- Religion is a very delicate matter. Even the smallest trace of desire can stop you from attaining Bhagavan. A thread does not pass through the eye of a needle if its end has any fibers sticking out.
- Different religions are based on different times, places and people. But all the religions are only different paths. The paths are themselves not the Lord, though if you have sincere bhakti and tread any path, you can reach Him.
- Dharma means ritualistic religion. For example, giving away in charity, performing shraddha, feeding the indigent and so on. This kind of dharma is known as karmakanda. It is an extremely difficult path. It is very difficult to perform nishkama karma . So one is asked to pursue the path of bhakti.
- The upcountry people of India have such great devotion to God! Have you noticed? They possess the real bhava (spirit) of the Hindus. Indeed theirs is the Sanatana Dharma (eternal religion). Did you notice the immense joy with which they carried the divine image? It was joy at the thought of carrying the throne of Bhagavan on their shoulders.
- The Hindu ideal indeed is Sanatana Dharma. All the religions that you see now have come about by God’s will. And by His will they will disappear, they will not last. The Hindu ideal has ever been and will last forever.
- It’s not right to think that only my religion is right and all others are wrong. There is but one God, one without a second. Different people call Him by various names. Some call Him God, others Allah, some call Him Krishna, some Shiva, and some Brahman.
- You must go to the wish-fulfilling tree and pray to it. Then alone can you obtain the fruit – then only will the fruit fall to the ground. You can then gather it and bring it with you. The four fruits are: righteousness, economic security, fulfillment of legitimate desires and liberation.
Religious Harmony
- He alone is a real person who has harmonized. Most people are single-minded. But I see all these as one. Shaktas, Vaishnavas, and Vedantists worship the same one Reality. He who is formless also has forms. All are only His different forms.
- It is by God’s will that so many different religions, so many beliefs, have come into existence. God has given to everyone what agrees with his stomach. A mother doesn’t serve rice and fish to all her children. It doesn’t suit everyone. So for some, she prepares fish soup.
- It isn’t good to feel that only your religion is true and all others are false. I see that God Himself has become all – human beings, images of the deity, Shalagram. In everything, I see only one. I see none else.
- Many people think that only their belief is correct and that all others are wrong, that only we have won and all others have lost. Those who have advanced a little may perhaps have been stopped for a while. But those who had lagged behind might have advanced in the meantime. In the game of golakdham, the piece may advance a great deal – but it may fail to reach the goal because one fails to throw the right dice.
- I accept the ideal that anyone may have. I ask Vaishnavas to preserve Vaishnava inclinations; I ask Shaktas to preserve theirs. But I tell them, ‘Don’t think that only your faith is true and all else are false or wrong.’ Hindus, Muslims, Christians – they are all going to the same goal by different paths. Preserving your own inclination and calling upon God earnestly, you will realize Him.
- A mother has cooked fish. For one of the sons, she has made pulao. For one who can’t digest well, she has prepared fish curry. One should make different forms of the same thing according to the tastes and capabilities of others. There are different paths for different times, places, and people. But whatever path one may chose, He can be reached by calling upon Him sincerely with a pure mind.
- Why does what he (the Paramahamsa) says touch the heart so? He has examined all religions. He himself has practiced Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Shakta, and Vaishnava faiths. Bees gather honey from different kinds of flowers to make a beautiful hive.
- It isn’t good to think that only your religion is right and all others are wrong. A person can reach God by any path. Success is achieved by developing sincere yearning for God. As many beliefs – so many paths.
- Whatever the religion, whatever the belief, everyone calls upon the same God. So you mustn’t look down upon or criticize any religion or belief. The Vedas call God Sat-chit-ananda Brahman. The Bhagavata and other Puranas call Him Sat-chit-ananda Krishna. The Tantras call Him Sat-chit-ananda Shiva – the same one Sat-chit-ananda.
- Vaishnavas have different sects. That which is called Brahman in the Vedas is called Alekh-Niranjan by one of their sects. Alekh means that which is not noticeable, cannot be seen through the senses. They say that Radha and Krishna are two parts of the same Alekh.
- As many religions, so many paths. Every religion is true. It’s like going to Kalighat by different paths. Religion is not God. One can reach God following different creeds.
- You can climb to the roof by different means. You can go up by brick steps, a wooden ladder, a spiral staircase, even a rope. But you have to hold onto only one. You can’t put your foot on two or three different kinds of steps and reach the roof. But when you have reached it, you can come down by using any means, and again go up.
- The followers of all religions call upon the same one Person. Some call Him Ishvara, some Rama, some Hari and others Allah or Brahman. These are different names, but the Reality is the same.
- A pond has four landing steps. Hindus take water from one of them and call it jal; from another, Muslims take water and call it pani; Christians at yet another spot call it water; and then there are some people who call it aqua. It’s the same thing – water. But the names are different. What is the use in quarreling? Everybody is calling upon the one, the same, God, and everybody will go to Him.
Religious Teacher
- Religious teachers need to know many things; for killing others, you need a sword and a shield. To kill yourself, even a needle or a nail-knife will do.
- Those through whom God will teach mankind must renounce the world. It is essential for religious teachers to renounce ‘lust and greed.’ Without it, their teachings are not accepted. It is not enough for them to renounce inwardly. They must also renounce outwardly. Only then can they teach mankind. If they don’t, people will think that they are being asked to renounce ‘lust and greed,’ while they secretly enjoy them.