Tolerance
- Some aspects
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
On this happy occasion of
the birthday celebrations of our beloved Master
Pujya Babuji Maharaj, I would like share my
thoughts on the topic tolerance – some
aspects.
Tolerance as we all know that
is almost all the times referred with respect
to endurance of pain. Any spiritual path has
to be tread by the individual and the concept
of deliverance at the goal as if one is lifted
from place to another does not happen; and once
we make a will to reach the Goal, we invariably
find many obstacles appear and obstructing our
progress, when we overcome such difficulties
one by one in reaching our cherished goal, we
find our will keeps on getting reinforced. This
is experienced by the sadhakas as increase in
the capacity to bear or endure the pain. The
whole process or path is a struggle by itself
and the gain in the whole process is that we
become more and more tolerant and resilient
in life.
In the words of the Master
as given in silence speaks, “Dear
brother, I say verily that I have suffered so
much burning during the period of my abhyas
that there have been all burns in my breast.
But those have become flower-beds and fire-flowers.
I have crossed the field of spirituality by
selling away peace, i.e., I have made the sacrifice
of peace to attain it. And God knows how many
barzaks (the intermediate places) there are
where one has to go on stopping in order to
proceed further.” SS 449. Pain
is the common experience of all the people who
tread the path and infact Pujya KC Narayana
garu describes the path in one seminar Suffering
is the root and the results are the flowers
as path of pain. He introduces the subject in
this manner, “One of the meanings
of the Sanskrit word 'saha' is "to endure,
to go patiently through hardships without rebelling."
The process of enlightenment has always been
held as an unquestionably painful process. This
enlightenment comes only after disillusionment
about the permanency of objects and relationships
we have some how got involved with. Sahaja therefore
would mean that which arises from enduring the
suffering process accepting everything as a
gift of God. The attitude of taking miseries
as blessings for our good is cultivated only
through assiduous practice and this obviously
is not a gift which many seekers somehow feel
they are entitled to. Genuine spiritual life
and progress in the same has never been popular,
and never will be, because most people are unwilling
to open to and accept pain.”
Tolerance is one of the greatest
spiritual virtues that we develop in the path.
It is with the support of the Master alone that
our heart develops this noble quality. Another
concomitant attitude to tolerance is the humility.
Our Guide, Pujya Narayana garu mentions about
these twin qualities in his monumental work
Path of grace in this manner with regard to
yatra in Knot -1 ”The awareness
of the presence of the Master in each and every
object and person enables one to be in the Divine
thought always. There is no better substitute
for gaining the condition of constant remembrance
of the goal which is the most important aid
in the path of spiritual progress and one should
attend to the Yatra in this knot repeatedly
as suggested by the Master. Also this condition
enables the Sadhaka develop the twin traits
of humility and tolerance to the required extent
which is a must for progress in spirituality.”
From here we can understand that how important
is to develop these two qualities which are
infact the virtues that contribute to the nobility
of the heart.
Once we understand our incapacity to reach the
goal and also understand our dependency on Master,
then we adopt humble posture before the Master
and through prayer we move further to the condition
of subdued. But we find many obstacles which
we have to overcome by being tolerant. Our tolerance
is tested many times before we start to learn
the importance of this quality for reaching
our goal.
In essence, I understand that tolerance describes
many proper attitudes that we require to develop
to move on the path, which are:
a) Determination and will to reach the goal
b) Humility & Meekness
c) Empathy & Kindness
d) Forgiveness & Mercy
e) Patience & Endurance
f) Fortitude and Forbearence
Whereas in the absence of it, i.e, intolerance
we exhibit the following negative traits,
a) Frustration and Despondency
b) Arrogance & Discriminative attitude
c) Comparison, Competition, Jealousy &Sarcasm
d) Illwill, Rancour & Prejudice
e) Resentment and withdrawal of efforts
The list can be much more.
As far as the implementation of the commandments
are concerned, we struggle to follow the commandments
3, 4, 5, 6 & 7. in specific and in the overall
all the commandments get effected.
We also need to assess how
tolerance and patience that we develop is reflected
during our meditations and prayers. For this
we need to observe how much silence we are able
to experience. This, we must have observed in
ourselves. I find that as we start doing this
practice, there is a silent transformation with
regard to the moderation of the impulsive tendencies.
