All Paths Lead to One

In the centre of the town is the temple. All roads lead to the temple. And yet, why so many roads? Obviously, because the town contains many houses and all houses cannot be in the same road. Everyone must reach the temple from their house.So too, there are many yogas. To suit the different temperaments, there are different paths. But the lane that leads out of your house must, after a distance, run into another ‘Broader Road’, which again must, in its turn, reach the ‘Main Road’, that is, the final approach to the temple for everyone is the same main ‘Temple Road’. To the emotional temperaments, bhakti (devotion) is advised. With single-pointed devotion, the devotee develops dhāraṇā or concentration. This is the ‘Broader Road’.As the devotee gains in his powers of dhāraṇā, his devotion earns an edge and a depth. Here he forgets himself and comes to experience his Lord’s glory everywhere – inside and outside and around. This is dhyāna (meditation), the ‘Main Road’.In dhyāna, the mind, the seat of the separative ego centre, melts, and the final experience ʻśivoham (I am Śiva) ʼ is gained. This is Īśvara darśana (vision of the Lord) – the vision in front of the sanctum sanctorum, in the temple.Both karma-yoga and jñāna-yoga work out their respective ends in the same way. They lead the fit students from their respective homes to the temple, through the ‘Broad road’ onto the ‘Main road’ and then to the ʻgarbha gṛhaʼ (sanctum sanctorum)..Do not waste your time in vain on the shores of life; get into the Ocean of Bliss and be refreshed.

All Paths Lead to One

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