When we remember that we all live by the same air, we can move beyond division and return to the values that truly sustain life.
Have you ever stopped to consider what truly connects us to the person standing next to us, or even to someone on the other side of the planet? We often focus on our differences—our nationalities, religions, or personal beliefs. But there is a fundamental technology for existence that we all share, yet often overlook: the air.
We can live without food or water for a short time, but without air, life ends for everyone in mere minutes. Air is the ultimate “absolute value.” It doesn’t care about our bank accounts, our political affiliations, or our status. It sustains us all equally and connects us in every moment.
From Relative to Absolute Values
Most of the values we prioritize—career success, social standing, and material security—are relative values. They are man-made and can change or disappear. While they have their place in society, they are not more precious than life itself.
Absolute values, like the air, the earth, and the sun, are the foundation of our existence. When we place man-made values above these natural ones, conflict and destruction often follow. By remembering that we and everything around us share a single origin, we can overcome the limitations of perception imposed by heritage, ideology, religion, and culture.
The Wisdom of “One”: Returning to the Origin
To understand our connection through the air, we can look to the Chun Bu Kyung, an ancient text containing the core of traditional Korean philosophy. At its heart is the character Il (One). In this context, “One” is not merely a number. It represents the source from which all life emerges and to which all life eventually returns. This principle of oneness can be understood through three dimensions: the root, the heart, and the action.
- The Root (Origin): Everything in the universe—the stars, the earth, the trees, and our own bodies—shares a single point of origin. When we realize this, we see that “separateness” is an illusion of the five senses. At our root, we are all the same energy.
- The Heart (Mindset): When we acknowledge this shared root, our internal state changes. We become more open to feeling Chunjikiun (the energy of the universe) and Chunjimaeum (the mind of the universe). If we were to summarize this universal mind in one word, it would be Love. It is a heart that embraces everything without judgment.
- The Action (Practice): Realization is only complete when it moves into our hands and feet. Someone who truly knows the value of oneness becomes a “happiness delivery person.” We don’t just seek peace for ourselves; we naturally act to share love and energy with others because we realize that helping another is, in fact, helping a part of ourselves.
By aligning our “angles”—our thoughts, words, and actions—with this principle of One, we increase the speed of our own growth. We stop fighting against the flow of life and start riding the energy of the universe, much like practicing qigong. We break down the walls of separation and meet our true selves in the space between each breath.
Breathing the Spirit of the Universe
If the “One” is the origin of everything, how do we experience it right now? The answer is as close as our next breath. In the Korean tradition of Sundo, breathing is understood as much more than a biological necessity. While we take in physical energy through the food we eat, we take in spiritual energy—the essence of the universe—through our breath.
When we inhale, we aren’t just taking in oxygen to fuel our cells; we are taking in Chunjikiun, the very energy of the heavens and earth. In this tradition, it is believed that the divine enters the body through the breath.
This realization transforms breathing from a background function into a sacred practice. It makes every breath:
- A moment of enlightenment: An immediate connection to the source of life.
- A bridge to oneness: A reminder that the air inside us was just a moment ago the air surrounding the trees, the mountains, and our neighbors.
- A lesson in humility: We cannot own the air; we can only receive it, use it, and let it go.
By breathing with this awareness, we stop being separate “relative” beings and start experiencing our “absolute” value. We realize that we are never truly separate from the whole. As long as we are breathing, we are in a constant state of communication and connection with the universe.
From Awareness to Earth Management
When we cherish the air, we naturally begin to cherish the Earth. If we truly realize that we all live in the same air, then the boundaries we create—national, religious, or ideological—begin to fade. We see the need to manage the earth as a whole. This broader view is not a “political” choice, but a requirement for our shared survival.
We are currently at a crossroads where we must choose between coexistence and co-destruction. By choosing to value the air and the “One” spirit that connects us, we move toward a spiritual civilization where truth can finally be communicated.
Practice: Breathing Meditation for Oneness
Today, I invite you to try a simple, practical exercise to reconnect with this absolute value:
- Sit comfortably and close your eyes.
- Focus on the breath, noticing the air entering the nose.
- Feel the connection: Inhale and remember that this same air has circulated around the entire globe. It has touched the trees, the oceans, and every other human being.
- Smile: Send a feeling of gratitude to the air for sustaining our lives without asking for anything in return.
By cherishing the air, we begin to cherish ourselves and the entire Earth. Let’s move toward a spiritual civilization where we all know that the truth of our oneness is the air we breathe.
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