吠檀多哲学与基督教
本译文由人工智能辅助工具生成，可能存在不准确之处。如需查阅权威文本，请参考英文原文。
AI-translated. May contain errors. For accurate text, refer to the original English.
中文
（一九〇〇年二月二十八日在加利福尼亚州奥克兰一神论教会所作演讲的笔记）
在世界上所有伟大宗教之间，有许多相似之处；而这种相似有时如此惊人，以至于令人猜测在许多细节上不同的宗教是互相抄袭的。
这种模仿的指控被加在了不同宗教的头上；但显而易见，这是一种肤浅的指控，理由如下：
宗教根植于人类灵魂的最深处；而一切生命既然都是内在之物的进化展现，它就必然通过不同的民族和国家来表达自身。
灵魂的语言是一种，民族的语言则有许多；其风俗与生活方式大相径庭。宗教属于灵魂，并通过各种民族、语言和风俗来寻求表达。由此可见，世界各宗教之间的差异只是表达方式的差异，而非实质的差异；而它们之间相似和统一之处属于灵魂，是内在本有的，因为灵魂的语言是一种，无论它通过哪些民族、在何种境况下显现。同样甜美的和声也在那里回荡，一如它在许多不同的乐器上响起。
世界所有伟大宗教共有的第一点，是拥有一部权威经典。当宗教体系缺乏这样一部经典时，它们便走向消亡。埃及宗教的情况正是如此。权威经典可以说是每一个伟大宗教体系的基石，信徒们围聚其旁，系统的生命力与能量由此辐射而出。
每一种宗教又都声称其特定的经典是上帝唯一真实的话语；所有其他神圣经典都是虚假的，是对可怜人类轻信心理的欺骗；追随其他宗教就是无知和灵性盲目。
这种偏执是所有宗教正统派的特征。例如，吠陀的正统追随者声称吠陀是世上唯一真实的上帝之言；上帝只通过吠陀向世界发言；不仅如此，世界本身也因吠陀而存在。在世界存在之前，吠陀就已存在。世间万物之所以存在，是因为它们在吠陀中有记载。牛之所以存在，是因为"牛"这个名字在吠陀中出现；也就是说，因为我们所知的这种动物在吠陀中被提及。吠陀的语言是上帝的原初语言，一切其他语言不过是方言，并非来自上帝。吠陀中的每一个词、每一个音节都必须发音准确，每一个音都必须给予其真正的振动，任何偏离这种严格精确性的行为都是可怕的罪过，不可饶恕。
因此，这种偏执在一切宗教的正统派中都占主导地位。但这种对文字的争执只有无知者、灵性上盲目的人才会沉溺其中。所有真正获得了任何真实宗教本质的人，从不为不同宗教的表达形式而争辩不休。他们知道一切宗教的生命是相同的，因此他们不会因为别人说的不是同一种语言而与之争吵。
事实上，吠陀是世界上最古老的神圣经典。没有人知道它们是何时、由谁所写。它们包含在许多卷册之中，我怀疑是否有任何一个人曾将它们全部读完。
吠陀的宗教就是印度教徒的宗教，也是一切东方宗教的基础；也就是说，所有其他东方宗教都是吠陀的分支；一切东方宗教体系都以吠陀为权威。
一方面相信耶稣基督的教导，同时又认为他的大部分教导不适用于当今时代，这是一种不合理性的主张。如果你说那些信的人之所以没有像基督所说的那样获得神力相随，是因为你们的信仰不够、不够纯净——这倒还说得通。但要说基督的教导不适用于当今时代，那就荒谬至极了。
我从未见过一个人不至少与我平等。我游历了全世界；我曾置身于最恶劣的人群之中——甚至在食人族中间——我从未见过一个人不至少与我平等。当我是愚人时，我也做过他们所做之事。那时我不知道更好的做法；如今我知道了。如今他们还不知道更好的做法；过些时候他们就会知道了。每个人都按自身的本性行事。我们都在成长的过程中。从这个立场来看，没有一个人比另一个人更优越。
English
(Notes of a lecture delivered at the Unitarian Church, in Oakland,California, on February 28, 1900)
Between all great religions of the world there are many points of similarity; and so startling is this likeness, at times, as to suggest the idea that in many particulars the different religions have copied from one another.
This act of imitation has been laid at the door of different religions; but that it is a superficial charge is evident from the following facts:
Religion is fundamental in the very soul of humanity; and as all life is the evolution of that which is within, it, of necessity, expresses itself through various peoples and nations.
The language of the soul is one, the languages of nations are many; their customs and methods of life are widely different. Religion is of the soul and finds expression through various nations, languages, and customs. Hence it follows that the difference between the religions of the world is one of expression and not of substance; and their points of similarity and unity are of the soul, are intrinsic, as the language of the soul is one, in whatever peoples and under whatever circumstances it manifests itself. The same sweet harmony is vibrant there also, as it is on many and diverse instruments.
The first thing in common in all great religions of the world is the possession of an authentic book. When religious systems have failed to have such a book, they have become extinct. Such was the fact of the religions of Egypt. The authentic book is the hearthstone, so to speak, of each great religious system, around which its adherents gather, and from which radiates the energy and life of the system.
Each religion, again, lays the claim that its particular book is the only authentic word of God; that all other sacred books are false and are impositions upon poor human credulity; and that to follow another religion is to be ignorant and spiritually blind.
Such bigotry is characteristic of the orthodox element of all religions. For instance, the orthodox followers of the Vedas claim that the Vedas are the only authentic word of God in the world; that God has spoken to the world only through the Vedas; not only that, but that the world itself exists by virtue of the Vedas. Before the world was, the Vedas were. Everything in the world exists because it is in the Vedas. A cow exists because the name cow is in the Vedas; that is, because the animal we know as a cow is mentioned in the Vedas. The language of the Vedas is the original language of God, all other languages are mere dialects and not of God. Every word and syllable in the Vedas must be pronounced correctly, each sound must be given its true vibration, and every departure from this rigid exactness is a terrible sin and unpardonable.
Thus, this kind of bigotry is predominant in the orthodox element of all religions. But this fighting over the letter is indulged in only by the ignorant, the spiritually blind. All who have actually attained any real religious nature never wrangle over the form in which the different religions are expressed. They know that the life of all religions is the same, and, consequently, they have no quarrel with anybody because he does not speak the same tongue.
The Vedas are, in fact, the oldest sacred books in the world. Nobody knows anything about the time when they were written or by whom. They are contained in many volumes, and I doubt that any one man ever read them all.
The religion of the Vedas is the religion of the Hindus, and the foundation of all Oriental religions; that is, all other Oriental religions are offshoots of the Vedas; all Eastern systems of religion have the Vedas as authority.
It is an irrational claim to believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ and at the same time to hold that the greater part of his teachings have no application at the present time. If you say that the reason why the powers do not follow them that believe (as Christ said they would) is because you have not faith enough and are not pure enough—that will be all right. But to say that they have no application at the present time is to be ridiculous.
I have never seen the man who was not at least my equal. I have travelled all over the world; I have been among the very worst kind of people—among cannibals—and I have never seen the man who is not at least my equal. I have done as they do—when I was a fool. Then I did not know any better; now I do. Now they do not know any better; after a while they will. Every one acts according to his own nature. We are all in process of growth. From this standpoint one man is not better than another.
文本来自Wikisource公共领域。原版由阿德瓦伊塔修道院出版。