Owning The Wealth Of TOLERANCE

Many scriptures say “God created man in His True Image”. From a practical standpoint, the implication is that if God created the man in His true image than he must have endowed the man with His Divine Qualities as well. “TOLERANCE” is one such sweet Divine quality.

As a child we all are born with innocent consciousness, however, due to poor influences and choices, the innocence and the sense of unity of childhood dissipate. As we grow into adulthood and our divine nature gets displaced with fanaticism, evil conduct, hatred, intolerance, cruelty, extremism and prejudices.

One is not born to hate, but we learn to hate.

We adopt an intolerant attitude that makes us angry by seeing others mode of worship, method of meditation, philosophy, habits, views, opinions, practices, ways of living and thinking different from ours.

The highest result of education should be TOLERANCE. However, it is unfortunate education in the world is ill conceived and ill managed, resulting in literacy generally meaning selfish, materialistic progress in ugly competitiveness.

With growing decline of tolerance what are we experiencing:

Far too often we experience a growing refusal to respect or even listen to opinions, faiths, or political views that differ from our own. What begins as disagreement increasingly turns into hostility, and at times even violence. 

There is a declining willingness to tolerate or embrace minorities and marginalized groups. Those perceived as different are often pushed into environments of discomfort, fear and exclusion.

We are losing the capacity to accept human flaws, mistakes, and short comings in one another. The erosion of tolerance is creating tension and weakening relationships. Ironically, the family where tolerance should flourish the most – appears among the most affected.

Human intolerance now extends beyond human relationships. Our reduced willingness to share land, water, and resources with other living species, is intensifying between humans and wildlife.

Vast majority of societies globally are currently experiencing significant strains on their social fabric, a phenomenon often described as "fraying" of society, where fear separates people and erodes the shared values of respect and empathy.

A person of truth and wisdom is never disturbed in any situation; for he is fully aware of the fact that the appearance of happiness or distress is fleeting and that they arise from limited sense of perception. Hence, he tolerates both the feelings of "likes" and "dislikes" in life and sees everything with an even eye.

The strength of the mind enables one to accept pleasant and unpleasant or conducive and unconducive circumstances, this is about possessing the wealth of tolerance. The mind restrains when one rides the instinctive urge to react negatively to unpalatable behavior or views.

True tolerance is not weakness; it is the "sign of a powerful soul who has the capacity to respect individuals, even while strongly opposing evil, injustices, or lies. Be among those who can tolerate an action or viewpoint while still disagreeing with it. Such persons are an asset in family, to his society, nation and humanity.

A verse in Gurbani Aang1013 “Bakæ na bolæ kʰimaa ḋʰan sangrahæ ṫaamas naam jalaa▫é.”…“He does not speak empty words; he gathers in the wealth of tolerance, and burns away his anger with the Naam.”

So, increase your wealth of tolerance– the Divine’s sweet endowment within you and conquer your deepest internal and external challenges.