That day, two students were fist-fighting to the point where a teacher had to break them apart. After settling and calming, the teacher queried for the cause of their dispute.
Said the one student: "He does not accept that my beliefs are true."
Asked the other: "How can his beliefs be true, when mine are?"
Responded the teacher: "It seems your beliefs differ. Why is it, you two fight over difference in beliefs?"
Asked the first student: "Should he not accept my beliefs are true?"
Responded the teacher: "Why should he? Can you prove they are?"
Responded the student: "I feel they are true, I feel it in my heart. That is all the proof I need."
Responded the other student: "We cannot prove the truthfulness of either of our beliefs. Such is the definition of belief. But my belief is true anyway."
Inquired the teacher: "You both are different people, with different parents, different friends, and different histories. For each of you, your beliefs are functional. You both believe that what you believe is true for you. Are you unable to accept that the same holds true for the other?"
The two students bowed their heads in shame and replied: "No, wise man, we are not."
Explained the teacher: "Then let this be a lesson. Instead of fighting over truth, try looking at your differences and learn from them. Also look at your similarities and learn from them. Instead of imposing your own belief on someone else, learn to understand how theirs works and what makes them believe it. Once you understand their beliefs, you will understand the person. You might still disagree, but the fighting stops."
With that, the teacher left the students to study.
Asked the first student: "Should he not accept my beliefs are true?"
Responded the teacher: "Why should he? Can you prove they are?"
Responded the student: "I feel they are true, I feel it in my heart. That is all the proof I need."
Responded the other student: "We cannot prove the truthfulness of either of our beliefs. Such is the definition of belief. But my belief is true anyway."
Inquired the teacher: "You both are different people, with different parents, different friends, and different histories. For each of you, your beliefs are functional. You both believe that what you believe is true for you. Are you unable to accept that the same holds true for the other?"
The two students bowed their heads in shame and replied: "No, wise man, we are not."
Explained the teacher: "Then let this be a lesson. Instead of fighting over truth, try looking at your differences and learn from them. Also look at your similarities and learn from them. Instead of imposing your own belief on someone else, learn to understand how theirs works and what makes them believe it. Once you understand their beliefs, you will understand the person. You might still disagree, but the fighting stops."
With that, the teacher left the students to study.