ASK MAULANA — Your Questions, Answered

ASK MAULANA Your Questions, Answered What is the greatest mark of an exalted nature? The greatest mark of an exalted nature is the ability to set aside grievances and differences in order to support another person. Is patience another name for retreat? Patience is no retreat. Patience gives the strength to restrain one’s emotions in delicate situations and to use one’s mind to find a course of action along result-oriented lines. What differentiates gentleness from haughtiness? Gentleness is an attribute of successful people, while haughtiness signals imminent failure. How does one survive highly charged situations in life? The way to survive highly charged situations in life is by not letting oneself be inwardly affected by one’s outward situation, by suppressing one’s emotions and keeping one’s feelings under control. How should Man’s actions be governed? Man should be governed in thought, word and deed, not by the mere urge to pursue selfish aims, but by a deep and innate scrupulosity. Why has suffering increased in modern times? As far as I can gauge, physical suffering has not increased. It is still what it used to be. But it would be right to say that mental tension has increased in modern times, and this is chiefly due to the fact that people are not able to put a curb on their desires. How do people who have faith in religion suffer less? Why does the present generation believe more in psychology than in religion? I do not agree with this suggestion that religious people suffer less than others. However, it is true that religious beliefs inculcate a