By Victor M Fontane
Hinduism is very diverse and able to deal with so many teachings over many centuries. Vedanta comes from the Vedas and can be called the philosophical teaching of Hinduism and the ending "anta" means final, so the deepest teaching of the Vedas is called Vedanta and it comes in many flavors and versions. Five points where Vedic Hinduism fits into other traditions, taught by Sri Rama Krishna:
1. Ultimate reality is infinite. You can call it God, Brahma or any other name but by doing so we only trap it in a concept and it ceases to be infinite.
2. The ultimate reality (Brahma, God, the Transcended) is infinite and is beyond human conception and language but can express itself in different and varied ways (the ancient doctrine of the Vedas says: “the truth is one, the sage expresses it differently”).
3. Reaching this ultimate reality is the human goal most accepted by all religions. Religions, then, are not the ultimate truth but the passage to this ultimate truth. Different paths lead to the same realization or transcendence.
4. Paths are different, religions are different but you need to take and hold on to one with sincerity (focus).
5. Although there are truly beautiful different traditions and religions even when we take a single path, we must learn from others (pluralism) and not isolate ourselves and focus on a single path, thus enriching our spiritual life (Cosmopolitanism).
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