The Illusion of Separation

The Illusion of Separation: Exploring the Cause of Our Current Crises

Our modern patterns of thinking and learning are all based on observing a world of “things,” which we think of as separate building blocks. This worldview allows us to count and measure objects without considering their innate value; it provides neat definitions and a sense of control over life. However, this approach also sets humans apart from one another and from nature.

In reality—in nature—everything is connected in a fluid, dynamic way. “Separateness” is in fact an illusion we ourselves have created, and it is fast becoming a dangerous delusion that infects the ways we relate to business, politics, and other key areas of our daily reality.

Giles Hutchins suggests that the source of our current social, economic, and environmental issues springs from the misguided way we see and construct our world. With its roots in ancient wisdom, this insightful book sets out an accessible, easy-to-follow exploration of the bases of our current crises, offering ways to rectify those issues at their source and pointing to a new way ahead.

C O N T E N T S:

Introduction

PART ONE: LIVING WITHIN THE ILLUSION

1. The Short Story of Consumerism
2. A Dog-Eat-Dog World
3. The Cartesian Separation
4. The Formation of Western Philosophy
5. The Fall
6. The Evolution of Western Ways of Attending

PART TWO: THE THINNING OF THE VEIL

7. Nature’s Way of Relating
8. Quantum Reality
9. Beyond Dualism
10. An Awakened Way of Relating
11. Awakening the Self
12. The Heart and Soul of It
13. Indigenous Wisdom
14. Crossing the Threshold

PART THREE: SEEING BEYOND

15. The Communion of Opposing Tensions
16. Natural Inclusion
17. The New Paradigm
18. The Awakening

Endnotes
References
Index

About the Authors

Giles Hutchins has twenty years of business experience, formerly as a management consultant for KPMG International, and more recently as Global Director of Sustainability for Atos International and as co-founder of BCI: Biomimicry for Creative Innovation. He speaks and writes about the transformation to new business methods, inspired by and in harmony with nature. His first book—The Nature of Business—received much praise on both sides of the Atlantic.