Deepa Padhi – India
Author Deepa Padhi is international Vice-President of the Theosophical Society in Adyar, Chennai, India, and President of the Theosophical Order of Service (TOS), Odisha Region, India
Embracing spiritual wholeness is both an ancient and modern state of mind. In Mabel Collins’s The Idyll of the White Lotus there is an invocation to meditation, “The Three Truths”, the first verse of which reads:
The soul of man is immortal and its future is the future of a thing whose growth and splendor have no limit.
In fact, this quote emphasizes the boundless potential of our inner self, perfect for encouraging spiritual wholeness. Living in this noisy world filled with distractions, divisions, discriminations, one feels fragmented. We are pulled in countless directions by responsibilities, expectations, ambitions, and stress as well. Yet, the ancient wisdom tradition including Theosophy, reminds us that wholeness is our natural state. It is not something to acquire; rather it is something to be aware of.
Wholeness is the integration of all dimensions of life-physical, mental, emotional, ethical, spiritual and interconnectedness with all beings and things. There is nothing conceivable outside of it. It is all inclusive. An appropriate expression of wholeness is found in the Isha Upanishad of Eastern philosophical literature which says:
purnamadah purnamidam, purnât purnam udachyate. purnasya purnamâdâya, purnameva avasishyate.
This means: “That” is whole, and “this” is also whole as “this” has come out of “That” whole. Here, “this” refers to the manifest world which is not other than “That”, the Absolute. Wholeness cannot produce anything other than wholeness. Wholeness is not just the sum of the parts; it is undivided totality. As we know, this physical world is nothing but the manifestation of that Whole. There is nothing beyond Wholeness. Thus, wholeness is Truth and Truth is One.
The motto of the Theosophical Society, (TS ) as we know, is “There is no religion higher than Truth”. There are many religions but truth is one. This motto of the TS itself is a call to spiritual integrity and universality, which is the key element of spiritual wholeness. Spiritual wholeness begins from within. To embrace spiritual wholeness is to recognize that we are not just physical bodies or personalities; we are souls, we are sparks of the One Life.
This Truth is not something we find outside of ourselves. It lives within us as the Higher Self.
Spiritual wholeness is not tied to any particular religion or tradition. It can be pursued within or outside of religious frameworks. As Alan Watts says: “The infinitude of the Divine makes it possible to have infinite ways to the Divine.” To embrace spiritual wholeness is to begin the journey of integration, of bringing our outer life into harmony with the deeper spiritual reality that lives within us all. Before we proceed, I would like to mention the very subtle difference between Oneness and Wholeness. Oneness refers to the essential unity of all existence. This includes minerals, plants, animals, human beings, even Consciousness.
Wholeness, on the other hand, refers to the integration of all aspects of being into a harmonious totality. It emphasizes completeness rather than loss of individuality. Well, we can say: Wholeness is Oneness as it appears in form, whereas Oneness is Wholeness as it exists beyond form. They are not two separate realities, rather two perspectives of the same underlying truth.
Now, what is Spiritual Wholeness? From a theosophical point of view, the human being is not just a physical body or a personal ego. We are a seven-fold being with layers of consciousness, ranging from the physical, astral, vital and emotional to the higher mental, spiritual and Divine. Spiritual wholeness is the alignment of these parts, when our thoughts, feelings, actions, and intentions reflect the light of the Higher Self. It is the unfolding of the inner unity within ourselves and the greater Whole.
In Theosophy, the path of evolution is not only outward but also inward. We are here not merely to exist, but to consciously evolve, to awaken the inner flame, the Divine spark. As H. P. Blavatsky (HPB) said, the self of matter and the Self of Spirit can only be united through the practice of conscious living (paraphrased from The Voice of the Silence).
We need to ask ourselves: Am I living in alignment with the truth of who am I? Do my actions reflect compassion, wisdom, and unity? This is the discipline of the spiritual path: To live not for the separate self but for the greater good, the One Life.
Spiritual wholeness relates to a deeper sense of inner harmony. It involves a feeling that is aligned with our inner truth, moral values, and the ultimate purpose. It involves a connection with the universe or a sense of cosmic unity which may not be connected to any doctrine or Laws. We can say, it is about inner alignment and connectedness that transcends religious boundaries. We are all connected to the universe, Life, and the inner self, or consciousness. This consciousness is within us and outside of us. Spiritual wholeness is beyond all religions.
Religious wholeness, on the other hand, refers to the sense of living in alignment with the beliefs, rituals, and community of a particular religion. It is about living in harmony with a specific tradition or communal belief.
