If all is one, why do we feel separate from each other and God?

Almost every mystical tradition—from Advaita Vedanta to Sufism, from Christian mysticism to Zen—teaches that all is One. Beneath the appearances of duality and diversity, there is only one divine essence: pure consciousness, infinite love, the Absolute. But if this is true, why do we feel so separate—from one another, from nature, and from God?

This sense of separation is not ultimate—it is an illusion created by the mind, by conditioning, and by identification with form. The experience of being separate is not who we are, but who we think we are. It is the dream of the ego, not the truth of the soul.

Also read: Chanting God's Name: A Way to Inner Peace

The Illusion of Separation

From birth, we are taught to see ourselves as distinct beings—this is my name, my body, my family, my thoughts. We begin to form a personal identity, a “me” that seems different from “you” and separate from life itself.

This identity isn’t wrong—it’s part of the human journey. But it’s only the surface. Like waves on the ocean, we appear separate, but we are made of the same water. The deeper we go, the more we realize: we were never truly divided.

Also read: Why Devotion Matters More Than Rituals

The Role of the Mind and Senses

The mind functions by labeling, comparing, and separating. It sees objects, people, and events as distinct units. The senses reinforce this by showing us a world of forms and boundaries. But just because something appears separate doesn’t mean it is.

Think of a dream: you may see different characters and settings, but all of it arises in the same consciousness—your consciousness. In the same way, all of creation arises in the One divine awareness, which is your true Self.

The Veil of Ego

The ego needs to feel special, separate, and in control. It resists unity, because unity dissolves its identity. This is why the ego constantly creates narratives of “me vs. them,” of judgment, pride, fear, and comparison. It survives on division.

But as we begin to awaken, we see that the ego is not our true essence. We realize we are not just a body or a story—we are the awareness in which all things arise. And that awareness has no edges, no borders. It is limitless. It is One.

Also read: How to Build a Personal Relationship with God

Moments of Unity

We all experience moments when the illusion fades—through love, meditation, music, nature, or even loss. In those moments, the boundaries dissolve. We feel connected to everything. We cry without knowing why. We feel love without needing a reason. These are glimpses of reality beyond separation.

Why the Illusion Exists

Separation, while illusory, has a purpose. It allows us to experience relationship, growth, learning, contrast, and choice. Through the illusion, we come to long for the real. Through duality, we rediscover unity—not as a concept, but as a living truth.

The soul’s journey is to remember what it already knows—to awaken within the dream and realize, “I was never apart. Everything I seek is already one with me.”

Also read: Daily Acts of Devotion That Purify the Soul

Practices to Dissolve Separation

Meditation: Sit with the breath, with awareness. Watch thoughts come and go. Eventually, the thinker dissolves, and only presence remains.
Compassion: When you see yourself in others, love becomes natural. Judgment fades. You remember: we are not different—we are mirrors.
Self-inquiry: Ask, “Who am I?” Not as a thought, but as a direct experience. The deeper you go, the more the ‘I’ expands into infinity.

Reflection

When have you felt most connected to life or to others?
What beliefs or fears reinforce your sense of separateness?
Can you hold the idea that what separates us is temporary, but what unites us is eternal?

The wave may forget it is ocean, but the ocean never forgets its waves. You are not just part of God—you are one with God. You are not just connected to life—you are life itself, momentarily dreaming of distance. And now, slowly, lovingly, you are waking up.

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