Restoring Connection, Volume IX: Connection to Mystery
Understanding the Interconnectedness of the Universe (or, The Myth of Separation)
In the first 8 parts of this 9-part series about restoring connection, I explored ideas around restoring Connection to Self, Connection to Others, Connection to the Natural World, and Connection to Calling.
In this final post, I’ll explore the most ethereal of these aspects of restoring connection: Connection to Mystery.
As a part-time writer, aspiring philosopher, and middle-aged human, I have spent much of my recent life exploring the fundamental questions of existence. What does it mean to be human? How do we make sense of the world around us? And what is our place in the universe? These natural human questions arise as we become more aware of our mortality, as I have.
As self-aware humans, we often tend to think of ourselves as separate entities, distinct from each other and from the world around us. We construct narratives about who we are, what we value, and our place in the world.
This narrative, however, is often based on an illusion of separateness. In truth, everything in the universe is interconnected: everything exists in relationship, not in isolation.
I have been blessed to get periodic glimpses into the true interconnectedness of everything through altered states. These glimpses are brief but profound, and their impact extends far beyond the experience itself: shaping my view of the world, my place in it, and how I interact with it.
This concept of interconnectedness has been explored in many traditions throughout history, from the ancient wisdom of indigenous cultures to the revolutionary discoveries of quantum physics.
And yet, despite its ubiquity, the idea of interconnectedness is often dismissed or overlooked in our modern, hyper-individualistic society. We are addicted to the concept of the separate self; card-carrying members of the cult of the individual; in love with the archetype of the lone hero/heroine against the world.
At its core, the idea of interconnectedness challenges our fundamental assumptions about the world. In particular, it challenges two fundamental assumptions of our worldview:
1) That our fundamental identity is that of a discrete individual, separate from the people and environment around us.
2) That anything exists in isolation: that a tree, a rock or even an atom exist as distinct objects.
Why Question Reality?
The illusions of a separate self and of the separation of matter are convincing and necessary to navigate material reality. I do not suggest that we abandon them. If I assume that the car speeding toward me and my body are not distinct then I might not have any reason to jump out of the way.
However, embracing a different view that incorporates the interconnectedness of everything brings value to our lives and the world by providing, for us, a deeper level of peace, and for other beings, our compassion.
Let’s explore these ideas, starting with a visit to the birthplace of humanity in the Rift Valley of Uganda.
Ubuntu: I Am Because We Are
Over the course of my two visits to southwestern Uganda in early 2020 and spring of 2022 (I’m also heading back in May 2023), I encountered the wonderful spirit of Ubuntu.
Ubuntu is a philosophy rooted in Southern Africa (now widespread across Africa) that emphasizes interconnectedness and community. At its core, Ubuntu asserts that our humanity is inextricably tied to the humanity of others.
As Archbishop Desmond Tutu explains,
"Ubuntu is the essence of being human. It speaks of the fact that my humanity is caught up and is inextricably bound up in yours. I am human because I belong. It speaks about wholeness, it speaks about compassion."
Ubuntu reminds us that we cannot exist as isolated individuals, but rather, we are part of a larger web of relationships that includes not only other human beings but also the natural world and the universe. In Ubuntu, the well-being of the individual is intimately connected to the well-being of the community, and vice versa. This is encapsulated in the phrase "umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu," which means "a person is a person through other persons."
Ubuntu offers a powerful alternative to the individualistic, profit-driven models that dominate much of the world today. One practical application of Ubuntu philosophy is the concept of "ubuntu economics," which emphasizes community-based development and seeks to create sustainable economic systems that prioritize the well-being of all members of the community, rather than just a select few.
From the jungles of Africa let’s now turn to the monasteries of the Himalayas.
Interconnectedness and Buddhism
I have been blessed to visit the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan 3 times (twice while hosting a Wayfinders adventure, once on a scouting trip) over the past few years. It is a country heavily influenced by Buddhist philosophy and teachings, Buddhism weaving a thread not only through spiritual life but also daily life and governance (the country’s governance model is built on the principle of Gross National Happiness, a doctrine that is heavily informed by Buddhist principles).
