Patience – A Key To Enlightenment
V N Mittal
“Everything comes in its own time, everything comes when you are ripe, everything comes when you deserve it” Osho.
Achieving success in all material or spiritual endeavors for enjoying happiness and peace of mind has fascinated mankind through the ages. Towards this goal, patience -- the state of endurance under difficult circumstances and preserving in the face of delay and provocation without anger or annoyance, misfortune or pain without complaint -- seems to be indispensable.
Considered as one of the seven heavenly virtues of chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness and humility, the quality of patience works as a powerful weapon. It lets your wealth grow, teaches you discipline, and discover important values in life. For spiritual awakening, it is a guiding mast. “All wisdom is summed up in two words-- wait and hope” said Alexandre Dumas
Patience has an important place in Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and other religions. It is one of the most valuable virtues in Christianity. Bible urges Christians to be patient and see how the farmer waits for the fruits of the earth until it rains. In Islam, a number of Quran verses urge the Muslims to seek Allah’s help with patience, perseverance and prayer, especially during suffering. In Buddhism, patience is included as one of the perfections that a Boddhistva has to practise to realize enlightenment. In Judaism, patience and fortitude are permanent themes. “Conquer haste” say Zen Masters.
In Bhagwat Gita--the holy book of Hindus, there is a particular emphasis on the meditation, aspects of which lead to a natural state of mindfulness that is conducive to patient, effective, and well organized thought. It is a doorway to the realization of God.
The quality of patience, like meditation, can be cultivated by practice. Yet, it is a skill that few people can master. The story of an impatient monk reminds us how difficult it is to pratise it. Story goes that a monk wanted to learn patience but the more he tried, the more impatient he grew. So he decided to go to a jungle, far away and cut off from civilization. Years later, a travellor happened to travel to these woods and met the monk. He was amazed to find that the monk was living all alone in the deep woods and enquired as to what had prompted the monk to stay alone in the jungle. The monk replied that he was there to learn to be patient. “ How long have you been here?” “Seven years”. It stunned the travellor and asked the monk, ” If there is someone around to bother you, how would you know that you are patient” Annoyed , the monk said ”Get away from me, I have no time for you”
In fact, waiting for the right moment to lose or maintain patience is a gigantic task. Beware, a wrong timing for losing patience can aggravate anger, violence and even trigger a war between countries. There is an old Taoist metaphor, “Do you have the patience till your mud settles and the water is clear.”
It is only when we practise patience, we become truly humane. “How poor are they who have not patience! What wound ever heal but by degrees” said Shakespeare.
According to Franz Kafka, “There are two cardinal Sins from which all others spring, Impatience and Laziness” There is a thin line between patience and laziness. Patience is not waiting passively but to keep going when the going is hard and sluggish.
A stone when cut becomes a diamond studded in a necklace or an idol worshipped in a temple.
I heard the lament of a stepping stone
Whisper in the ears of an idol in a temple
They all tread on me and trample
Day in day out, I keep on crying alone
Witness people bring alms and place
While you are on the altar placed
Aren’t we both of the same stuff made?
Yet they bow down to you in your face
I bore with patience the hard knocks
Of the sculptor’s chisel on my body and face
While you were impatient to be laid
As a stepping stone of un-carved rocks.
Choice is yours whether you opt to be just a stepping stone or have the patience to be sculpted as an idol worth the worship.
Ch- oice is yours whether you opt to be just a stepping stone or have the patience to be sculpted as an idol worth the worship.