Separateness isn’t always an illusion

Tat tvam asi, the famous expression of the relationship between the individual and the absolute, translating generally to ���You are that���, is one of the grand pronouncements of Vedantic Hinduism. The meaning is that the Self ��� in its original, pure, primordial state ��� is wholly or partially identifiable or identical with an ultimate reality which is the basis and origin of all phenomena.

The knowledge that this is so, characterises the experience of liberation or salvation that accompanies the ultimate mystic union. However, it���s also sometimes invoked to convey the idea that separateness, like the branches of a tree that become one at the trunk, is an illusion. But how illusory is it really?

John Myrdhin Reynolds, linguist, author, translator and mystic whose initiated name is Vajranatha says: When we look inside of ourselves and just observe, we find that there is only a stream of consciousness. When we say ���my mind���, this refers not to a thing or a vestment. Yet this stream of consciousness has a continuity and an individuality.

Our stream of consciousness is separate from those of other people. There are individual streams of consciousness and individual mental processes. We are not all One Mind. If we were, as soon as one of us realised something, all of us would simultaneously realise it.

That doesn���t happen and there���s the catch otherwise the rest of humanity throughout history would have also got instantly enlightened whenever a Buddha like figure gained enlightened. Even if the One is only playing games with itself as many have tried to interpret our common-sense understanding of reality, even then it has managed to give each of its parts a separate existence which is quite unlike the tree metaphor quoted earlier.

In other words, interconnectedness is not the same as identical. If it were, the game would be over too quickly.
It was a brilliant idea on its part (yes, we have the inherent authority to say this). Because it is in the nature of all games for players to necessarily forget their other selves during the course of play if they are to play well at all.

Imagine a Vishvanathan Anand, for example, blundering a Ruy Lopez opening because he was pondering instead about the oneness and difference between individual self as a part of the whole. The match would be a disaster. Whatever it is ��� given that most of us will never realise what we are ��� it is not a failure.