I was raised Catholic, and then I discovered and began studying non-dual yogic teachings. When my mother was alive, a devout Catholic, we would have Sunday discussions, and she would share what the priest's sermon was about. We would look for the thread that connected us. I feel blessed and miss those days.
My mother was a devout Christian. She came to visit me while I was studying Vedanta in India. I had been there for three years at that time. She was so pleased that I was happy. She actually loved everything about what Vedanta was all about. Unfortunately she passed away a week after. That was a long time ago now. But i wouldn’t have to agree with you, there’s nothing quite like a mother‘s love.
Oh, I'm so glad for you that your mom got to visit and see that you were happy and loved what Vedanta offered. I'm sorry to hear that she passed so early.
No, though he's educated in all the streams of yoga, he teaches from a tantric view - South Indian in the Shri Vidya goddess tradition. In my post tomorrow, I share a Zoom recording that I made with him earlier this week on Karma, Lila, and Chaya. It's about an hour, but if you have time, you may find it interesting.
i love the article meredith - what i felt reading the article is that both "Vedanta" and "what would jesus say" both speak of the divine spirit within, which is who we are, the body houses the spirit within, & both vedanta and jesus beckon us to seek to find ourselves, to go within, to live thru & in truth, with kindness & love, to also give with no ego or attachment. The spirit is the sacred essence of our being, thankyou once again Meredithxx
So glad you liked this Amilia. Yes, Vedanta and Jesus speak the same truth of the Divinity, the kingdom of heaven, within. I absolutely love this connection of Christ with Vedanta. I'd like to write more about it. What do you think?
Unfortunately, many Christians are demonising Yoga, Vedanta, Hinduism, and everything connected. I wonder why? I’ve written about this on Substack, in my post The Demonisation of Yoga.
I think it's just ignorance that causes that attitude. It happens because some Christians think Christianity is the only true religion and the only path to God. All other religions are the devil misleading people. They would also object to what they see as the polytheism of Hinduism.
The ironic thing is that yoga in the west has been reduced to stretching exercises, asana only. From the point of view of Vedanta it doesn't even rise to the point of being a religion.
100% agree with you. recently I had a student-friend who was learning Vedanta from me for years. Recently she converted to Christianity and has since told me that everything I taught her was a lie!!
Meredith, you answered my question beautifully, as I knew you would. I knew nothing of Vedanta before encountering you and your gentle spirit but could not imagine Jesus would do anything other than embrace you and your path.
I'm not a scholar or philosopher, and it's not really why I came to Substack, but perhaps I'll meditate on this a little and write a post of my own on this topic. Look at all the mutual inspiration flying around :).
Well, i look forward to reading that. Your question has evoked a genuine interest in me to write more about the similarities between Christ and Vedanta/ancient philosophy. Thanks again.
I’d love to know more about your journey. It doesn’t sound like you were fleeing from Jesus, though maybe you were dissatisfied with Christianity. Or perhaps, more likely, something drew you to Vedanta. I see more of Christ in you than I see in a lot of the Christians I know.
That's very sweet of you to say. Many years ago, I remember telling my Christian aunt when she asked me about what I was doing in India, i said, "Becoming Christ."
Here are a couple of posts that might give you an idea of my journey.
I read both of those posts…what a moving story. God bless you, Meredith and I’m glad you found your way and so openly share it here.
We have a couple notable things in common. I made my appearance in June 1965 and am also adopted. I don’t know about you, but I’m the most well-adjusted adopted person I’ve ever met. I have no interest, none, el zippo, in my birth family or history.
Finally, because I can’t help myself (and to round out the compass), is there any chance you lived in the western part of North-Eastern New South Wales?
I knew we had a lot in common. Never once did I try to find my birthing parents, even though my adoptive parent died relatively young. I’m a year older and wiser, and probably uglier than you though. And oh my goodness, I did live on the western side of North-Eastern New South Wales. How did you know?
You’re definitely wiser, though I am very good looking so I probably have you there.
This all started because I like Jesus (and the Golden Rule you mentioned in your essay) and I like what I see and hear in my local parish. I’m a loyal Catholic,, but maybe not a fan of the Church itself and some of its doctrine. Your path, and emphasis on service to others, jives nicely with what I want to believe and the way I prefer to live. Worship and blackmail don’t work well for me.
I very much appreciate your thoughtfulness on all this.
I have a special place in my heart for teachings of commonality amongst major faiths. Thank you for sharing. We can always learn from multiple perspectives, not just one. There are many paths up to the peak, but that all arrive at one point. All Bahai temples teach multi faith also, and are especially beautiful. These temples always have nine sides, representing the nine major faiths, all arriving at the one point at the top of the dome or structure!
I grew up catholic and now follow Vedanta and i always say this haha his teachings were SO Vedantic “the kingdom of heaven is WITHIN you” like hellooooo!!!
Been rereading “The Sermon on the Mount According to Vedanta” by Swami Prabhavananda to remind myself of just how much overlap there really is 🥹💜🙏🏻
Beautiful post. It reminds me of a saying I like a lot, and it is the title of a book by one of my favorite teachers, Joseph Goldstein. The saying is, One Dharma.
Are you familiar with Mysticism? I consider myself a Mystic.
Love that: One Dharma. Why do you consider yourself a Mystic? I’m curious I consider myself more of a realist. Even though, a lot of the time, I know what’s going to happen before it happens.
I think of Mysticim as cutting to the core of the truth. It can be found in many religions (I.e.,, Christian Mystician, Buddhism, Suffism, Nondualism, etc...). To me, core truth is nonlogical, it is a unity, transcendence of the limitations of consciousness. As human beings we are of course constrained to consciousness, so we can only touch into it more and more often. Anyways, those are my thoughts, I live in crazytown.
What struck me most is how naturally your piece reveals something many people miss, that Jesus and Vedanta aren’t competing maps, they’re two languages describing the same inner terrain.
You captured it with such clarity: both traditions point us back to humility, purification of mind, and the discovery of the Divine within. In Vedanta it is Atman, in the Gospels it is the Kingdom of God within, different symbols, same invitation.
I also appreciate how you framed Vedanta as a manual for living, not a philosophy to admire from a distance. That practicality is what makes it so beautifully aligned with Christ’s message: inner work, right action, compassion, and the dissolving of ego.
Thank you for writing this with such sincerity. It opens a bridge that has always been there, but rarely acknowledged.
First of all, thank you for reading. Secondly, thank you for your generous comment. I'm literally los for words.
I don't know much about it, but in Christ's "lost years", when he was a teen, it is said that he travelled to India to study Vedanta. Have you heard anything about this? Perhaps it will be my next exploration.
There’s a long-standing belief in India, something many monks, yogis, and even a few scholars openly talk about that Jesus spent those missing years in India and Tibet.
That he learned from the same traditions whose echoes we later hear in his teachings.
Whether someone takes it literally or as a meaningful possibility, it’s a bridge a lot of people instinctively feel even if they don’t articulate it.
If you explore this in your next piece, it could bring clarity to a connection many already sense but rarely discuss with care.
Hi Meredith, I've read this a couple of times because I wanted to fully grasp what you are saying. As someone with little to no religious upbringing, I was so relieved when I discovered Vedanta through your teachings. But whenever God was raised in Vedanta discussions I was confused, as I could not see how the logical and instructive teachings of Vedanta could lead to a God that i associated with strict and dogmatic style of the churches i had been in (for weddings, funerals etc). I feel your interpretation of what Jesus's would think about Vedanta is clear and logical and reveals the original purpose of religion, before it changed into what it is now. This is just my simplified view.
Hi Karen, that's weird, i thought i replied to this message, and now i can't find it. Never mind. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. It's honestly a breath of fresh air to read your comment -- someone I actually know.
I remember seeing the confusion on your face whenever God was mentioned in class.
Can you tell me what you think religion is now? i have my thoughts but would love to hear yours.
i feel "your authors note" states it all with an invitation to read on, if they so choose, once the words are written within the divine understanding of peace and healing lovexx
I appreciate the common ground approach you take. I feel it is important to build bridges and to get people talking and appreciating other points of you. You’ve done a great job of that.
I too have seen this correlation Meredith. And although I have renounced the christian faith, I have never renounced his teachings. There is no monopoly on God's 🤍.
Same MJ. I would like to do research on the lost years, the teenage years of Christ. Rumour has it he travelled to India to learn Vedanta. Makes sense.
I really appreciate this post for highlighting the shared emphasis on humility, inner transformation, and ethical living in Jesus’ teachings and Vedanta. At the same time, Vedanta and Christianity differ in key ways: Vedanta emphasizes nondual realization (Atman = Brahman) and liberation (Moksha) through self-inquiry, often without a personal God, whereas Jesus’ teachings focus on a personal relationship with God, salvation, and moral obedience. Vedanta also sees the world as Maya (illusion), while Jesus affirms creation as real and meaningful. That said, posts like this are wonderful for inspiring people to look within and explore universal truths, even if they only scratch the surface of each tradition. It’s fascinating to explore these overlaps and differences, I’d love to see more reflections on how both paths can illuminate each other.
So sorry I didn’t get back to you earlier. I seem to have a crazy amount of comments to answer. Not just with this post.
Thank you for this thoughtful and beautifully articulated response. You’re absolutely right, there are real doctrinal differences between Vedanta and Christianity, and you’ve named them clearly. My intention in this piece wasn’t to collapse those distinctions, but to highlight the call to look within that both traditions encourage.
I find that when we start from common ground, it becomes easier for people to approach the deeper complexities of each path with openness rather than defensiveness.
i love your idea of exploring how the two paths can illuminate one another. That’s exactly the kind of dialogue I hope to continue.
Yes, absolutely even when two traditions aren’t the same, placing them side-by-side can help us understand each more deeply. Comparison doesn’t erase differences; it actually sharpens our ability to see what is truly unique, and what each path has to offer.
For Christian practitioners, I often find that certain streams within Vedanta resonate especially well. Madhvacharya’s Dvaita philosophy, with its clear dualism between the soul and the Divine, can feel familiar and engaging. Vallabhacharya’s Śuddhādvaita offers something different, a devotional Vedanta that affirms the world as real and celebrates a loving relationship with the Divine without collapsing everything into non-duality.
Not sure if you’ve explored those dimensions yet, but they open up a very rich terrain for dialogue.
I was raised Catholic, and then I discovered and began studying non-dual yogic teachings. When my mother was alive, a devout Catholic, we would have Sunday discussions, and she would share what the priest's sermon was about. We would look for the thread that connected us. I feel blessed and miss those days.
My mother was a devout Christian. She came to visit me while I was studying Vedanta in India. I had been there for three years at that time. She was so pleased that I was happy. She actually loved everything about what Vedanta was all about. Unfortunately she passed away a week after. That was a long time ago now. But i wouldn’t have to agree with you, there’s nothing quite like a mother‘s love.
BTW is your teacher an Advaita Vedantin?
Oh, I'm so glad for you that your mom got to visit and see that you were happy and loved what Vedanta offered. I'm sorry to hear that she passed so early.
No, though he's educated in all the streams of yoga, he teaches from a tantric view - South Indian in the Shri Vidya goddess tradition. In my post tomorrow, I share a Zoom recording that I made with him earlier this week on Karma, Lila, and Chaya. It's about an hour, but if you have time, you may find it interesting.
I’ll definitely be interested to read and listen to the recording. Thank you Paulette 🙏
i love the article meredith - what i felt reading the article is that both "Vedanta" and "what would jesus say" both speak of the divine spirit within, which is who we are, the body houses the spirit within, & both vedanta and jesus beckon us to seek to find ourselves, to go within, to live thru & in truth, with kindness & love, to also give with no ego or attachment. The spirit is the sacred essence of our being, thankyou once again Meredithxx
So glad you liked this Amilia. Yes, Vedanta and Jesus speak the same truth of the Divinity, the kingdom of heaven, within. I absolutely love this connection of Christ with Vedanta. I'd like to write more about it. What do you think?
Unfortunately, many Christians are demonising Yoga, Vedanta, Hinduism, and everything connected. I wonder why? I’ve written about this on Substack, in my post The Demonisation of Yoga.
Am curious to know about this. i will read your post.
I think it's just ignorance that causes that attitude. It happens because some Christians think Christianity is the only true religion and the only path to God. All other religions are the devil misleading people. They would also object to what they see as the polytheism of Hinduism.
The ironic thing is that yoga in the west has been reduced to stretching exercises, asana only. From the point of view of Vedanta it doesn't even rise to the point of being a religion.
100% agree with you. recently I had a student-friend who was learning Vedanta from me for years. Recently she converted to Christianity and has since told me that everything I taught her was a lie!!
Meredith, you answered my question beautifully, as I knew you would. I knew nothing of Vedanta before encountering you and your gentle spirit but could not imagine Jesus would do anything other than embrace you and your path.
I'm not a scholar or philosopher, and it's not really why I came to Substack, but perhaps I'll meditate on this a little and write a post of my own on this topic. Look at all the mutual inspiration flying around :).
Well, i look forward to reading that. Your question has evoked a genuine interest in me to write more about the similarities between Christ and Vedanta/ancient philosophy. Thanks again.
