One is all, and all is one –Full Metal Alchemist

I have realized and continue to realize that everything is connected; the entire cosmos, right down to the microscopic cells in our bodies. Everything is one.

The other day I stood by my front door watching a bee. If anyone knows me, I hate bees, however, this time I was able to admire it. I saw the beauty that it held in its colors. I saw the life that it held while collecting pollen. I saw the beauty of life that was the bee. I saw how the bee’s work contributed to the entire worlds’ life. I saw the grand scheme of the cosmos in a single bee.

The previous day, I had viewed one of my favorite television series, The Legend of Korra. It is a continued series of its predecessor, Avatar: The Last Airbender. Within parts of the show, elder benders teach the younger benders about life and spirituality, and the teachings usually stick with me. This time was different. The teaching did not come in the form of an elder, but another character; a hedgehog looking spirit. This spirit, within the show, is new to the human world and brought along some nature from the spirit realm. Korra, the main character, was conversing with the spirit trying to learn how to move the spirit vines that had grown in the city. One of the replies of the spirit struck a chord with my heart. It stated that the vines and the spirits are one in the same.

Now to me, the vines represented the human realm, and the spirit, well, the spirit realm. In some religions the vines could can be known as the world, the physical realm, the flesh, mother nature, the universe, and the cosmos. The spirit realm can also be known as heaven, spiritual enlightenment, the spirit realm, godliness, holiness, spirit man, and god(s). What that scene had taught me was that there is no distinction between what is spiritual and what is secular. There is no distinction between godliness and human desire. There is no distinction between the world and heaven. There is no distinction between the flesh and one’s spirit man. There is no distinction between humans and the cosmos.

You see, that bee showed me a map; a map that traced the entire cosmos into one life form. That bee showed me that we, as well as the world around us, all do our part to contribute to the universe in which we live. We all play a vital role. That role is summed up in being you. If that means you are a bee, then go roll around on flowers and collect pollen. If that means you are Payton Smith, then go discover what it means to be Payton Smith. Don’t separate yourself into two halves; a spiritual half, and a human half. See yourself as one being, a being that is profoundly spiritual and profoundly human. See how those two mesh together and create a being that is profoundly you. Like the hedgehog spirit, see how you are connected with the universe around you. See how the universe is connected to you. Like the bee, enjoy being yourself and know that you, the universe, and the spiritual are all connected.