Vedas do not contain whole truth

A few days ago I was chatting with one of my learned friend. He is an authority on Vedas. 

I was sharing with him what a few Gurus / scriptures say that chanting of name 'Ram' is a key to one's evolution and solution to problems afflicting us. He responded by saying that Vedas which encompass truth speak of 'Om'. They no where mention 'Ram'. And, therefore, to say that 'Ram' is a key is not correct.

I am venturing into a difficult and controversial area to say that Vedas do not contain whole truth. 

It is said that Vedas are APORUSHAY (not created by men). As a corollary, it is sought to be argued that there cannot be anything wrong in them. While this may be true, to say that whatever is not there in Vedas is not true, cannot be true for more than one reason. In fact later assertion is fraught with dangerous consequences.

Firstly, existence or God is infinite and as Vedas themselves declare that HE is inexpressible - not a subject matter of sense perceptions and consequently not a subject matter of mind. No words including Vedas can define HIM - only that which is finite can be defined. Vedas, therefore, cannot be the last word on truth.

Another aspect is that existence / God is abundance. Each of its creation is unique - it does not create carbon copies. Each leaf, each human being is unique.

Vedas are words that came from existence and found expression through Rishis (evolved souls). This process never comes to an end. Existence continues to express itself through new evolved souls. No Rishi or Prophet can be the last one. Compilation of utterances of Rishis in the form of Vedas who appeared before a particular period, like Kuran or any other scripture, cannot therefore be the last word.

Even in mundane field like health also, seemingly absolutely different ways of treatment (Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Flower Remedies, Accupunture, Accupressure, Unani and many others) help cure diseases. Ways for evolution can also not be only one.

Vedas, Puranas, Kuran, Guru Granth Saheb, Dhamma Pada, Bible, enlightened Gurus like Kabir, Raman Maharishi, Ramkrishna Paramhamsa, Shri Aurobindo and innumerable other realised souls all point towards truth and share their unique experiences as regards paths that lead to removal of ignorance - illusion of one being a distinct entity. HE being infinite, ways to realise him are also infinite. All realised souls go on sharing their unique experiences as regards ways.

Puranas (Shrimadbhagwat, Ramayana, Vishnupurana, Shivpurana etc) also try to expound existential truths. Each one of them proclaims that its central deity is supreme and others are in subordinate positions. There is justification for asserting supremacy of one deity or one path. If one has devotion (bhakti) to one diety or pursues one path with absolute conviction, this single minded pursuit will help one evolve faster.

Those who set themselves on the path (undertake sadhana) realise that every finger points to the same moon. The believers, who get stuck to any finger (scripture) and do not look in the direction it points to (do not undertake sadhana in some form) fail to see the moon (realise truth).  Such belief is fraught with dangerous consequences. The belief in supremacy of one's understanding or spiritual practice brings its believers in conflict with all others. It has led to persecution of and suffering to multitude of people over the ages.

We are at different stages of evolution, have different combination of Satwa, Rajas and Tamas. We have followed different ways of sadhana, different lineages of Gurus over a number of lives. For each one of us therefore ways of sadhana / Guru are different.

There is no way one can know one's path on one's own. Guru can see and tell us where to start. He also guides us when changes are necessary.

One cannot go by the scriptures alone. Mind is very manipulative. It uses contents of scriptures for finding support for one's own belief system (based on one's arbitrary preferences and prejudices picked up from here and there) and strengthen it. It also ignores whatever is against one's belief system.  The scriptures (without blessings of a living master) thus  support one's ego (sense of separateness, individuality) whereas purpose of life is its dissolution and attain to unity with the whole.

It is said that to start with one may pray to different dieties, chant different mantaras or follow any other form of sadhana. We have to start from the place where we are today and not from a place where have to reach (Om).  One would soon be led to bhakti towards one's ISHTA DEVATA or one mantara or one form of sadhana. Finally everything will dissolve / disappear and 'Om' will remain. Finally one will become that.

Being with the Guru is an easier and surer way to be one with the whole.