In the previous episode, we had commenced a discussion on the next aspect of “Dharma” after “Seva”. This is where we understand the importance of “tolerance” and “adjustment” in our daily life. As we’re moving on from “Seva” to “Graamyeha uparamah shanaihi”, this is a virtual continuation of what we had discussed before as well. In due course of the yesterday’s episode, we had concluded that performing selfless service to the world (“Seva”), we can please Bhagawan’s heart to such an extent that our route to “Moksha” gets the “green signal” easily! 😊
Eventually, as we develop this attitude of doing selfless service, our personal preferences, needs and wants would automatically start coming down. The moment we dedicate our life to be of service of others (“Paropakaaram idam shareeram”), our desires, selfish needs, etc. would start reducing. The moment our desires come down, our tolerance capability would start increasing. This is exactly what Sage Sukhaachaarya is explaining here. When he says, “Graamyeha uparamah shanaihi”, he explains that we should be able to adjust to any kind of adverse situation that we face in our day-to-day life and still find happiness and bliss from it.
For instance, if we’re on a “Yatra” (Spiritual travel, visiting temples and other spiritual places of worship with a group of people), we should realize that there might be many challenges that we have to overcome. Firstly, we should understand that we are with several other people and each individual is different. Sometimes, we might be amongst a multi-cultural diversity of people and thus it might become a bit more complicated. Secondly, we might not get the same luxury of a home when we are outside. We need to adjust with whatever minimal facility we get to rest ourselves for the night. Just because we have a luxurious bedrooms and bathrooms at home, there is no point in demanding the same outside! Thirdly, we should be able to adjust with whatever food that we get to consume when we’re outside. Obviously, we might follow extreme cleanliness while we cook food at home, but can we expect the same outside? The answer is “No”! This is where our tolerance comes into picture. This is the acid test for all of us here – Are we able to adjust with whatever we get, or are we going to keep cribbing and complaining for what we do not get? If we’re going to answer a “Yes” for the second half of the above question, it simply means that our level of adjustment and tolerance is something that we need to seriously work on!
Thus, the point here is that, as ardent followers of our “Sanaathana Dharma”, we should be high on tolerance and should be able to take whatever comes by. In fact, if we look at our ancient tradition, Hinduism is a religion of extreme tolerance. If we look at our history of about thousand years or more, how many invaders from various parts of the world have tried to capture our Bhaarata Desha (India) and tried to impose their agenda upon us? Even though they might have succeeded in capturing our land, they weren’t really successful in destroying our “Sanaatana Dharma” isn’t it? How many of our people resisted, tolerated and battled their lives to protect our “Sanaatana Dharma”? There are thousands in the long list! If we happen to visit some ancient temples like the one in Srirangam, Madurai, etc. we would come across startling accords of history as to how people have saved these temples from being invaded by some crooks! There were instances wherein the temple was under siege by foreign invaders, but our people have successfully resisted it, built a wall in front of the main sanctum-sanctorum (deity) of the temple, so as to give an image of an “empty room” for the invader! If such a thing wouldn’t have been done, the precious idols of all the deities in these temples would have been stolen away by now! Such was the resistance, tolerance, sacrifice and valor exhibited by our forefathers and ancestors in protecting our ancient and sacred temples. This is just a tip of a huge iceberg to illustrate how people who are ardent followers of our “Sanaatana Dharma” score very high on this “Dharma” called “Tolerance” or “Graamyeha uparamah shanaihi”.
If we look at the modern day story, there are different groups of anti-Hindus who constantly keep throwing muck on us for no reason. Even that is being tolerated by us in the present day. For instance, many of us might know and remember how the so-called “Dravidians” in the southern part of India had once insulted Bhagawan Rama by “offering” a garland made of slippers! What more insult do we take beyond this? Yet, as ardent followers of our “Sanaatana Dharma”, we were tolerating all these nonsensical behaviors, because Hinduism believes in forgiving and forgetting the mistakes done by others and accepting them unconditionally. This itself is a great level of “Tolerance” isn’t it? Had the same thing happened to a deity of another religion, what would have happened? Either these “Dravidians” would have been shot down with guns and bullets by people of one religion which is globally famous for that, or they would have been stoned by people of another religion amidst the symbol which we use for denoting “Addition” in Mathematics! These “Dravidians” could wag their tail and get away only because Hindus are extremely tolerant, but they would face repercussions for all what they keep doing!
So for today, let us understand the significance of “Tolerance” and let us try and imbibe this into us for our long-term benefit of attaining the highest “Moksha”. We might see few people who act against our “Sanaatana Dharma” and get away easily, but let us always remember that these people would definitely reap the fruits for what they’re doing today. We shall wait till the next episode to move on with the next important aspect of “Dharma” as narrated by Sage Sukhaachaarya! Stay tuned! 😊
The Indian Dharma 