Oneness with Joy and Peace: A Guide to Love and Likes-Dislikes
Namaste dear friends, and to all those who have ever truly loved,
Warm greetings and wishes to you all on the occasion of Shri Krishna Janmashtami.
“Why? Yogeshwar Krishna said in the Gita that “Love is true”. And through Gita Govinda, he explained the principle of Advaita or Oneness or Nonduality.”
“The first mention of non-duality or oneness is found in the Samaveda; that is why Krishna said in the Gita that among the Vedas, he is the Samaveda.”
So today, let us understand the importance of oneness for a life filled with joy and peace. To truly assimilate oneness, why is love the only essential medium? Let us try to know this.
But before that, it is important to understand love and the concepts of likes and dislikes.”
What is Love?
- Love arises naturally-it is spontaneous, not based on conditions, preferences, or dislikes.
- When we experience Oneness, the essence of love blossoms within us.
- Love in Oneness dissolves separation, embraces everyone from the heart, and unifies life with joy.
- Love emerges from a deep sense of connection and unity with everything and everyone.
- As an acknowledgement of our shared existence and interconnection, love flows freely, caring for all beings.
- To love fully, one has to let go of or dissolve one’s rigid self-identity or ego.
- Ultimately, love leads us towards Oneness.
What are Likes and Dislikes?
- Likes and dislikes fragment the mind. They are conditional and selective, born out of the ego’s tendency to separate based on similarities or differences.
- They are natural mental reactions, shaped by one’s experiences, upbringing, and personal tendencies.
- But separation is only a mental illusion – Oneness is the ultimate reality.
Benefits of Diverse Likes and Dislikes
- A variety of preferences enriches life’s experiences. They shape the many dimensions of the world we live in and lead to knowledge, creativity, and progress.
- From likes and dislikes have emerged beautiful varieties in music, languages, sports, drama, cultures, fashions, cuisines, and songs.
- Every person, situation, and experience is but a diverse manifestation of the same existence. Diversity is the play of Oneness. Recognising and wisely using this diversity is essential for harmony, joy, and peace.
The Harm of Excessive Likes and Dislikes
- However, rigid and extreme attachment to likes and dislikes leads to conflict, domination, discrimination, wars, poverty, social imbalance, diseases, unrest, and unethical practices. Ultimately, they bring fragmentation that cannot last long.
- Temporary gains may arise from such extreme attachments, but they are paid for with suffering, and stability is lost. Survive without excessiveness.
“All diversity is just a beautiful expression of the One! All it needs is love.”
“Diversity without excess is the true path to a bright future.”
What is Oneness or NonDuality?
- Oneness is the understanding that every person, situation, and experience is but an expression of the same universal essence or consciousness.
- In reality, separation does not exist—at the deepest level, all is One.
- Just as various forms of water—ocean, river, lake, mist, cupful—may appear different as salty, sweet, muddy, or mineral-rich, yet ultimately they are nothing but water. Likewise, all our emotions too are diverse expressions of the same existence.
- When Oneness is realised, it becomes easy to love everyone, jealousy and hostility fade, and compassion deepens—leading to joy and peace.
“Advaita/Oneness is to see everything as one; Love is to embrace all wholeheartedly.”
- Thus, living with love brings both inner peace and joy.
- The thought of “I” is just a concept—when “I” dissolves, only Oneness remains.
Essential Qualities for Living Love and Oneness
- Compassion: Be kind and empathetic to all.
- Humility: Let go of pride and the attitude of “I know best.”
- Patience: Accept changes and challenges with calmness.
- Self-reflection: Observe your emotions, thoughts, strengths, and weaknesses.
- Forgiveness: Release resentment and forgive mistakes.
- Acceptance: Embrace life and people as they are.
“The more you live with love and wisdom, the more joy and peace you experience—because you live in the truth of Oneness.”
Practising Advaita/Oneness through Love
- See unity in diversity
- Embrace unconditional acceptance
- Show compassion without limits
- Let go of ego
- Forgive with understanding
“The true way to live Advaita/Oneness is through love—seeing yourself in everyone, accepting all wholeheartedly, and transcending divisions of opinion and sides.”
For Our Society
In different societies, people celebrate the births and festivals of their revered figures, with the hope that one day someone will come to remove difficulties, sins, and suffering.
Thus, communities celebrate Krishna Janmashtami, Ram Navami, Hanuman Janmotsav, Navratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, Eid-e-Milad, and Christmas.
From scriptures and traditions like the Ramayana verses, Gita Govinda, Hanuman Chalisa, the Vedas and Puranas, tribal folk songs, Garba, hymns, and local devotional chants, society continues to grow and evolve.
So, let us smile and celebrate.
Celebrate life itself as a festival—with Oneness.
#HappyJanmashtami
#Janmashtami2025
#16August2025
Gujarati Version:
