Outward and Inward Journeys

By Paramartha

Exotericists going outwards to self-improve
Esotericists seeking inwards to redeem the Origin
Exotericists only struggling to improve materialism
Defiling themselves with cankers along the vertical journey
Esotericists purifying themselves along the vertical journey
The Middle path coursers striking a happy medium
of both the life of exotericism and esotericism
Buddhists exoterically protect the Five Precepts
Christains esoterically adhering to the Ten Commandments
Muslims exoterically upholding the Five Pillars
Realizing the cosmic illusion of the multiplicity
Discerning of the relationship between oneself and the Absolute
Annihilating illusive selfish or egoistic self
Dissimilar religions differ exoterically
In terms of dissimilar vehicles to reach the Origin
But being identical in the esoteric goal
The redemption of the innate pure Origin/Divinity
Exotericism, the cornerstone of esotericism
Transforming from evolution into involution
Buddhists
returning to Origin through Buddha-realization
Monotheists,
returning to the Origin through God-realization
All to eliminate superimposed self-identity
Regaining the original purity or divinity
     
     

 Author’s auto-commentary

Exoteric journey is a journey of accumulation of merits with the selfish expectation of collecting rewards due to one’s good works or kammas committed. Esoteric is inward to seek the blissful life of having returned to the Origin. The blissful life is the fruit of purifying all actions through the body, speech and thought. The redeemed one performs non-actions of all actions through the will of willessness. Such undefiled actions are unconditioned. They can designated as nirvāṇic actions. Dissimilar religions utilize dissimilar vehicles to reach the same destination - the Absolute or Truth which is ineffable. Religious designations are different for the sake of inter-communication and social intercourse. Innate purity or original divinity can not be dissimilar. Therefore, the Ultimate or Absolute Truth is one and not two (ekaṃ saccaṃ na dutiyaṃ).