WHAT IS UNITY IN DIVERSITY?And Why is it Important?

By Robyn E Lebron

LET’S DEFINE THEM

Merriam- Webster (1) defines Unity as:

1: the quality or state of not being multiple : Oneness or connectedness

2: a condition of harmony : Accord

Connected in some way or purpose

Merriam- Webster defines Diversity as:

1: the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : VARIETY

Especially : the inclusion of different types of people (such as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization

Having beliefs that are different, or being different in some way

UNITYThere is unity in the animal kingdom:An example would be the dog group.• They all eat meat, and have special teeth

for that.• They are all warm blooded, and give birth

to live young.• All have the same body structure of 4 legs, 2

ears, one tail and two eyes that face forward like all predators.

• They are all descendants from one of the Prehistoric dogs/wolves such as Borophagusfrom 12-2 million years ago. (2)

Habitat: Plains of North AmericaTime: Miocene-Pleistocene (12-2 million years ago)Size & Weight: About five feet long and 100 poundsDiet: MeatCharacteristics: Wolf-like body; large head with powerful jaws

DIVERSITYThere is diversity within the dog/wolf groups:• They vary in size from 4 lbs up to 250 lbs.• Some have no hair and some have LOTS of

hair.• They come in many different colors.• They are known for their loyalty (even

wolves are extremely loyal and mate for life).

• There are over 200 different dog breeds(3)

and three main types of wolves.(4)

• They have different personality traits and behaviors based on where they live and life experiences.

• Their lifespan varies between 8 and 20 yrsdepending on the size and breed of dog.

HOW DOES THIS DIVERSITY HAPPEN?According to science the building blocks of life are identical in everything.It begins with the ATOM. Everything in the universe (except energy) is made of matter which is a collection of atoms. So everything in the universe is made of atoms. An atom itself is made up of three tiny kinds of particles called subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons.(5)

The difference in the number of protons, neutrons and electrons inside atoms causes different Elements.Another thing to remember is that most things we see in the world are not single elements. Literally everything around us is composed of mixtures of elements:• A human being is made up of eleven

different elements.• A tree has nineteen elements.• Water is made up of only two elements.• A Limestone rock is made up of three

elements.Neutron

ProtonElectron

SO WHERE DOES THE UNITY COME IN?Everything in the world that we see:

• Is made up of Atoms.

• Is made of some combination of the 118 elements on the Periodic Table. (6)

• Is connected by the fact that everything living and everything that isn’t living is still made up of the SAME atoms.

• Contains an unseen force that scientists call “energy.”

Where is the Energy?You cannot see energy. It has no color or shape.

You cannot touch energy or smell energy.BUT, scientists have proven that energy does exist with the help of very sensitive equipment.They know that there is something that holds the three particles of the atom together in a never ending dance.

They have proven energy exists because of the EFFECT it has on all matter.

So what does that mean?It means that every person, every rock, every plant and every animal share two VERY important things in common.ALL matter, living and not, is made up of atoms.ALL matter, living or not has the same unseen energy holding their atoms together.

WHERE DOES THE ENERGY COME FROM?

No one knows. Some scientists say the energy was generated from The Big Bang.

Many say that energy cannot be created or destroyed. It just changes form based on the matter it is interacting with. Light energy is different than heat energy. The “Life energy” in living things is also different.

LIFE ENERGY – WHAT IS IT?Scientist now know that the human body has an electromagnetic (energy) field that effects many of our bodily functions, including disease and even healing.There have also been studies done where subjects are attached to wires and electricity is generated. The average human at rest, produces around 100 watts of power. Over periods of a few minutes, humans that are moving can produce 300-400 watts; and in the case of very short bursts of energy, such as sprinting, some humans can output over 2,000 watts. (7)

LIFE ENERGY – WHAT IS IT?

There has been an increase in the study of plant Biology and energy. It has been discovered that plants have genes similar to those of an animal’s nervous system; specific proteins that have been shown to have definite roles in the plant’s functions and even though they are not exactly the same as animals, they are believed to behave in very similar ways. It has also been discovered that plants communicate with each other through their roots, and even share nutrients.Trees synthesize different forms of energy to feed themselves – light, water, and nutrients from the soil; the quantity and quality playing a key role in their overall health and vitality.

Trees transfer information through chemical signals sent from their leaves (photo credit: Kirlian Photography).

The electrical signals in a tree’s tissues travel approximately one to two seconds per inch. Because these signals can take several minutes to travel from the top of the tree to the roots, trees simultaneously transfer information through chemical signals sent out from their leaves. (8)

ENERGY IS THE BASIS OF UNITYAll matter has atoms, which are held together by energy.

Energy is the life force that effects the way all matter functions from the single-celled organism to the amazingly complex human being.

Energy can not be destroyed, only used and shared.

There are new areas of science that are investigating how humans can tap into and even strengthen their personal energy through the use of ancient practices.

These metaphysical scientists believe that the energy in our bodies is actually our “spiritual source” that we share with all life on this planet.

This “Spiritual Cosmic Life Force” is inter-connected so deeply that anything we do has an immediate effect on the material world around us.

CITATIONShttps://www.merriam-webster.com/

https://www.thoughtco.com/prehistoric-dog-pictures-and-profiles-4045031https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/behavior-appearance/how-many-dog-breeds-are-there

https://www.wolfworlds.com/wolf-species/http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/propulsion/1-what-is-an-atom.htmlhttps://nation.com.pk/08-Jan-2019/periodic-table-of-chemical-elements-turns-150-in-2019

https://explore.scimednet.org/index.php/2016/04/02/the-human-energy-field/

http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2014/ph240/labonta1/

https://upliftconnect.com/plant-neurobiology-trees-humans/

ARE ENERGY AND SPIRIT DIFFERENT?

