma Sutras. Anyways whilst researching I also explored the Rig Veda since the myth originated there and read that physicists had researched many things from there. I read about bubble universes in the Rig Veda. All very cool.<3
Yes, all very cool! Will you post about your presentation? It sounds like it will be very interesting! 🙂
Hmmm perhaps…lol Can you tell me what is meant by the 5 seasons?
As in winter, spring, summer, late summer, and fall?
I don’t know it mentioned he created 5 seasons, is that Vedantic?
I haven’t read the Brahma Sutras, so I am not sure.