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The Sanskrit word ksanti is often translated as 'forbearance' or 'endurance.'--but these words have a negative flavor of resigned sufferance. Ksanti is a positive attitude. A better translation is 'accommodation.' The attitude of ksanti means
In the spirit of ksanti we accommodate to situations and people happily. And how do we accommodate in such a way? We should look to the person behind the act. Rather than simply responding to the behavior, we
If we cannot see behind the actions, nonetheless we keep in mind the fact that many reasons, unknown to us, set the stage for any action on the part of another person. With this frame of mind we will find it natural to be accommodative. To be free to respond to the person
When we avoid reactions, we are free to choose our actions and attitudes - we can choose to be accommodative in our thoughts, words and deeds. Ksanti is a quality of a saint. A saint is
These qualities of accommodation, forgiveness, mercifulness are included in the quality called ksanti. |