By Robyn E Lebron

LET’S DEFINE THEMMerriam-Webster (1) defines Energy as:

1: dynamic quality; the capacity of acting or being active

2: a usually positive spiritual force;the energy flowing through all people

Merriam-Webster defines Spirit as:1: an animating or vital principle held to give life to physical organisms

2:the immaterial intelligent or sentient part of a person

3: the activating or essential principle influencing a person

ENERGYThe Properties of Energy:• Energy cannot be seen, touched or smelled• Energy is still a mystery in many ways• It was discovered by observing its “effect” on other

material objects:(2)

We cannot see the energy, but we can see the light from a light bulb.

• Energy is known to exist in ALL things because of its relationship with the Atom: Inside an atom, the positive and negative charges of the subatomic particles stay together because energy holds them together.

Types of Energy: There are different forms of energy, but none can be seen or touched. Only the “effect” that produces end results proves that energy exists.

The different types of energy include 1. thermal energy 2. radiant energy 3. chemical energy4. nuclear energy 5. electrical energy 6. motion energy 7. sound energy 8. elastic energy and 9. gravitational energy. (3)

DIVERSITY IN ENERGYAlthough there are many different things that energy does(4), it is all the SAME energy source:

The energy in all atoms and all things in the material world.

Remember that energy cannot be created or destroyed. It only transfers from one form to another.

WHAT IS ENERGY TRANSFER?Science has now established the Plants, animals and humans have a form of energy.

There have been scientific discoveries documenting these types of energy.We now know that every living and non-living being on Earth vibrates at a frequency of energy.

As you interact with your surroundings, an energy exchange takes place between you and other people, plants and animals.

A discovery that plants can transfer energy from other plants:

At Bielfield University, a biological research team discovered that plants can draw energy from other plants. It all started with an Alga that uses the normal form of drawing energy from light, water and carbon dioxide.

But the study observed that when the Alga had a shortage of energy from its ordinary sources, it could draw energy from neighboring plants by secreting enzymes breaking the matter down into sugar. This is transported into the Alga’s cells and turned into energy. It’s a simple way of taking life force from other plants.(5)

TRANSFERRING ENERGY?What have you experienced?

Have you ever talked with someone who is really angry, and afterwards you feel uncomfortable or stressed?

You have experienced a “Spiritual energy” transfer!

The energy is transferred in the same way a light bulb transfers light.

Uncomfortable in a group or place?

You probably have been some place where you just felt uncomfortable, without knowing why.

The spiritual energy or “vibes” that you are feeling are coming from outside of you. It is probably a mix of positive and negative energy, and it can feel unsettling.

POSITIVE & NEGATIVE ENERGY

There are many different forms of spiritual energy, just like there are many forms of regular energy. BOTH types of energy are connected.

Remember that energy is not created, but transformed and transferred through a process.

People can feel the energy that is projected by their surroundings and by other people and animals.

Imagine you are IN these two places. What are you feeling?What types of energy are you receiving?

It is very common for people who live in cities to take vacations somewhere peaceful and quiet. WHY do they do that?

WHAT ABOUT HUMAN TO ANIMAL TRANSFER?There have been lots of studies about human to animals spiritual energy transfer.They now know that if you are around a strange dog, and you are fearful, the dog will feel your energy, and react accordingly.(6) The energy you give off makes the dog sense uncertainty, so they immediately go into “defense” or “strike” mode.There has also been documentation of dogs and their humans having deep spiritual connections.

HUMAN TO PLANT TRANSFERRING?In this experiment, the plants were in glass tubes, so the CO2 was not the key.For one month, the students were instructed to be rude and bully the plant on the left, and praise and give out positive energy to the plant on the right. (7)

The words were converted to a computerized voice to maintain equal voice tone. Light, water and fertilizer was identical, and the difference in the plants was astounding!Not only can nature have an effect on your spirit, but you can have an effect on nature.

An experiment was done to test to see if exchange of positive and negative energy would effect plants.(7)

You’ve probably heard people say they talk to their plants and the plants thrive.

But others say it is merely the carbon dioxide or CO2 that your breath emits. (CO2is something plants use to convert energy)

WHY DO WE CALL IT “SPIRITUAL ENERGY”?Energy is the life force that effects the way all matter functions from the single-celled organism to the amazingly complex human being. Energy can not be destroyed -- only used and shared.

In most energy transfer systems there is direct physical contact. Like the nuclear power plant produces energy which is then “sent” to locations that disperse it to your home or business. It then goes into the wiring, and its effect is seen when the lights turn on.

There is never a space where the energy is not connected in some way.

Metaphysical scientists believe that the energy in our bodies is actually our “spiritual source” that we share with all life on this planet.

And we can share this without physical contact. Our spiritual energy is shared through the cosmic life energy that we all share.

This “Spiritual Cosmic Life Force” is inter-connected so deeply that anything we do has an immediate effect on the material world around us.

CITATIONShttps://www.merriam-webster.com/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_energyhttps://thinglink.comhttps://www.learning-mind.com/absorb-transfer-energy-plants/https://phys.org/news/2012-11-algae-energy.htmlhttps://wagwalking.com/behavior/why-do-dogs-attack-when-they-sense-fearhttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5703247/Bizarre-experiment-shows-talking-plants-thrive.html

WHY IS UNITY IN DIVERSITY IMPORTANT?

