Tolerance is always beneficial to mankind

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Tolerance is always beneficial to mankind (An Article from the Religious

Section of The Hindu 29 January 2000 taken with permission: "Copyrights 2000

The Hindu & Tribeca Internet Initiatives Inc.")

 

People often ask as to why when all religions in the world are trying their

best to spread the Law of Virtue, we witness so much anarchy and injustice.

While it may be true that unrighteousness prevails in some parts, it cannot be

denied that the sacred values contained in our scriptural texts are being

upheld by many. The power of religion is still undiminished and many adhere to

the directives contained in the scriptures and try to tread the path of

righteousness. Evil can be conquered by good and religion can certainly reform

even those who go wrong and its influence can be seen in the manner in which

many non- vegetarians give up eating meat, when our hoary traditions are

properly explained to them.

 

One of the common messages of religions, in general, is the need to forgive

others for their mistakes. World is bound to become a much better place to

live if people refrain from offering unsavoury comments about other's conduct

and stop talking ill of them. Tolerance will always be found beneficial by men

and women. Observance of a ``day of forgiveness'' will reveal how the rare

gesture of keeping calm even amidst provocations will surely pay rich

dividends and reduce the load in the minds of agitated persons and those who

harbour hatred against others, sometimes even without any reason. Animosity is

a despicable vice which instigates a person to commit crimes. To incite a man

to hate another is perhaps the easiest job. Even a gradual hint that another

person receives a little more salary than him can fuel jealousy making him act

in a rude manner.

 

In a lecture, Acharya Rajyesh Surishwarji explained how scriptures outline

steps to maintain equanimity even amidst problems. All the disturbances in a

man's mind arise because he goes through his life's journey aimlessly and

without a goal. ``Think and decide. Once you take a decision, be firm,'' adds

the instructions. This goal can be fixed by securing divine knowledge which

will tell him how it is necessary to escape from worldly pulls and adopt

religious exercises, cultivate purity of thoughts and approach a spiritual

guide to instruct him as to how he should conduct himself in life. Among these

methods which will be taught to him by a teacher is ``concentration''. Despite

being denied the opportunity to receive training in archery directly from the

master, Ekalavya was not distressed. By obtaining the teacher's blessings

indirectly, he became an expert. His goal was clear and his method of

approaching it was free from anger or malice. Whenever a man feels distressed

inspite of his efforts, he should resort to ``surrender'' and plead for God's

guidance.