Peace on Earth: Tolerance the Key To Lasting Peace

By Murad Ali Baig

The gory massacre at Godhra and the subsequent retaliatory slaughter throughout Gujarat underlines how easily communal passions can be aroused among otherwise normal people. A major cause for such behaviour is a mindset, found both among Muslims and Hindus, that believes that tolerance is a sign of weakness. Convinced about the infallibility of their own faith, they are totally intolerant to the views of others. Bolstered by the exhortations of their religious and political leaders, they feel no compunctions in smashing all that stands in their way including the laws of the land.

Nurtured by examples in mythology, literature and popular films, the Indian hero always destroys his enemies and teaches them a 'lesson they will never forget". The 'eye for an eye"sentiment of the Old Testament continues to influence mass behaviour to this day. Muslims glorify the myths of their history and praise their invincible conquests even if history shows that in its real days of glory, from Spain to India, Islam was a more tolerant religion than any Muslim or Hindu wants to believe. Equally, adversaries in the Rigveda, Mahabharata, Ramaya-na or the Puranas had no qualms about putting their foes to painful death or humiliation.

The Buddhist concept of compassion has been long forgotten. Buddhism had preached: "Never in the world is hate appeased by hatred. It can only be appeased with love. This is the eternal law". Buddhist compassion did not mean pity. It meant a strong compassionate hand to hold the fist of an adversary'sanger, jealousy, bitterness or greed to diffuse it and restore balance and equanimity in relationships.

The Chinese also understood the need for tolerance and their concept of Yin Yang similarly has it that light and darkness or good and evil can never completely overwhelm each other. A tiny ember of each will always survive to rise again in a cycle like the waxing and waning of the moon or the rise or fall of ocean tides. Tranquillity requires a balancing of the opposing forces.

These mature concepts are also found in modern management practices where only 'win-win"situations can bring lasting peace. Wise managements know that they can never completely defeat their workers"unions, government officials or customer interests. Long term stability needs positions where both adversaries can find areas of mutual dependence to build the basis of co-existence.

Despite the trauma, India'sHindus and Muslims cannot be rid of each other. Killing, deporting or partitioning such large communities into separate units is a prospect too horrible to contemplate. But neither community has leaders of stature who can see beyond the immediate provocations to find a path to harmony.

Unfortunately both Hindus and Muslims have slipped far from their times of past greatness. Sliding into increasing ignorance and poverty, both communities console themselves by glorifying the past and accusing others for their sorry plight.

Hatred, sadly, is a much more powerful uniting factor than love. God and national plans, unlike hatred, can seldom unite people in an enthusiastic mass effort. This hate was evident in the many flag-waving devotees who went to Ayodhya chanting slogans, steeped in passionate hate rather than in gentle, caring devotion. The Islam of Mohammed, like the Hinduism of many Hindu sages and philosophers, were fundamentally religions that preached peace and harmony. Fundamentalism is a most inappropriate word for the fanaticism of the ignorant and prejudiced. Every religion began with the simple spiritual messages of humble prophets or sages and was practised without mosques, temples or churches.

As they matured, religions became useful tools for rulers and priests to manipulate the masses. This was superstitious religiosity and not the religion of the founders. Spirituality was the foundation of all religions and superstition its tombstone. The conflict in India today is not about the fundamental teachings of different religions but about the superstitions fanned by bigoted priests.

Perhaps we should remember the words of the Sikh Guru Arjun Dev who said: "I do not keep the Hindu fast nor the Muslim Ramzan. I serve him alone who is my refuge. I serve one master, who is also Allah".

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See also: Peace of Mind, Peace on Earth, Life and Beyond, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul

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