Cultivate attitude of oneness

All religions teach one basic discipline - the removal of the blemish of egoism from the mind, and of running after trivial joys. Every religion teaches man to fill his being with the glory of God, and evict the pettiness of conceit. It trains him in methods of detachment and discrimination, so that he may aim high and attain liberation.

Believe that all hearts are motivated by the one God; that all faiths glorify Him alone; that all names in all languages and all forms man can conceive denote the one Supreme Being; His adoration is best done by means of love.

Cultivate that Eka-bhava (attitude of Oneness), between men of all creeds, all countries and all continents. “Let the different faiths exist, let them flourish; let the glory of God be sung in all languages in a variety of tunes. That should be the ideal. Respect the differences between the faiths and recognise them as valid so far as they do not extinguish the flame of unity.”

Religion is of immense help in fostering the integral development of the human personality. It underlines the unity in diversity. True religion is the attainment of the purity of mind and heart. Every religion has its own precepts and principles. But no religion preaches hatred, untruth or unrighteousness. 'Speak the truth', 'Practice righteousness' enjoin the Upanishads (Indian ancient scriptures).

Similar sacred injunctions are to be found in all the other religions too. Thus, all religions emphasise the human values and serve as beacons for the uplift of mankind. They all facilitate the manifestation of the divinity inherent in man. “When God occupies the mind, the objective world or nature, which is only a product of the mind, loses its validity and man, the wave on the ocean, lapses in to his source.

The individual self merges in the Absolute. Every religion seeks to present this basic truth about God, Nature and Man. Every creed is, in essence, highlighting this fact and the path of love as the means of merger. So, one must respect all creeds and faiths. They are beacons of light guiding pilgrims along the many paths to the Universal Absolute.”

All religions, all faiths are but phases or facets of the same universal faith and discipline. It is like the story where seven blind men who examined the elephant and described it to others. The man who held the tail in his hand said it was a snake; the man who felt the leg said it was a pillar; the man who examined only the ear swore that the elephant was like a winnowing basket.

This story has a deep inner meaning. The Atma (spirit) is one, but, each one sees a fraction of it and judges it differently, while it is the integrated sum of each of these facets that constitute Reality.

What is most vital is to recognise and understand. Forgetting all differences of race, religion, caste and creed, disregarding considerations of class and community, you must feel that all of you are children of one God.

When you recognise this oneness, eschew all differences and fill your hearts with love, you will be able to redeem your lives by constantly chanting the name of the Lord. That name will help you accomplish anything. It will fill your life with peace and happiness. -Sri Sathya Sai Baba