By Robyn E Lebron

And what does that have to do with Energy, “spiritual” or otherwise?

A WORLD FULL OF DIVISIONAs we discussed, ALL life has the same atoms and energy, but it is not visible to the eyes.Unfortunately, this connection is so tiny and not part of our personal lives that people don’t think about it.Instead, humankind is focusing on how we are different.But in truth our differences are only on the outside. Inside we share the same atoms.

WHAT DIVIDES US?What are some things that divide us into groups?• Geography in the world

• Local geography

• Culture of our parents

• Political concepts

• Religion of our ancestors

• Moral and ethical examples from our teachers

• Income

• Education

• Physical capabilities/ health

• Sex

• Skin color

List them in the order of how these might effect a person’s life.Keep in mind that the order of importance will vary by country!

• Africa may be Sex – Income – Religion – Culture • North Korea might be Politics – Culture – Physical• North America could be Religion – Income – Color –

Education

Also understand that the geography of people plays a huge part of things like culture, religion and income.

The problem is that these differences are used to divide us, and some people get really hurt by the constant division.

The lesson here is to always remember that there is underlying energy that unites us, despite our differences.

WHAT UNITES US?There are basics that unite us all:• Physical body composed of atoms and

energy –we are all the same inside.• We all feel pain and sorrow• We all have a desire for happiness• We all have Love for family and friends• We all have desires to feel successful• We all have concerns about the future• We all have a desire for world peace• We all have the connection of our

spiritual energy!

But there are also many other things human share like music, art, sports and good food.

DO WE HAVE TO CHANGE?

YES….and No.

There are some things that we cannot change.

• You can’t change who your parents are…but you don’t have to be exactly like your parents…

• You can’t change the color of your skin, of our skin, but we can make sure that we treat everyone the same. If the human skin were transparent, we would all be the same.

• You don’t have to change your culture or religion to like someone who is different.

• You don’t have to “follow the crowd” and hate people you have never met.

There are ways we all can change.

We can understand that some cultures are necessary for certain parts of the world. And that is how they became “cultures”…through generations.

We can learn about others that are different so that the “fear of the unknown” is gone.

We can accept that what we have been told may not be correct. NOT that anyone lied to you, but they just shared what they “heard” somewhere. Look for the Truth yourself.

We can start to share positive energy with others and work towards a better world.

COOPERATION = MORAL SIMILARITIES“Moral judgments depend on an “internal sense or feeling, which nature has made universal in the whole species.” What we are calling our spiritual energy that runs through all things.”

“Noting that certain qualities, including “truth, justice, courage, temperance, constancy, dignity of mind . . . friendship, sympathy, mutual attachment, and fidelity” were pretty universal.” (1)

People everywhere face a similar set of social problems, and use a similar set of moral rules to solve them.

There was research study done in 60 different societies from around the world, and they all believed in the following definitions of “Good Morality.” Their understanding of what is moral effected their level of cooperation and positive interaction with others.

It’s important to note that NONE of these codes of morality mentioned color, nationality or culture.

The team found that these 7 cooperative behaviors were considered morally good in 99.9% of cases across cultures. The evidence was overwhelming in widespread adherence to those moral values.

MORAL SIMILARITIES = GOLDEN RULE

Throughout the history of mankind, Spiritual teachers, seers and prophets have spoken of a universal “moral code” that has become known today as The Golden Rule.

What is fascinating is the amount of time and distance between all the spiritual leaders. Yet they all spoke of the same message…connected through time and space by the “Universal Spiritual Energy” that connects us all.

A span of over 3000 years and thousands of miles, the same message was transmitted through the energy that connects us all.

Hinduism: 3200 BC, From the Hitopadesa- "One should always treat others as they themselves wish to be treated."

Jainism: 500 BC “One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated.” Mahavira, Sutrakritanga

Judaism: 1300 BC, from the Old Testament, Leviticus 19:18- "Thou shalt Love thy neighbor as thyself."

Zoroastrianism: 600 BC, From the Shast-na-shayast 13:29- "Whatever is disagreeable to yourself, do not do unto others."

Buddhism: 560 BC, From the Udanavarga 5:18- "Hurt not others with that which pains yourself."

Confucianism: 557 BC, From the Analects 15:23- "What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others."

Christianity: 30 BCE, From the King James Version , 7:12- "Whatsoever ye would that others should do to you, do ye even so to them.“ (2)

Islam 600 BCE: “Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.” The Prophet Muhammad, Hadith 1.11.33 31aBahá'í 1860 BCE: “Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself.” Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings (3)

PROBLEMS SOLUTIONSWhat are the biggest problems that the we face today?The answers might vary from person to person in terms of importance, but most people will agree on the list.

Climate IssuesWars or fear of wars

PovertyInequality

Lack of WaterEndangered animals and

ecosystems

How can finding Unity help?

Willingness to sacrifice togetherLearning that we are all ONE connected human familyFeeling more willing to share with “family”Realizing that inside our spiritual energy is equal and connected – we are ALL equal.Working together to create better systemsRealizing that EVERYTHING is literally connected to us through our spiritual energy. The cause and effect will effect us too.

FINAL THOUGHTS

There are many people that try to divide us based on things that we can see.