We learn to wait which is an indication of indriya
nigraha and also await during meditation. Manytimes,
it becomes difficult to explain that we simply
wait or await during our meditation while ignoring
the thoughts that arise during that time. It
is also a known experience that if we are restless
or impatient then it becomes quite difficult
to sit for the stipulated time in meditation.
I have found that, as the senses come under
more and more control which we attain through
moderation by the implicit practice of points
A & B meditation, silence is experienced
in meditation more easily and naturally. As
we practice further we find the silence more
deeper and also subtler. The influx of pranahuti
also make us effortlessly put in the state of
silence or void clearly indicating the transcendence
of the senses in a way, but when we meditate
at our homes, we do not so easily able to achieve
the similar experience, we feel troubled by
the thoughts or the restless mental tendencies.
The immoderation of the impulsive tendencies
of any person that make him restless and impatient
is understood better when seen in contrast to
the silence. May be these are the lessons of
silence.
We need to develop an attitude of waiting patiently,
this attitude also reflects our subduedness.
Often I find the mind is so restless and active
that I feel it to be like a child ( active mind)
playing pranks in front of his teacher (Silence).
Even a few random thoughts disturb us and make
us feel helpless. Often this is accompanied
by a feeling of lack of piety. I feel in such
circumstances, there is no way except to keep
on practicing as prescribed by the Master. If
we get worried too much about the intruding
thoughts then it will not help at all. When
I have felt intolerant to the arising thoughts,
my attitude and inner feeling is to be more
and more dependent on Master. Often the questions
that come to me in this regard are:
- how to increase my orientation to the Master?
when I get mundane thoughts which do not enable
me to feel the subtlety.
- how to gain more indriya nigraha? when the
restless tendencies of mind do not allow deeper
states of silence.
- How to develop more and more purity? when
I get troubled with excessive sensuousness.
The intolerance with these
incapacities of the self causes pain in the
heart. This I have tried to address by feeling
more and more dependent on Master and experienced
Him as the succour. But the awareness of these
kind of deficiencies are now making me think
more seriously about the practice of meditations
on Points A&B. I think I am gradually understanding
the importance of these meditations and often
my heart is filled with gratitude for the Master
for bestowing humanity with these meditations.
I can share with conviction that assiduous practice
of these meditations is essential (Sine qua
non) to gain access to subtler, purer and higher
states of consciousness.
In day to day working, I am
going through a tough phase of management of
interpersonal relationships at house and also
at office. In this regard, I would like to share
some of my thoughts and feelings with regard
to sadhana. I feel that one of the most difficult
commandments to follow in letter and spirit
is the seventh commandment wherein we are tested
through an external agency. The wisdom gained
w.r.t this commandment alone guides us to adopt
the appropriate action. In the commentary on
this commandment, Master says, “The
circumstances for the process of Bhogam, which
may be from internal causes or external, are
thus created. The external help comes in the
form of suffering caused by the wrongs done
by others, against which the people generally
poison their thought on account of their own
ignorance. This is very improper because this
action, having helped the process of purification,
has in fact put you under a sense of obligation.
When this is the case, the work done through
an external agency, it may be any, has in other
words rendered the function of a true friend.
This may seem to be an uncommon approach since
this basic philosophy was never taken into account
before, for the reason that it came out simply
in the form of an advice to take everything
as coming from the Lord, so that the feelings
of resentment may not arise and one may not
lose nobility of character.”
Imperience Beckons – 7th commandment.
Here the Master is emphasizing on the aspect
that we should not allow the arousal of feelings
of resentment lest one may lose the nobility
of the character. When we are tolerant we are
away from the feelings of resentment. Resentment
could be understood as a sign of weakness whereas
tolerance is an indication of strength. We can
overcome the feelings of resentment though steadiness
in practice wherein we again re-focus on the
goal and also seek the support of the Master
through Pranahuti. During these times we often
loose our emotional balance.
I find that if we link up
ourselves emotionally with people or issues
bothering us which could be moral, social or
even political then we are subjected to upheavals
in the emotional plane that cause enough tumult
affecting our Goal or sadhana and orientation
to the Master. Sometimes the issues are so near
to our heart, say nationalism or ethics and
morality in the present society then it becomes
very difficult to extricate ourselves. When
our emotional balance gets disturbed we most
often slip down with respect to the attitude
of tolerance which results in our taking strong
positions and rigid views and seldom we give
space to others. I feel this to be one of obstinacy
in thought process. It is difficult to yield
from the stated positions and takes enormous
effort and support from the Guide to overcome
them.
