The statement, "There is diversity in religions but not in the truth," encapsulates the essence of Advaita Vedanta, one of the profound philosophical systems of Hinduism. This philosophy, rooted in the Upanishads and developed by Adi Shankaracharya, asserts the oneness of existence and the ultimate non-dual nature of reality. While religions provide diverse pathways, the truth remains singular, universal, and unchanging. Through the wisdom of scriptures, the teachings of enlightened sages, and stories from Hindu texts, we explore how Advaita Vedanta affirms the unity underlying apparent multiplicity.
The Central Teaching of Advaita Vedanta
Advaita Vedanta teaches that the ultimate reality is Brahman, the infinite, formless, and all-pervading consciousness. The Chandogya Upanishad declares, "Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma" ("All this is indeed Brahman"). Despite the manifold expressions of life—different forms, cultures, and religions—the substratum of all existence is one.
Adi Shankaracharya emphasized this non-duality when he said, "Brahma Satyam, Jagat Mithya, Jivo Brahmaiva Na Parah" ("Brahman alone is real, the world is an illusion, and the individual self is none other than Brahman"). This doctrine asserts that while religions serve as guides to the divine, they are relative; the absolute truth transcends all.
Diversity in Religions: Pathways to the Same Truth
The diversity of religions reflects humanity's myriad ways of understanding and approaching the divine. The Bhagavad Gita underscores this inclusivity when Lord Krishna says, "Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham" ("As people approach Me, so do I accept them; all paths, O Arjuna, lead to Me" [Gita 4.11]).
This teaching reveals that while rituals, customs, and beliefs may differ, they are but various facets of the same diamond. Hinduism’s pluralistic outlook encourages respect for all paths, recognizing their validity in helping individuals realize the ultimate truth.
Unity in Diversity: Insights from Scriptures
The Rig Veda, one of the oldest scriptures of humanity, proclaims, "Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti" ("Truth is one; the wise call it by many names"). This declaration embodies the harmony between diversity and unity. Religions are like rivers that originate from different places but ultimately merge into the ocean of truth.
A story from the Yoga Vasishta beautifully illustrates this concept. The sage Vasishta narrates the tale of a group of blind men touching different parts of an elephant. Each describes the animal based on their limited perception—one feels the trunk and says it is like a snake, another feels the leg and says it is like a pillar. Only a seer who perceives the entire elephant understands its true nature. Similarly, religions offer partial glimpses of the infinite reality, and it is the wisdom of Advaita that synthesizes these fragments into the whole.
Teachings of Hindu Sages on Non-Duality
Swami Vivekananda, a key proponent of Vedantic teachings, declared at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893: "We believe not only in universal toleration but we accept all religions as true." His words reflect the inclusive spirit of Hinduism, which acknowledges the validity of diverse religious expressions while affirming their underlying unity.
Sri Ramakrishna, the mystic saint of Bengal, practiced various religions, including Christianity and Islam, to demonstrate that all paths lead to the same divine experience. He said, "As many faiths, so many paths." Through his life, he exemplified the harmony between religious diversity and the singular truth of spiritual realization.
Ramana Maharshi, the silent sage of Arunachala, advised seekers to inquire into the self to realize non-duality. He taught, "There are not two selves. The real self is only one. If you realize the true self, you will see that all religions point to that." His inquiry-based approach transcends religious forms, pointing directly to the essence of existence.
Modern Saints and Their Universal Teachings
Paramahansa Yogananda, the author of Autobiography of a Yogi, emphasized the oneness of all religions. He wrote, "Truth is one, and eternal. Realize oneness with it in your deathless self within." Yogananda’s teachings on Kriya Yoga offer a scientific method to achieve direct communion with the divine, bypassing sectarian boundaries.
Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi Devi), known as the hugging saint, preaches love and compassion as the essence of all religions. She says, "Love is our true essence. Religions are like rivers flowing to the same ocean of love." Through her humanitarian work, she demonstrates that spiritual realization transcends dogma.
Swami Chinmayananda articulated Advaita Vedanta with clarity, saying, "Religion is the science of the individual’s total growth. All religions speak of this growth towards the highest." His teachings emphasize the importance of transcending external differences to realize the unifying truth.
Stories from Hindu Scriptures Highlighting Oneness
Hindu scriptures are replete with stories that underline the non-dual nature of reality. In the Upanishads, the dialogue between Uddalaka and his son Shvetaketu in the Chandogya Upanishad is particularly profound. Uddalaka illustrates the essence of non-duality with the analogy of clay and pots. He says, "That which is the subtle essence, this whole world has as its self. That is the truth. That is the self. You are that (Tat Tvam Asi)." This teaching reveals that the apparent diversity of forms is merely modifications of the same underlying reality.
In the Mahabharata, Yudhishthira’s dialogue with the Yaksha conveys the importance of understanding unity amidst diversity. When asked what is the greatest wonder, Yudhishthira replies, "Day after day, countless beings die, yet those remaining live as if they are immortal." This highlights the eternal truth of Brahman, which alone persists beyond life and death.
Practical Application of Advaitic Teachings
Understanding that religions are diverse expressions of the same truth fosters tolerance, harmony, and compassion. BK Shivani, a spiritual teacher, emphasizes, "When we realize our original nature of peace and purity, we understand that all souls are one." This realization helps individuals rise above divisions, creating a world rooted in unity.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of the Art of Living Foundation, echoes this sentiment: "Spirituality is recognizing the oneness and celebrating the diversity." His initiatives to bring people of different faiths together reflect the practical application of Advaita Vedanta in fostering global harmony.
The Ultimate Truth: Beyond Words and Concepts
While religions rely on symbols and rituals to convey spiritual truths, the ultimate reality of Advaita Vedanta transcends all linguistic and conceptual boundaries. Nisargadatta Maharaj succinctly puts it, "The search for reality is the most dangerous of all undertakings, for it destroys the world in which you live." This "destruction" is not annihilation but the dissolution of illusions that veil the one truth.
The teachings of Advaita Vedanta reveal that while there is diversity in religions, the truth is one and universal. Hindu scriptures like the Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavad Gita, along with the wisdom of sages such as Adi Shankaracharya, Sri Ramakrishna, and Ramana Maharshi, affirm this profound insight. Stories from texts and the teachings of modern saints illustrate that the paths may vary, but the destination remains the same: the realization of our oneness with Brahman.
In a world marked by divisions, the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta offers a timeless message of unity, inviting humanity to transcend surface differences and embrace the truth that binds us all. As the Mundaka Upanishad declares, "Om Purnamadah Purnamidam Purnat Purnamudachyate" ("That is complete; this is complete. From completeness arises completeness"). This completeness is the truth that underlies all existence, the eternal Brahman.