36 - Truth is One, Paths are Many | Swami Tattwamayananda

-4th chapter: verses 11, 12, 13<br />-The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on May 8, 2020.<br />-11th verse: “In whatever ways people worship Me, I fulfil their aspirations. Everyone follows My path, and approach Me from different angles”.<br />-First statement on interfaith harmony comes from Rigveda Samhita: “Truth is one, sages call it by various names”<br />-As one evolves spiritually, he passes through the following stages: (1) Rituals (2) Theology (3) Philosophy (4) Mysticism (5) Experience. Shankaracharya emphasizes experience as the natural culmination of spiritual practices. Then we see God everywhere and everything in God.<br />-People climb a hilltop from different trails. When they reach the top, they realize that all trails lead to the same destination. Similarly, when we reach the experience level, we become universal in our outlook. We see that beyond all social, cultural and linguistic differences - lies the same spiritual truth.<br />-Shiva Mahimna Stotra states: “The goal towards which you are traveling is one. The paths could be different. Those who reach the highest spiritual truth, see the whole creation as one spiritual family – they cannot harm or hate anyone, as they see everyone as non-different from themselves”.<br />-12th verse: “People looking for success and immediate results pursue ritualistic worship of different gods. This reflects the stage of their spiritual evolution, as people follow the path that is suitable for their own aspirations”.<br />-There are four levels of spiritual seekers: (1) Those who are in distress and seek God’s help (2) Those who pray for material comforts (3) Those who are inquisitive to know what lies beyond empirical comforts (4) Those who have realized the highest spiritual truth.<br />-13th verse: “God created the four-fold system in society based on people’s innate spiritual qualities (gunas) and their actions (karmas).” This verse is often mis-interpreted and should be properly understood. This system was not hereditary – rather it is based o