The interpretation of the teachings of Jesus, from a yogic approach, is profoundly enlightening. It allows us to glimpse the state of consciousness from which they were imparted. Even more enlightening is the comparison of His words with those of other spiritual traditions; through this comparison we can feel one and only Truth, albeit dressed up with different symbols and imagery.

The Spirit, by definition, has no form; however, those who experienced the Spirit tried later to communicate It to others through specific images and rituals, teaching also how to reach that same experience. Unfortunately – something that seems to be part of the human nature – the followers of those people ended up believing that the road map was in fact the reality that it represented, resulting in the creation of rituals and dogmas, and making certain symbols sacred, and worshipping the messenger, instead of following his steps and emulate his spiritual realization. This is what we normally call an "institutionalized religion."

There is nothing more dangerous for an institutionalized religion than a mystic, someone who experiences the Divinity first hand, without intermediaries: someone who transcends hierarchy, rituals or dogmas in the flame of his own divine realization (“To a wise man gifted with spiritual vision, the holy scriptures are as useful as a well covered by a flood," Bhagavad Gita II.46). Jesus Himself was crucified because He was threatening the established religious order, according to the Pharisees and the “law keepers.”

However, these mystics, in all cultures and religions, are the point of reference for the seekers of Truth, instead of the different religious hierarchies and authorities, very often more worried about preserving the inherited traditions and symbols (which substitute the true direct spiritual experience) and expanding their own influence in society.

Teachings of the Good Sheperd

Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, and Krishna, the shepherd from Vrindavan, are the main figures of the Western and Eastern spiritualities. The Gospels and the Baghavad Gita are key works in humanity´s spiritual literature. The parallelism between both teachings is always surprising. Sometimes they even use the same words.

These comments about the teachings of Jesus are written from the perspective of practicing yoga, and are addressed at – initially – those who practice yoga and wish to integrate the message of Jesus in their practice, or those who see, in fact, the integration that already exists between both paths, Yoga and the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. If you have read the book “Yogic Teachings of Jesus”, you will see that these comments delve deeper in the experience of Yoga itself, and in the challenges derived from practicing it.

With these compared texts, we are not looking for spiritual syncretism, which is impossible and not even desirable. There is no unique spiritual approach or path; as Mira Alfassa, known as “the Mother,” once said: “The relationship that one has with the Supreme will never have an equal, it will never be exactly the same as another person´s relationship. If, through development, we are able to come into contact with the Truth of our own Being, we will be immediately having a unique and exclusive relationship, without equal, with The Divine Being.” The fact that there are different spiritual approaches is what really enriches us all. From this stems the Hindu ideal of the Satsang or “Truth´s company,” the divine communion in which we share the Truth, reaching a superior understanding through the comprehension of different points of view. The ideal "unity in diversity" also stems from this.

May we all find inspiration in the words of Jesus and Krishna, so we can progress in our experience and practice, following the steps of the good shepherd, be it in the Eastern or the Western worlds.