Are we alike? Are we different? Despite of our racial, cultural differences, we are all human.  Confucius said the same.  He said that we are all alike at the source, yet our habits, believes and choices make us apart.

17.1 Men’s nature are alike

子曰、性相近也、習相遠也。

The Master said, ‘By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.’

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Great founders of major religions all reported that we come from the same source.  It is in this ultimate source that we are all born and close to each others.  Yet, through our evolution, habits, believes, and choices, we spin off from the source and declare ourselves to be different.

Ordinary people establish their identity via separation, whereas spiritual aspirants establish their identity through unity.   By study, practice and mastery, we transcend our habitual identification with the separate, align with the source, and unit with the whole.