January 7, 2026
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Gandhi said, “The golden rule of conduct is mutual toleration. Seeing that we will never all think alike, we shall always see Truth in fragments and from different points.”
The larger context of Gandhi’s point was that he was suggesting mutual toleration is not only necessary but is a key to getting along because it’s simply not possible we will all see things alike. Which makes tolerance the golden rule of harmony.
Let’s ponder that a moment. I think we might, as a majority, believe in, or want, the time to come when we all think alike and believe the same things. Do you find that hope or longing within yourself? Perhaps as an unseen belief, or even a need? Does it help you feel safe, maybe?
I have to ask: “Is the assumption of shared belief folded into the idea of most spiritual beliefs, even new age belief? I think the answer is yes. It’s a pernicious idea: that ultimately everyone will or must or should come to see the rightness or wisdom of one particular way. Maybe we even think that’s what Oneness looks like? Hmmm?
For instance, try that out by asking: Do I find a kernel of this longing for shared belief in my approach to my own new age spirituality? Hidden in the folds of how I carry my new age beliefs is there at least a smidgeon of the hope or belief — or maybe even certainty — that everyone will come to see the wisdom of New Age beliefs as most viable?
I’d say the answer is yes… I can find it lurking about in me. I long for us to live in harmony and below the surface of that longing is the subtle assumption that it means we all are in agreement about beliefs. And implicit in that idea of agreement is the idea that everyone therefore sees things the same way.
It makes sense to me such an assumption (or even insistence) is there because most of our spiritual beliefs are rooted in the programming of what I call “The Ole’ Time Religion”. And foundational in The Ole’ Time Religions is the idea of only one right way. That was the program and it was bred in. By now, it’s probably epigenetic, or akashic, part of what we are born into.
For generations and generations so many of our ancestors were programmed by this foundational thought about spiritual belief — there is only one right way. To the point it has infiltrated our deepest longings. It’s now part of what defines our ideal of society and influences our notions of nirvana or heaven: surely in the afterlife everyone else will see we were right, lol. Or then at least there won’t be important differences.
The longing for a time when we all see things the same so we can at least get along, have harmony? Yeah, that’s a fantasy. Especially here at ground zero, in our daily living. And I doubt the afterlife has that kind of homogeneity either. There will not be only earthlings; have you thought about that?
There will be many differences. The diversity of the universe is vast. Sameness is not the key to harmonious living. What is the key? Having the maturity to not judge or fear the differences but to embrace difference is the key to harmonious living.
I think this might be what Gandhi was in touch with: It is absolutely necessary to admit that we will never all see the truth of events and ideas in exactly the same way. We will always see these from different points of perspective. That’s a pretty mature — grown up — spiritual outlook it seems to me. What do you think?
That’s what I’m musing on today,
And sending love,
💗 Mayet
