On this program in the Global Spirit series, host Phil Cousineau talks with physicist Dr. Ravi Ravindra, a Hindu who is beholden to Krishnamurti and the teachings of Gurdjieff, and with Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, a Naqshbandi Sufi teacher and Jungian analyst. The subject under examination is unity which is seen by these two as a process, a quality, and a way of being. At this point in history, scientists and believers from many different religious traditions are agreeing that all of life is interconnected. Separateness from people, places, and things is an illusion.

Ravindra and Vaughan-Lee observe that heightened unity consciousness often comes through mystical experiences: both men share theirs with us. Cousineau asks them what obstacles get in the way of Oneness and they concur that selfishness is a major stumbling block. Stepping aside and receiving grace is a fruitful approach in the quest for unity.

Their discussion of this elusive process is enhanced by three video clips. The first is an incredibly moving interview with an Australian aboriginal who talks about the harmony in his life thanks to his connectedness to the land, plants, animals, and other human beings. Then a Catholic archbishop in Ecuador salutes the unity of the religions and the need for people of faith to work together instead of emphasizing their differences. A Tibetan Buddhist at a monastery suggests that people need to reconnect with the world as a spiritual practice. This journey to Oneness will open many doors for viewers.

To Continue This Journey

  • See our profile of Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee that includes reviews of his books, quotations from his writings, listings of videos, interviews, and other resources in the Living Spiritual Teachers Project.
  • There is a line in the Bhagavad Gita which says: "They live in wisdom who see themselves in all and all in them." Spend a day thinking about and celebrating your intimate connections with nature, other people, and even inanimate objects.
  • Try using the following breath prayer several times during the day and see how it heightens your feeling of Oneness:
    Breathing in: I am one with all . . .
    Breathing out: I am that.