Tolerance is hallmark of being religious

He never tries to avoid pain or hardship. The person who demands not to be disturbed in any way extinguishes all possibility of achievement. Will the law of nature or the law of karma send change for him? A religious person never wishes to subvert the truth.

The world is all conflict. The Sanskrit word, dwandw, has two connotations - It means 'two' and it also means 'conflict'. Wherever there are two persons, conflict is bound to be. To be born in this dualistic world and to expect that a man should never experience pain, a hostile predicament or hardship! It is just not possible. To think in terms of a life totally free from conflict is sheer idiocy.

If even a religious person is subject to suffering, what is the utility of religion? Such a question might arise. The answer is very clear.

Religion affords a man power to bear pain. When confronted with suffering, a religious person does not wail or cry, on the contrary, he accepts it with joy. The religious person is as much subject to disease, old age and death as the non-religious. The only difference is that the non-religious person laments and whines in pain, even to the extent of waking up the neighbour; whereas the religious person bears it calmly. The others do not even come to known that he is in pain.

Kundanmalji Swami's is a case in point. He suffered from a painful wart. The doctor said it must be incised. Chowthmalji Swami began the operation with a scissors.

Kundanmalji kept sitting like a statue, without anaesthetic. He said, "Chowthmalji! Kindly cut it off at one go!" How does one find the energy to bear things calmly!

Those who learn to discriminate between the body and the soul, who come to realize that the body and the soul are different from each other, develop the power of tolerance.

Giving man the secret of a happy life, Bertrand Russel said - "Only that man is happy who does not abruptly cut off his relationship with other people and does not allow it to become strained. The man who respects another person's individuality and takes joy in establishing intimacy with the whole of human society is always happy."

Tolerance is the consummation of forgiveness. Here, the question of age does not arise. The elderly people treat the young with forbearance and the young treat their elders likewise. In this mutual forbearance, no obligation is involved; it only inspires respect for oneself.