Thithiksha

The fourth qualification is Thithiksha. This is the attitude of forbearance, which refuses to be affected or pained when afflicted with sorrow and loss, and the ingratitude and wickedness of others. In fact, one is happy and calm, for one knows that these are the results of one's own actions now recoiling on him, and one looks upon those who caused the misery as friends and well-wishers. One does not retaliate nor does he wish ill for them. One bears all the blows patiently, and gladly.

The natural reactions of a person, whoever he may be, when someone injures him is to injure in return, when someone causes harm to do harm and when someone insults him to insult back by some means or other. But, this is the characteristic of the Pravrithi path - the path of objective involvement. Those who seek the inner path of sublimation and purification, the Nivrithi path have to avoid such reaction. Returning injury for injury, harm for harm or insult for insult only adds to the Karmic burden, which has to be endured and eliminated in future lives. This burden is termed Aagaami or lineal. One cannot escape the task of undergoing the consequences of one's thought, word and deed in due course. Paying evil for evil can never lighten the weight of Karma; it will only become heavier. It might confer immediate relief and contentment, but it cannot but make the person suffer later. Thithiksha, therefore, instructs man to do good to the person who injures him.