I’d love to know more about your journey. It doesn’t sound like you were fleeing from Jesus, though maybe you were dissatisfied with Christianity. Or perhaps, more likely, something drew you to Vedanta. I see more of Christ in you than I see in a lot of the Christians I know.
That's very sweet of you to say. Many years ago, I remember telling my Christian aunt when she asked me about what I was doing in India, i said, "Becoming Christ."
Here are a couple of posts that might give you an idea of my journey.
https://meredithforder.substack.com/p/from-fashion-designer-to-philosopher
https://meredithforder.substack.com/p/left-church-live-ashram
I read both of those posts…what a moving story. God bless you, Meredith and I’m glad you found your way and so openly share it here.
We have a couple notable things in common. I made my appearance in June 1965 and am also adopted. I don’t know about you, but I’m the most well-adjusted adopted person I’ve ever met. I have no interest, none, el zippo, in my birth family or history.
Finally, because I can’t help myself (and to round out the compass), is there any chance you lived in the western part of North-Eastern New South Wales?
I knew we had a lot in common. Never once did I try to find my birthing parents, even though my adoptive parent died relatively young. I’m a year older and wiser, and probably uglier than you though. And oh my goodness, I did live on the western side of North-Eastern New South Wales. How did you know?
You’re definitely wiser, though I am very good looking so I probably have you there.
This all started because I like Jesus (and the Golden Rule you mentioned in your essay) and I like what I see and hear in my local parish. I’m a loyal Catholic,, but maybe not a fan of the Church itself and some of its doctrine. Your path, and emphasis on service to others, jives nicely with what I want to believe and the way I prefer to live. Worship and blackmail don’t work well for me.
I very much appreciate your thoughtfulness on all this.
I have a special place in my heart for teachings of commonality amongst major faiths. Thank you for sharing. We can always learn from multiple perspectives, not just one. There are many paths up to the peak, but that all arrive at one point. All Bahai temples teach multi faith also, and are especially beautiful. These temples always have nine sides, representing the nine major faiths, all arriving at the one point at the top of the dome or structure!
Yes. All religions speak the same truth, in different ways. I know some Bahai followers. They are lovely people. Very inclusive.
I grew up catholic and now follow Vedanta and i always say this haha his teachings were SO Vedantic “the kingdom of heaven is WITHIN you” like hellooooo!!!
Been rereading “The Sermon on the Mount According to Vedanta” by Swami Prabhavananda to remind myself of just how much overlap there really is 🥹💜🙏🏻
Hari Om Lalita, good to meet you.
Likewise Meredith! Was looking for some Vedanta posts and really enjoyed this from you - it was the first thing that popped up 🥰🙏🏻
🙏🏾 The book “Jesus Lived in India” has sections which would resonate with you.
Thank you, thank you. This is the sort of thing I'm looking for. Grateful for this and to you.
Is this the one? Jesus Lived in India by Holger Kersten
Yes!
Beautiful post. It reminds me of a saying I like a lot, and it is the title of a book by one of my favorite teachers, Joseph Goldstein. The saying is, One Dharma.
Are you familiar with Mysticism? I consider myself a Mystic.
Love that: One Dharma. Why do you consider yourself a Mystic? I’m curious I consider myself more of a realist. Even though, a lot of the time, I know what’s going to happen before it happens.
I think of Mysticim as cutting to the core of the truth. It can be found in many religions (I.e.,, Christian Mystician, Buddhism, Suffism, Nondualism, etc...). To me, core truth is nonlogical, it is a unity, transcendence of the limitations of consciousness. As human beings we are of course constrained to consciousness, so we can only touch into it more and more often. Anyways, those are my thoughts, I live in crazytown.
Oh, then I'm definitely a mystic. Have always loved the word. Thank you Tyler
This was a beautiful read, Meredith.
What struck me most is how naturally your piece reveals something many people miss, that Jesus and Vedanta aren’t competing maps, they’re two languages describing the same inner terrain.
You captured it with such clarity: both traditions point us back to humility, purification of mind, and the discovery of the Divine within. In Vedanta it is Atman, in the Gospels it is the Kingdom of God within, different symbols, same invitation.
I also appreciate how you framed Vedanta as a manual for living, not a philosophy to admire from a distance. That practicality is what makes it so beautifully aligned with Christ’s message: inner work, right action, compassion, and the dissolving of ego.
Thank you for writing this with such sincerity. It opens a bridge that has always been there, but rarely acknowledged.
Looking forward to your next exploration.
First of all, thank you for reading. Secondly, thank you for your generous comment. I'm literally los for words.