Theosophy not only believes in Universal Brotherhood, it emphasizes the interconnectedness of all living and non-living beings, as we are all parts of one cosmic web. A key theosophical teaching is that all life is One, and there is no real separation between us and others, between the human and the divine, even between spirit and matter. Blavatsky reminds us: “The whole order of Nature evinces a progressive march towards a higher life.”(The Secret Doctrine, Vol. 1, p. 277)
The great saint Rumi rightly said: “You are not a drop in the ocean, you are the entire ocean in a drop.” Each drop in the ocean, while it carries its individuality, merges with the ocean — the unity underlying diversity. In embracing our interconnected nature, we acknowledge the intrinsic bond that unites all living and non-living beings.
I would like to mention some theosophical practices necessary for those who are focused on embracing spiritual wholeness:
- Self-awareness is the foundation. Through study, meditation, and selfless service, we need to recognize the false self, that is, personality, or ego, and connect with the real Self (âtman).
- Alignment with our purpose and meaning is important. Intellectually we should be awake, having alignment of actions with purpose.
- Acceptance is very important. Acceptance of all dualities like birth-death, happiness-sorrow, knowledge-ignorance, perfection-imperfection, and so on, as wholeness includes all these. Spiritual wholeness often brings a sense of peace and balance even in the face of hardship. This does not mean that we do not feel pain or face problems, but one feels a deeper sense of acceptance.
- Integration: Wholeness is realized by purifying the lower vehicles — our thoughts, emotions, and desires, beliefs, actions, and behavior. These need to be consistent with each other.
- Feeling of connection is possible only through compassion and love. Spiritual wholeness is often marked by compassion, love, and empathy for others, and a recognition of the dignity and worth of all beings however small they may be. Service is the natural expression of spiritual realization. As Madame Blavatsky says, the one who lives for self, lives in vain; the one who lives to serve others, lives in Truth (paraphrased from The Voice of the Silence).
- Meditation is a must. In silence, the voice of the soul is heard. The practice of meditation lifts our consciousness beyond the astral and into contact with the buddhic, or spiritual, level.
- One should live in harmony with Nature. By honoring the laws of Nature and living in simplicity, we align with the spiritual laws of the Universe.
Theosophy is rooted in the idea of Spiritual wholeness. It teaches that all human beings are on a path towards the realization of their divine, unified and whole nature. The core concern is the unity of all life, the spiritual evolution of the soul and the inner wisdom available to all. What I understand, Spiritual wholeness means being fully connected, integrated and at peace with one’s inner self, or consciousness, as well as connected to the Universe as a whole.
It includes experiencing our oneness with all beings and the cosmos. In Theosophy, wholeness means aligning the seven principles of our being in the service of our higher nature and the universal good. A person is “whole” when these layers are aligned, balanced and function as a whole. Self-transformation is the path to Spiritual wholeness.
In the present day, people, particularly the younger generation, do not like to be identified with any particular religion. This does not mean faith is disappearing, rather it is being redesigned. Science and spirituality are converging. Neuroscience and consciousness studies are giving a new shape to our understanding of spiritual experiences, and reinforcing the connection between the mind, body, and the Universe.
In fact, recently a new science is developing which seems to be rooted in wholeness.
Laura Domenech* says:
Wholeness speaks of the origin of the universe not as a starting point from which it emerges, but as an ongoing, active process. It invites us to view the universe as a dynamic unfolding, a deeply interconnected, relational, and coherent state of existence where differentiation and diversity do not fragment the whole but instead enrich it. The parts are unique, distinct, and unrepeatable, yet they remain inseparable and inherently connected to the whole.
Wholeness is the intrinsic nature of the Universe.
Therefore, the journey towards the whole is not only a spiritual quest, it is also a scientific one. Spiritual wholeness invites us to act not only to find peace and bliss within, but to bring that peace and happiness into the world. When we feel spiritually whole, we naturally become more loving, kind, patient, truthful, empathetic, and compassionate. We begin to see others, even non-humans, not as strangers, but as co-travelers, each carrying their own inner light.
To embrace spiritual wholeness is not to escape life, but to live it more fully with awareness. It is to remember that we are not separate from others, nor from the world around us. It means recognizing that each part contains the whole, which is universal Consciousness, a sacred unity. Theosophy reminds us that the journey to wholeness is not limited to one lifetime. Our spiritual development unfolds over many lifetimes, through the laws of karma and reincarnation. We are evolving over many incarnations, gradually unfolding wisdom, love, and compassion. As the saying goes, each soul has its own rhythm.
Therefore, embracing spiritual wholeness means accepting something fully with openness and connecting with our true self — the Higher Self. It is about feeling complete within, not missing any part of who we are inside. In fact, the real “I” within me, is the Whole. “Look inward: Thou art Buddha”, says The Voice of the Silence.
*Laura Domenech Laura received her Master’s in Physics and Cosmology from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. Her research interests include the early universe cosmology, fundamental principles and metaphysics.
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This article was also published in The Theosophist, VOL. 147 NO. 1 OCTOBER 2025
The Theosophist is the official organ of the International President, founded by H. P. Blavatsky on 1 Oct. 1879.
To read the OCTOBER 2025 issue click HERE
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