The literal meaning is straightforward: treat everyone around you with the same care and consideration you afford yourself. This is presented as a fundamental commandment, equal in importance to reverence for the divine.

Within Christian mysticism, particularly as explored by figures like Meister Eckhart, this commandment points towards an ontological unity. To love your neighbor as yourself is not merely an ethical act, but a recognition of the shared divine spark within all beings. The 'self' you are to love your neighbor with is not the ego-bound personality, but the true, God-infused essence. When you see the divine in another, you are seeing the divine in yourself, and vice versa. This echoes the concept of theosis, the process of becoming like God, which is achieved through recognizing God's presence in all creation. The separation we perceive is an illusion; in God, all are one. Therefore, harming or neglecting another is, in essence, harming or neglecting the divine within yourself.

In your life: Practice seeing the divine image in every person you encounter, especially those you find challenging, recognizing that their true self is as sacred as your own.