TOLERANCETOLERANCE

A A sagesage had a holy bath in the river Ganges and got out had a holy bath in the river Ganges and got out of the river. Suddently a rowdy who was chewing of the river. Suddently a rowdy who was chewing

beeda (betal leaves) spat on him. The sage did not beeda (betal leaves) spat on him. The sage did not scold him but bathed again in Ganges and came to the scold him but bathed again in Ganges and came to the bank of the river. Again and again the rowdy spat on bank of the river. Again and again the rowdy spat on the sage and the sage with great tolerance had a holy the sage and the sage with great tolerance had a holy

dip in the river Ganges again and again without uttering dip in the river Ganges again and again without uttering even a single word against the rowdy. Because of the even a single word against the rowdy. Because of the patience of the sage, the rowdy realized his own folly patience of the sage, the rowdy realized his own folly and felt ashamed of it. He fell flat at the feet of the and felt ashamed of it. He fell flat at the feet of the

Sage and begged pardon. But the Sage said Sage and begged pardon. But the Sage said “ I am to “ I am to fall at your feet and honour you. In a single day is it fall at your feet and honour you. In a single day is it

possible to any one to bathe more than hundred possible to any one to bathe more than hundred times in the holy river? It was possible to me times in the holy river? It was possible to me

because of you. So I am bound to thank because of you. So I am bound to thank you “.

The rowdy said, “The rowdy said, “Swamiji, there is a millionaire Swamiji, there is a millionaire in this city who is jealous over your fame and in this city who is jealous over your fame and

familiarity. He instigated me to do so. He familiarity. He instigated me to do so. He expected that you would scold me and fight expected that you would scold me and fight

with me and your reputation would get with me and your reputation would get spoiled. If it happens so, he assured to give spoiled. If it happens so, he assured to give me a lot of gold. As I was greedy I insulted me a lot of gold. As I was greedy I insulted you Swamiji. Please forgive me”. you Swamiji. Please forgive me”. So saying So saying

the rowdy bowed before the sage. After the rowdy bowed before the sage. After listening to the statement of the rowdy, the listening to the statement of the rowdy, the sage said, sage said, “ Aha…. I was not aware of this “ Aha…. I was not aware of this fact earlier. If I had come to know about it fact earlier. If I had come to know about it

before hand, I would have fought with you and before hand, I would have fought with you and you could have got gold from the millionaire”.you could have got gold from the millionaire”.

Do we need any other example more than this for Do we need any other example more than this for tolerance and generosity? The root-cause for all the tolerance and generosity? The root-cause for all the troubles and problems is the absence of tolerance. If troubles and problems is the absence of tolerance. If there is tolerance, there will not be any problem on there is tolerance, there will not be any problem on

Religion, community, caste and creed. There will not Religion, community, caste and creed. There will not be any problem in the office, at home or any where be any problem in the office, at home or any where

else. The most important quality to be possessed by else. The most important quality to be possessed by all who wish to attain success in life is all who wish to attain success in life is TOLERANCE. TOLERANCE.

Tolerance is the inborn quality among most of Tolerance is the inborn quality among most of the world famous great personalities. To cite the world famous great personalities. To cite

examples, we can mention the name of Socrates who examples, we can mention the name of Socrates who lived patiently with a wife who used to always abuse lived patiently with a wife who used to always abuse

him and secondly Milton who lived with his cruel him and secondly Milton who lived with his cruel daughters who were always rough and tough with daughters who were always rough and tough with him. Socrates was an expert in exposing tolerance him. Socrates was an expert in exposing tolerance

with a sense of humour.with a sense of humour.

Once Socrates was chatting with his friends in front of Once Socrates was chatting with his friends in front of his house. His wife was scolding him with harsh his house. His wife was scolding him with harsh

words. Socrates continued to discuss with his friends words. Socrates continued to discuss with his friends without any botheration. His irritated wife poured on without any botheration. His irritated wife poured on

him a bucket of water from the upstairs. Socrates him a bucket of water from the upstairs. Socrates casually squeezed his wet dress and said to his casually squeezed his wet dress and said to his

friends, friends, “ So far it was thundering, now it is raining ”. “ So far it was thundering, now it is raining ”. We need not search anywhere outside for the We need not search anywhere outside for the

people who stand as examples for Tolerance. They people who stand as examples for Tolerance. They are in each and everyone's family. Take yourself as are in each and everyone's family. Take yourself as an example. There may be a lot of defects among the an example. There may be a lot of defects among the

people who are with you in the family. They may people who are with you in the family. They may possess some qualities which you do not like. They possess some qualities which you do not like. They may do many things which you dislike. Are you not may do many things which you dislike. Are you not tolerant to all such things? As you and your family tolerant to all such things? As you and your family

members are tolerant, you live patiently. Because of members are tolerant, you live patiently. Because of that only you are enjoying a peaceful life.that only you are enjoying a peaceful life.

