"Truth is One, though the sages know it variously.”
Rig Veda, Samhita 1.164.46 (c. 1500-1200 BC)
I have always believed that I had to choose one spiritual path to the exclusion of others. If I were going to be a Theravada Buddhist, I could not also be a Mahayana or Tibetan Buddhist. A Jewish convert could not be a Christian, and a Catholic convert could not be Protestant or Orthodox. My insistence on ideological purity was an obsession.
Lately, I have been studying the life of Sri Ramakrishna, a revered 19th-century Indian mystic known for his profound spiritual experiences and message of universal love. Like myself and other seekers, his quest began with a determination to connect to the divine through various spiritual practices. Ultimately, this journey led to the conclusion that all paths point to the same truth.
In my own journey, I have reached a similar conclusion. While I would not classify myself as a strict pluralist, I do believe that most paths tend to converge toward a common direction, but are not all equally beneficial.
I am fairly convinced that an omnipresent God would not restrict or entrust a universal message of salvation to a single group of people. Most of the great scriptures fundamentally convey a similar message of moral virtue, spiritual growth, and compassion.