Many years ago, when I went to see a Swedish minister at church, named Kent, to have someone to talk to before becoming baptized, I learned something valuable. I was expressing anxiety over the Oneness movement, that many yoga-practitioners had submerged themselves into, and how this to me, felt like an unspoken demand to conform to their ways, both in simple things like clothing and also in how to act and communicate. There were for example, a sense of total shaming of those who would display any emotion that were believed to be negative, such as anger or doubt, rather than getting to the root of the cause of these emotions, and taking responsibility for how people in the group, could have contributed to them arising. Likewise, I saw the danger in letting go of our Egos in a sense that “we should let go of our personalities and true needs”, which isn’t the same as softening and be less selfish.

Kent, my minister, asked me to shake hands with him as an example. Then, he said:

“It’s through the friction of our hands, we can have a true meeting.”

By that, he meant that if we would be too elusive and have no boundaries, everything would become so fluid, nothing would become substantial. This helped me understand the importance to stand my ground and develop my own sense of self further. To raise the topic of not striving to become the same, but rather have more diversity. It is also a major factor in how I would like Telluselle Living Center to offer different classes that incorporate a variety of schools and traditions, that still have integrity and keep the boundaries clear. Yoga is yoga. Qigong is qigong. Hula is Hula. And so forth. We dress appropriately for practices and performances, but don’t run around in our tunics, when we go shopping.

Instead, look to what unites us, such as: a strive to feel free, be connected to nature, and express our soul with art, while developing more compassion and community. All in ways, that have sustainability in mind, based on wellness.

Have you had any experience of coming into conflict with a group’s values? What is the difference between oneness and unity to you?