Unity of Existence

By Swami Sivananda

In this extract from Sivananda’s Gospel of Divine Life, Swami Sivananda makes the ultimate declaration of peace – the Unity of Existence.

“Learn to live as members of a single family. Champion the ideal of one humanity. Live in peace in the world. All are children of God. The whole world is a family of God. Feel this, realise this and be happy.”

Where is a true and lasting peace to be found?

One Soul abides in all. There is one humanity and one brotherhood. There is one Brahman-hood. None is high, none is low, all are equal. Vain are all distinctions. The man-made barriers should be ruthlessly broken down. Then alone will there be peace.

There is only one caste: the caste of humanity. There is only one religion: the religion of love. There is only one commandment: the commandment of truthfulness.

There is only one law: the law of cause and effect. There is only one God: the omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient Lord. There is only one language: the language of the heart or the language of silence. All life is one. The world is one home. All are members of one human family. All creation is an organic whole. No man is independent of that whole. Man makes himself miserable by getting himself separated from others, and separation is death.

Unity is eternal life. Cultivate cosmic love. Recognise the worth of others. Destroy all barriers – the racial, religious and natural prejudices that separate man from man. Recognise the non-dual Principle, the immortal essence within all creatures. Protect animals and let all life be sacred. Then this world will be a paradise of beauty. It will be a haven of peace and tranquillity.

When one Brahman dwells in all living beings, why do you hate others? Why do you sneer and frown at others? Why do you use harsh words? Why do you try to rule and dominate over others? Why do you exploit others? Why are you intolerant? Is this not the height of folly? Is this not sheer ignorance? Learn to live as members of a single family. Champion the ideal of one humanity. Live in peace in the world. All are children of God.

The whole world is a family of God. Feel this, realise this and be happy. Behold the One-in-all and the all-in-One. Feel: “I am the all”, and “I am in all”. Feel: “All bodies are mine. The whole world is my body, my sweet home. I work in all and through all hands. I eat through all mouths. I am the immortal Self in all.” Repeat Om mentally.

Feel the oneness of life or unity of consciousness, when you play football or tennis, when you drink or eat, when you talk or sing, when you sit or walk when you bathe or dress, when you write a letter, when you do work in the office, when you answer the calls of nature. Spiritualise all your actions, movements, thoughts and feelings. Transmute them into Yoga. Then everything will become worship of the Lord.