I also find that even if we
develop emotional attachment to the Master,
it becomes quite difficult to get trained and
in the process we feel hurt. It becomes difficult
for the trainer to make us see his point of
view. The intolerant attitude that we develop
because of the excessive emotions need to be
addressed by every one of us quite seriously
and adopt methods to overcome them. The commandment,”
Be plain and Simple to be identical with Nature”
is one of the important conditions to be owned
by every one of us to overcome the problem of
emotional imbalance. A good change in my attitudes
with regard to this was observed now as i have
started yearning more or more the condition
of blankness and void and with such re-focus
on the sadhana I am able to see or manage emotional
issues in a more balanced manner. In this regard
I find it very difficult to reconcile to the
fact that though all of us love the Master yet
we sometimes do not seem to have tolerant attitudes
with the fellow travelers who also equally love
the Master but its expression could be different.
It looks really ridiculous but apparently it
is a fact that it is quite difficult to accept
the differences in expression of love for the
Master. On analysis we can see it to be more
of an emotional issue rather than any substance
having significance.
It becomes important for us
to transcend the emotional plane and move on
further. On contemplation on the statement of
the Master that,” Love is an inner awakening
to the Reality” it immediately lifts us
from the emotional plane to the spiritual plane.
When we move on to the spiritual plane, our
rapport and dealings with our fellow brethren
gets established quite naturally and in a way
we exhibit high degree of tolerance.
In the moments of contemplation,
oflate I just think what is it is the heart
of the Master, immediately a thought comes,
Master’s heart is one of uninhibited,
unconditional Love for all Humanity. The next
thought would be If He is my Goal, then my heart
also should become one of like His i.e Love
for all. That being the goal, I can never dream
of having differences or dislike with any person
in this world leave alone the kith and kin.
When somebody irritates me, though I do get
annoyed but there is no perceptible resentment
so as to think ill of Him. To get back the balance
I immediately think I cannot harbour any ill
feeling towards them as I cannot exclude them
in my prayer and if i do that I can never get
into That Universal Consciousness that all of
us so ardently desire. This kind of practice
has helped me overcome the intolerant attitude
towards others.
But it would be wrong on my
part if do not admit of loosing the temper while
dealing with others in office or at home but
with conscious effort I am able to overcome
it to a good extent but still much more to be
done. During all such occasions I have found
fault with others but very rarely with myself.
But the awareness that came after good deal
of suffering is that my reaction is more because
of my intolerance. Somehow we expect people
to toe our line, any resistance form others
induces wrath in us. The feeling of wrath often
leads to disturbance of balance and we feel
drained emotionally. Now, I feel we should not
waste our precious emotional energy which should
be conserved for Master’s work. I am deliberately
practicing patient listening and this has been
helping me overcome the emotional outbursts.
This is what I understand by the term moulding.
That is , one is consciously trying develop
attitudes which enhance the nobility of character.
Then only we can follow the commandment -9.
Often we form opinions on
persons that are difficult to get erased. Our
reactions with such persons are usually premeditated
or determined. If our earlier meeting has been
stormy, then our attitudes are still worse.
But we also see our masters dealing with every
person afresh every time. When I have questioned
myself how is that he is able to be like that
then on close observation, I felt revealed and
was wondered that it is the quality of innocence
like of a child that is being expressed. Deep
inside my heart I feel , How exalted are these
men with such forgiveness. They always and naturally
tend to take the errant back to their bosom.
I experienced the forgiveness of my guide and
the joy that accompanies such moments is inexpressible.
I am sure this is the experience of many of
us here. These experiences have got etched deep
into my heart and I can say with assertion that
Yes, I did try to emulate such acts of forgiveness
but I should also say such condition of innocence
that leads to forgiveness is inimitable either
physically or mentally. However If we try, it
will be a big mock. I find it to be a very high
spiritual attainment which we are blessed to
witness and that we all so ardently seek.
The innocence exhibited by the masters is something
very difficult to grasp and understand as a
necessary condition required to own up as we
move on towards the final destination. So I
keep asking am I or are we seeking that condition
of innocence? If that is so, then how can we
simultaneously also have differences with others?
