"A human being is part of a whole, called by us the "universe," a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separate from the rest-
-a kind of optical delusion of the consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us....We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if humanity is to survive.
---Albert Einstein

I read this as an opening quote for a book about the importance of "Consequential Strangers" in our lives. In that there are people who are not our close friends but interact with us in some way that enriches our lives.

In thinking of Einstein's quote, although there are those who claim detachment from the World or an Absorption into the Godhead, his words seemed to presuppose something that may not be part of human experience as yet known.
As he would suggest, this "Breaking" of the Bubble of our personal consciousness ( how we perceive that we are alive and on this Earth , Existing) is entirely subjective. Only we are experiencing our own selves no matter how close another being can come. The Barrier is still there, another cannot share or affirm your experience of Consciousness.

If Einstein was alive now would he see the Internet and the experience of Virtuality as a step towards humanity's survival?

In my Personal Bubble, the advance in linking humans more by mind and thought rather than body, would seem to be a step towards what Einstein's feels is the breakdown of individual consciousness and more the development of a "Group Mind or perhaps a World Consciousness"

Religion, Philosophy, Materialism have not delivered on their promises, so could Technology possibly be the Catalyst? It is one reason why I have been so interested in the development of Massive Virtual Environments such as World of Warcraft, to a lesser extent Second Life and the rapid growth of Social Networking in Facebook or Twitter.

If this is the path to saving Humanity by breaking the bonds of self...we do run the risk of becoming victims of Virtuality, such as the world generated by the Victorious AI's in the Movie The Matrix. This layer of false reality imprisoned humanity in this movie. Could a Virtuality that only appeared to break down walls of Personal Consciousness, just be an Opiate for the Masses, especially designed to blunt the inescapable truths of Existence.

We Live, We Die, Our Person hood is stripped from us, so is there a realistic solution to this fate in which we combine and perhaps lose ourselves in another level of consciousness? Maybe at some point in the future, but I doubt Einstein would bet the survival of Humanity on his Facebook Page.