According to Satguru Murali Krishna, all religions are legitimate paths to God. The problem does not lie in religion: “Problems arise when we think that only what we think and act are right.” This inevitably produces discord. When this happens, we need to pause and reflect: “When we are sick, we use the same medicine irrespective of different religions. Caste and religion do not matter here. When we derive solace from overcoming our difficulties, you can be sure that God exists there. Religion should be a balm providing relief from pain.”
Just as there are many paths to a city, the multiple religions of the world today symbolize multiple paths: “Each religion ought to become a path. If the one in front (God) guides the devotee, then even a trail in the forest has the ability to become a path. When many more travel along the same path, the path gives way and becomes a main road. It is possible that many sub-roads emerge from this main road, but our collective aim must consist in achieving salvation.”
Again: “The Supreme Being, (God) provides us with bountiful opportunities in our present life to turn to dharma (the path of righteousness). We must make maximum use of that opportunity by becoming that opportunity to overcome our negative karmas (mindless actions inherited from previous births), and strive toward moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death).”
The body is the chariot, intelligence is the charioteer, the mind is the reins, the five senses are the horses and the Atman is the master of the chariot. The purpose of the spiritual journey lies in seeking the master within. Sri Murugannar, the celebrated Tamil poet, is reported to have once heard Sri Ramana Maharshi say: “To see is to know, to know is to become, to become is to be.”
As the Buddha said to his monks: “There is, O monks, an unborn, an unbecome, an unmade, an uncompounded; if monks, there were not here this unborn, unbecome, unmade, uncompounded, there would not be an escape from the born.
But because there is an unborn, an unbecome, an unmade, an uncompounded, therefore there is an escape from the born, the become, the made, the compounded.” Such is the nature of deathless unconditioned Reality. Called Atman by Hindus it is known by many names in all religions. Yet, the truth is only one, not many.
