For source teachings today each sect of
Hinduism has its own scriptures. Most of these derive from various
Puranas, Agamas and Tantras, not from the older Veda, though these
former are still based upon the Vedas and usually quote from them
for their authority.
Let us imagine that we make today a
great scripture combining the teachings of the great sages, prophets
and avatars of the world. We would have sections in it on all the
world's great religions, the names of many sages, many different
names for the Divine and many different approaches to it. We would
have Christian, Judaic, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist and Taoist
teachings. If we were more eclectic or broad minded we would include
Shinto, Zoroastrian, Native American, African, Polynesian and
perhaps even teachings of religions which have passed away like
those of ancient Greece, Egypt and Babylonia.
Now if someone at some point in the
future found such a book not knowing its origin or scope, perhaps
not having a clear idea as to what the words mean, they could make
many wrong conclusions. They might consider such a great universal
scripture is teaching polytheism as the names of God are so many.
They could assume it was a product of a limited local culture and
reduce these names of the Divine to different tribal Gods. In this
way Allah could be considered the God of one tribe, Buddha that of
another, Christ that of a third and so on.
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