My experiences living with the monks of Bhutan - among the most peaceful and joyful humans I have ever met - have piqued my curiosity and have continued to lead me down the path of exploring and understanding interconnectedness
The concept of interconnectedness, known in Buddhism as "dependent origination" or "pratitya-samutpada," asserts that everything arises in dependence upon everything else. The boundaries we perceive between ourselves and the world around us are not real or fixed, but rather fluid and constantly changing.
In Buddhism, the sense of self or ego that we experience is an illusion, a construct we create - based on our experiences, our social conditioning, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are - to make sense of the world around us.
Recognizing the impermanence of the self and the interconnectedness of all things is seen as essential for reducing suffering and increasing compassion.
When we cling to a fixed sense of self, we can experience isolation, loneliness, and anxiety. Instead, by recognizing the impermanence of the self and the interconnectedness of all things, we develop a sense of empathy and compassion for others. We begin to see how the suffering of others is connected to our own, and by relieving their suffering, we relieve our own.
The recognition of our interconnectedness is not only a spiritual practice but also a practical one. It helps us develop a sense of responsibility for our actions and respect for the natural world, leading us to live in greater harmony with the world around us.
Indigenous Traditions and Interconnectedness
In November of 2021, I spent two weeks in the Amazon, deep in the rainforest in an area called Tambopata Nationa Reserve. It’s one of the largest tracts of untouched jungle in the entire Amazon basin.
During a two-hour solo meditation deep in the jungle - an experience I wrote about in my previous post about Connecting To Nature - I felt my body dissolve and my existence merge with the jungle around me, immediately shattering the illusion of myself as an entity distinct from the matter around me.
During my time in Tambopata, I also spent time with a man named Don Roberto, a shaman of the Esa Eja people. My conversations with him underscored the difference in worldview he and other indigenous peoples carry versus the Western model of separation.
To Don Roberto, the label of ‘human’ or ‘Don Roberto’ was purely an exercise of convenience: there was no separation between him and the trees and plants of the jungle he showed to me on our walks. He and they were simply expressions of the same source of universal consciousness.
Many, if not most, indigenous cultures recognize that the earth and all its creatures are part of a complex, interconnected system, and their cosmology typically respects and reveres this interconnectedness.
Another example is the Maori culture of New Zealand. In the Maori worldview, everything in the natural world is interconnected and animated by a life force known as mauri. The concept of mauri is similar to the concept of qi or prana in other Eastern traditions. It is the vital energy that flows through all living things and connects them together.
The Maori have a saying, "Ko au te awa. Ko te awa ko au" which means "I am the river, the river is me". This saying illustrates the Maori belief that they are a part of the natural world and that they are connected to the river in a very real and profound way. The river is not just a physical entity, but also a spiritual one, with its own mauri or life force. By taking care of the river and keeping it healthy, the Maori are also taking care of themselves and their community.
Interconnectedness in Quantum Physics
Finally, from the ancient to the modern: in quantum physics, the concept of interconnectedness is central to the understanding of the universe. According to quantum theory, particles are not separate objects with distinct properties, but rather are entangled with each other in a way that defies traditional notions of space and time.
As physicist David Bohm has said,
"The notion of a separate organism is clearly an abstraction, as is also its boundary. Underlying all this is unbroken wholeness even though our civilization has developed in such a way as to strongly emphasize the separation into parts."
(I don’t know about you, but this concept of ‘unbroken wholeness’ is deeply alluring and comforting.)
One of the most famous experiments demonstrating this interconnectedness is the "entanglement" experiment, first conducted by physicist Erwin Schrödinger. In this experiment, two particles become "entangled" so that the state of one particle is intimately connected to the state of the other, even if they are separated by a great distance. When one particle is observed, the other particle is immediately affected, as if they were still connected. This phenomenon has been observed countless times and has been called "spooky action at a distance" by physicist Albert Einstein.
These findings have profound implications for our understanding of the universe and our place within it. They suggest that everything in the universe is interconnected in ways that we are only beginning to understand, and that our sense of separateness may be an illusion.
On that note, I once read a fascinating book titled The Quantum and The Lotus that explores how the worlds of ancient wisdom and modern science intersect (the book captures a dialogue between, fascinatingly, a physicist-turned-monk, and a Buddhist-turned-physicist).
