Tolerance

ahiṁsā prathamaṁ puṣpaṁ puṣpam indriya-nigrahaḥ

ahiṁsā prathamaṁ puṣpaṁ puṣpam indriya-nigrahaḥ |
sarva-bhūta-dayā puṣpaṁ kṣamā puṣpaṁ viśeṣataḥ ||
jñāna-puṣpaṁ tapaḥ puṣpaṁ dhyāna-puṣpaṁ tu saptamam |
satyam aṣṭa-vidhaṁ puṣpaṁ viṣṇoḥ prītikaraṁ bhavet ||
(Prapanna-parijāta: 5.28)

“First, the flower of (1) non-violence, [then] the flower of (2) control of the senses, the flower of (3) kindness [alt., compassion] to all beings, the flower of (4) forbearance [alt., forgiveness] in particular, the flower of (5) knowledge, the flower of (6) austerity, the flower of (7) meditation seventh, and (8) truthfulness—[these] flowers of eight types shall be pleasing to Viṣṇu.”

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adveṣṭā sarva-bhūtānāṁ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca

adveṣṭā sarva-bhūtānāṁ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca |
nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ kṣamī ||
santuṣṭaḥ satataṁ yogī yatātmā dṛḍha-niścayaḥ |
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā: 12.13–14)

“My bhakta—one who is non-inimical, friendly, and indeed compassionate towards all beings, free from possessiveness, free from egotism, equal towards suffering and happiness, forbearing, ever satisfied, a yogī, self-restrained, of firm conviction, and of mind and intellect offered to me—is dear to me.”

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ghṛṣṭaṁ ghṛṣṭaṁ punar api punaś candanaṁ cāru-gandhaṁ

ghṛṣṭaṁ ghṛṣṭaṁ punar api punaś candanaṁ cāru-gandhaṁ
chinnaṁ chinnaṁ punar api punaḥ svādu caivekṣu-khaṇḍam |
dagdhaṁ dagdhaṁ punar api punaḥ kāścanaṁ kānta-varṇaṁ
prāṇānte’pi prakṛti-vikṛtir jāyate nottamānām ||
(Unknown source)

“Even when ground and ground,
Again and again,
Sandalwood has a beautiful fragrance.
Even when pressed and pressed,
Again and again,
Sugarcane has a sweet taste.
Even when smelted and smelted,
Again and again,
Gold has a beautiful color.
[Similarly,] Even at death
[alt., Even in the face of death],
No aberration in nature
Of the exalted arises.”

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tṛṇād api sunīcena

tṛṇād api sunīcena taror iva sahiṣṇunā |
amāninā mānadena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ ||
(Padyāvalī: 32; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 269; Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 1.17.31, 3.6.239, 3.20.21)

“Hari is to be praised always
By one who is far lower than even grass,
Tolerant like a tree,
Undesirous of respect,
And respectful [to all as appropriate].”

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tāḍanaṁ bhartsanaṁ kāmī bhogyatvena yathā striyaḥ

tāḍanaṁ bhartsanaṁ kāmī bhogyatvena yathā striyaḥ |
gṛhṇāti vaiṣṇavānāṁ ca tat-tad-grāhyaṁ tathā budhaiḥ ||
(Sanat-kumāra-saṁhitā: 112)

“As a debauchee considers the slapping and threatening of a woman enjoyable, so the wise accept what has to be accepted from the Vaiṣṇavas [even if it be chastisement, etc.].”

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upakāriṣu yaḥ sādhuḥ sādhutve tasya ko guṇaḥ

upakāriṣu yaḥ sādhuḥ sādhutve tasya ko guṇaḥ |
apakāriṣu yaḥ sādhuḥ sa sādhuḥ sadbhir ucyate ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 7031)

“What sort of quality is the goodness of one who is good [only] to those who are helpful [to oneself]? One who is good [even] to those who are harmful [to oneself] is said to be good [i.e., a sādhu] by the wise.”

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apakāra-daśāyām apy upakurvanti sādhavaḥ

apakāra-daśāyām apy upakurvanti sādhavaḥ |
chindantam api vṛkṣaḥ sva-chāyayā kiṁ na rakṣati ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 1876)

“Even in a condition of [receiving] harm, sādhus help [those who harm them]. Does a tree even while being chopped down not offer protection [to those who are cutting it] with its own shade?”

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apriya-vacanāṅgārair dagdho’pi na vipriyaṁ vadaty āryaḥ

apriya-vacanāṅgārair dagdho’pi na vipriyaṁ vadaty āryaḥ |
kiṁ dahyamānam agaru svabhāva-surabhiṁ parityajati ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 2194)

“Even if burnt by the coals of unpleasant words, a noble person do not say something unpleasant [in response]. Does [even] a burning piece of aloewood give up its natural fragrance?”

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vikāra-hetau sati vikriyante

vikāra-hetau sati vikriyante
yeṣāṁ na cetāṁsi ta eva dhīrāḥ |
(Kumāra-sambhava: 1.59)

“Only they whose minds are not disturbed [even] in the presence of causes of disturbance are dhīra (sagacious).”

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