All the various teachings and spiritual paths are related to the different capacities of understanding that different individuals have.
There does not exist, from an absolute point of view, any teaching which is more perfect or effective than another.
A teaching's value lies solely in the inner awakening which an individual can arrive at through it.
If a person benefits from a given teaching, that teaching is the supreme path, because it is suited to his or her nature and capacities.
---Namkhai Norbu
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I heartily agree that all the different teachings have their value and there is no need to compare or devalue any teaching. Depending on a person's conditioning, one teaching may open inner awakening while another teaching would not. Variety is indeed the spice of life. There is no need for me to condemn or become disturbed about views and understandings of reality that are different from my own, all can be honored. I love this post! There is a lot of bickering and agitation and of course many wars that would cease if Namkhai Norbu's point was understood. I am not a big fan of, for example, "The Secret" and various teachings that seem to say- "use truth to fatten up your ego". But what do I know- this may be a door towards awakening for many people- and I trust the infinite variety of ways that human consciousness can recognize its unbounded nature. I'm not a big fan of Southern Baptists or Da Free John, but I don't lose any sleep over disagreeing with these approaches...these may be the door that some people need to go through for inner awakening.
ReplyDeleteGreat title! Sometimes a variety of tools are needed to get the job done. I think it helps to be exposed to many different nondual expressions. Seeing how they all point to the same place can make an impact.
ReplyDeleteAmen to this,so well put.
ReplyDeleteNN has done a lot to introduce Tibetan culture to the West in ways that make it more user-friendly. He has lived and worked in Europe and the U.S. for decades, teaching and collaborating with westerners interested in this work.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you (plural) like this quote.
Personally, I have some problem with his choice of the word "supreme" in the last sentence. We would probably find it a bit quaint if a carpenter felt that his saw was the best of all tools.
Of course, it's all too common for followers of various religions to maintain that their chosen deity,etc. is "Supreme."