Drawing from the sutra “Maitri Karuna Mudito Peksha Nam,” Shri. Subodh Tiwari emphasized friendliness, compassion, and acceptance. He pointed out how Indian culture has historically recognized diverse identities, noting that acceptance rather than judgment is key to bridging generational gaps – “…to accept another,” he said, “you do not need to agree with them. You only need to see them fully.” He reminded us that acceptance is not tolerance—it is the recognition of the divine in another, beyond labels, beyond conditioning.
In this way, whether navigating generational conflicts, shifting gender identities, or evolving social norms, the principle remains the same: see beyond difference.
Rulers and colonisers have created narratives and societies adopt them and it becomes difficult to question these narratives. Shri. Subodh Tiwari drew upon historical examples, tracing back to ancient civilizations where acceptance was woven into the social fabric. He spoke of texts that acknowledged diverse identities, of temples that honored all beings, of societies that once thrived on inclusion rather than division. “We have not discovered new ways of being,” he noted. “We have merely forgotten the old ones. There is nothing to be ‘done’-it needs to be undone”. He jokingly concluded by saying (singing) “We don’t need no education”.
