Tolerance versus Appreciation

In my opinion, "tolerance" alone is not enough. When we tolerate someone, or some idea - it implies that "i am better than you, nevertheless i tolerate you". The superiority complex is still there. The "holier than thou" ego is very much there too.

What we need today is "appreciation".
I take you, i accept you as you are, with all our differences.

This is the need of the hour, especially in the field of inter-religious dialogue.

Tags: Anand, Appreciation, Ashram, Earth, Foundation, Humankind, Indonesia, Interfaith, Interreligious, Krishna., More…One, Parliament, Religions, Sky, Tolerance, World's, of

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Permalink Reply by Connor Coyne on November 20, 2009 at 12:45pm
I agree.

And I think that the critical difference is the willingness to listen. You do not have to listen to someone in order to "tolerate" them... it becomes self-segregating and resents intrusion. On the other hand, in order to appreciate and value, we have to listed. We have to open ourselves to the possibility of understanding something new, and so doing, to admit that there is much that we do not understand. Appreciation is more challenging than tolerance. It is more hard. But tolerance only goes so far in cultivating peace and harmony in the world.

Our ability to listen and appreciate each other will determine what kind of progress we can actually achieve.
Permalink Reply by Morgana on December 5, 2009 at 7:09am
Being tolerant can also mean being indifferent.
"I tolerate you (.... because I don't actually care... )"

It is a shame that the word itself has been over-used.

Yes "appreciation" is much closer to how many of us feel

I appreciate the time, effort, interest .... you have devoted to.... Meaning I do care.

Bright blessings,

Morgana
Permalink Reply by Cathy Byrne on December 7, 2009 at 5:10am
There has been academic discussion of the notion of positive tolerance - a more active and accepting form of the mere accomodation of otherness. Active tolerance implies appreciation, respect.
Permalink Reply by Anand Krishna on December 8, 2009 at 3:37pm
Morgana said:
Being tolerant can also mean being indifferent.
"I tolerate you (.... because I don't actually care... )"

It is a shame that the word itself has been over-used.

Yes "appreciation" is much closer to how many of us feel

I appreciate the time, effort, interest .... you have devoted to.... Meaning I do care.

Bright blessings,

Morgana
Permalink Reply by Anand Krishna on December 8, 2009 at 3:38pm
Thanks friends for your kind comments... love you all.... Greetings from Melbourne, great exprnce!
Permalink Reply by Maya Safira Muchtar on December 8, 2009 at 3:55pm
Appreciation puts us more in equality, where as tolerance still applies..."you are different than i. i can tolerate you but i'm still better than you are".

I think the word tolerance shouldn't be used anymore for groups like us who's working on peace. The word tolerance would never lead us to Oneness. But appreciation would lead us to One Earth, One Sky, One Humankind. I pray that this is where the Parliament is heading. While i was in the parliament, somehow i still get the feeling that some people are still trying to point out that their religion is still better than the other. I don't think that's the whole point of the parliament. It should lead more to a good understanding of each other, a chance to self introspect, learning the essence and the spirituality of all religions...then only we can create Peace.

Love n Peace



Anand Krishna said:
Morgana said:
Being tolerant can also mean being indifferent.
"I tolerate you (.... because I don't actually care... )"

It is a shame that the word itself has been over-used.

Yes "appreciation" is much closer to how many of us feel

I appreciate the time, effort, interest .... you have devoted to.... Meaning I do care.

Bright blessings,

Morgana
Permalink Reply by Morgana on December 8, 2009 at 7:12pm
Maya Safira Muchtar wrote:

While i was in the parliament, somehow i still get the feeling that some people are still trying to point out that their religion is still better than the other. I don't think that's the whole point of the parliament. It should lead more to a good understanding of each other, a chance to self introspect, learning the essence and the spirituality of all religions...then only we can create Peace.>>


Indeed. "Unity in Diversity" is certainly something I can live with.
Nature too is so diverse and adapts where necessary. I wonder why we as humans find that so difficult?

I feel enriched when I can share other cultures - including my own. Again it comes down to appreciation :-)
Enjoy the Parliament with all the myriad aspects of philosophical thought.

Rainbow blessings,
Morgana
Permalink Reply by Randall Apps on December 25, 2009 at 4:32pm
God is bigger than we expect.

Tolerance = We are enemies, but we can agree not to kill each other for a while.
For some, that is a necessary first step, but not the goal.
As long as we have an "us versus them" attitude, we cannot get past the enemy mentality.

But each of us can still feel, "My faith is best" otherwise, we would convert to the best.

I like the analogy of the body:
The EYE is Best for seeing
The HAND is Best for serving
The FOOT is Best for travelling
The eye shouldn't Accuse the hand or foot of being blind - they aren't there to see
The hand shouldn't Accuse the eye or foot of being selfish - they aren't there to serve
The foot shouldn't Accuse the eye or hand of being crippled - they aren't there to walk

But by appreciating each other as the best in their field, then ...
... we can see (EYE) where to move (FOOT) and help others (HAND)
Permalink Reply by Anand Krishna on December 25, 2009 at 10:55pm
@Randall Thanks for sharing the analogy... this is exactly what i mean.. Love n blessings

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