​Should we counterpush against circumstances or tolerate them?

Answer Podcast

Transcript

This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
When I said that circumstances cannot force us to do something they can push us but we can counter push.
So should we counter push against circumstances or should we tolerate them? Yeah, actually when I said counter push what I meant is in a particular context that can circumstances force us to do particular things? For example, that person behaved so badly with me that’s why I became angry. Their behaviour is a trigger, it is not the cause. So I have reached to the choice how I behave in that situation.
That means actually toleration is itself one of the ways of resisting the push on circumstances. Now in each situation what can be the appropriate response that will vary. So in some situations the problem is there, we may tolerate it.
And certainly tolerance requires strength. Sometimes we may think that if somebody is shouting, I shout back louder shout back louder than them. That shows my strength.
But that may not be the case. That may simply worsen the situation. Tolerance requires strength.
But when we face a problem there are various responses. It is not that just tolerance alone is the best response all the time. The Pandavas tolerated the Kauravas atrocities for a long time.
But when they dishonoured Draupadi then a particular line was crossed and then they had to the Kauravas had to bear consequences after that. So there are basically three Bhoja options which we have when we face a problem. In any situation we will tolerate it, we correct it or we walk away from it.
Now all of them can be appropriate in different situations. Vibhishana worked to correct the problem. He went over the side of the Ram.
Vidura just walked away from the problem. For the Pandavas, tolerance is the problem. So what will be the right course of action may vary according to the circumstances.
But when I say counter-push it simply means that we don’t let the circumstances alone determine our actions. Rather we use our intelligence and we use our free will to choose an appropriate response. Does it answer your question? Yes.