Finding your "best" path...does awakening depend on "path"?

One of the ongoing disputes is whether there is a particular single path to awakening or whether many different paths, or blends of paths, will work for awakening, depending on the participant. There are endless arguments from some proponents about how folk can only awaken by their particular route, from which they are, interestingly, benefiting financially.

State function in action
Different paths lead to the same goal

There are useful scientific descriptions of these two alternatives on whether goal or path is what matters...a State function and a Path function.

Path functions are those whose result depends on the particular path taken to reach a given state; different routes give different final states, i.e. - all roads don't lead to Rome, only the one they're selling does.

In contrast to path functions, state functions don't depend on the path taken; it doesn't matter how you get there, the final state is the same - all roads do lead to Rome, or Maui.

The difference matters in individual performance activities, like tennis, snowboarding, chess, wing-suiting, golf, running, violin, etc.   Does anyone care what path you took if you got the Gold Medal in snowboarding, became a chess grand master, or won Wimbledon?   Did everyone who reached those goals have exactly the same practices, or were there many variations based on their individual capacities and backgrounds?

It is important to clearly understand what your desired state/goal is before you begin your journey.  Different goals require different approaches.  Whether your spiritual goal is:

          a) to end your own suffering, or
          b) to end the suffering of all others, or
          c) to have eternal bliss, or
          d) to have great experiences to tell frenemies about, or
          e) to spend eternity in some fabulous heaven, or
          f) to get a better rebirth, or
          g) to be known as an "enlightened" being or avatar, etc.

different approaches are necessary.

If your spiritual goal is really a long wish list like that of a well-known Tibetan Buddhist;

A complicated goal

             The disappearance of ordinary concepts, mental constructs, hope and fear, dualistic perception of the phenomenal world as having given way to ultimate wisdom and pure awareness...accompanied by...unimpeded knowledge, boundless loving-kindness and compassion, knowledge of other people’s mind, clairvoyance, knowledge of past and to some extent future events, etc…enlightened activities that spontaneously benefit beings in a vast way...fully eradicating craving, anger, confusion, envy and pride, and above all ignorance as the ultimate nature of reality.

then the path gets "complicated".

There may also be other goals that are involved.  Some folk aren't really THAT interested in the "awakening" goals described above.  They really want an activity that addresses other issues:

The desire to "fit in"

                  a)  They are lonely and want friends in a shared social activity/search that never ends
                  b)  They want to be in the "latest/hottest/coolest" activity, so they won't be left out of discussions or gatherings. When it is "over", they move on to whatever is "hot" next.
                  c)  "Everyone" is following a popular, charismatic leader who is "all over the internet" and they don't want to be left out, no matter what it is about...alien possession, angels, space ships from behind the moon, NDEs, past lives, visiting other planets, zombies, etc.
                  d)  Their life seems to have no meaning and they want something, anything, that is real, and authentic.
                  e)  They want to make as much money as possible, for as long as they can, on this spirituality thing, until the next big thing comes along.

 
There is also the claim that no one who hasn't "done" their particular path can understand, comment on, or criticize it, no matter what the results are.  The path itself is the goal. Whether you win Wimbledon doesn't matter, all that matters is whether you did the "right" practices.

This ensures that their path will remain exclusive even if the results aren't that good.  If they are selling their path to others, it is worth a lot more $$$ if it is exclusive and special and beyond measurement of outcomes.

Given the wide variation in our capabilities, it is hard to believe that anyone would claim there is only one path to awakening.  your success in achieving your goal will be heavily dependent on:

         a) genetics
         b) physical capability
         c) age
         d) where and when you were born
         e) parents, family, friends
         f)  education
         g) past/present drug usage, recreation or pharmaceutical
         h) dietary preferences
         i)  finances, or lack thereof
         j)  religious belief which you would like to strengthen or reject
         k)   work with other teachers, practices and experiences
         l)   which you value more - experiences, intellectual understanding, or emotional rewards.
         m)  whether you are generally active or passive
         n)  whether you are a follower or want to find your own path.
         o)  basic intelligence
         p)  whether you are casual, curious, interested, committed or dedicated
         q)  ability to forego immediate pleasure for future rewards

This is even more apparent when you see how many variations of paths there are even w/in one sub-set of a religion or practice, like "meditation" or "yoga".

That is what worked for "me", and why i offer folk the widest possible spectrum of practices, including self-inquiry, affirmations, negations, surrender, yoga, chanting, sitting/lying down/walking meditation, bhakti yoga, karma yoga, etc.   Atypically, i even recommend other folks' work if it has been useful.   Any path will take you to the goal; awakening is a "state", not a "path".

your "best" path will be the one that appeals to you, speaks to you, and draws you in.   The most fantastic path that "everyone is doing" but that doesn't appeal to you, can't compare to the one that does appeal to you...simply because you will do it.  If you don't like it, you ultimately will stop doing it.  If this approach stops working after a while, find another one...it's time to leave that boat behind as it has gotten you as far as it can.