the real dillema for now is how to spell dillema.
hold on, let me check...

okay, its dilemma.

the basic problem i see for modern seekers is that of the conquistadors
landing in mexico city for the first time. They say crucifixes with a
crucified serpent, the plumed serpent god. That must have greatly
confused them for quite a number of days. Till finally, some priest
declared, it is the devil mocking religion.

that is how it is for the modern seeker of the mysteries. In olden
times you would mostly study your own local religion. Most people could
not afford complete collections of scrolls for each neighboring
religion. So even though there was syncretism even in the remote
ancient times, there were no true syncretistic scholars. In modern
times however, you can buy the complete unpanishads by max muller for
about 20 dollars. The nag hammadi library for about 15. The comlete
works of Blavatsky and you can get Steiner complete online for free
etc. etc.
So in modern times, the seeker pretty much can learn thoroughly
anything.

So here is the dilemma. If you do the book contemplation thing, which i
call gnana yoga. (Although i have never had a formal gnana yoga
instructor, i did have a guru for many months who was interested...