Science and spirituality show us that we are all made up of atoms and energy--fundamentally, there is unity in our diversity.

CITATIONS

https://qz.com/1562585/the-seven-moral-rules-that-supposedly-unite-humanity/http://www.thegoldenrule.net/quotes.htmhttps://yhteisymmarrysviikko.fi/wp-content/uploads/sites/16//Golden-rule-across-the-worlds-religions.pdf

https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-telling-the-world-about-hinduism-full-text-of-swami-vivekananda-s-historic-speech-in-1893-2164870

CAN SPIRITUAL ENERGY HEAL?

By Robyn E Lebron

WHEN ENERGY IS TRANSFERRED?We talked earlier about ways that energy is transferred:• Physical transfer like heat or light from a power source• Emotional energy transferred between people• Transfer of nutrients and energy between plants• Spiritual energy transferred between people and

plants or animals.

WHY IS ENERGY TRANSFER POSSIBLE?• How can different beings transfer energy to

each other?• How can a person give energy to a plant?• How does an animal sense a human’s energy?• How does a piece of coal provide energy to a

light bulb?

THE ENERGY IS ALREADY THERE

Remember:• Energy is in every atom, in

every thing, living or not.• The energy is never created

or destroyed. • Energy can be changed by

the interaction of two objects.

The energy in the coal molecules is released…

when it is crushed and burned at the factory.

and the light turns on when it receives the energy through the wires in your home.

The power put out by the factory goes to a transformer that sends the energy through wires…

IT IS THE SAME WITH LIVING THINGSWith the use of special equipment people have been able to capture the energy field around humans, animals and plants.

It is called Kirlian Photography, named after the man who discovered it.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?Science has now established that plants, animals and humans all have a form of energy. As you interact with your surroundings, an energy exchange takes place between you and other people, plants and animals.

We are all inter-connected with this life force that is constantly being exchanged in a flow of invisible energy.

We can have positive connections that strengthen us andthose things we connect with…

Or we can have negative connections thatincrease the anxiety and stress in the things weconnect with.

TRANSFERRING ENERGY?The Cycle of Life is a constant transfer of the life force we call “energy”

1. A plant get’s its energy from the earth, the water and the sun.

2. Animals eat the plants and changes the plants’ life force into energy to fuel their bodies.

3. Larger animals eat the plant eaters, and transfer their life force into energy for their bodies.

4. When the larger animals die, their bodies then transform back into the earth that feeds theplants. Each process is dependent on the other-- because all are connected in the circle.

A Native American Chief explains it well, “Man did not weave the web of life. He is merely a strand of it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.”

THE EARTH HAS ENERGY AS WELLIt has been known by many civilizations, there are places that were considered sacred and filled with great spiritual energy. They could feel the energy at these special locations. Even today people say they can feel it.

Many built temples on these places, like the Mayan Temples, the Western Wall in Jerusalem and Stonehenge. Machu Picchu is still considered today to be linked to the “energy centers of the world.”

THERE ARE ALSO SACRED NATURAL SITESSacred natural sites are natural features or areas of land or water having special spiritual significance to peoples and communities.

Places like Lake Titicaca in the Andes, and Mt Fuji in Japan are considered to be sacred places filled with strong spiritual earth energy.

IS IT SCIENCE FICTION OR IS IT POSSIBLE?

In the Movie Avatar, the indigenous people were literally connected to the animals, and the plants.Their “mother” Eywa and the Tree of Souls connected all things.And when they were is need, they all came together andconnected so that their spiritual energy could flow together.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR HUMANKIND?It is important that we understand that we share this small rock in space that we call “Earth.”

It is important that we realize that our own Spiritual Energy is flowing through andaround us all day, every day. That energy depending on how you “feed” it, can grow a positive way or a negative way.

Then your energy goes out into the world and touches everything you come in contact with.You can make a difference in the world, by feeding your spiritual energy in a positive way, and by making an effort to share that positive energy with other living things on this planet.

We are ALL united and connected by this eb and flow of spiritual energy. Open yourself to it. Allow it to flow to others to heal our world.

CITATIONShttps://www.pinterest.com/positivekristen/aura-photography/https://www.pinterest.com/pin/154248355958484260/https://www.crystalinks.com/kirlianhttp://iheartphotograph.blogspot.com/2008/10/archive-violet-aura.html

https://www.pinterest.com/eampem/kirlian-photography/https://innerself.com/content/living/science-a-technology/8891-mother-earth-alive-conscious-aura-chakras-ley-lines.html

SCIENCE AND RELIGION AGREE

By Robyn E Lebron

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON ENERGY HEALINGReiki (pronounced raykey) is a form of “energy healing,” essentially the Asian version of faith healing or laying on of hands.

Practitioners transfer life energy to the patient, increasing their well-being. The practice is popular among nurses, and in fact is practiced by nurses at Yale.(1)

Because of scientific research, there are now over 800 American Hospitals using energy healing on their patients as part of their treatment plans.A famous heart surgeon Dr Oz has started asking Reiki Practitioners to treat patients during open heart surgery. (2)

ENERGY TRANSFERS TO PLANTS AND ANIMALSAs we discussed earlier, plants and animals can be affected by the energy humans send out.This energy flow happens without any effort on our parts.But Reiki is the process of deliberately sending out positive healing energy from one being to another.It is used mostly on humans, but some is now being used on plants and animals too. (3)(4)(5)

WHAT DO RELIGIONS SAY ABOUT SOUL?The Bahá'í Faith describes the soul as a sign from God soul is a sign of God, an unseen gift whose mystery can ever understand.