On what basis you say that you are enjoying a peaceful On what basis you say that you are enjoying a peaceful life? Do you say that you have a lot of problems in life? Do you say that you have a lot of problems in your family and you live quarrelling daily? Then it your family and you live quarrelling daily? Then it

means that you or your family members do not have means that you or your family members do not have tolerance. Develop the quality of tolerance among tolerance. Develop the quality of tolerance among

yourselves. If tolerance exists among all, life will be yourselves. If tolerance exists among all, life will be peaceful. If the husband, wife, brothers, sisters and in-peaceful. If the husband, wife, brothers, sisters and in-laws have the sense of tolerance, the whole Family will laws have the sense of tolerance, the whole Family will

be a peaceful one. All the problems depend upon the be a peaceful one. All the problems depend upon the way in which we handle a word or incident. If problems way in which we handle a word or incident. If problems

are approached with tolerance, there will not be any are approached with tolerance, there will not be any problem at all. Since a very long time problems prevail problem at all. Since a very long time problems prevail

in all the families. Due to the absence of tolerance, it in all the families. Due to the absence of tolerance, it seems that the Joint family system may come to an end seems that the Joint family system may come to an end

very soon. A situation may arise in which the term very soon. A situation may arise in which the term JOINT FAMILY will get rid of the society in a short JOINT FAMILY will get rid of the society in a short

period of time.period of time.

Now a days a bad temperament spreads among all Now a days a bad temperament spreads among all types of people of all age groups. The habit of not types of people of all age groups. The habit of not

respecting others' thoughts and feelings, to be respecting others' thoughts and feelings, to be adamant to do anything as per one's own will and adamant to do anything as per one's own will and

pleasure etc. exist every where. If there is pleasure etc. exist every where. If there is tolerance among people, this type of evils will tolerance among people, this type of evils will

disappear. A Question may arise in the mind of disappear. A Question may arise in the mind of some people, “some people, “IS TOLERANCE ESSENTIAL?” IS TOLERANCE ESSENTIAL?”

This world is not created for us alone. All have This world is not created for us alone. All have got equal right to live in it. All have got equal got equal right to live in it. All have got equal

right to live as per their will and pleasure without right to live as per their will and pleasure without affecting others. Many matters and incidents affecting others. Many matters and incidents

which we do not like are taking place around us. which we do not like are taking place around us. We are to tolerate those matters and incidents as We are to tolerate those matters and incidents as

long as they do not affect us.long as they do not affect us.

Just imagine what will happen if there is no sense of Just imagine what will happen if there is no sense of tolerance among people. If a person does not like the tolerance among people. If a person does not like the

colour of your shirt, he may quarrel with you. If there is no colour of your shirt, he may quarrel with you. If there is no tolerance, what will happen if a person talks against the tolerance, what will happen if a person talks against the

opinion of another? It may lead to a quarrel or clash. The opinion of another? It may lead to a quarrel or clash. The base for all the matters is tolerance. base for all the matters is tolerance. For example our For example our

ambition will be to listen the news or to watch a film show in ambition will be to listen the news or to watch a film show in the Television. At the same time the tiny tot of our home will the Television. At the same time the tiny tot of our home will

be watching the cartoon channel. be watching the cartoon channel. The kid will be very The kid will be very adamant and will not allow us to change the channel. At adamant and will not allow us to change the channel. At

this situation, though we don't like the cartoon channel as this situation, though we don't like the cartoon channel as there is no other go, we will tolerate the same. We too will there is no other go, we will tolerate the same. We too will

join with the child and watch the cartoon channel. Similarly, join with the child and watch the cartoon channel. Similarly, in our office if our manager entrusts a work to us, though we in our office if our manager entrusts a work to us, though we

dislike the work, we will complete it with great tolerance. dislike the work, we will complete it with great tolerance. The great philosopher Hendry Wandyke says The great philosopher Hendry Wandyke says "Estimate "Estimate

others on the basis of their best qualities,others on the basis of their best qualities, Don't estimate Don't estimate them on the basis of their bad qualities" .them on the basis of their bad qualities" .

Daily we come across a number of people. We cannot say Daily we come across a number of people. We cannot say that all will be with 100% good qualities. They will be with that all will be with 100% good qualities. They will be with good qualities as well as some bad qualities. We should good qualities as well as some bad qualities. We should take their good qualities alone into account. We should take their good qualities alone into account. We should

make friendship with them not on the basis of their make friendship with them not on the basis of their weakness, but on the basis of their strength. People with weakness, but on the basis of their strength. People with

tolerance will ignore the weakness of others. They will tolerance will ignore the weakness of others. They will recognize only the strength of others.  recognize only the strength of others.  

All the people we come across are filled with good All the people we come across are filled with good qualities as well as bad qualities. A person is estimated on qualities as well as bad qualities. A person is estimated on the basis of the quality he exposes more in quantity. He is the basis of the quality he exposes more in quantity. He is

estimated by others estimated by others "Good" "Good" if he exposes more good if he exposes more good qualities and qualities and "Bad" "Bad" if he exposes more bad qualities. if he exposes more bad qualities.

There is no one who is 100% good or 100% bad. We come There is no one who is 100% good or 100% bad. We come to a conclusion Whether a person is good or bad on the to a conclusion Whether a person is good or bad on the basis of our contact and experiences with him. Others basis of our contact and experiences with him. Others estimate us in the same manner. estimate us in the same manner. So let us expose our So let us expose our

good qualities as far as possible.good qualities as far as possible.

No country or race or religion or language is a barrier to

ToleranceTolerance. Wise people will Wise people will not like to derive a kind of not like to derive a kind of pleasure by pointing out pleasure by pointing out

others' defectsothers' defects. Are we wise Are we wise

or not?or not? The answeranswer for this

question is with us is with us only.

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Translated by C.Chandrasekaran, M.A.,B.Ed., Retd HM, Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1, Trichy 16