Yoga, Tolerance, and the New World Order

Yoga's philosophy is based upon peace and the endthine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies,
of suffering. Each time a world leader has stood upbless them that curse you, do good to them that
to give this same message of world peace, he orhate you, and pray for them which despitefully use
she is shouted down. Yet, we must ask - "Has theyou, and persecute you."
world changed overnight?" Will Barack ObamaThe fundamentalist interpretation of ideas concerning
"become the change we wish to see?"peace is: "Let's be rational, see it my way." Actually,
Throughout history, intolerance has caused many setwe have to listen to the narrow-minded and open
backs for humanity. Humankind's history is a trackdialogue in order to achieve a peaceful solution. You
record of blood lust, based on close-minded beliefscan afford to exchange ideas, with those who
about different ideas. Unfortunately, fundamentalistdisagree, when you live in a democracy.
groups demonstrate that intolerance is still alive andIn a free society, people have a right to choose the
well.path of enlightenment or the path of ignorance.
If you live in a democratic society, which is not atLuckily, the intolerant have limited influence for now.
war, you have the good fortune to see theThis does not mean to send them on their merry
intolerant clearly. It is not so easy to see any issuesway. It means that we should engage them in
clearly if you are in the middle of an armed conflict.conversation, when they demand to state their
Even in democracies, the masses can become sweptviewpoint, with the provision that we may state our
up in polarization during wartime, after a terroristviewpoint, as well.
attack, or in search of a political scapegoat.What good will this do? If you practice Yoga long
How can Yoga help? Every form of Yoga trains theenough, you should have a trained mind. As a serious
mind toward rational thought. In fact, Yoga is aYoga practitioner, your beliefs in world peace, the
nightmare for dictators and war mongers. How canend of suffering, and a clean planet, are good and
you convince rational thinkers to kill their neighbors?noble causes, based upon rational logic. A blissful
In the King James Version, of the Holy Bible, Mathewplanet is the kind of world we want to leave to our
5:43-44, Jesus states: "Ye have heard that it hathchildren.
been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate