Einstein's quote revisited

I have always been very intrigued with Einstein quote on our illusion of a separate self. First I must regurgitate the quote again, though a different translated version:

" A human being is a spatially and temporarily limited piece of the whole, what we call the "Universe". He experiences himself and his feelings as separate from the rest, an optical illusion of his consciousness. The quest for liberation from this bondage is the only object of true religion. Not nurturing the illusion but only overcoming it gives us the attainable measure of inner peace".

Listening to podcast of a talk at the Cambridge Insight Meditation Centre by David Loy, (Zen scholar, author and professor), I could draw parallels.

David touched on the perception of duality, an illusion of a separate self due to our social construct. As it is an illusion, we always have a sense of lack ie. we don't feel 'real'. Like the front and back of our palm, we have both a sense of self and a sense of lack.

We feel alone, weak, insecure, anxious and void. In a sense it is like an existential crisis. Hence we try to fill our lives with things that may help to make us feel more 'real". We strive for assets, status and relationship with the hope that we can feel more secure.

Einstein spoke of overcoming this illusion of a separate self  as "an object of true religion" to attain inner peace. Christianity's focus on reuniting with God through Christ is probably what Einstein has in mind, likewise Buddhist teachings on non-self and awakening to the Buddha nature within. Both  point towards reuniting with the greater whole or God.

The following quote by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj best expresses Einstein's advice on the 'liberation from the bondage' of this illusion:

"When I look inside and see that I am nothing, that is wisdom. When I look outside and see that I am everything, that is love. And between these two, my life flows."