~ BELIEF | TOLERANCE

~ BELIEF | TOLERANCE | SERVICE ~

5/12/2016

Defined in 2 conflicting ways

The dictionary defines Tolerance as `the ability or willingness to tolerate the existance of opinions or behaviour that one dislikes or disagrees with.` It is supposedly the adoption of a fair, objective and permissive attitude towards opinions, beliefs, practices, race and ethnicity which differ from ones own. It should mean freedom from bigotry. But, to my mind, this is only one side of the coin!

When it`s put under the microscope, it can actually be defined in two conflicting ways! As well as the definition above, there is the more sinister definition, which is really only a veil which hides ones true feelings. Often people will appear to tolerate different views, beliefs, race and ethnicity, when in fact they are only hiding their true feelings. Tolerance can often be duplicitous and two-faced. While appearing to be accepting, some will return to their friends and cozy little homes voicing a completely different and bigoted view.

The Paradox of Tolerance is the problem that a tolerant person is antagonistic towards tolerance and so is intolerant of it! The philosopher, Karl Popper, defined the paradox in 1945 in The Open Society and Its Enemies Vol 1 - `Less well known is the Paradox of Tolerance. Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed and tolerance with them.' ~ Fiona

Tolerance gives us freedom

Something a flourishing society understands and has mastery of.

Art by Matt

For me, tolerance is a necessity as well as a warning system. We must be tolerant of others on a personal level, as well as ourselves on a conscious level. Having tolerance enables us to navigate through life and all of its hazards. If we are unable to find tolerance on a physical or psychological level, we would not survive or thrive in a way we could tolerate for very long. Tolerance gives us freedom. Freedom from the emotional bondage and turmoil that comes along with intolerance.

It is an uncomfortable feeling to be full of the many personal traps that can follow a mind that finds it difficult to tolerate much. At the same time, when we are faced with a situation that is above our personal or collective ability to understand or tolerate, we must make a choice to respond. It is in the responding that we often seem to loose our way in the emotional tidal wave that sweeps through the mind in the face of the seemingly intolerable. Keeping our emotions in balance when faced with a situation that tests a our own personal level of tolerance, is the first step in finding the solution.

As we race forward in the changing times, it is my wish that we flourish in prosperity and peace. We can raise our level of strength by being aware that our ability to tolerate will make us better able to handle the intolerable circumstances we often find ourselves in. When we face an obstacle with an open mind and pay attention to the circumstances that surround it, without emotional warfare, we will be automatically thrust into the next level of our destiny and our society will exceed our highest expectations! - Matt

ALL Behaviour is Mimicry

In a world full of difference, how does tolerance suit us as humans? Well, in my opinion, tolerance is understanding. We may not always agree with others, however, understanding that other opinions and actions stem from learning and experience gives us room to grow in trying to put ourselves in the shoes of another. The most evil actions one can have are usually survival techniques they have learned from another human.

With that being said, that human may need to learn a more loving way of living. No one likes to just survive. We all want to live in happiness and coexistence whether we realize it or not. Tolerance can allow one to not act in defense to another, but to take the initiative to lead by example. All behavior is mimicry, so why not behave with tolerance, understanding, and love so that the mimicry will follow. ~ Sarah

Art by Matt

"The Great Dictator" (1940) Charlie Chaplin

Tolerance, applies to self

Art by Matt

Tolerance, applies to self. So while to say something about it, ought to be a personal experience. I am a practical person, so I like to describe what I have experienced in my life, may be someone like it or not. A lion kills its prey and eats it. Can we teach lion to be kind and not to kill other animals. No, it is not possible. Why bcz it is inherent in his nature. So the true meaning of tolerance applies to each and every person differentially. It all depends on our upbringing as to in which I social culture we have been brought up. So tolerance can not be described in a fixed boundary.

I happen to live my life in varied spheres and my own experience to say about it is based on my experiences .

TOLERANCE IS NON REACTION TO ANY ACTION AIMED AT YOU. IT IS POSSIBLE ONLY IF IT SPRINGS OUT OF YOUR NATURE. MAKE IT YOUR NATURE..... NOT TO REACT..... AND YOUR TOLERANCE WILL SURPASS ALL BOUNDARIES. WHILE IN MY MONKHOOD, I USED TO LIVE ALONE IN FORESTS WITHOUT ANY FEAR. FEAR IS A REACTION TO SAFEGUARD OWN LIFE. MAYBE IT WAS BENEVOLENCE OF MY LORD, IT BECAME MY NATURE NOT TO REACT. I HAD OCCASIONS WHEN FOREST ANIMALS HAPPENED TO ROAM NEARBY, BUT MY NATURE NOT TO REACT KEPT THEM AT PEACE. SO TOLERANCE TO ME IS......... NON REACTION TO ANY ACTION. IT NEEDS TO YOUR NATURE TO BE A TOLERANT PERSON.~ Prem

~ My SPOKEN WORD: ON Tolerance ~

Created and Shared with Love by Barbara

Our BELIEF is personal & subjective

Belief is a very personal and subjective thing. I was brought up in a staunchly Catholic family and went to church every Sunday without questioning anything. But watching my Dad continuously drink, growing up without my Mum, numerous other personal ordeals and all the ills in the world made me question my belief in this Catholic God! As a teenager, I didn't believe in that ideal anymore.

