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Tulsidas Teachings

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A collection of teachings of Goswami Tulsidas the author of Ramcharitmanas

God, who is one without any desire, is shapeless, nameless, birthless, is a storehouse of virtue and the last refuge of all, resides in everything of the universe, takes the human form to do various deeds for the benefit of those who believe and depend on Him.

The only duty is good of others.


The only dereliction is oppression of others.

God is one but the proud and the vain have sculpted many out of their desires and fancies.

Every living being has an animate, clean, simple, salubrious and indestructible particle of God and since He pervades each and every object, I make my respects to all.

Where there is good will, there is all the wealth and where there is ill will, all the misery.

Oh, Lord, I believe that the bhakta of God is more than God. Because, if God is an ocean which has abundance of water, it is salty, one cannot drink it, nor can one even bathe  in it; then the bhaktas are like clouds which take the water from the same ocean but shower in it is purest drinkable form wherever needed.

Expansion and Additional Information

Goswami Tulsidas, one of the greatest poets and saints in the Bhakti movement, emphasizes the fundamental Hindu belief in the oneness of God. His quote, "God is one, but the proud and the vain have sculpted many out of their desires and fancies," captures the essence of the core Vedantic teaching: Ekamevadvitiyam (Sanskrit: एकमेवद्वितीयम्) — "There is only one, without a second." This principle is at the heart of Hindu philosophy, where the ultimate reality is recognized as Brahman, the singular, formless, and infinite consciousness.

Tulsidas critiques the tendency of humans to create numerous forms and concepts of God based on their desires, egos, and ignorance. Instead of recognizing the unity of the Divine, people often divide it into various deities, each representing different aspects of the one Supreme Being. This fragmentation, according to Tulsidas, stems from pride, vanity, and a lack of true understanding.

Importance of the Quote

The importance of Tulsidas’s statement lies in its call for spiritual humility and understanding. It encourages individuals to look beyond the multiplicity of forms and focus on the essence of divinity, which is singular and universal. By recognizing the oneness of God, devotees can overcome the illusion of separation and duality, leading to a more profound spiritual realization.

This teaching also warns against idolatry in its most superficial form—not the worship of physical idols, which can be a legitimate part of Hindu practice, but the mental creation of limited, personal versions of God that serve one’s ego rather than the truth. Tulsidas advocates for a direct, humble, and sincere approach to spirituality, where the seeker aims to transcend the ego and experience the unity of all existence.

Similar Teachings in Hindu Scriptures

  1. Bhagavad Gita:

    • Chapter 7, Verse 21-22: Krishna says, "Whatever form of God a devotee worships with faith, I make that faith of his firm and unwavering. Endowed with such a faith, he worships that particular form and obtains through it his desired enjoyments, as ordained by Me."
    • Here, Krishna acknowledges the many forms of worship but clarifies that all forms ultimately lead to the same Divine, who grants the fruit of the worship.

  2. Mundaka Upanishad:

    • Chapter 1, Section 1, Verse 6: "The seers say that the physical world is like a wheel with one nave, and everything is connected to that nave. The spokes of the wheel are the paths to the Supreme, who is the one center of the whole."
    • This metaphor illustrates the idea that all paths lead to the same Divine center, regardless of the form or method of worship.

  3. Chandogya Upanishad:

    • Chapter 6, Section 2, Verse 1: "Ekam evadvitiyam Brahma" — "Brahman is one, without a second."
    • This is one of the most famous declarations of the oneness of the Divine in the Hindu tradition.

Corroborating Stories from Hindu Scriptures

  1. The Story of the Elephant and the Blind Men:

    • This story is often used to illustrate the concept of divine unity in the face of perceived diversity. In the tale, several blind men touch different parts of an elephant and each describes it based on the part they touched—a trunk, a leg, an ear. Each is convinced they are right, yet none perceive the whole truth. The elephant represents God, and the blind men symbolize humans who perceive only partial aspects of the Divine.

  2. The Debate between Shankara and Mandana Mishra:

    • Adi Shankaracharya, the proponent of Advaita Vedanta, debated the scholar Mandana Mishra, who was a follower of ritualistic worship. The debate highlighted the importance of understanding the unity of Brahman beyond ritualistic forms and distinctions, a theme echoed in Tulsidas's message.

Quotes from Modern Thinkers

  1. Swami Vivekananda:

    • "All religions are but different paths to the same God."
    • Vivekananda emphasized that while there are many forms and practices in religion, the ultimate goal is the realization of the one, universal Divine.

  2. Mahatma Gandhi:

    • "I believe in the fundamental Truth of all great religions of the world. I believe that they are all God-given and I believe that they were necessary for the people to whom these religions were revealed."
    • Gandhi’s belief in the underlying unity of all religions aligns with the idea that God is one, and it is human limitation that creates the illusion of many.

Modern-Day Relevance

In the contemporary world, where religious divisions often lead to conflict and misunderstanding, Tulsidas’s teaching is profoundly relevant. His message encourages interfaith harmony and a deeper understanding of the universal truths that underpin all spiritual traditions. By recognizing the oneness of God, people can transcend superficial differences and work towards a more peaceful and united world.

Moreover, in an age of materialism and ego-driven pursuits, Tulsidas’s warning against the pride and vanity that lead to the multiplication of false idols is more pertinent than ever. It calls for a return to the essence of spirituality, where the focus is on inner transformation and the recognition of the Divine presence in all.

Tulsidas's quote serves as a timeless reminder of the oneness of God and the importance of humility and true understanding in spiritual practice. By looking beyond the surface and recognizing the unity that underlies all forms of worship, individuals can achieve a deeper connection with the Divine and contribute to a more harmonious world.