All Spiritual Teachings are "Same"
When I occasionally quote the words of Jesus or the Buddha, from A Course in Miracles or from other teachings, I do so not in order to compare, but to draw your attention to the fact that in essence “there is and always has been only one spiritual teaching, although it comes in many forms. ~ Eckhart Tolle
I think to say that there has been only ONE Spiritual teaching is nonsense!
Every Saint and Enlightened Soul should NOT be considered THE “Solution” but a “Case Study”. Jesus was a Case Study, Buddha was a Case Study, Nanak was a Case Study etc. They walked different “Topologies” and their own paths because their “Soul” or baggage of Karma and Inbuilt impressions were different. Their ways could NOT have been the same.
While, Nanak followed a path where he did NOT reject family life and started a series of Gurus after him who carried his Light, Buddha tried to brand his way in a way that took the ascetic route while rejecting family life*….
Everyone of these Saints believed their paths to be “complete”. But Gita takes it to another level when it says that ALL the Topologies – of Ascetism (Raj Yoga), Love/Devotion (Bhakti Yoga), Knowledge (Jnana Yoga), and Deeds (Karma Yoga) lead you to the same place. Now the routes may be different, but the destination is the same.
Spiritual Teaching even in terms of how they perceived “God” and its “paraphernalia” was articulated differently. Although, when you look at their interpretations and want to see through a larger lens – a VERY large lens, then you can say that they were saying the “same thing”. Buddha’s was a very impersonal “God”, Jesus’ wasn’t so… it was his “Father” – a relationship he saw with that God… Nanak saw it in all (Ek Omkar Satnam Karta Purakh…**). So, you would be lost if you were to go INTO their works with Tolle’s assumption. DONT START with that assumption.. let that be YOUR CONCLUSION!
When we start treating “Case Studies” as “Solution”, we will end up:
– Starting to fight, for we will quickly see the differences
– Use sub-optimal spiritual ways – for our impressions are different
– Be prone to authority instead of independent exploration.
These “Guides” have pointed to a direction in their own way. Let’s not catch hold of the fingers.. but treat the fingers as what they are.
* His son’s name was Rahul – a combo of Rah + Ul – Path + Thorn. When Siddartha left his house, his attachment to his son stopped him, that’s why his son was called Rahul!
** Nanak’s Japji is the most unadulterated articulation of God given RIGHT after his Enlightenment. LIsten to Osho’s Japji Commentary to see its beauty! I consider Japji’s Mool Mantra to be the best articulation of “God”.