“Unity is harmony within and among individuals in the group.
Unity is sustained by concentrating energy and focusing thought, by accepting
and appreciating the value of the rich array of participants and the unique
contribution each can make, and by remaining loyal not only to one another but
also to the task.”
Unity is built from
a shared vision, a cherished hope, an altruistic aim, or a cause for the common
good. Unity gives sustenance, strength, and courage to make the impossible
possible. Combining with determination and commitment, unity makes the biggest
task seem easy.
The stability of
unity comes from the spirit of equality and oneness, the noble values embodied
in core universal principles. The greatness of unity is that everyone is
respected. Unity creates the experience of cooperation, increases zeal and
enthusiasm for the task, and makes the atmosphere powerful and enabling.
In Harmony
A gathering does
not have unity until there is harmony within and among the individuals in the
group. Just as the musician needs to practice playing the instrument alone
before joining the symphony orchestra, the individual needs solitude to be in
touch with his or her capacity, potential, and specialty before joining the
gathering. For individual effectiveness, there needs to be clarity and
cleanliness of motives and intentions. Looking inward helps harmonize thoughts,
words, and actions; the individual can then adapt as necessary. Such personal
integration keeps the individual “in tune.”
The orchestra
creates a consonance of sounds by combining the distinct rhythmic patterns of
each of its instruments. In the same way, the gathering becomes sweetly
harmonious when each individual adopts the power to accommodate the capacities
and specialties of the others; modulates those with the self; and then combines
with the orchestra. Unity is sustained by concentrating energy and focusing
thought, by accepting and appreciating the value of the rich array of
participants and the unique contribution each can make, and by remaining loyal
not only to one another but also to the task. Such positive focus builds to a
crescendo as oneness in diversity is experienced; and because unity inspires
stronger personal commitment and greater collective achievement, dance as well
as music can be attained!
Causes of Disunity
One note of
disrespect can cause unity to be broken. Interrupting others, giving
unconstructive and prolonged criticism, keeping watch over some or control over
others are all strident chords which strike harshly at connections and
relationships. Ego and inferiority produce disharmonious sounds. Such discord
can be easily heard or quite subtle and can range from dwelling on weaknesses
of others and hunger for recognition to jealousy, insecurity, and doubt.
Sometimes, even in little matters, people quickly get upset, aggressive, angry,
or violent; they then isolate themselves into subgroups, producing dissension
and conflict. Retuning and fine tuning then become essential.
A basic human need
is to feel a sense of belonging, to be part of the unified whole. People do not
want to remain in isolation, oblivious to the world outside. It is also
uniquely human to be curious about other people and cultures and to feel a deep
sense of compassion over sufferings of and injustices done to others. It is,
therefore, human instinct to want to be together and to form natural gatherings
or structured meetings which provide a common platform to talk to each other.
In such ways, people get to know, understand, or help each other. This holds
true for individuals as well as for nations. Consciously or unconsciously, we
choose to be and act together.
Today, our
curiosity is satisfied with the help of TV and the media, bringing people and
cultures from around the world into our very living rooms. If that is not
enough for some, travel can provide the firsthand experience! Humanity can take
pride in its virtue as well as its ingenuity. Yet, with all its good, humanity is
equally guilty of vice. With brothers seen as “enemies,” vital energy
is being misdirected, and the home of unity keeps shaking. As a result,
humanity has not been able to sustain unity against the common enemies of civil
war, ethnic conflict, poverty, hunger, and violation of human rights.
Inner Focus
Creating
unity in the world begins with a change in individual consciousness. Such
requires the human intellect to move away from conflict and confusion and – for
a period of time on an ongoing basis to concentrate in positive directions.
Such inner focus does not isolate the individual, but, in fact, does the
opposite: it brings that person closer to others, and in that closeness, in
that shared humanity, there is the collective strength to pioneer and sustain
fundamental and constructive transformation.
