Bodhipaksa
11 Comments
“A human being is part of a whole, called by us the ‘Universe’ —a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts, and feelings, as something separated from the rest—a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
In the Buddhist meditation called the Six Element Practice, we reflect in turn on each of the six elements—the four physical elements of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air—plus Space and Consciousness.
In each case we reflect on the presence of the element within our being: for example, with Earth we note the presence of bone, tissue, teeth, hair, etc.
We then reflect on the element outside of ourselves; in this case we consider rocks, stones, earth, buildings, plants, the bodies of other beings, etc.
Then we note how everything that is in us that pertains to the element under consideration came from the element outside.
Originally our body started as the fusion of one cell from our mother and another from our father—neither of whom was us. Then our body grew as our mother passed on nutrients that she’d ingested from the outside world. Again, those nutrients weren’t us. Later, we ate on our own, but still everything that went into building up the body was and is merely borrowed from the outside world.
Finally, for each element we recollect that everything in us that is that element is constantly returning to the outside world. Our muscles and other tissues, and even our bones, are constantly dissolving and being rebuilt (which is why your muscles and bones waste away through inactivity). We lose hairs, shed skin cells, and have to make regular trips to the bathroom to rid ourselves of waste. All of this returns to the world outside us and to the wider element. And when we die, we stop even trying to hold on. Everything that was “us” returns to the wider element.
This practice is completely liberating. It frees us from the “prison,” as Einstein called it, of the delusion that we are separate from the universe. We come to realize instead that we are nothing but interrelatedness, that we exist only in relation to the world, including other people, and that we have no separate existence in any real sense. We are completely and inseparably connected on a physical, mental, and emotional level with other beings.
The six element practice gives us a realization of this truth—a realization that goes far beyond the intellectual—and other Buddhist practices such as the Brahmaviharas help to ignite the emotions of relationship that follow from this insight into interconnectedness, widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature.
Bodhipaksa
Bodhipaksa has been meditating since 1982 and teaching since around 1989. He is a Buddhist practitioner and teacher, a member of the Triratna Buddhist Order, and a published author. He launched the Wildmind website on November 11, 2000. Bodhipaksa has published many guided meditations and books.He teaches in various meditation centers around the world. He is supported by donations from members of the Wildmind community. If you're interested in becoming a supporter and in getting access to more of Bodhipaksa's teachings, please click here to learn more about his meditation initiative.
Albert Einstein, anatta (non-self), interconnectedness, meditation and compassion, six elements
11 Comments. Leave new
Paul of Des Moines Iowa USA
November 3, 2007 1:39 pm
Liberating is the perfect word for this concept. I have just recently actively begun searching for Oneness, though somehow I’ve had it in me since I can remember. I’m excited to see how this will lead me and change life around me. This will not impact only me, but will radiate from me into everything I come into contact with.
ReplyVikas (India)
December 26, 2010 7:48 am
This oneness is so beautiful. It removes all fear from mind. Gives immense peace of mind. Happiness thus received by control and equanimity of mind is priceless… Out of this world experience.
ReplyAugust 26, 2014 6:03 pm
[…] the dawn of civilization, prophets, poets and physicists have argued that we’re all connected, separated only by illusions of time, space, and […]
Replyjay (kent)
August 8, 2018 10:02 am
ReplyI suggest you read https://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?t=15732
Bodhipaksa
August 8, 2018 2:48 pm
Did you have some particular reason for suggesting that page? The OP was asking whether the quote was from Einstein. I’d already verified that it was. Or maybe there was some other reason you were suggesting it?
ReplyPaul
April 21, 2019 9:22 pm
I think the suggestion was a very natural direction from the thread. Go look and see.
ReplyBodhipaksa
April 22, 2019 1:20 am
I did read the thread, thanks. One person says they think it’s like the word of the Buddha. Another person says it isn’t. I was curious what Jay took from that discussion. I still don’t know. But perhaps you do. If so, please share.
Reply
richard p kashanski
November 16, 2023 11:14 am
In ONENESS and WHOLENESS, since we all are the Buddha…while in meditation… ask your God Within what Buddha may or may not have said. His-Story is flawed, but the Buddha of our God from Within is not. Lose attachment to what history says are the words of the Buddha. As it is with the Christian Bible, the words of Jesus have been manipulated by every generation of new theologians wishing to proselytize their own dogma and agenda. Buddhism is of no exception to this re-writing practice.
ReplyBodhipaksa
November 19, 2023 1:31 pm
ReplyHi, Richard.
Unfortunately, to believe that “we’re all the Buddha” is a delusion.
There is no “god within.” That’s a delusion too.
You can ask yourself any question you want, but to believe it’s the Buddha that answers you is a delusion.
Believing that being concerned about historical accuracy is the same thing as being “attached” is also a delusion. It’s you imagining what’s going on in other people’s minds so that you can make judgements about them.
The only thing you write that isn’t a delusion is that scriptures are subject to alteration and interpretation over time — although is there anybody who is not aware of that?
Keep practicing, though, and eventually you might overcome the superiority conceit and delusions that affect your mind.
With love,
Bodhipaksa
KAREN
September 26, 2024 11:47 am
Who said, “THE SPACE ALL AROUND ALL OF US CONTAINS THE INTELLIGENCE THAT CREATED THE UNIVERSE?
ReplyBodhipaksa
September 26, 2024 12:55 pm
I don’t know, Karen. In fact I’m puzzled why you’re asking me since I don’t have anything to do with that quote. Have you tried asking whoever shared it with you?
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