It is funny how easily 'tolerance' is mistaken to be 'submission' to other's ideas. Indeed tolerance is defined by one's characteristic dislike of others which is marked by an overwhelming feeling of compassion that suppresses and to a great extent controls one's dislike from taking precedence over one's thoughts.
Yet, to us, it must always be clear that tolerance of our actions and thoughts does not indicate our acceptance and certainly not appreciation. It therefore becomes important for us to ensure that our actions and views remain right where they exist - on the boundary between others' compassion and dislike.
Obviously, it will be extremely difficult for us to cross over to others' territory of compassion entirely because that would entail shedding our beliefs and accepting theirs, but we should not take the tolerance of others for granted and try to push back their boundaries of dislike further, for that would result in fierce retaliation and redefinition of the boundaries more in favour of the feeling of dislike and, in extreme cases, obliteration of the other.
ps: Goa witnesses its first communal riot.
pps:
duusro.n ka dukhadaa duur karne waale'
tere dukh door karenge Ram!
kiye' jaa tu jag mei.n bhalaaii kaa kaam
tere dukh door karenge Ram!
Simple, enchanting, honest philosophy. I wish everyone followed this.
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