To Reconcile various paths..

This journey, this quest of knowledge to understand life itself is very satisfying. And interestingly, even though various sects have been holding on to their stances, I see various commonalities. Actually, I'd like to think that actually there is no difference between the various sects in Sanatana Dharma. Or as claimed by a former Sringeri Jagadguru, even amongst religions. Since Sanatana Dharma rests on eternal laws (dharmas) as speaking the truth, right conduct, faith in God and as such, there is no religion that can claim to be teaching anything different. The only point of contrast could be in Sanatana Dharma using the Vedas as the source of truth - the eternal laws' vakya. Well then, to reconcile, firstly all religions will agree that various scriptures, even after the Vedas in Sanatana Dharma have been written to either delve in detail, or explain the laws in layman terms. Including in modern Hindu religion, where the Bhagavad Gita is now considered its most holy book.

Now within Sanatana Dharma, or now Hinduism, there is the Advaita (Self is God) Philosophy, then there is the Monotheist (One Supreme God) philosophy, and then there is the Polytheist (Many Gods with various functions) philosophy. On the face of it, these are three different sets of belief. But if we listen to the Vedas, or the Bhagavad Gita, all three are true. Devotion, or spiritual journey, cannot start without an object of devotion. An idol, a guru, a set of beliefs. Even the Vedas are taught after the student first affirms he has faith in it and his guru. So Devotion is the most important requirement. It is the truth for people in this phase of the spiritual journey, and there is no arguing this.

And thus, people will choose an object of devotion, a God, whose attributes they feel closest to. Again, here the devotion is most important. And second that the God chosen by the devotee adheres to the basic values: truth, correct attitude and intent, peace, love. If in the name of this God the devotee obtains justification to resort to violence, the devotee has definitely been misguided and misdirected away from the spiritual path.

Taking this further, a devotee might love multiple Gods for their distinct attributes. These Gods are but symbols of our creation. Or they are exemplary individuals from our past. We seek inspiration from these heroes (whether mythological or real) to be able to become like them. To strive and attain their qualities which align with the Sanatana Dharma laws.

As the spiritual journey progresses, the individual begins seeing all others as equal. No one is above the others. It starts with realizing all humans are God's creation. Then that all living beings are God's creation. Then that the whole world, animate and inanimate is God's creation. And slowly that good (or God) resides even in the most evil of people. Then the spirit of inquiry of what governs the results of good and bad behavior, and the understanding of the Law of Karma.

Eventually, at a great and deep state of maturity, the realization enters that God is beyond good and bad. And this not just the saying, like I'm doing now. But the intrinsic realization, the ability of seeing this truth from within the mind's eyes. And that God is the very source of this existence, and hence cannot be claimed to be of just human form. He is without attributes, and takes the attributes of the object reflecting it (the stone, the dog or the human). The energy, consciousness and matter combination only varies. From this point, the scriptures (actually, only the Vedas at this point) help to understand, that everything is really energy (just like the atoms were found to take up the nature of matter and wave at different times).

So really, this is an individual journey. He may or may not follow the above sequence of steps to reach the final realization. But when realizes, he definitely understands it for what it is. It really does not benefit a community or people following a set of beliefs then to fight over who's correct. The teachings are best served when individually followed!