The Art of Tolerance: A Life Skill for a Kinder, Wiser World
Namaste—that’s how Hindus greet each other, folding their hands (in Anjali mudra) and bringing them close to the chest. By doing so, Hindus honor the divine presence within the other person, because they believe—‘Ayam Atma Brahma’—the soul is God. Hinduism teaches us to see the Divine in everyone. If we strive to follow this belief every minute, every day of our life, it becomes easier to maintain an attitude of tolerance and acceptance toward others.
Tolerance means accepting people from all backgrounds and embracing everyone, regardless of their beliefs, race, religion, gender, or socioeconomic status. Showing compassion and tolerance toward others is essential for living a peaceful life. On the other hand, intolerance clouds our judgment and empathy and can become an obstacle to growth.
Our beliefs and values strongly influence how we see and accept the world around us. Hindu principles cultivate a strong basis for acceptance and tolerance.
Under the big umbrella of Hinduism, various traditions are followed. Hindus learn to be tolerant, respectful and honor each other’s differences by understanding that there is only One Supreme Being—though we may call Him by different names, in different languages, and follow different customs and practices to worship Him. Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami of Kauai’s Hindu Monastery once quoted a verse from Rig Veda explaining , ‘ekam sat viprahbahuda vadanti’ - Truth is one, sages express it differently.
Hinduism teaches us to live in a pure, honest, and prejudice-free consciousness, and to open our hearts to everyone around us—respecting their ideas and finding value in all cultures and faiths. This understanding helps us eliminate prejudice and stereotypes from our way of thinking.
The belief that there is a seed of divinity in everyone helps us understand that people are not inherently bad or evil. Rather, under certain situations and circumstances, they may do bad things. The soul nature of every person is pure and divine. Some are young souls, clouded by greed, jealousy or other negative habits, which they gradually let go of as they work on themselves, resolve their karmas, build and transform their values and character and grow spiritually into wiser beings, often referred to as 'old souls.' Once we understand the soul’s journey, it becomes difficult to hold a judgmental view toward anyone.
Whether at school, at home or at a friend's place, if a discussion turns into an argument, we should pause and try to embrace the other person’s viewpoint. If a friend makes a negative remark about someone’s skin color or body, we should respond with something positive about that person and gently remind our friend to appreciate those who are different.
With tolerance, there is no resentment weighing down our hearts, allowing us to move through life with an open, positive and peaceful mindset. Despite the differences, Hindu teachings guide us to be compassionate and empathetic, encouraging us to make a proactive effort to befriend and help those around us. These teachings, as tools for life, help us develop a true appreciation for diversity. The Vedic verses explain Hindu viewpoint very well:
‘Vasudhaiva kutumbakam’ – the whole world is one family.
‘Sarve janah sukhino bhavantu’ – may all people be happy.
