You And I

These words of wisdom come from Lama Surya Das and contain a poem by Rumi.

This short poem expresses the insight of interbeing in its simplest possible form. This word, interbeing, refers to the interconnectedness of all things. It was proposed by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh many years ago and soon, he hopes,  it will be a word in the dictionary.

The insight of interbeing is one of the most fundamental insights we can experience. When we experience interbeing we recognize that we don’t really possess an independent existence. We do not live alone. We have to inter-be with our families, our homes, our planet, and, in fact, the whole universe. We recognize that everything we are is made of substances that are not ourselves.

We are made of the air we breathe, the water we drink, the sunshine we love, the food that we eat, the trees, the animals, many generations and much hard work.

Our illusion of a separate existence is the robs us of loving kindness, compassion, joy,  and equanimity.

	You and I have to live as if you and I never heard of a “you” and an “I”. -Rumi ________________________________________________