Together

We are born into a culture that worships the individual. We are taught to be self-sufficient, to be independent, to stand on our own two feet. But this is a lie. A dangerous and lonely lie. The truth is, we are not separate. We are not islands. We are all interconnected, interwoven, interdependent. We are all a part of the same great web of life. To be together is not just a nice idea. It is the fundamental reality of our existence.

The spiritual path is the journey of remembering this truth. It is the process of dissolving the illusion of separation and coming home to the deep, abiding reality of our togetherness. It is the recognition that my liberation is your liberation, that your suffering is my suffering, that we are all in this together. This is not a sentimental platitude. It is a radical and powerful truth that has the power to transform our world.

The Tao of Unity

The Tao Te Ching is a song of unity. It speaks of the Tao as the one, indivisible source from which all things arise. Chapter 39 says, ‘In harmony with the Tao, the sky is clear and spacious, the earth is solid and full, all creatures flourish together, content with the way they are.’ This is a vision of a world in which all beings live in harmony, in which the illusion of separation has been dissolved, in which we recognize our deep and abiding togetherness.

Chapter 11 uses the beautiful metaphor of the wheel to illustrate this point: ‘We join spokes together in a wheel, but it is the center hole that makes the wagon move. We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want. We hammer wood for a house, but it is the inner space that makes it livable. We work with being, but non-being is what we use.’ The spokes of the wheel are all separate, yet they are all connected to the center hub. It is this togetherness that gives the wheel its strength and its function. So it is with us. We are all separate individuals, yet we are all connected to the one, central source. It is this togetherness that gives our lives meaning and purpose.

Advaita Vedanta and the Oneness of Being

Advaita Vedanta is the ultimate teaching of togetherness. It is the radical and uncompromising assertion that there is only one reality, one consciousness, one Self. The appearance of separation, of multiplicity, of individuality, is an illusion, a dream, a play of consciousness. The spiritual path is the process of waking up from this dream, of realizing the truth of our oneness.

This is not an easy teaching to grasp. The ego, the sense of a separate self, fights against it with all its might. But the great sages of Advaita Vedanta have all pointed to the same truth: you are not the limited, separate being you take yourself to be. You are the one, infinite, indivisible Self. You are everything. To realize this is to be free from all fear, all loneliness, all suffering. It is to come home to the ultimate togetherness.

In the Buddhist tradition, the concept of ‘sangha’ is a powerful expression of the importance of togetherness. The sangha is the community of practitioners who support each other on the path to liberation. The Buddha said that the sangha is one of the three jewels, along with the Buddha (the awakened one) and the Dharma (the teachings). He knew that we cannot do this alone. We need each other. We need the support, the encouragement, the wisdom of our fellow travelers on the path. The sangha is a refuge, a sanctuary, a place where we can be our true selves, where we can be held in a container of love and acceptance.

A Real-Life Example

I once led a retreat for a group of people who were all struggling with addiction. They came from all walks of life. They were all different ages, races, and backgrounds. But they were all united by their shared suffering and their shared desire for freedom. For one week, we lived together, we meditated together, we ate together, we shared our stories together. We created a powerful container of love and support. In that container, miracles happened. People who had been closed off for years began to open up. People who had been filled with shame and self-hatred began to experience self-love and self-acceptance. People who had felt utterly alone began to feel a deep sense of connection and belonging. We were a sangha. We were proof of the power of togetherness.

How to Embody This Teaching

Togetherness is not just a concept. It is a practice. Here’s how to cultivate it in your life:

1. **Practice Deep Connection:** The next time you are with another person, practice seeing them as a reflection of yourself. Look into their eyes and see the same light, the same love, the same consciousness that is within you. Let go of the stories of separation and connect with the truth of your shared being.

2. **Find Your Sangha:** Find a community of like-minded people who can support you on your spiritual path. It could be a meditation group, a yoga class, a men’s or women’s circle. The important thing is to find a place where you feel seen, heard, and accepted.

3. **Practice Random Acts of Kindness:** Do something kind for someone else, without any expectation of reward. Buy a coffee for the person behind you in line. Leave a generous tip for your server. Smile at a stranger. Each time you perform an act of kindness, you are strengthening the web of connection that unites us all.

When This Card Appears

When the Together card appears in a reading, it is a beautiful and heart-warming message. It is a sign that you are not alone. You are surrounded by love and support, even if you can’t see it. This card is an invitation to reach out, to connect, to ask for help. It is a reminder that we are all in this together, and that we are stronger together than we are apart. This card may be pointing to the importance of community, of collaboration, of partnership. It is a sign that the time for going it alone is over. It is time to join hands with your fellow travelers and to walk the path together.