For example, in the Vedic tradition, the sacred mountain at the center of the world called Kailas or Meru, is said to be at the north pole and the source of the four rivers which support the world. Most cultures have their mythic world mountain. Kailas is identified with a mountain in Tibet north of the Himalayan range. Such an identification is symbolic or mythical. Actually any mountain can be the sacred mountain.

Mount Meru in Tibet may not be at the actual north pole, nor is it the highest mountain in the world. But it may still be at the spiritual north pole of the world. Its sacred dimension may give it a quality that makes it the highest and most central mountain in the world. It may be the home of many Divine teachers, perhaps the Lord of the World on the subtle planes. In all these things it is the inner meaning we must look to and not just simply look down upon other cultures because they were not speaking in our language. Such sacred languages have their place in life. They are not to be interpreted literally, though they may have some relevance to the outer scheme of things.

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