Tolerance is being accepting of individuals of all natures, ethnicities, ideologies and religions. I follow it by honoring and striving to see the Divine in everyone. The opposite is prejudice.§
Comparing the actions of one who is tolerant to one who is prejudiced§ |
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Situation§ |
Tolerance§ |
Prejudice§ |
In thinking of people of ethnicities or religions other than your own, you…§ |
carefully avoid thinking in stereotypes, finding value in all cultures and faiths.§ |
always think in stereotypes, looking upon them as outsiders, as strange, incomprehensible and less worthy.§ |
When a friend confides she hates those in the LGBT community, you…§ |
encourage her to see the Divine within everyone and appreciate those who are different.§ |
agree that other lifestyles are both odd and morally unacceptable.§ |
When a philosophical discussion at a party turns into an argument, you…§ |
remain a voice of acceptance, finding strategies to embrace everyone’s ideas.§ |
argue vehemently against those who think differently, trying to make everyone accept your views.§ |
Gurudeva explained: “Hindus […] believe in the existence of God everywhere, as an all-pervasive, self-effulgent energy and consciousness. This basic belief creates the attitude of sublime tolerance and acceptance toward others. Even tolerance is insufficient to describe the compassion and reverence the Hindu holds for the intrinsic sacredness within all things.”§
“The enlightened person living on the planet suffers the great acceptance of things as they are. No longer, through his ignorance, does he feel a need to be manipulative. Sufferance means acceptance, tolerance and a complete joyousness at seeing the Perfect ever interrelating in trillions of perfect ways.”§
ASSIGNMENT: For these two weeks, watch for the occurrence of stereotypes in conversations among family and friends, for instance when someone suggests that people of a particular country are lazy. Humbly share the perspective of tolerance and the wisdom of avoiding such generalizations.§
Date you began this assignment ____________________§
MY THOUGHTS ON THE BENEFITS OF TOLERANCE: 
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