To accelerate your spiritual progress, it is wise to reach out to others in an attempt to understand and be understood. Such attempts help you discover the truth of your assumptions and find friends to help and be helped by.
Understanding is not equivalent to today’s politically correct notion of tolerance. Tolerance began with a quest for understanding, but grew into a creature of regulation. To tolerate implies to endure. We do not have to endure that which impedes our progress. It is possible to understand and disagree, and to agree to go separate ways.
What is it to understand another person? Most people compare their words to the words of another and decide whether or not the words agree. This is argument over symbols – equivalent in importance to argument over pronunciation. This simple logic leads to agreement or disagreement. Neither is understanding. In fact, in spiritual matters, the worst approach is to respond only to the logic of a person’s words. It is better to ignore words and delve deeper.
You must use intuition. You must reach out to the other and feel the place from which they speak. You must temporarily abandon your defensive position and give your self to the other. Feel their attitude, look with their eyes and see their world.
Understanding is knowing the heart from which words emanate. Understanding is holding the hand of another, but never actually touching them. Understanding is walking in step while not speaking the same words. Understanding is recognition of unity with a simple nod. It is also a friendly, parting wave as people take different paths.
Look for the spirit behind the words. People without a common language find ways to communicate and work together. They recognize a common goal. A hundred languages may speak the same phrase. We need the wisdom to allow them to speak and to hear what the eyes of the speaker are saying.