Nourish Your Mental Health By Dissolving The Notion Of Separateness

It’s Driving Us Mad.

Two of my deepest fears is being homeless and becoming a drug addict.

Although I’ve hidden these fears deep down in my psyche, they manifested as despise and disdain for homeless people and drug addicts.

I passed judgement on these people in an attempt to separate from the similarities I have with them; and thus, viewed myself as better than them.

But this attempt to divide myself from humanity proved to be futile. I now realise being an individual doesn’t mean being separate. In fact, the word individual means — not divided. Thus, I’m never separate from the homeless, the drug addict or any other life form.

This understanding is kniown as the Gaia Principle.

Soil sprouts up in the form of plants to nourish human beings and animals. Baby’s are formed in the womb from this food. Unused particles return to the soil and repeat the cycle. Thus, soil in the form of humans and animals consumes itself.

Further more, planet earth sprouts from the same mother as other planets in this solar system. The waters on planet earth never stop running. Yet, non-one knows where they’re going or coming from. As they amount to one ocean floating upon the notion of separation.

High, low, rough, smooth, dark and light coloured lands, give the impression of separate oceans. While tall, short, thin, fat, dark and light coloured human beings, give the impression of separate people.

There’s a humongous difference between identification with our physical body and the acknowledgement that — firstly we’re interconnected with all life forms; and secondly, we enjoy universal life support.

The stability and insight derived from universal alignment ensured ancient cultures identified their children with the universe before empowering them with education.

However, modern society lacks stability and insight through a misunderstanding of individualism. In the book, — Karma, A Yogi’s Guide to Crafting Your Destiny, — Yogi Sadhguru states,

“Unfortunately, our idea of individuality is separateness, and that is the basis of all suffering.”

Our identification with a body that’s susceptible to accidents, illnesses and death, means fear — the most debilitating attribute — is guaranteed. And as suggested by psychiatrist, Dr. Ben Cave’s, book —What We Fear Most; mental illness is high up on our list of fears.

So, is our identification with a frail body literally driving us mad?

Do our delusions begin with who or what we think we are?

In other words, is the unpleasantness of lock-down the cause of mental illness or a magnifier of mental weakness? For can one who is aligned with life and — not divided — as the word individual implies, ever be lonely?

According to Yogi Sadhguru:

“Feeling lonely or agitated when one is alone indicates you’re in bad company.”

Bad company is the belief of separation.

Self realisation teacher, Rupert Spira, emphasises the ‘pain of separation’ — as a mental distortion causing our suffering.

Inhale Art & Exhale Science.

Modern society is riddled with the notion of separation. Despite the absence of a demarcation between hot and cold, up and down or love and hate; we exist in the turmoil of mentally separated polarities. This notion of separation drives a sharp reflex to blame and judge others. Thus, we dissect ourselves and people around us on daily basis.

Yet, never have you moved forward with only half a step. Or breathed through inhalation alone.

It requires that dual motion for physical progression; and both inhale and exhale to maintain life. In the same way, the acceptance of both hot and cold, love and hate, or good and bad, are required for mental progression.

Maya Tamir, confirm this in a study: The Secret To Happiness; where he found, acceptance of both unpleasant and pleasant emotions to be the key.

Otherwise, not only do we forfeit the stability of standing on two feet. We forfeit the insight and wisdom derived from embracing unpleasant experiences; and end up judging others — as I did — for traits I tucked away in shame.

Shame, pride and self doubt, are responsible for most, if not all, the mayhem in the world. But did you know, none of the above can thrive when we embrace both wings of life? Which confirms the notion of separation is driving us mad.

The book — What We Fear Most — features a great example of this notion. Dr. Cave, judged an un-convicted remand prisoner who was later found undoubtedly innocent of the crime.

Yet, to Dr. Cave’s credit, he recognised this cold approach towards a desperate man, occurred through applying the science of psychiatry, but with-holding the art. As a result, he vowed to maintain their equal importance as two wings of a bird; and never cast judgement on someone again, regardless of what they have done.

Although modern society tends to exalt science over art, they are thoroughly intertwined. Thus, people don’t usually care how much you know (science) until they know how much you care (art).

When writing about the role art played during his period of substance abuse, renown author, Steven King, defined art as life support.

The artist, William Alltree, whose images are exhibited in this post; is currently in the process of recovery from heroin and alcohol addiction. In his search to fill a void he came across chemicals that soothed the pain of separateness; temporarily of course, and with drastic side effects.

During our discussion on the notion of separation, he exclaimed:

“If I didn’t use drugs I would probably have blown my head off.”

For over two decades his mother tried to help him come off drugs. Yet, mysteriously went into recovery two months before she passed away to cancer. Thus, by the grace of God she was able to see her William clean before passing on.

Through commitment to a ten-step recovery program; expressing himself through art; and assisting humanity where possible, he remains active in dissolving the notion of separation.

A pursuit we can all benefit from.

As a selfish knuckle-head, it has taken a hard look inside myself to accept the flaws I saw out there, were actually a reflection of what’s in here.

However, to continue looking on in despise and disdain, is to contribute to the cause of drug dependency and homelessness. Maybe that’s why I feared them so much.

The erosion of separateness continues to be a challenging task. But every hour of introspection and meditation, patiently erodes the significance of pixels in this projection.

As the notion of demarcation, judgement or separation, mean less and less. Acceptance of life, and life sensitivity, get stronger and stronger. Thus, a natural longing to serve humanity continues to grow.

For the attempt to place even a razor blade between you and me, is to fracture the fibre that sustains humanity; and — may well amount to blasphemy and tantamount to treason.

From such a birds-eye-view, one observe’s selfless thoughts desperate to manifest in the world; and pursue a vision far more valuable than what I refer to as myself. If only I’d just get out of my own way.

Best said by the late, great, Bob Marley as,

“If My Life Is For Me Alone, I Don’t Want It.”

Introspection has been greatly assisted by the study of psychology, self discovery, simple periods of solitude, yoga, meditation and silence retreats.

Yet, in order to dissolve the delusion of separation and reap the rewards of mental stability, theres nothing to create. One only needs to accept the truth of unification that’s already here.

Thank You For Reading

Kensu Fetsani.