there is only one true religion
I’ve been reading Eknath Easwaran’s work consistently for the past few years and one thing that I truly admire about his writing is that he doesn’t limit his spiritual teachings to one primary religion. In fact, he draws inspiration and nuggets of wisdom from different faiths and religions simultaneously highlighting the fundamental truth that there is only one true religion for all of mankind. As a direct impact, I have become more open to reading and gathering essential insights from any holy text and ancient scripture that I find appealing regardless of its origin.
It’s crucial that we let go of all the hesitations and apprehensions about studying multiple faiths and religions and become enthusiastic about accumulating intellectual gems from each of them.
Immanuel Kant once remarked, “The difference between religions—what a strange expression. Certainly there can be different faiths, and beliefs in historical events which are passed from one generation to another to strengthen religion; in the same way there can be different religious books—the Sutras, Vedas, Koran, etc. But there can be only one religion, and it is real for all times.”
Rather than focusing on the differences between your particular religion and other ones, or just dismissing the whole concept of “religion” and refraining from calling yourself a man or woman of faith, you must believe that we all belong to the same human family, and that there is an invisible, pristine, supernatural force that binds, protects, and nurtures us all.
Lastly, here’s an audacious yet beautiful quote from a holy text that’ll inspire you too to expand your horizons and drive home the point that we all share one world, one religion, and one true purpose after all:
“If you are a Muslim, go and live as a Christian; if you are a Christian live as a Jew; if you are Catholic, live as an Orthodox—whatever religion you have, hold the same respect for people of different religions. If your speech together does not arouse or excite you to indignation and if you can freely communicate with them, you have achieved peace. It is said that the object of every religion is the same: all people look for love, and all the world is a place of love. Then why should we speak about the difference between the Muslim church and the Christian church?”
