# Tolerance *On forbearance and endurance in spiritual life* --- ### More Tolerant Than a Tree > Taror api sahiṣṇunā—one should be more tolerant than a tree. A tree gives so much—shade, fruits, flowers—but asks nothing in return. Even if you cut a tree, it does not protest. This is tolerance. — [[spoken/1966/660909le.ny|Lecture on Hare Kṛṣṇa Mantra, New York, 1966]] --- ### Tolerate Dualities > In this material world, there are dualities—happiness and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor. A devotee tolerates all these. He is not disturbed. He continues his Kṛṣṇa consciousness. — [[spoken/1968/680816jm.mon|Janmāṣṭamī Lecture, Montreal, 1968]] --- ### Māyā Will Attack > Our this new bride and bridegroom should always remember that in any condition of life they should remain together. Otherwise māyā will attack in so many ways. So we must be tolerant and continue. — [[spoken/1969/690604in.nv|Initiation Lecture, New Vṛndāvana, 1969]] --- ### Not Disturbed > A devotee is not disturbed by material conditions. Tato māṁ tattvato jñātvā. When you know Kṛṣṇa in truth, you are not disturbed by anything. You tolerate everything. — [[spoken/1972/721017sb.vrn|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6, Vṛndāvana, 1972]] --- ### Demonic Age > It is not that you will be successful everywhere. Because it is demonic age. But you, more you become yourself sincere, you'll be successful. So tolerate difficulties and continue. — [[spoken/1972/721017sb.vrn|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6, Vṛndāvana, 1972]] --- ### Temporary Conditions > All these material conditions are temporary. Today there is difficulty; tomorrow it may not be there. So why should we be disturbed? We should tolerate and continue our Kṛṣṇa consciousness. — [[spoken/1976/760619sb.tor|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.3, Toronto, 1976]] --- ### Focus on the Goal > The goal is to go back to Godhead. Whatever difficulties come in between, we should tolerate them. Just like a traveler—he tolerates so many difficulties on the way because he wants to reach his destination. — [[spoken/1970/700508ip.la|Śrī Īśopaniṣad, Mantra 6, Los Angeles, 1970]] --- ### Patient Endeavor > Spiritual advancement requires patient endeavor. Utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt. One must be patient and tolerant. It takes time to become purified. So we must tolerate and continue. — [[spoken/1970/701219sb.sur|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.34–39, Surat, 1970]] --- ### Steady in All Circumstances > A devotee is steady in all circumstances—in happiness or distress, in honor or dishonor. He is sama-duḥkha-sukha. He tolerates everything equally because his mind is fixed on Kṛṣṇa. — [[spoken/1968/680816jm.mon|Janmāṣṭamī Lecture, Montreal, 1968]] --- ### Qualification for Chanting > In this mood—tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā—one can chant the holy name constantly. Without tolerance, constant chanting is not possible. Difficulties will come, but we must tolerate. — [[spoken/1966/660909le.ny|Lecture on Hare Kṛṣṇa Mantra, New York, 1966]] --- *10 quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on tolerance* [[wiki/quotes|Back to Quotes]]