Tat Tvam Asi

I was reminded of this yesterday . Thou art That.

It's the central Hindu teaching for the attainment of ultimate realisation - when both body, mind and spirit are fully reconciled with all of existence.

In principal its quite simple - and that is very inspiring - while in reality it is profoundly hard to attain.

It states that the world around us and we ourselves are really the 'same'.

That is not to say that I am the universe, or the universe is me. That is ridiculous. I'm clearly a human being and the universe is a vast largely empty space I will never visit, and conversely the universe is not a knowing thing with awareness called Alva.

It does not mean that I am made out of the same stuff as the universe, and self and universe are just different sides of the same coin. Altho this is a very good step in the right direction. A lot of Buddhism is here. The stuff is called "emptiness" which isn't really a stuff at all but more the experience of phenomena as made from air.

It really does mean that two different things are the same at the same time. In other words knowing oneself is knowing the universe and vice-versa altho they are different.

well actually there is no exact answer because it is something we must realise for ourself and I'm trying.

It makes sense for me of the importants of treating other people like oneself - loving thy friend and enemy - treating all people with compassion that extends beyond how they appear. This is the fundamental training toward seeing the universe as oneself.

The blissful experience of oneness is also to be found down this path.