Two different personal experiences - or, rather, two different sets or types of experiences that have been repeated - have given me fleeting but intimate glimpses behind this veil of separateness that has been such a pervasive piece of convincing theatre: experiences that, for a few minutes or hours, seem* to show me the true, connected nature of the universe.
*I say ‘seem’ because I cannot rule out the possibility that these glimpses are themselves theatre, that they are in fact the illusion and the material reality that defines my everyday is in fact all there is to it.
My first experience with peeking behind the veil of separateness took place during a 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat in 2004. Vipassana is, at its core, simply a practice of observing what is occurring in the body, with as much present-moment awareness as one can bring to bear.
I struggled with the practice - which involved meditating for as much as 10 hours a day and remaining silent - for the first 8 days of the 10-day retreat. I could not give in to the present moment for more than a few seconds at a time, always drifting off into thought and distraction. Then, on day 9, as I was going through the body-scanning practice, something happened and I felt my entire body dissolve into the ether.
It was a deeply blissful feeling and my brain immediately wanted to latch onto and attach itself to that feeling. It would disappear, and then reappear, and disappear again, cycling every few seconds. I would immediately start to crave the feeling as soon as it went away.
Then, after several minutes, I finally let go of the craving and simply allowed whatever was happening to happen. At that point I truly sank into the experience and felt my body, my thoughts, and my consciousness completely fall away, replaced by an ethereal sense of connection to everyone and everything.
Another set of ‘separation-shattering’ experiences has involved guided plant medicine therapy. It’s during these sessions, typically with large doses of psilocybin or MDMA, that I have felt my ego - the self that has been so carefully constructed over my decades of existence, the body that I have come to call my own, the thoughts that occupy my daily experience - fall away, replaced with a deep sense of merging into some sort of universal consciousness (in the vernacular of this world, I experienced ‘non-duality’).
As I’ve said, these moments are fleeting: 99.98% of my existence takes place on the conventional side of the veil, very much attached to and convinced of this idea of separation.
Nevertheless, I’ve found those experiences to be incredibly useful in guiding how I live my life on this side of the veil.
Living with a Sense of Interconnectedness: A Practice
As I’ve tried to argue with this post, living with a sense of interconnectedness can be incredibly transformative, helping us to cultivate empathy and compassion for others and reduce our anxiety and sense of isolation. It is also incredibly challenging in a society that continually reinforces a narrative of separation.
So how to cultivate and practice this awareness?
Some of the ways that I’ve found helpful include:
A consistent meditation practice: I now meditate for 10-15 minutes a day, quite consistently. As my bandwidth opens up, I hope to increase this to 30-60 minutes a day.
Intimate and intentional time with the natural world: I wrote about this extensively in my post about Restoring Connection With the Natural World.
Guided psychedelic experiences: These are a powerful and visceral shortcut to interconnectedness and universal consciousness. I try to commit to at least 2 per year.
Acts of service and compassion: Simple awareness of the suffering of others, along with compassion towards them and acts of service, help me put interconnectedness into tangible practice (since everyone is suffering to some extent, it’s not difficult to find opportunities!)
Conclusion
When we embrace the interconnectedness of all things, we tap into a deeper wisdom and beauty that is often obscured by our narrow focus on individual success and achievement. We recognize that our actions have a ripple effect on the world around us, that the choices we make today will have a profound impact on future generations.
But perhaps most importantly, we recognize that we are not alone in this world. We are part of a larger system, a web of relationships that connects us to everything else. When we embrace this interconnectedness, we open ourselves up to a world of possibility, a world where empathy and compassion can guide us toward a more peaceful, just, and sustainable future.
In the end, this is not just a philosophical or spiritual idea, but a deeply practical one as well. It asks us to re-evaluate our relationship with ourselves, with each other, and with the world around us. And it invites us to step into a new way of being, one that is more compassionate, more empathetic, and more deeply connected to the mystery and beauty of the universe.
What’s Next?
This post concludes my Restoring Connection series. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. I will continue to write about human connection via this channel, albeit with a less structured, and definitely less verbose approach to my weekly posts.
P.s. If you’ve received value from or have enjoyed my writing, I’d deeply appreciate you sharing this with a friend or posting it on your favourite social network.