We are All One

One night after yoga class, I stepped out into the night. There was a frozen mist in the air. My class was held in an old convent school right above the brink of Niagara Falls. (you can see it on the right in the middle of the photo, the big blocky building)  The place reeked spiritual energy - beautiful rose gardens, a mini labyrinth, Sufi's dancing in the auditorium, school kid choirs singing in the ornately carved chapel, a few nuns scurrying, yoga teachers, windchimes, spiritual seekers doing 3 day retreats.

As I stepped out into the  mist, the night sky seemed darker but brighter, the stars were larger and brighter, the sound of the earth was like music, the mist on my face was bathing me with love and goodwill.  I was in a state of bliss ---like being in love with the earth and life. 

When I woke up the next day I was still feeling "good" and got ready to go to work at casual clothing shop.  As I walked down the street, I felt taller and cleaner, expanded somehow.  A realization came to me , that I was now observing the world and others from the Inside of my body, that I could "see" from somewhere else rather than my eyes and brain and mouth.   What is going on? I thought.  Everything took on a new  "look" - every object seemed imbued with life and connection - the parking meters, the sparrow, the discarded hunk of bagel on the ground. 

When I got into the store some customers came in, and one of them was grouchy.
I "saw" them all, and "heard" them. One walked towards me, and it was like I could see "inside" "him".  Whatever he said to me didn't matter, because he was another person just like me, or  just like the sparrow, or the bagel.  We were just all here together in this moment.

I realized that I had been living my life from my skin out.  That I had been hurling my body and mouth through my life and others' lives.  I had thought I was my body, my stylish shoes, my clever mouth, my spacious brain, etc. etc........

I discovered the real me, and in the process over the years, I have discovered the real 'you's" in Walmart, at the bingo hall, serving me at MacDonalds, fitting me for shoes. You've smiled at me, hugged me, told me to shut up, slandered me, loved me, ignored me.  It is all ok.

My grandson, Alex, who is 8 told me, "mimi, I think we are All One.  I just can't stop thinking about it.  We are  All here on the earth, and we are All here doing the same thing at the same time.  It's  like we are the Same Person.  So we really shouldn't hurt anyone, because it's like we're hurting Ourself.  I can't get that out of my mind..."
I said, "You're absolutely right Alex, we're all one including the trees, rocks,  birds, everything, now go to sleep.  Sweet Dreams, I love you. (kiss, kiss).