In Hindu philosophy, Ātman is the first principle, the true self of an individual beyond identification with phenomena, the essence of an individual.

In Jainism, every living being, from plant or bacterium to human, has a soul and the concept forms the very basis of Jainism. According to Jainism, there is no beginning or end to the existence of soul.

The Quran, the holy book of Islam, distinguishes between the immortal spirit, (consciousness or soul) and the mortal body (ego)

The atma or soul according to Sikhism is an entity or "spiritual spark" or "light" in our body because of which the body can sustain life.

The Catholic Church defines the soul as "the innermost aspect of humans, that which is of greatest value in them, that by which they are in God's image described as 'soul' signifies the spiritual principle in man"

A MYSTERY OF THE AGES

Hinduism 6500 BCE

Jainism 2600 BCE

Islam 570 CE

Catholicism 35 CE

Baha'i 1900 CE

Indians teach of “Prana”– Life force 1500 BCE (6)

Chinese teach of “Qi” – Human energy 500 BCE (7)

Discovery of Energy 1818 CE

Quantum Physics discover “Human Energy” 1920 CE

Religion Science

WHAT IS NEXT FOR HUMANKIND?Thousands of years ago, scholars, seers and wise men “felt” the energy life force inside all life and looked for answers.

They wrote about it in many languages, many countries and many places in the world.They did not know each other. There was no internet or cell phones, and yet the story they tell is the same!

Now, in this 21st century, science has finally caught up. With the help of advanced equipment, they have now been able to prove the existence of things not seen before now.

The Energy Life Force in all life! Some call it the soul, and some call it spirit, but it is what connects us all to each other and to the earth and everything on it!

CITATIONShttps://sciencebasedmedicine.org/reiki/

https://www.uclahealth.org/rehab/workfiles/urban%20zen/research%20articles/reiki_really_works-a_groundbreaking_scientific_study.pdfhttps://wiki.nurserylive.com/t/wow-reiki-heals-not-only-human-but-plants-also-check-this-experiment/594https://www.reikisimo.com/reiki-uses.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4654779/https://www.thinksmarterworld.com/the-re-discovery-of-the-human-energy-field/https://www.gaia.com/article/what-pranayama-history

Unity in Diversity Curriculum March 31, 2020

Chapter One: We begin with the problem: “Us vs Them”

Throughout history there have been clashes between groups of people. In every case, there was something that made them feel “separate” or “different:

Heritage Color Religion Country Politics Sexual orientation…and on, and on… What we will attempt to teach is that beneath ALL things that make us different, there are things that make us alike.

In the world today there is so much division, that it doesn’t seem to matter what group you discuss, there is another group they “are against.” In fact, it has become so common place that people are beginning to believe we will never find world peace.

In truth, there are areas of the world that have been fighting “religious wars” for decades. Political adversaries are more adamant than ever, and Conservative vs Liberal is a new “catch phrase.” So HOW to we start moving in the other direction?

We must “peel away” the onion to reach what’s truly inside!

So, what does that mean? An onion has many layers, as you know. The point here is that we need to go through the “layers” of human kind, and get down to the core of what is most important.

What layers are we talking about?

Culture & Religion Skin and hair Color

Country of Birth Political Views Likes & DislikesFamily Genetics

DNA & Atoms

Energy Energy

Physical Sex

How do we know about the energy inside of us?

All life like plants, animals and people are composed of DNA.

DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. It's the genetic code that determines all the characteristics of a living thing.

With highly sensitive equipment, scientists discovered that all life is made of Cells.

Scientists concluded that the average human body contains approximately 37.2 trillion cells! Of course, your body will have more or fewer cells than that total, depending upon how your size compares to the average human being, but that's a good starting point for estimating the number of cells in your own body!

Inside of each cell nucleus are Chromosomes. These chromosomes work together to create the different living things. • Humans have 46 Chromosomes in each cell.• Dogs have 39 Chromosomes• Cats have 38 Chromosomes• An elephant has 56 Chromosomes• A kangaroo only has 16 Chromosomes

Plants also have Chromosomes and DNA. • Potatoes have 48• Wheat has 42• Corn has 20• Bananas have 33• Even Mold has 4 Chromosomes!

The Chromosomes carry the information about the Genes. And the chromosomes when connected together become what we call the DNA.

So, when you peel away the outside layers of a human or a dog or elephant…. we ALL have the same basic structure of Nucleus Cell Gene Chromosome DNA.

But wait! What does that all have to do with the energy inside us?! Now let’s go inside a little deeper and find out! The discovery of the nucleus inside of each cell did not happen until the scientific equipment was able to see things that small. Various scientists in the 1700-1800s were working on this discovery at the same time. Then later as scientific equipment became more sophisticated, they were able to determine that inside each nucleus was a collection of ATOMS. The atom is called the building block of life. Every living thing, and as we’ll discuss later, every non-living thing is composed of atoms! So, let’s connect the dots we have so far: Human beings are composed of trillions of cells, each cell containing a nucleus which has trillions of atoms.

Atom Nucleus Cell Gene Chromosome DNA

But plants and other animals also have the same basic structure. Only the make-up of their atoms and chromosomes vary.

Nucleus

The ENERGY which we spoke of is inside each and every atom!

So now we have ventured inside of the Cell, deep into the nucleus of the cell which contains the atoms which all things on earth share. EVERYTHING, living and not living, contain atoms.

