George Saunders’ historical fiction, Lincoln in the Bardo, incorporates the theme of unity within the characters, depicting how all is one. The idea of “unity” can be found in multiple religions or sources such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and philosophy. Buddhism’s rendition of what oneness signifies describes the belief that “everything is part of the same whole” regardless of gender, species, or object (Lente et al. 1). Life and its struggles interconnect everyone together; one undergoes the same pain as the flock, regardless of the different hardships one may go through. Usually, unity remains an abstract feeling, a concept unseen but acknowledged spiritually. Although unity or “oneness” seems intangible, Saunders concretely illustrates the idea through scenes of spirits merging with one another. Within Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders, the spirits’ ability to ‘co-habit’ with other spirits and humans serves as a metaphor for the theme of unity — specifically through the merging of Bevins and Vollman and the possession of Lincoln, while also paralleling with Buddhist’s definition and characteristics of oneness.
Preceding the spirits’ first co-habitation, the spirits only thought about themselves, not focusing on anyone else; as a result, the act deviates from Buddhism’s law of harmony. Since the souls experience different variations of trauma or tragedy, they do not consider the similarities between each other. Wanting to stay in the Bardo forever, Bevins explains that one must “deeply and continuously dwell upon one’s primary reason for staying; even to the exclusion of all else” (Saunders LXXVII). The spirits center on their worries, not seeing the similarities between each other. Bevins describes that solely thinking about oneself correlates with staying in the Bardo. Although this might be partially true, the act itself does not align with the theme of unity, juxtaposing it. Always focusing on oneself, Vollman explains the need for one to “constantly [look] for opportunities to tell one’s story” (LXXVII). Because of this individualistic approach, Bevins and the souls forget to consider other spirits as they frantically attempt to stay in the realm. Paralleling to Buddhism, neglecting the thoughts of others deliberately disobeys the principle of oneness. Without the acknowledgment of others, a “connection among people, other living beings, and the nonliving environment” is disregarded (Garfield et al. 7). From this, the continual focus on staying in the Bardo disrupts the communal harmony. Therefore, unity within the Bardo is strained, unable to be properly reached because of the emphasis on individual needs and desires.
Even though all beings remain “intertwined,” true oneness is reached by spiritual connection. According to Buddhism’s teachings, many claim that “perceived oneness can be achieved through mystical experiences” (Edinger-Schons 432). Although Buddhist principles note that all is synchronous, one may struggle to feel this concurrence. Furthermore, the act of feeling “unity” and the concept of unity rest as two different dichotomies. Interestingly, Bevins and Vollman indulge in multiple cases of “mystical encounters” through co-habitation. When Lincoln retreats to the White House, leaving the two spirits still merged, they feel an immense connection. In response, Vollman exclaims, “We would be infused with some trace of one another forevermore” (LV). As Bevins and Vollman “co-habit” each other, their spirits interlace, able to read or feel each other’s thoughts, classifying as a mystical experience. Matching Buddhist characteristics of unity, the two reached this level of harmony by this shared experience, impossible to attain this feeling normally. However, it is to be noted that with this level of harmony or not, the connection between all objects remains intact. Therefore, co- habitation simply allowed Vollman and Bevins to understand this oneness, beginning to comprehend the similarities between themselves first. Before, Vollman mistakenly valued his individuality, believing that he was separated from all else, but through the possession of Bevins, he finally feels a connection with another.
Incorporating Buddhist philosophy, Vollman and Bevin’s shared experience leads to an interconnection that diminishes previous boundaries of separation. Usually, when something is first experienced, that encounter can later mold or shape one’s mindset. Moreover, Buddhism relates the fact that when “oneness is experienced. . . ‘everything’ and all boundaries disappear, but the beliefs left by this experience are likely to carry awareness of this boundary” (Coomber 9). Specifically, boundaries refer to the belief that everyone exists as separate, individual entities. As Bevins and Vollman merge into one, they are suddenly aware of the other’s feelings and emotions. Additionally, Bevins and Vollman’s co-habitation do produce some “beliefs.” During their co-habitation, Vollman begins to share the mutual appreciation of the “great beauty of all things” like Bevins, while Bevins understands his “reluctance to leave [Anna] behind” (LV). These “beliefs” or realizations result in an interpersonal connection with the spirits. Previously, the spirits would only focus on their own troubles and past, but this experience lets Bevins and Vollman glimpse into each other’s past lives, sympathizing with one another. The boundaries between the two melted away as they joined as one, converging into one mindset. However, similar to what Buddhism shares, the sudden connection to oneness immediately fills in gaps that the individual was oblivious to, but this creates the abrupt awareness of said gaps. This awareness leads the two spirits to the idea that the boundaries between a person and other people are not present as porous but continuous and intertwined. In all, the connection between Bevins and Vollman demonstrates the closing between divisions, allowing the two to finally see the connection between themselves and all spirits.
