Tolerance by definition means to put up with, not joyfully though. And when we talk of a harmonious coexistence of people of different faiths and religions, one hears often the word tolerance. We should exercise tolerance towards one another! Now let me throw some light on this ominous concept to show how badly mistaken we are. To start with, what do we tolerate? Frankly speaking, we tolerate those things that we hate; we tolerate loud music at night in the neighborhood; we tolerate smoking in public places and transports; we tolerate bribe-begging public servants; we tolerate the unwanted price hike; we tolerate the offending boss at the office - so point one is : we tolerate persons and things we hate from our hearts.
Tolerance stems out of a compulsion, a necessity, which cannot be avoided. If I am married to a woman who snores joyously all through the night, I cannot run to the judges pleading to revoke the wedlock. I am forced to tolerate her snore, and shortly afterwards I may find myself giving company to her in snoring, driving all burglars away. That is point two : tolerance stems out of a necessity. Point three : the goal of tolerance is directed towards my own welfare. Let the other person go to hell; if I am hale and hearty, that is fine. Point four : tolerance quietly hopes that the other party will one day vanish into thin air!
Maybe I will stop here going deep into the concept of religious tolerance. Many of us even take false pride in claiming that we are on the same platform at the inter-faith prayer meet. Tolerance is more dangerous than passive indifference. Just think for a while, what do we think of people of other faiths, when we share dais with them - 'Fools, they do not know about the only true faith. I wish they all embrace my true faith!' This in other words, is tolerance. Quietly waiting for the other to disappear from the scene. This is fake prayer meet. This in other words is a mockery of the soul of all religions.
Then what is the remedy? How do we approach the people of other faiths? What is the attitude we need to have when we take a step to join hands with people of other faiths? Appreciation. This is the remedy. Perhaps that is the only remedy! What is this appreciation to do with my or others' faith? Maybe I have to start my spiritual journey with a note that I am not the sole recipient of all knowledge and wisdom imparted by the revered saints and sages of my religion. Mine is just one of the many ways to reach my ultimate goal in life. Here I acknowledge that others too have revealed truth, and there may be elements in the faiths of others, which may open up newer vistas for me.
If I forget the time and space while listening to the bhajans by Guru Govind Singh "Koi bole Ram Ram, koi Khuda..." that is something I can be truly proud of. If I can join the Meera Bhajans or the Prasadika of Bengal or the Baul songs of Lalan Fakir, or if I can get into the shoes of the people of other faiths, then there will flower forth a new attitude of appreciation. Here we are no longer outsiders as in the case of tolerance, but are insiders - we share the faith of the other and appreciate it. For a moment we become Hindus, Muslims or Christians, or Sikh! For at the base of all religions, we have the same governing principles, and after all the God of all religions is the same, though the name may vary. That is the true attitude we could have while coming together to share our faith experiences. And it is this attitude that can truly transform the world torn apart by religious fundamentalism, fanaticism and terrorism in the name of religions!
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