Let’s go even deeper inside to find out more!

Every Atom is composed of Protons (which have a positive charge), Electrons (which have a negative charge) and Neutrons (which have no charge). As you know if you have ever played with magnets, in one direction they will stick together, but if you turn them over, they actually push each other away. You cannot force them together no matter how hard you try.

So how do these negative and positive particles stay together?

That’s where the energy comes in! It was in the mid-1800s that there was a discovery of what is now called “Energy”. Energy is invisible, odorless, tasteless and colorless….so HOW was its existence established?

The concept of something existing was first mentioned by Aristotle in the 4th century BC. It was later called “living force” in the 17th century by a German mathematician and philosopher. The actual term “energy” wasn’t used until the mid-18th century.

By that time people recognized things like heat and light, sound and chemical reactions, but the underlying source was still a mystery!

Then as physics and microbiology became more involved, the study of the building blocks of existence became a focus.

It’s interesting to note that the concept of the atom was actually first mentioned by a philosopher in Greece in 450 BC. He wondered what would happen if you cut an apple into smaller and smaller pieces until a point would be reached where it could not be cut any smaller. He called these "uncuttable" pieces atomos. This is where the modern term atom comes from.

Then in the 1800s a chemist who worked with gasses and other chemical compounds, realized that a compound always consists of the same elements in the same ratio. On the other hand, different compounds always consist of different elements or ratios. This can happen, He reasoned, only if elements are made of tiny particles that can combine in an endless variety of ways. From his research the theory of the atom was developed.

It was almost 100 years later that a physicist discovered that there were particles INSIDE each atom. The number and combination of those particles is how each atom functions. The beginning of the discovery of the “elements” then began. In the 1800s, 56 elements were categorized by their atomic structures, and in the late 1800’s a Russian Chemist started what we now call the Periodic Table. As of 2016, there have been 118 elements discovered.

It wasn’t until the first atom was split in 1932, that there was an awareness of some invisible and powerful force inside.

In realizing that each and every atom has positive and negative forces, the question arose: “What keeps the atom together?” These opposing forces should cause the atom to break apart instantly. So, the search for this unseen force that hold every atom on the planet together began.

Today we understand that this force that holds the sub-atomic particles together in endless motion, is also the tremendous force that is released when an atom is split. We call it ENERGY!

So, let us go back up the ladder.

1. Energy holds the sub-atomic particles of every atom together. 2. Everything in existence is composed of atoms…so, everything in existence contains energy. 3. Atoms are at the center of the nucleus that is contained in every cell of every living thing…so every

living thing contains energy.

Unity in Diversity Curriculum

Chapter Two: Study of the atom and energy Let us recap what we learned from Chapter One.

1. Energy holds the sub-atomic particles of every atom together. 2. Atoms are at the center of the nucleus that is contained in every cell of every living thing…so every living

thing contains energy. 3. Everything in existence is composed of atoms…so, everything in existence contains energy.

We talked a lot about the atom and how it is made up of different elements. Everything living or non-living thing is made up of some combination of elements. The quantity of each element will change the makeup of the atom, which in turn effects the outcome. For example: H2= two molecules of Hydrogen and one molecule of Oxygen when combined H2O = make Water… BUT Two molecules of Hydrogen and TWO molecules of Oxygen = H2O2 make up Hydrogen Peroxide

The same elements making two totally different materials

C= Carbon is another fascinating element that can be found in both living and non-living material. • A diamond is made of a pure form of Carbon • Pencil lead is made of a mixture of Carbon and powdered clay. • Plants have 17 different elements including Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and more. • Humans are almost totally made up of six elements:

Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Calcium, and Phosphorus. The rest is composed of another five elements: Potassium, Sulfur, Sodium, Chlorine, and Magnesium.

So, each material in the world has its own combination of elements ordered in a specific way to create a specific material. Living and non-living materials are all composed of atoms which contain various combinations of elements.

The question we should ask ourselves here is “How and why do these different elements choose to combine together in different combinations and quantities to create all material existence as we know it?”

And… “Where did the energy come from that holds these elements, molecules and sub-atomic particles together?” Is it all by chance? An accident?

Scientists now believe that energy is eternal. You cannot create it or destroy it. Energy merely changes from one form to another…but it is always present.

For example: A plant like corn or wheat or lettuce gets nutrients from the soil (minerals and other elements, including organic material like decomposed bugs or plant matter). The plant absorbs energy from those elements in the soil. It also gets thermal energy from the sun. This energy is not “used” or destroyed…it changes into the plants’ new growth. The energy is in every cell.

Then when a human or animal eats that plant, the energy is converted again. Food isn't just generic energy--it's molecular information. Or sometimes if people eat meat, they get the energy that is transferred from the plant to the cow.

In addition to fueling our bodies, food serves as building blocks for hormones, brain chemicals, and cell membranes. Any time your body exerts extra energy, it requires “fuel” just like an automobile needs gasoline to run. This is called mechanical energy.

Then when the people or animals’ bodies are ready to leave this earth, they are returned to the earth, and those physical bodies help transfer energy back into the soil and plants, and help to feed the animals of the earth.

You may have heard the phrase “The Circle of Life” …and it truly is a never-ending circle.

Many of the world’s religions wrote about this centuries before this actual transfer of the life force was discovered by scientists:

510 BCE Buddhism— “What Buddhists Believe” by Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda Maha Thera In the eyes of the Buddha, the world is nothing but the cycle of repeated births and deaths. To Him, the beginning of the world and the end of the world is within this cycle. Since elements and energies are relative and inter-dependent, it is meaningless to single out anything as the beginning.

