My belief as an Omnist

To begin, I'll like to say that I am but a fool typing this article, sitting in a piece of dust floating in the Galaxy. I neither have wisdom nor do I know what is truth, only The Creator knows best. But nevertheless I yearn for wisdom and I don't discriminate it based on its source for wisdom is wisdom,no matter the source. As it is said,

"My Lord increase my knowledge"-Quran 20:114

And

"Let noble thoughts come to us from every side"-Rigveda 1:89:1

And hence with the above words of display of my humbleness and my lack of wisdom in front of the Supreme Truth, I bow down to the Supreme Truth in respect.

I do not seek wisdom to brag about it, but to know the Supreme,and neither do I want to know more than I am allowed to. For it is also said,

"Averagely wise a man aught to be, never too wise

Let no one know his fate beforehand, for he'll have the most carefree spirit"-Havamal 56

I write this article for I was recently told that a man cannot be of more than one faith. I was told that if I follow different ways at once, I'll end up following none. I would rather agree, however my way itself is of a different nature. My way is that of wisdom, no matter the source. Hence the above Statement doesn't entirely apply to me.

For those of you who aren't aware, Omnism is the belief that all faiths are true or contain parts of the Supreme Truth in them. I generally identify as an Omnist with my base in Hindu culture. So a Hindu Omnist in other words. The reason that I have become one is because I see the same Supreme Truth expressing itself in so many ways across various cultures. Obviously others will point out that this belief can at times be heavily flawed, however that is why I follow wisdom. Wisdom never leaves one's side, even though, to my surprise I discover some of the faiths I loved are actually false. However at present, based on my studies, I retain my stance as an Omnist. And my belief in Omnism is well grounded in my own scripture. It has been said,

"Many are the paths of Men, but they all in the end come to Me"-Bhagavad Gita (4:11)

But do i let Omnism limit me in search of truth? No. Since childhood my mother taught me to respect all faiths, and since childhood I have developed the love for spirituality in all it's forms. From the Celts, to Native Americans, From Buddhists to the Bushido way of Samurai, from Yogis to Sufis, spirituality has called me since childhood and my soul has always answered. From the Taoist call from the misty mountains of China, to the call of Jesus from the Churches, from the call of the Viking free spirit to the call of the philosophers of Greece, I have always yearned for wisdom. So in the end, where do I stand? I am unaware for the Path of Truth is the most unsure of paths till the destination is reached. However I have faith in myself and in the world, that I shall be guided rightly.

MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE SUPREME

I believe the supreme truth is here, right now, beside you, in you, as you. Apart from Him, exists naught.

Hence my faith is the Supreme Truth, the Highest Personality of Godhead is all that exists. Creation, existence, non existence, all springs from Him.

Sure many will disagree, and many will make the claim that some faiths, especially Abrahamic ones are dualistic, they believe God to be separate from Creation. However that is untrue and rather a shallow conclusion.

Examples of pantheism is prevalent in Judaism, Christianity and Islam

The Hasidic Jewish sect, primarily those who trace their teachings back the the great Baal Shem Tov, believe God to be in union with His creation.

Same for the Spanish Christian mystics like Saint John of the Cross and Meister Eckhart.

Islam too has its own non dual tradition, primarily in schools of falsafa and Sufism. The works of Rumi and also the Andalusian mystics like Ibn Arabi and Ibn Saba'in held such views as well.

Hence this belief is not unfounded or unheard of in Abrahamic circles.

Pagans however more freely talk about this deep connection we all have to the cosmos. For example, the Icelandic people believed all was connected, even the higher and lower realms or plains of existence,through a tree called Yggdrasil.

The supreme Self is identical to the Supreme Truth says the Hindu scripture.

Buddhists believe everything is in essence emptiness.

Though these ideas seem contradictory, a deeper understanding reveals that the essential message conveyed is the same. That is my understanding anyways

Above all, my way to Him is through devotion, to be United with Him yet again, naked, free, wild and innocent as we all are when we come into this world. Adam and Eve ate the fruit and they lost it. They covered themselves up with clothes, they lost the innocence, they became shy, were bound by norms, and lost their love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. However look at Krishna. He stole the clothes of maidens when they were bathing in the river, indeed he stole our hearts while we bathed in this endless ocean of materialistic mindset and a sinful world. Indeed he taught us to reach Him, one must become free from norms, from the fetters of the world. Just the way the Shepherd called to the Shulamite and called her to Him, free from the chains of the world(Solomon). Indeed the Song of Solomon is proof of that. Put away the world and love Him, eat what His innumerable forms eat, live the way His innumerable forms live.

"..... I have put away from me my associates and I have United myself to the boat of heaven..... "-Book of the Dead (LIII.6)

Our love for Him, is indeed what will unite us to Him.

What can we Hide from Him? When nothing is hidden from His knowledge? That would be foolish indeed.

Pagans believe in a myriad of deities, yet they accept the supreme connection of Spirit that undermines material existence. Abrahamics believe this spiritual connection is the only thing to be worshiped. Different shades to colour the same thing.

