Probably speaks to my heart on this subject better than any words. Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, at the grave of father Thomas Merton OCSO at the Gethsemane retreat outside Bardstown, Kentucky.
In some sense two men who couldn't be different. Not just in terms of their views. The Dalai Lama a monastic since his youth, highly rigorously educated, thrown into the public light and politics of his nation in exile. Merton a hermit, a poet, mystic. But also wholly a man, familiar with profane love.
And of course in their views. One a committed Christian, the other an atheist but not an anti-theist. But they were friends. Examples for each other. They challenged each other with their paths. Merton has written about Buddhist teachings as the Dalai Lama has written about Christian teachings. They loved each other.
That is sort of my example. It's not even about "tolerance". It's really about finding and recognizing the good in others. Letting that good reflect into one. Accepting the ambiguity that one's spiritual playground might not have all the toys. That whatever "it" is might be bigger than that. Bigger than one knows, even imagines.
I don't know if the world has become spiritually intolerant. Or if it has all just become materialistic.