I don't know much about it, but in Christ's "lost years", when he was a teen, it is said that he travelled to India to study Vedanta. Have you heard anything about this? Perhaps it will be my next exploration.
There’s a long-standing belief in India, something many monks, yogis, and even a few scholars openly talk about that Jesus spent those missing years in India and Tibet.
That he learned from the same traditions whose echoes we later hear in his teachings.
Whether someone takes it literally or as a meaningful possibility, it’s a bridge a lot of people instinctively feel even if they don’t articulate it.
If you explore this in your next piece, it could bring clarity to a connection many already sense but rarely discuss with care.
Thank you. It won't be my next piece, but i will definitely be working on it.
That sounds perfect, Meredith.
Whenever you choose to explore it, I know you’ll bring the same clarity and sincerity that made your last piece so beautiful.
Looking forward to it whenever it arrives.
Hi Meredith, I've read this a couple of times because I wanted to fully grasp what you are saying. As someone with little to no religious upbringing, I was so relieved when I discovered Vedanta through your teachings. But whenever God was raised in Vedanta discussions I was confused, as I could not see how the logical and instructive teachings of Vedanta could lead to a God that i associated with strict and dogmatic style of the churches i had been in (for weddings, funerals etc). I feel your interpretation of what Jesus's would think about Vedanta is clear and logical and reveals the original purpose of religion, before it changed into what it is now. This is just my simplified view.
Hi Karen, that's weird, i thought i replied to this message, and now i can't find it. Never mind. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. It's honestly a breath of fresh air to read your comment -- someone I actually know.
I remember seeing the confusion on your face whenever God was mentioned in class.
Can you tell me what you think religion is now? i have my thoughts but would love to hear yours.
He’d say it’s Truth.
Yes, He would.
i feel "your authors note" states it all with an invitation to read on, if they so choose, once the words are written within the divine understanding of peace and healing lovexx
Thanks, Amilia 🤍🙏
Thank you 🙏
You are very welcome. 🙏
I appreciate the common ground approach you take. I feel it is important to build bridges and to get people talking and appreciating other points of you. You’ve done a great job of that.
Agree 100%. There is a bridge that needs to be built here. For too long, I've seen the walls and barriers built instead of bridges.
I too have seen this correlation Meredith. And although I have renounced the christian faith, I have never renounced his teachings. There is no monopoly on God's 🤍.
Same MJ. I would like to do research on the lost years, the teenage years of Christ. Rumour has it he travelled to India to learn Vedanta. Makes sense.
I really appreciate this post for highlighting the shared emphasis on humility, inner transformation, and ethical living in Jesus’ teachings and Vedanta. At the same time, Vedanta and Christianity differ in key ways: Vedanta emphasizes nondual realization (Atman = Brahman) and liberation (Moksha) through self-inquiry, often without a personal God, whereas Jesus’ teachings focus on a personal relationship with God, salvation, and moral obedience. Vedanta also sees the world as Maya (illusion), while Jesus affirms creation as real and meaningful. That said, posts like this are wonderful for inspiring people to look within and explore universal truths, even if they only scratch the surface of each tradition. It’s fascinating to explore these overlaps and differences, I’d love to see more reflections on how both paths can illuminate each other.
So sorry I didn’t get back to you earlier. I seem to have a crazy amount of comments to answer. Not just with this post.
Thank you for this thoughtful and beautifully articulated response. You’re absolutely right, there are real doctrinal differences between Vedanta and Christianity, and you’ve named them clearly. My intention in this piece wasn’t to collapse those distinctions, but to highlight the call to look within that both traditions encourage.
I find that when we start from common ground, it becomes easier for people to approach the deeper complexities of each path with openness rather than defensiveness.
i love your idea of exploring how the two paths can illuminate one another. That’s exactly the kind of dialogue I hope to continue.
Yes, absolutely even when two traditions aren’t the same, placing them side-by-side can help us understand each more deeply. Comparison doesn’t erase differences; it actually sharpens our ability to see what is truly unique, and what each path has to offer.
For Christian practitioners, I often find that certain streams within Vedanta resonate especially well. Madhvacharya’s Dvaita philosophy, with its clear dualism between the soul and the Divine, can feel familiar and engaging. Vallabhacharya’s Śuddhādvaita offers something different, a devotional Vedanta that affirms the world as real and celebrates a loving relationship with the Divine without collapsing everything into non-duality.
Not sure if you’ve explored those dimensions yet, but they open up a very rich terrain for dialogue.
Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful post.
Thank you Trupti.