Obviously many might object and criticize faiths of each other. Truth is, no religion is perfect. After all, religion was made by man, truth however was made by the Supreme. For He Himself is rhe embodiment of truth. Know this, He is within you, not in some 'holy' book. Your pure and sinless heart is the greatest Book God has given to you. For it is told that

"Surely this Torah which I en upon you this day is not too baffling for you, nor is it beyond your reach. It is not in the heavens, that you should say, 'who among us can go up to the heavens and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it? Neither it is beyond the sea that you should say, 'who among us can cross to the other side of the sea and get it for us and impart it to us, that we may observe it? No, the thing is very close to you, in your mouth, and in your heart, to observe it"-Deuteronomy 30:11-14

And this message is surely Universal, as it is said,

"At Sinai, the Divine Word divided itself into seventy tongues of the nations so that all might understand"-Exodus Rabbah 5:9

"Thus my Law is made known unto every nation in the World"-Shri Shiva Rahasya 9:20

But the ones with polluted minds, will only hear polluted nonsense, even if the source be divine. For it is said

" Verily My Law is heard by every Soul according to his own karma"-Shri Shiva Rahasya 9:21

So, to know Him, why must we seek the help of a Book that leads us farther away from Him? The aim of all Holy Books is to make you a proper Creation of His. If you fail there, then what good is rhe book for?

Also, how can the Infinite be known by finite pages of old? The supreme Power, the Supreme Soul of Souls, Cause of all Causes can be known, only if you seek Him in your heart. You have to leave everything behind to enter His abode. As is said,

"How is this to be accomplished?

Let all else go!"-Plotinus, Enneads 49:5:17

MY UNDERSTANDING OF UNIVERSAL HARMONY

I believe all faiths hence I also believe in Universal Harmony. My belief is indeed backed up by all scripture.

" Alike towards enemy and friend, the same in honor and disgrace, alike in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, indifferent to blame or praise, silent, content with anything whatever, homeless, steady minded, full of devotion, this man is dear to Me"-Bhagavad Gita 12:18-19

"Foster your relation with those who cut you off; be generous to those who deny you;and forgive those who are unfair to you"-Prophet Muhammad (related by Al Bukhari in Al-Adab al Mufrad)

" For those words which one man says to another

Often he gets them back"-Havamal 64

Then what holds us back from Universal Peace? Our own blemished egoism. Our separation, our hatred and disgust for one another for no reason at all. One always seeks to pick a fight in other words. Words such as the following

"There shall be no compulsion in matters of faith"-Quran 2:256

"Do not condemn other practices"-Kaula Upanishad

Really make their claims kinda weak.

But again, one has various views of how he wants to see the world. But the first duty we as humans are supposed to fulfill is to serve others, to be a light for those who suffer in the dark. For that we must become that light.

"One who formerly was reckless and afterward became sober brightens up this world like the moon when freed from the clouds"-Dhammapada 13:6

"Thou hypocrite, first caste out the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou shalt see clearly to caste out the mote out of thy brother's eye"-Matthew 7:5

"(For after enlightenment) one remains in the body to serve"-Shiva Sutras 3:26

And how to better serve the Lord, but by serving His creation? Indeed, it is our service to Him, eternal, Supreme is He. Submission to Him, it is indeed the final goal. As they say

"O mind, do only those deeds which will lead you to the path of the Lord"--Sri Guru Granth Sahib 1346

And indeed all happens in accordance with His Will. One knows this when one submits to Him completely. For it is said,

"No one is foolish and no one is clever.

O Lord! Whatever is happening in this world

Is happening by Your Will"-Sri Guru Granth Sahib 98

"When I weld my spirit to God, I let my mouth say what it will, for then all my words are bound to their root in Heaven"-Baal Shem Tov(Tales of the Hasidim, What the Mouth will, page 51)

" To them, the Pure Mind, who is United with God, through his power replied, associate closely with truth, Be good and unite with right mindedness. Hold fast unto them"- Avesta, Yasna 32.2

Indeed one who gives himself up completely, becomes nothing but an endless void, in the heart of Him.

"Born in the void

Raised in the void

Wearing the Void as Linga

Depend on the Void.

And become the Void"-Allama Prabhu (VAC 201)

" Always without desire we must be found

If its deep mystery we would sound

But if desire always within us be

It's outer fringe is all that we shall see"-Tao Te Ching 1:3

A CALL FOR A SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION

I would like to conclude by saying that being an Omnist is tough indeed. However, despite the difficulties I want all of us to respect each other, to understand each other and our beliefs in depth and not make judgements with shallow understandings. The best words to conclude with that I can think of is from the Vedas. So in their words I conclude:

"Let us have harmony and unanimity of mind with our people around, also harmony and unanimity of mind and understanding with the distant and the foreigners. O Ashvins, complementary powers of senior's communication, mother and father, teacher and preacher, authorities of government and law, in life here, give us harmony, unanimity and mutual understanding of perception, opinion and will in life and corporate affairs"-Atharva Veda 7.52.1

May the Omnist path triumph and may Universal Peace and Love spread across the globe.

Om Peace Peace Peace!