Three Ways to Oneness

Nirvana, salvation, enlightenment, truth – whatever you call it, most people are in search of a way to resolve the disparate parts of themselves and of the universe, to find the one truth, the common thread, or the ultimate reality. For good or ill, countless methods, or paths, to this oneness have developed; whether any of them is more valid than any other, I cannot say. But I have noticed three basic ways – a trinity, if you like – that transcend religious and cultural differences, three methods of finding truth which I believe everyone uses to an extent, through most people personally favor one dominant method.

The first is what I call the scientific, atheistic, or "one world" way. I call it "one world" because this method discards all but the observable world: no spirit world. It's not that "one world" believers don't accept the possibility of a non-observable force or entity; they just have the attitude that if we can't observe it or its effects, then there's really no point taking it into account – and why should we?

It's true that science has resulted in vast improvements in our lives, but what many people lose sight of is the much greater thing science can help us find: an explanation of the world and how it works. Evolution science traces all people and all creatures to a single common ancestor, while the principle of uniformitarianism maintains that the same natural forces are at work throughout the world and througout time to create the diverse geological formations we see around us. As scientists bring theories into harmony with each other, they come closer to the grand unification of all scientific knowledge, a way to resolve the contradictory theories of relativity and quantum physics. Though it may have no practical applications, the grand unification is as ambitious a goal as nirvana.

The second way to oneness I have come across is the pattern-finding, symbolic thinking, or "one web" way. This method finds meaning and synchronism in the observable world as evidence of a guiding hand in the cosmos or in history. Ordinary events become omens, and the microcosm of the pattern-finder's life becomes interconnected to the macrocosm of the universe through a vast system of symbols and codes. In its least respectable form this method manifests as superstition or conspiracy theories, and some people will always see it as such.

Skeptics acknowledge that humans are predisposed to find patterns where there are none. Ancient people looked on a random arrangement of stars and found detailed pictures there, constellations which now affect many people's thinking in the form of astrology. Other people, noticing striking patterns in history, conclude that certain events are being orchestrated by an unseen "illuminati" or conspiracy. Bible Codes and DaVinci codes also result from this kind of thinking. One of the most extreme examples that I have found is one Jake Kotze, who coined the term "synchromysticism" and has created an impressive collection of blogs and videos devoted to finding connections between history, mythology, art, pop culture, and current events, ultimately combining mystical symbolism with secular conspiracy theory.

While reading the work of Jake Kotze and others of his ilk, I have noticed that once I delve deeply enough into these systems of code and meaning, everything becomes connected to everything else in a vast, overarching web, usually centering on one pivotal symbol – the Kevin Bacon of the universe. Kotze has been able to connect almost everything to what he calls a "stargate," ultimately the same as the "world gate" that this blog is named for. Further delving connects these gates to the historical beginnings of monotheism… which brings me to the third of the trinity of ways to oneness.

The third way to oneness is the theistic or "one god" way. This designation does not exclude polytheism, as many polytheists believe that their many individual gods are different expressions or portions of one supreme divinity, much as monotheistic Christians acknowledge a trinity, three aspects of one god. Theistic seekers find oneness by fostering a relationship with the divine, becoming in harmony with god, and ultimately becoming one with god. Christians find salvation by residing in Christ, and Buddhists find enlightenment by merging with the cosmos.

It's up to you to figure out which of these ways is most valid, or which is most dominant in your way of thinking. There may even be other methods that I have overlooked, but I suspect that any other methods could be interpreted as a combination of the three I have described. As for myself, in my most ambitious search for oneness I have sought to unite the three paths seamlessly and completely. That's what the world gate is to me.