Because we all know that awareness of differences
pertain to the realm of conscious awareness
of self. If we put these questions and contemplate
on the quality of forgiveness of the Master
or the guide with whom we have close interaction
and along the aspect of surrender from our side
then we definitely improve on tolerance. The
masters exhibit the natural impulsion of the
heart to feel oneness making them embrace all
with love where as we i.e, others may interpret
it as tolerance. This sentence of Revered Dr
KCV always inspires me look ahead in the path
pertaining to innocence, "Not until
you become a child shall you enter into the
Kingdom of Heaven" said Jesus. I would
only add "Not until you enter into the
Kingdom of God will you become a child".
Complete works of Dr KCV Vol-1 lecture-8.
Another aspect of our intolerant
attitude with others is that we always find
many faults, defects, deficiencies in them.
If we go on counting the negatives in those
persons it is impossible to erase the seperative
feelings. Sometimes we feel compelled to think
like that which I think is due to some kind
of a habit formation. Repeated reinforced prejudgemental
attitudes make us behave in a compulsive manner
as if it has become a samskara. This could be
true as we always behave very nicely with some
persons and also simultaneously behave indifferently
with some others. We may rationalize it as per
our intellecting prowess but the stark reality
is that we behave in a non uniform manner. This
is against our goal of being JUST & BALANCED.
JUST means nothing but being just or treating
everyone equally. Master, in the commandment
six mentions in this manner, “It
was all really the effect of our own thoughts
and actions that converted brothers and friends
into strangers. It was due to our own feeling
of selfishness that made them appear like aliens.
This engendered separative feeling must now,
therefore, be removed so that brotherly relations
may be revived. This is one of the veils, which
enshrouds a devotee.” Imperience
beckons commandment-6. Therefore it is our primary
duty to implicitly follow the commandment,
“Know all people as thy brethren and treat
them as such” in letter and spirit.
And we all know that practice of Point A meditation
and 9.00 PM universal prayer are the most important
practices to be assiduously followed in this
regard.
But as far as contemplation
is concerned, I have adopted a simple thought
which was told by elders sometime back that
start looking for atleast one good quality in
such person with whom you would like to make
amends or dissolve the seperative feeling. Then
keep appreciating that person in your heart
for that quality which slowly begins to grow
and thereby enable you to feel oneness with
him. I feel that we should never exclude anyone
because we differ with them. We should always
seek the principle of all inclusiveness which
is the consciousness of our masters. I would
like remind you the sentence from Revered KC
Narayana garu article Unadorned Grace wherein
he states,” We are clear in our
understanding that the Special Personality is
special mainly because there is no Persona or
Mask for him as we all have. This point we have
had occasions to note earlier many times in
our books and meetings. We are clear that we
are not subscribing to any personality cult
and make one man/woman as the focal point and
a point of adoration and consequent flattery.
We are doubly sure, what with the ready response
from the source, that there is a Divine Consciousness
which is ever ready to answer our call and that
is expressing itself as the Consciousness of
Sri Ramchandra, a consciousness that includes
all and excludes none, that which is all love
and grace and ever willing to modify and transform
our consciousness by its association we have
during our meditations and otherwise through
the influx of Pranahuti” -
BP VOL-3
I feel from my heart that such
sentences from the masters need to read and
re-read several times and the essence in the
form of a thought be taken for contemplation.
With contemplation, our consciousness does get
purified in that regard and we find an imperceptible
change in our attitudes and feelings. Though
the situations may cause resentment in us, the
purity of our consciousness always guides us
telling that we need to accommodate others to
live in that higher consciousness that we choose
to have. Slowly we come out of double standards
and become more plain and simple. We always
need to think, adapt and mould ourselves in
such a way that we attain the Goal.
So I would like to conclude
that the attitude of tolerance need to developed
through sadhana with emphasis on contemplation.
It gets tested only in real life situations.
We may succeed many times which generally goes
unnoticed but if we fail we immediately know
as the balance is affected. Every such failure
should become a stepping stone for more striving
from our side. Diehard optimism, faith and the
helping hand of the Master will definitely see
all of us through all the difficulties and obstacles
that get manifested in the path.
Thank you very much
With Pranams
Chalapathi
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