Through oneness, an individual’s infantile or previous self can be restored. While the tendrils trap Willie, the Reverend and the other spirits attempt to keep Lincoln from leaving. As the spirits all inhabit Lincoln, they suddenly notice that they were “restored somewhat to [their] natural fullness” (LXXVII). Contrasting their usual form, the spirits adopted their previous bodies, their deformities fixed and reverted to normal. Notably, this only happened because of their conjoined efforts to co-habit Lincoln; otherwise, this level of unity would not have been reached, their physical forms still disfigured. Within the Buddhist lens, to attain oneness causes a “regression to an infantile state” (Edinger-Schons 432). Clearly, “infantile state” can be interpreted in multiple ways, but fitting with the context, an infantile state would be a more “innocent” or earlier stage, rather than a younger self. Therefore, the interaction between all the spirits within Lincoln leads to an accurate depiction of unity, representing the transcendent consequences. With the spirits’ deformities momentarily gone, it demonstrates the goodness of oneness, powerful enough to wash away impurities. Reaching an infantile state, the spirits abandon their “selfish concerns” as they can finally connect with others, unity letting them “free of all of that” (LXXVII). Their individuality retreats when they all assimilate into one. Moreover, Buddhism provides a distinct reason for this phenomenon. When an assimilation happens, the “merger-like experiences are born out of a regressive longing” (Edinger-Schons 432). Ultimately, unity leads to an infantile state; however, this process initiates through the yearning for a previous state or condition. Because of this pining and oneness, the body reverts to an “infantile” or regressed state. Correlating with the novel, the Bardo contains numerous spirits that refuse to move on, longing to stay or go back to their previous life, but they cannot. Additionally, this pain and suffering contributes to their deformities as they are stripped from these physical abnormalities when they finally connect. Possibly, their intense longing for the past— with the combination of oneness— manifested their true desires to revert to a regressed version of themselves. Temporarily returning to a normal state, oneness allows the body to restore itself, letting the spirits revert back.
In George Saunders’ historical fiction, Lincoln in the Bardo, the interpretation of unity through spirits merging and co-habiting provides a metaphor to the overarching theme of unity. Although the concept of unity remains abstract, Saunders creates a fictional way of achieving oneness, all the while remaining faithful to Buddhist teachings. From the method to the implications of oneness, Saunders precisely illustrates what Buddhism’s version of merging conveys and could appear like. Therefore, Saunders not only provides a unique perspective to the concept of unity, but he also spreads his own knowledge into his novel, giving an insight to Buddhism’s principles and beliefs. Through the narrative, the spirits and co-habitations embody the abstraction of oneness, translating the belief into a fictional but accurate method of merging.
Works Cited
Saunders, George. Lincoln in the Bardo: A Novel. Random House, 2018.
Coomber, T., & Harré, N. “Psychological Oneness: A Typology.” Review of General Psychology, vol. 26, 2022, pp. 49-67. https://doi-org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1177/10892680211034457 Accessed 25 October 2023.
Edinger-Schons, Laura. “Oneness Beliefs and their Effect on Life Satisfaction.” Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, vol. 12, no. 4, 2020, pp. 428-439. ProQuest, https://ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly- journals/oneness-beliefs-their-effect-on-life-satisfaction/docview/2207608699/se-2 , doi:https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000259. Accessed 25 October 2023.
Garfield, A.M., Drwecki, B.B., Moore, C.F., Kortenkamp, K.V. and Gracz, M.D. “The Oneness Beliefs Scale: Connecting Spirituality with Pro-Environmental Behavior.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, vol. 53, 2014, pp. 356-372. https://doi- org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1111/jssr.12108. Accessed 25 October 2023.
Lente, Eric, and Michael J Hogan. “Understanding the Nature of Oneness Experience in Meditators Using Collective Intelligence Methods.” Frontiers in psychology vol. 11 2092. 17 Sep. 2020, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02092. Accessed 25 October 2023.