1800 BCE Bereishit - Genesis - Chapter 2: 7-8 7And the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and He breathed into his nostrils the soul of life, and man became a living soul. 8And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden from the east, and He placed there the man whom He had formed.

100 CE The Holy Bible — Ecclesiastics 3:19-20 19For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile. 20All go to one place: All come from dust, and all return to dust. 600 CE The Holy Qur’an—30 Romans. 20 20 Among His signs is that He created you from dust…

The Energy Life Force in all living things

After the discovery that energy can’t be destroyed or created, followed by the discovery that ALL atoms contain energy, scientists began to wonder WHERE does the energy go when it is transferred from one source to another?

There are several different types of energy, as classified by what the energy does. • Radiant Energy • Thermal energy • Electrical energy • Chemical energy • Mechanical energy • Nuclear energy In every case the energy cannot be seen touched or smelt, but we know it exists by the affects it produces.

The bodies of animals and humans turn the chemical energy (the chemical reaction that happens when the energy is broken down and converted into another form) from food into the energy that gives us the ability to move…to run…to jump…and that is called mechanical energy (the ability to make different parts move to accomplish a certain result.)

It works exactly the same in a car. Cars burn gasoline. Oxygen is supplied from the air and causes a chemical reaction with the gasoline in the engine, where mechanical energy is produced and makes all the various parts of the car run.

In every case we have discussed the energy is never lost but is transformed into another form of energy.

Plant Cow Milk Human Dirt Plant

Ground Oil Gasoline Car

But we can see Radiant energy in lights and the sun. We can feel thermal energy from heaters and the sun. We know that electrical energy exists because our televisions work.

But how do we know that plants and animals have energy?

First of all, we know that every atom in a living thing is held together by energy. Modern science has proven that. But what is fascinating is that this knowledge is ancient. It was known long before there were any scientific discoveries or equipment in existence.

For thousands of years some of the oldest writings in the world talk about the Life Force:

3100 BCE-- In the Hindu Bhagavadgita, Krishna, the divine mouthpiece of the formless, speaks as follows: Earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect, and ego — these are eight components of my material energy. Such is my inferior energy. But beyond it, O mighty-armed Arjun, I have a superior energy. This is the jīva śhakti (the life force), which comprises the embodied souls who are the basis of life in this world.

2100 BCE—Taoism teaches: There was something undefined and complete, coming into existence before Heaven and Earth. “There is Being that is all-inclusive and that existed before Heaven and Earth. Calm, indeed, and incorporeal! It is alone and changeless!” The universe has two apparent aspects: the invisible and the visible. The Tao is the indiscernible essence of existence that underlies and brings forth all things, nurtures and sustains them, and then draws them back to return to their subtle source.

100 CE The Holy Bible states: “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

How did these ancient Spiritual teachers know about this energy life force?

There are also many forms of healing that use energy that are being revived from ancient teachings like Ti Chi, Qigong and Reiki. All of these spiritual health practices are very ancient, and there has been an increase in their uses in modern times. They are all becoming more accepted and even used in some hospitals, due to the scientific communities’ ability to prove that this energy not only exists, but is healing.

Through the use of special photographic and measuring equipment, scientists have not only been able to prove the existence of spiritual energy in plants, animals and humans; They have been able to capture this spiritual life force on film. These are actual photographs taken of a plant, a moth and a human hand. The energy signature that you see is generally referred to as an “Aura.”

They have also been able to measure the levels of energy that come off a human being based on the level of activity.

A man who is running on a treadmill will generate more energy than a man who is sitting down and reading. So, we can see that this life force exists, and we know now that it has the power

to heal. But we have also discovered that this energy can be transferred even when we are not aware that we are doing it. Have you ever been in a room that felt “weird” or wrong? You feel

uncomfortable but you don’t know why. You are feeling the energy that the other people in the room are generating. Perhaps everyone in the room is angry or sad about something. There is a saying, “The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.”

They have also done experiments on speaking and sending bad energy to plants, and they are actually affected. So, we are beginning to see that everything we do has a cause and affect on the world around us. This belief is something that has been a cornerstone for indigenous populations. The trees, the mountains the animals and humankind are all connected with this spiritual life force. Each dependent on the other. How are you affecting your world?

Unity in Diversity Curriculum

Chapter Three: Energy Life Force

As we discussed in Chapter Two, the ancient spiritual scientists and Indigenous peoples knew about the energy life force in all things long before scientists actually discovered it.

3100 BCE-- In the Hindu Bhagavadgita, Krishna, the divine mouthpiece of the formless, speaks as follows:

Earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect, and ego — these are eight components of my material energy. Such is my inferior energy. But beyond it, O mighty-armed Arjun, I have a superior energy. This is the jīva śhakti (the life force), which comprises the embodied souls who are the basis of life in this world.

The native population and the aboriginal populations of various countries in the world are now referred to as “Indigenous,” which means the peoples who natural originated in any particular place or country.

In those days there was no internet, radio, television to distract peoples’ thoughts or senses.

They were more aware of the senses and had the ability to feel this life force in the world around them.

Because of their deep sense of connection to this energy life force, they developed an all-encompassing respect for everything on the earth.

