The glory of Hinduism lies in the fact that while it has defined ideals, it has never dared to say that any one of these alone was the one true way.
In this it differs from Buddhism, which exalts monasticism above all others as the path that must be taken by all souls to reach perfection.
The story given in the Mahâbhârata of the young saint who was made to seek enlightenment, first from a married woman and then from a butcher, is sufficient to show this. 'By doing my duty', said each one of these when asked, 'by doing my duty in my own station, have I attained this knowledge'.
There is no career then which might not be the path to God. The question of attainment depends only, in the last resort, on the thirst of the soul.
- Swami Vivekananda
In this it differs from Buddhism, which exalts monasticism above all others as the path that must be taken by all souls to reach perfection.
The story given in the Mahâbhârata of the young saint who was made to seek enlightenment, first from a married woman and then from a butcher, is sufficient to show this. 'By doing my duty', said each one of these when asked, 'by doing my duty in my own station, have I attained this knowledge'.
There is no career then which might not be the path to God. The question of attainment depends only, in the last resort, on the thirst of the soul.
- Swami Vivekananda
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