A Dharma Teaching by His Holiness Rimay Gyalten Sogdzin Rinpoche

 

Section 4

 

Patience is …

Observe without attachment and emotional involvement.

Allow time for everything to reach fruition on its own.

Let things flow naturally and spontaneously.

Accept phenomena as they are.

Wait watchfully for the ripening of all conditions.

Apply wisdom and compassion (inseparably).

Pay effort (and diligence) without expectation.

Think before acting.

Realize that our life is mostly coincidence.

Be careful of what we ask for, we may get it.

Mind our own business.

Know that we don’t have to fight for everything.

Stop chasing and let things come to us.

Appreciate every moment.

Take one step at a time.

Let go of our self-righteousness.

Curb enthusiasm and delay gratification.

Be a driver when its time to be a driver, be a passenger when its time to be a passenger.

Accept others as who they are, and we are who we are (without getting attached).

Look at the bigger picture and let go of the minor things.

Be a new and improved you, and allow external things to follow.

Avoid any conditions that may lead to confrontation (even if you know you will win).

Avoid quick judgment or criticism on others.

To defend, not attack (practicing non-retaliation).

Be passive, but be active if we can save someone from acting without virtue.

See hardships as purification (repaying karmic debts).

See obstacles as precious opportunities to practice patience.

Have compassion towards our enemies.

Be tolerant, content, and respectful of others.

Remember all our hard earned merits and not throwing them all away in a moment of weakness.

Seeing there is no need to panic.

Seeing the enemy is really our mind.

Get over it, now!

Just relax, chilling out, and hanging loose!

Prepare ourselves sufficiently and wait for fruition (things will come when we are ready, not before).

Realize that impermanence applies to everything.

Have faith in the natural process of cause, condition, and fruition.

Keep our faith with no fear.

A Buddhist Practice, both in meditation and in post-meditation.

To know that there is no arising, no cessation.

Realize that appearances are only appearances, illusions are only illusions.

See the purity in all phenomena.

Surrender to the Three Jewels and let them take care of us.

Patience is not…

Be lazy.

Not helping when help is needed.

Remaining neutral when it is wrong and someone may be harmed.

Act unnecessarily to interrupt the natural flow of cause and condition.

Give up.

Shoot the messenger.

Be the judge, jury, or the executioner.

To under estimate the power of free will for doing good things.

Use a good offence as a good defense.

Getting excited for things going or not going the way we want them.

Waste the time.

Let the opportunities slip.

Ignore our surroundings.

Blame on others.

Stir things up.

Not having discipline.

Be depressed or pessimistic.

Patience is asking our-selves (before acting):

Are we mindful of what we are doing?

Does it really matter, if yes, to whom?

Do we really need this, and if so, do we really need it that quickly?

What difference does it make at the very end?

What if we do nothing about it, what is the worst that can happen?

Can we afford to do nothing?

Can we truly make a difference?

Do we have better things to do?

Is the result a worthwhile way to reduce suffering, or just a different way of doing things?

Can we change the process, if we can, what price do we pay?

Can we afford the costs, what are the costs, and is it justified?

What is our motivation?

Will anyone be harmed in the process?

Will it bring virtuous conditions?

Does it involve non-virtues?

Where is the ‘self’ in all of this, and how is it affect us?

Is our reaction justified?

Are we blowing things out of proportion?

Are we letting our thoughts get ahead of ourselves?

Could I be wrong?

Does everything need to have a conceptual purpose?

Does it help to get so exited over an illusion?

What is the point of hurrying a dream? 

If we really practice the perfection of patience, I guarantee your life will be more meaningful, happier, and more satisfying. It's such an important practice that we need to be mindful of it at all times.

When I need to practice patience, I meditate on all these things... it really helps me, and I believe it will help you too.

If you really recognize what patience is, then you'll see how profound it really is. Patience is itself an aspect of the most profound realization.

It's amazing how profound such a simple practice can be.  Patience is the ultimate protection.

By HHRGSR