Tolerance: The Way of Nature

TOLERANCE: THE WAY OF NATURE T olerance (forbearance, patience) is a universal principle of nature. The lion and the elephant are both very large animals. They can be considered rivals. Yet they live together in the same jungle. This is possible only because of tolerance. It has often been observed that when an elephant comes from one side and a lion from the other, both quietly continue on their way without clashing. If they did not show tolerance toward each other, they would fight until both were destroyed. Nature has taught this principle to both the lion and the elephant. In the same way, it has placed within the human body a built-in system of tolerance. In medical science, this is known as biological tolerance—the capacity of a living organism to come into contact with a substance, or to have it introduced into the body, without suffering any harmful effects: “In biology, the ability of an organism to endure contact with a substance, or its introduction into the body, without ill effects.” (Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. 10, p. 31) The entire system of treating illness depends on this ability of the body. When a person is sick, medicines are introduced that, in general, are harmful. Yet, despite being highly sensitive to outside substances, the body tolerates