At first glance, tolerance may be perceived as a heart issue that is primarily connected to feelings more than the mind. People address a tolerant person as "good-hearted" or "pure in heart", before the person is described as being open-minded, being aware of the common interest and the common good, or even being conscious of his own self-interest.

The involvement of feelings in this aspect is a good ingredient, as it represents a positive energy which gives the tolerant behavior a significant human depth. However, limiting the issue to feeling seems risky, as human feelings fluctuate all the time, wavering between stagnation and excitement, indignation and contentment, affection and hatred. This may also extend from the individual to the group, or from one person to all.

The Importance of a Tolerant Mind

Hence, the mind's conviction of tolerance, and its awareness of its significance make it more firmly established and stable. It is possible that those who are convinced of this are driven by self-interest or by common interest, as they get to understand that tolerance is a safeguard against feelings of loathing or hatred, leading one to reaping the fruits of affection towards others, on the basis that mental health, just like physical health, is a crown on the heads of healthy people.

However, this goes beyond the individual gain, and extends to the understanding that living in a society that enjoys this great human value reduces the evils created by grudges evoked by ideological, sectarian, racial, class and other conflicts, which soon spread and penetrate until individuals find themselves facing them. The question that arises here: How is a tolerant mind born?

Learning Tolerance

Here, a major role is played by the family, and then the school, in teaching the individual how to accept, without any discrimination, other people's opinion, after understanding it, realizing its meaning and goals, and believing that its author has the right and freedom to express it.

Undoubtedly, education plays an important role in this regard, particularly if the curriculum developers and teachers are aware that the principle of “learning to coexist” must be established in academic courses, as well as the administrative organization of educational institutions and teaching methods, as is the case with the principle of “learning to work”.

The media of all kinds- whether written, audio, visual and electronic, as well the system of laws that govern societal life, administrative structures, kinship societies, civil society institutions, and gathering centers, such as clubs, cafes, and others- play an important role in this path, with variable portions.

And since the acquisition of a tolerant mind is a heavy industry, I would imagine that the best teacher of tolerance is bitter life experiences. For countries that have gone through long-term conflicts, between religious sects, or ethnic nationalities, or a combination of both, it becomes clear to those in conflict, following outrageous bloodshed and devastating chaos, that none of them can completely expel the other or force them to leave. Thus, the only option left is accepting coexistence, which can begin first by avoiding the other. Then, things would gradually shift to accepting one another's existence, examining each other's ideas, until some considerable common ground is discovered.

Certainly, this does not imply that the repercussions of conflicts will  disappear completely, as memories and tales of death and destruction, old scars and wounds, as well as signs of damage linger in people's minds. However, what remains from the past can turn a problem into an opportunity, reminding everyone that it is the absence of tolerance that created all this ugliness and hideous marks, which cruelly struck their lives.

It is expected, and is only natural, that not everyone would listen and act upon this wisdom. Yet, the number of those who are convinced of it grows, possibly resulting in some kind of settlement or voluntary acceptance of disagreement and differences. Thus, some evil motives may keep lurking within people's hearts, with a general keenness to keep these motives under control to avoid a civil strife from exploding.

The effects of destruction and bloodshed may not be visible to the eyes of those who are alive, but may be a lesson well-learned, which they are keen to teach to the next generation to avoid the horrific consequences of intolerance.

Amidst these factors, motives, causes and circumstances, a tolerant mind is born. It is a type of mind which life remains in dire need of, despite what is claimed about tolerance implying that a side puts itself above another and then forgives it, making its own stance, thoughts and values a standard for judging the "other".

In fact, we can never deny the human inclination to glorify the self, or at least be biased to what is in its own interest. However, it is possible for the human mind to learn how to believe in pluralism within a single society, or even within a single group, and to firmly consider the importance and the immeasurable good in embracing openness. With this mindset, it is possible to curb a lot of abnormal impulses, which trigger aggression against the existence of others and their rights.

Five Attributes

Tolerance is characterized by features that can be extracted, not only from the literature of "tolerance", but also from real life experiences of individuals and nations, which can be outlined as follows:

1- An open mind: A mind that does not adopt a certain understanding, believing it to be the final irrefutable truth. Rather, this mind responds to every call that points to the truth, even searching after it within other people, without encroaching upon what they believe in. Rather, it respects people's right to search for the truth, as well as respecting every effort in the direction of reaching it.

2- A mind that believes in pluralism: There is no tolerance without an understanding of difference, and an awareness of its nature and of it being the norm of life, without hypocrisy or distortion. This type of awareness gives its proprietor the ability to deal with others, in a complementary relationship, not one of struggle and strife.

3- A calm mind: A mind that considers the opinions presented and the actions displayed, calmly and deliberately. It is a "cold mind", as is called metaphorically, since it gives one the opportunity to listen to others, be patient with them, seek excuses for them, and consider their opinions with positive assumptions.

4- A mind that understands interest: A mind that does not place personal interest above the common one, but sees the former as a part of the latter, or as stemming from it, and as being compatible with it. This attitude alleviates conflict with others, reduces intolerance, and prompts participation in working towards the "public good", providing the required tangible aspect that leads to tolerance.

5- A flexible mind A mind that has the ability to move from one alternative to another, choosing the healthy and successful options, realizing that any healthy path of life cannot be void of options and alternatives, both for the individual and the group.

In conclusion, these five traits are not easily acquired, nor do they come without effort. Rather, they are the outcome of long years of understanding and realization, as well as the accumulation of experiences and the succession of calamities, from which a person learns that tolerance is a necessity for them and their society. When this perception is well established, it prevents people from looking down on each other. Thus, they extend hands to one another, walk together shoulder to shoulder, in order to achieve contentment for themselves and peace for their society.