If there is one thing that I cannot stand, it’s intolerance. Many countries are populated by people from a wide range of ethnic origins, speaking different languages, and holding divergent views on religion and ethics. Diversity is not a new phenomenon, and intolerance is not a new human trait. The caste system existed during the time of the Buddha, and it still exists now. Barbaric practices and punishments existed then, and they still exist today in many places.

Buddhists are supposed to be tolerant, but there’s a lot of Islamophobia and prejudice among some Buddhists. Burmese soldiers are rarely pious Buddhists, but they are only able to slaughter innocent Moslems or Christians because they are ignorant of the Buddha’s teaching, and urged on by a climate of fear, hatred, and intolerance. 

Tolerance should not be confused with some kind of bleeding-heart liberalism that is afraid to criticise what is blameworthy. When a country’s leaders are intolerant and stir up racial tensions, it’s disastrous for the entire nation. No one needs to tolerate what they find agreeable and supportive to their own views. It is when others hold obnoxious views that tolerance is required.

I think that most people are wasting their lives with sensual indulgence, politics, war-mongering, or other worthless pursuits, but that’s their choice. If I don’t approve of what they doing, I can do whatever I think is worthwhile and beneficial to myself and others. If others ask, ”What should I do?“ I can advise them to meditate, study the Buddha’s teaching, etc., which will be for their long-term welfare. If they don’t ask, it is nothing that I need to worry about. I can give my opinion, even unasked, but that is rarely effective.

Extreme Views to be Avoided

There are many religious views that are intolerant, and that do not fit with the Buddha’s teaching of openness and freedom of inquiry. Communities like the Hasidic Jews isolate themselves from the larger society, as it is the only way to maintain their narrow-minded view of the world. Their reasons for isolation are similar to those of the Amish, who see modern education as a threat to their community. Cults of all kinds rely on the same kind of restrictions on their members to keep them from leaving to seek their own happiness, and liberation from clinging to views.

If one makes a thorough inquiry into Buddhism, one will find therein methods for the abandoning of views.  At one time, a wanderer known as Dīghanakha (long nails) approached the Buddha and stated his own view: “I do not approve of anything.” The Buddha replied: “If this is your view, Aggivessana, ‘I do not approve of anything,’ do you also not approve of this view?” The Buddha immediately showed that Dīghanakha was attached to his own view.

There is right-view, and there are many wrong-views, but even right-views should not be clung to, even more then should wrong-views be abandoned. The teaching of the Buddha should be regarded as a raft for crossing over a river in flood. After crossing, one should abandon the raft, not carry it on one’s shoulders.

There are three wrong-views that are particularly dangerous:

1. The belief in Almighty God. The idea that the happiness and sorrow experienced by living beings is the will of an Almighty God. There is no evidence for any such being that stands up to scrutiny.
2. The second dangerous belief is the idea that the happiness and sorrow experienced by living beings is the result of previous kamma. This is fatalism, not the teaching of the Buddha on causality. Some things are the result of kamma done in previous existences, but much more depends on our actions, speech, and thoughts in the present life. The law of kamma gives us the power to create our own happiness, and to remove the causes for our own misery.
3. The third dangerous belief is that there is no cause or reason for anything. If this view is adopted there is no reason to do good or to avoid evil; no benefit to be gained by seeking knowledge or spiritual development.

The above three wrong views should be shunned. Each of them is very dangerous to society. Others will believe and follow such wrong-views, whatever one says, but it is right to criticise intolerant views. The views that a person holds are the seeds that he or she plants and nourishes. Sooner or later they bear fruit in speech and actions that have consequences. If one plants mango seeds, one will obtain mango fruits; if one plants bitter-gourd seeds, one will harvest only bitter-gourds.

See the Bīja Sutta (The Seed) on one’s view being the determining factor that leads to good or bad results.