The Age of Intolerance and How to Escape It
Once a young man confronted Gandhi.
He was fed up with the Gandhian ideologies of non-violence and moral uprightness. Questioning Gandhi’s stand, he gave a non-stop oratory on the effectiveness of armed revolution.
Gandhi listened to him carefully.
Then he asked, “Are you sincere?”
“I am very sincere”, the young man replied.
“Are you speaking with conviction?” Gandhi again asked.
“Of course!”, the young man was infuriated.
“Am I sincere?”
“Maybe…”
“Aren’t you saying something that is a total contradiction to what I say?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you see that possibility of two people with contradictory views both having full conviction and sincerity?”
“Yes.” the young man’s voice was feeble.
“You are asking me to stand in your footsteps and look. I’ll see what you see then. But have you ever considered the possibility of standing in my footsteps and looking? Suppose I invite you to look at it from my standpoint. Are you prepared for that?”
The man was stunned. He was not.
“Young man, truth is many-faceted. You can look at it from a number of points of view, and from each angle you get a different perspective. All you have said is known to me, but what I see, you have no patience to consider.” Gandhi concluded.
The young man silently walked away, immersed in thought.
An Age of Intolerance
The lesson Gandhi conveyed seems relevant in our times. Today, more than before, we tend to reflexively resist any perspective different from ours. In recent years, the number of active state-based conflicts reached one of the highest levels since World War 2, according to UCDP and PRIO.
We can see this change around us. A decade ago, were there as many political debates on TV, dirty arguments on social media, and clashes between different sects as today? Even the world leaders show little tolerance for dissent. This reflects in the suppression and gagging of critical voices in the countries that revel in their great cultures.
Psychology says this tendency is deeply rooted in how our brains manage discomfort and identity. We feel mental stress while holding two conflicting beliefs (Cognitive dissonance). Hence, we seek out only the information that conforms to our beliefs and deliberately ignore those that challenge them (confirmation bias). Our egos are programmed to block out reality through denial and rationalization to protect our self-esteem (Ego defense mechanism).
But what if these echo chambers become self-made prisons?
The Two Tribesmen
Mark Nepo, a poet and philosopher, in his book More Together Than Alone, outlines the philosophy of human connections. In it, he puts forth the idea of two tribes: “Go away” tribe and “Come, teach me” tribe.
Imagine a Stone Age tribe that is unfamiliar with other human settlements. One bright sunny day, a member accidentally sees a man from another tribe. He feels threatened and attacks the new face.
This is the “Go away” tribe.
Now imagine a member from another tribe meets a stranger. He is taken aback, but is curious. He befriends the stranger.
This is the “Come, teach me” tribe.
Nepo argues that we have traces of both these tribes within us. We tend to solidify the character that we feed more. So if we are always hostile to different perspectives, we feed the ‘Go away’ tribesman in us.
But if we embrace the ‘come, teach me’ tribesman, we can create a harmonious society.
Metamorphosis
Through millennia, we have fought among ourselves. It seems hostility is coded in our system, but evolving past it is possible. Our efforts might create an inflection point in human history.
Sometimes, the different perspectives can transform our world. The young man in the story was greatly influenced by Gandhian humility. Slowly, he was transformed from an extremist to a sage by the name Guru Nitya Chaitanya Yati, who is considered one of the greatest beacons of love and spirituality.
So the next time someone contradicts your view, think of Gandhi and try these three steps: pause, listen, and ask clarifying questions.
Maybe it will totally transform one of you.
