All religious paths lead to the same goal

[Dana]

Buddha’s teaching to His last disciple, Subhadda, according to the DN16, Mahāparinibbāna Sutta:

The Buddha said this:
Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Subhadda, in whatever teaching and training the noble eightfold path is not found, there is no true ascetic found, no second ascetic, no third ascetic, and no fourth ascetic.

“Yasmiṁ kho, subhadda, dhammavinaye ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo na upalabbhati, samaṇopi tattha na upalabbhati. Dutiyopi tattha samaṇo na upalabbhati. Tatiyopi tattha samaṇo na upalabbhati. Catutthopi tattha samaṇo na upalabbhati.

In whatever teaching and training the noble eightfold path is found, there is a true ascetic found, a second ascetic, a third ascetic, and a fourth ascetic.

Yasmiñca kho, subhadda, dhammavinaye ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo upalabbhati, samaṇopi tattha upalabbhati, dutiyopi tattha samaṇo upalabbhati, tatiyopi tattha samaṇo upalabbhati, catutthopi tattha samaṇo upalabbhati. Variant: ca → idheva (mr)

[Alaray]

if all paths lead to the same goal what would stopping people from embracing nihilism as the path to the same goal ?

could you guys enlighten me ?

[Martin]

Interesting observation. The Theravada emphasis on anatta seems designed to counter Upanishadic conceptions of Atman, while the Mahayana emphasis on shunyata seems designed to counter Upanishadic conceptions of Brahman as an underlying reality.

[awarewolf]

@Javier

For example, early Christians used the idea of the “kingdom of god” but instead of taking it to mean an actual kingdom in israel, they used it to mean a spiritual way of life.

I read and listen to the words from those early Christians, and cant hear they used it, they refer to it the same way we refer to not-self states and emptiness, and that means they directly experience the kingdom of god is found within.