Inviting Oneness

Welcome to Inviting Oneness, a podcast where we explore true stories from friends and members of EquaSion—stories where the illusion of separateness gave way to the deeper truth of our shared humanity. Across traditions, we find resonant affirmations of oneness: in Judaism, the Shema is a daily reminder that divine oneness calls us to see beyond division. The Bahá'í Faith speaks of humanity as “the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch,” In Islam, the concept of Tawhid—the oneness of God—extends to the unity of creation, reminding us that we were created to know one another. These voices remind us: oneness isn’t an idea—it’s an experience. And today, we continue listening for it, one story at a time. 

This week’s storyteller is Aruni Marapane. Aruni is an honorary chair of the 2025 Festival of Faiths. Based in Cincinnati with roots in Sri Lanka, she is a Buddhist Chaplain specializing in spiritual care for those in long-term care, hospice, and hospitals. She holds a Master’s in Gerontological Studies and is trained in therapeutic massage, Healing Touch, grief support, and insight meditation. Guided by her belief that no one should die without love, she offers meditation, education, and compassionate support to diverse communities. An accomplished memory artist, Aruni’s paintings draw from her Sri Lankan heritage and global travels, celebrating the strength and resilience of women worldwide while honoring their struggles and triumphs.

If today’s story moved you, we invite you to keep the conversation going in person at this year’s Festival of Faiths on June 22nd—a day of dialogue, music, and community rooted in compassion and unity. To learn more about the festival, our work at EquaSion, or to share your own story of oneness, visit us at equasion.org. Until next time, may we keep inviting oneness—within ourselves, and with one another.

Welcome to the first episode of Inviting Oneness, a podcast where we explore true stories from friends and members of EquaSion—stories where the illusion of separateness gave way to the deeper truth of our shared humanity. We draw inspiration from mystics and sages across traditions, such as Thomas Merton’s sudden awakening on a busy Louisville street, when he saw the hidden radiance in every passerby and realized, “There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun.” We hear echoes of that same truth in Rumi’s poetry, where the self dissolves into the Beloved, and love reveals the unity beneath all difference. And we remember the Hindu Upanishads, which speak of the Atman—the self within—as not separate, but one with Brahman, the infinite. These voices remind us: oneness isn’t an idea—it’s an experience. And today, we begin listening for it, one story at a time. Up first is Chip Harrod, recent inductee into the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame and Executive Director of Equasion…

If today’s story moved you, we invite you to keep the conversation going in person at this year’s Festival of Faiths on June 22nd—a day of dialogue, music, and community rooted in compassion and unity. To learn more about the festival, our work at EquaSion, or to share your own story of oneness, visit us at equasion.org. Until next time, may we keep inviting oneness—within ourselves, and with one another.