There is a big difference between the experience of oneness with Ultimate Reality and the interpretation of that experience. And if you don’t understand the difference, you’re likely to be confused.
The simple fact is that the mystical experience is not limited to any religion or philosophical tradition. It is experienced by people in every religion, philosophy, and walk of life. It is part of the human experience.
We have to understand that interpretations are required in order for us to think about, let alone speak about, this mystical experience. I believe that all mystical experiences are similar, but the minute that we talk about them, we have to talk about them within a conceptual framework, and that framework modifies our understanding of the experience.
There is no such thing as an uninterpreted experience, and unfortunately our interpretation can distort our remembrance and recollection of that experience. I have the distinct advantage of experiencing Ultimate Reality both as a Christian and as a Buddhist. As a Christian, I understood the experience as an encounter with a supreme person; as a Buddhist, I understood it as an encounter with a supreme reality. But I can assure you the experience was the same—only the interpretation changed.