Too many contradictions and restrictions in the the Christian faith as a whole, I identified much more strongly with the Classical Gods of the Greeks, Egyptians and Norsemen, etc. They were and are much more accessible. My core beliefs now, are very much eclectic in nature. I draw upon several different traditions. However I am particularly drawn to Lunar deities and my patrons are the beautiful Selene and the fair and just Thoth. They have always answered my pleas and I feel them watching over me every day of my life.

I have always had a sense of not quite belonging in this world and know now that I was sent here for a reason! I discovered that I belong to a class of Angels known as The Watchers. My true name is Raquel, Angel of Justice. And one day I will be called upon in the fight between those that stand by Source and those that refuse to awaken. These are my beliefs and make no apology for them! Stand by your beliefs and they will stand by you!~ Fiona

Art by Matt

Art by Barbara

Creating a Culture of Tolerance?

This is LONG but I found it riveting. It speaks across many cultures with a root in Jesus.

What is it?

Art by Matt

"Tolerance" and "tolerate" come from the same root word. But the word "tolerate" in my experience is seldom or never used in a positive sense. People passionately proclaim what they "will not tolerate," or talk at length in frustrated states about what things they "just can't tolerate," or how they "tolerate" or "put up" with things that stress them. But this is not because there is anything inherently negative about tolerating things, it's because of people's intolerable negative attitudes.

It's because so many people are conditioned against true tolerance, which is really just patience and understanding ~ Raven's Sacred Voice ~

It's Completely UP to YOU

As a young person, when I thought of the word 'service' it would often bring up somewhat uncomfortable feelings. It seemed that to be in service came with a certain amount of personal sacrifice and hardship. Being raised in a very rigid religious atmosphere, service often meant turning your back on your own interests to serve another, and that can lead to all kinds of thought confusion and unrest. If we turn our backs on our own interests and passions, we run the risk of not fulfilling the true purpose of our being here in the first place.

And as much as we should each follow our hearts as we fulfill our individual purpose, we must find the balance in service to self and service to others. To find that balance you must navigate your course well as you travel through your own stream of consciousness. And that takes experience. And that is why we are here! Each one of us must find our way to be of service, with unity and love for ourselves as well as others, until it all flows together in the cohesive and expansive paradise that has been planned from the start.

The truth is, from the moment you are born you are in service to humanity. What you are in service to, while you are here, is completely up to you. ~ Matt James

Art by Matt

True Meaning of Service

Art by Matt

I learned the true meaning of service six years ago. My father called me one day to ask if I would be his caregiver after his leg amputation. Having no insurance on his pre existing condition which was rheumatoid arthritis, the hospital agreed to allow him to go home 24 hours after the surgery. I did all my research, prepared to make his post surgery healing as fast as possible.

In the month I stayed with my father, who was very stubborn, I learned that what I thought he needed and what he thought he needed were two different things. My intentions for service to him were shattered. I quickly realized that when you serve those in need, you put your own opinions and judgments to the side, and listen with a caring open heart to what their true needs are. We can offer service, when it's a need to those being served. ~ Sarah

Talk your talk & walk your walk

In 2004 my employer sent me to The Virtues Project 2.5 day workshop. I was already committed to serving the Soul with the healing services I had certified in over 25 years but it wasn't until I understood my virtues and 5 simple strategies to live them fully, I wasn't IN service.

I was working with single/non-custodial "at risk" dads, helping them to parent in a more positive way. As soon as I began using The 5 Strategies especially, speaking the language of virtues, they began to respond. They inturn acted in service as they integrated what they learned into their activities. Sometimes, being of service is as simple as BEing an example.
~ Barbara

Helping others always helps everyone involved, including us. ~ Barbara :)

Forward or Backward?

Art by Matt

Service can be used in many different ways. I guess what would really matter is what is the service for or to? Forward or backward? Good or bad? Progression or digression? Truthfully all of that is subjective to the individual observing it. So as long as your service is towards something you think is good. That sounds good enough for me. ~ Joshua

THIS WEEK'S CONTRIBUTORS

Our Virtue of the Week:

We love hearing from you! Share how the virtue of the week speaks to you, shows up in your life, or helps you to see a new direction and a new way of being in the world. Share poems, quotes and memes to help us focus on the virtue of service.

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