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.
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