ONENESS
In the opening chapter of John Berger’s important book of the BBC film series “Ways of Seeing” [ Pelican, 1972] he introduces us to the observed effect photographic reproduction has on how we see great works of art.
“Seeing comes before words. The child looks and recognises before it can speak. But there is also another sense in which seeing comes before words. It is seeing which establishes our place in the surrounding world; we explain the world with words, but words can never undo the fact that we are surrounded by it. The relation between what we see and we know is never settled. The way we see things is affected by what we know or what we believe.“
How we see the world and construct world views that affect how we relate to the physical world and the people in it and political decisions in our small and bigger world are first given to us by our parents and then expanded in education and community but increasingly how we see is now influenced by the speed of what we are experiencing via all kinds of media. How we see the world we live in for our few short years will always affect our experience of and engagement or non-engagement in community. Oneness is a poetic almost romanitc notional description of unity but it strikes a chord with me. Is my keen interest in and pursuit of humanity’s oneness/harmony/unity in family and community out dated? Can we survive in our own heads and in a digital media fed head space apart from and separate from “real” community, especially if we are just plain sick of living in community along with the busyness of what feels like an endless spinning wheel of fortune seeking?
It is quite obvious that excluvisist tribalism is on the acendancy, not unity, oneness or community. There are positive examples of hard work in all kinds of places where oneness is being fostered and built but the tribal gods are flexing.
I have long held the view that the United Nations, since its inception in 1948, is one of the best expressions of a range of the best of really good community building – or rebuilding – echoing some religious teachings about cooperative peace making and restorative justice as these words : “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God.” Peace making is not peace-keeping which does not build oneness but only separation from conflict – a necessary essential in domestic violence and escalating war scenarios. To work with others in respectful listening and active collaboration to “build a better world” rather than just being a “self-made success story” is according to this scripture tantamount to what being “children of God” is – not holding to some kind of belief system. It is higher affirmation than a bulging bank account. The push back from globalisation by the new American President is in stark contrast to the late Pope Francis’s work with the poor and his determination to build at least the Catholic church’s greater inclusion of a broader racial representation and oneness.
It is not easy to foster unity, collaboration or oneness. My experience and observation is that individualism is the easiest and seems the most rewarding – for me or the individual – but from there the slope can be steep and disastrous in terms of building oneness if modes of communication are immature. The frightening impact of social media on narcissism and stunted relationship development is the current pandemic.
Oneness is not the neglect of one’s self or the death of the imagination and the intellect. It is the engaging of the fullest and best of the self to bring about the never ending vision of a maturing oneness with those we live, work and love with. It is in fact the greatest challenge to set aside a self-serving agenda and bring constant contributions to a wider conversation in order to come to some new understanding and agreement that will feel as if we belong to each other. Sometimes this is in the flow of congeniality or it can be in the hardest of envirnoments when our values and world views are suddenly under the spotlight and at times found wanting. Change is at the core of maturing evolutionary development within society, in relationships, marriages, friendships, clubs, political parties and religions. To resist change is to stagnate and be fooled into tribal blindness. The whole world is an evolving ecosystem, including social groupings.
The impact of social media on building oneness has validity. But as with Berger’s assessement that photographic reproduction of original art work works against what happens when we view the original art work even though it is a way of seeing, opting out of real engagement with partner, friend or other social groups to be immersed in a small unaccountable self serving world and a digital media world will not help build healthy evolving microcosms of oneness. We are, as humans, meant to be in maturing healthier communities where new ways of inclusion for a healthier oneness is the norm.
God knows the world currently needs more “children of god” who are determined peacemaker pilgrims.
Peter Breen, April 23, 2025
The gathering at an open farm tour day, Echol Valley Farm, Goomburra, SE Queensland.
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