They had no formal teachings about a god or gods as we have today, but they still sensed there was something greater. The names they gave ranged from The Great Spirit, The Great Spider or Great Mystery, to later developing names like Nah-too-si and Yowa. Each local tribe or group has its name for God, but the people believe that it is the one and same God who is given different names and who is the ultimate source of all the other spiritual beings, the universe and all that it contains. In the oldest African religion, there was a saying, “no-one has to teach a child about god.”

In addition to the concept of something greater, they also felt powerful spiritual energy in specific places that they determined were “Sacred.” These places were considered to be “closer to God” and are still revered today.

These places are all over the world.

• Machu Pichu in South America • Mt Fuji in Japan • Mt Sinai in Egypt • The Wailing Wall in Jerusalem • Mecca in Saudi Arabia • And many more…

It is believed that if you visit these places you can feel the spiritual energy life force there. Thousands of people come from all over the world to experience this themselves.

God in All

Then there are eastern religions that have a slight twist on this “god spark” concept. Religions that teach that a small part of God is in each rock, fish, plant and human…and that this life force connects us all.

In fact, there is one eastern religion that teaches that you must never kill anything. In Jainism, the monks actually sweep the ground before they walk, to make sure there is not even the tiniest bug that they might step

on. They will not eat meat of any kind, and they won’t eat any vegetable that has to be pulled out of the ground. For example, if you pull a carrot out of the ground, that plant will never grow again…so essentially you just “killed” it.

Along with these ideas of the god spark in everything, came the teachings of the care and proper use of everything on the earth. Prayers were said before a hunt, that turned it into a sacred practice. The animals were blessed and thanked in deep sincerity for the sacrifice they made so that a man’s family might eat. Nothing was discarded. Every part of the animal or plant was used in respect for the great value inside. It was believed that if you are killing something that contains a god spark, it is crucial to do it with thankfulness and reverence.

In other religions that started hundreds of years and thousands of miles away…the concepts were there as well! In Buddhism the concept of “right behavior” includes how they eat. The Buddhist must stop and think about the food they are eating. A Buddhist asks himself these five basic but essential questions:

• What food is this? = The origin of the food and how it reached me. • Where does it come from? = The amount of work necessary to grow the food, prepare it, cook it and

bring it to the table. • Why am I eating it? = Do I deserve this food or not? Am I worthy of it? • When should I eat and benefit from this food? = Food is a necessity and a healing agent because I am

subjected to illness without food. • How should I eat it? One should eat it slowly with reverence and thankfulness.

Then science steps in thousands of years later, and proves that this spiritual energy concept is REAL! It is important to note here, that this concept is now confirmed by modern science in reference to the energy inside every atom that cannot be destroyed…but will be exchanged between every living and non-living thing in existence. AMAZING!

This reverence and understanding of the circle of life can help Humankind take better care of everything around us; the plants, the water, the animals and each other….after all, we are all connected!

Lack of Awareness So what is the problem with the world today?

People are so busy “making a difference” in their world, but the difference they are making is not what this circle of life needs:

They are trying to make money They are trying to get power They are trying to increase their physical comforts They want to be famous or rich

They compete with each other

These things are centered around “Self” and each person is an “island” seperated from the whole. So the needs of the whole are never discussed or considered. It isn’t until there is a sense of “connectedness” that people start to open their hearts. The first connection is “Family.” Then people who are less self-oriented, open their hearts to their group of close friends….then comes their community or village. Eventually if they are truly connected to their spiritual energy, they begin to think of the world and the planet that we call “Mother Earth.”

But, there are many today who talk about changing the world, but they still cling to their own habits and lifestyles. They have not truly accepted that they are connected to everyone and everything through the energy life force we all share…..Where is your primary focus ?

Unity in Diversity Assignments and Activities

Chapter One:

1. Research paper on how the atom was discovered. 2. Paper: Atoms are comprised of particle that attract and repel each other; how are they organized?

How do atoms maintain their integrity? 3. Paper: on how the variations of plants, animals and humans develop using information about

chromosomes and DNA. 4. Activity: Look at plant and animal cells under a microscope and describe the difference.

a. Draw each cell and label the different things you can see. 5. Research paper on how “elements” were discovered. 6. Field trip to a nuclear power plant. 7. Team Debate on The Big Bang theory vs the Creation story (split class in half)

Chapter Two:

1. Research paper comparing the elements inside of plants vs that of human beings. 2. Paper: Make a list of different forms of energy that we can perceive? Energy is said to be

interconvertible from one form to another, what can we infer about formless energy that underlies different forms of energy?

3. Paper: Pick one form of energy, and describe how it works from the original source to the effect. 4. Paper: What are the different ways food energy affects us? What do we need to convert food

energy into energy we use to work with our muscles? Is it the same as the energy we need to work with our brains?

5. Research paper on how the energy from a person can affect plants. 6. Field trip to a Reiki or Ti Chi facility 7. Speaker on Kirlian Photography (aura photography) 8. Indigenous speaker on Sacred spaces that have a strong “life force”

Chapter Three:

1. Research Paper on one Sacred Place in the world. Paper on history and reasons it has become sacred.

2. Paper on comparison between the God Spark theory and Energy as described in scientific research.

3. Watch Avatar as a class 4. Paper on the Movie Avatar and how it aligns with Indigenous beliefs. 5. Debate on what personal habits would align or conflict with the Circle of Life 6. Field trip: (if possible) to a scared place – doesn’t have to be “world famous.” 7. Research Paper on how the Circle of Life and the transfer of energy works from plant to animal

and back again