While deeply embedded in the core teachings of many great religions and almost all mystical and shamanic traditions, the concept of “Oneness” remains somewhat elusive, perhaps because it can be observed, felt, interpreted and expressed in a myriad of ways. While some recognize the unifying force of an all-powerful God, or the essential oneness of the human race, others apply the principle of Oneness to all life and the exquisite mechanism through which all living systems function and relate.

In this Global Spirit episode, Deepak Chopra, a physician and best-selling author of texts on mind-body healing, shares his philosophical insights on Oneness, citing recent scientific studies that point to consciousness as the fundamental basis of all reality, transcending location, space and time. Co-guest Riane Eisler, a social scientist, best-selling author and historian, sees Oneness not so much as a concept or an abstract state, but as a human goal — a call to put love and empathy into action and to remedy gender and economic inequalities that have prevented the full expression of unity consciousness.