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Message |
| Posted By: |
freespirit |
| Date: |
24-Feb-2001 |
| Subject: |
patience |
Some appropriate words of wisdom from Master Hsing Yun:
*********
Each of us will understand patience in our own way. This is because none of us needs to be patient, except insofar as we have a false sense of self that feels the need to endure something it doesn't like. Saints have no need of patience. Advanced practitioners enjoy insults since they provide an excellent chance to learn and improve. Some people want to fight when they are insulted. Others want to cry. Others want to justify themselves. The responses are many. The cause is but one - the illusion of self has been stimulated to defend itself against a well-aimed attack. The cure is to understand that there is nothing to be attacked and there is no attack; both of them are empty.
You cannot feel insulted unless you are deluded. All anger is an illusion. To understand this is to understand the highest form of patience. At its highest level, patience is just another word for wisdom.
The Upasakashila Sutra says:
There are two kinds of patience: the patience of this
world and the patience which transcends this world.
In the patience of this world, we learn to endure
hunger, thirst, heat, cold, suffering, and joy.
In the patience which transcends this world we learn
to be steady in belief, wisdom, generosity, compassion and
open-mindedness. We learn to be steadfast in our loyalty
to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha and we learn to
endure insults, beatings, taunting, evil plots against us,
greed, anger, ignorance, and all the other vile and humili-
ating things of this world. We learn to endure the unen-
durable and to accomplish the impossible. This is what is
known as the patience which transcends this world.
There are four basic ways to face situations that may call for our patience:
1) When you are insulted, do not respond. Silence is the best answer. 2) If you are to be beaten, become peaceful in your own mind. A peaceful mind can endure anything and it will always prevail in the end. 3) When you must take the brunt of someone's jealous hatred, return it with compassion. In the end, even a flicker of compassion can melt all the hatred in the world. 4) When you are slandered and insulted, contemplate virtue and mercy. The sting of insult makes virtue grow, while the absurdity of slander informs the mind of the importance of mercy.
...
True patience requires no energy. If you have to expend energy to be patient, you can be sure your patience will not last. Patience is found in resting in the spaces between thoughts. Patience is calm and non-judgemental. It is humble and wise in that is does not expect to be first or to have everything go its own way all the time.
If you find yourself losing your patience, first, watch what you say. Be
patient with speech. Don't say something nasty. Second, be careful about
your facial expression and your body language. Don't express disapproval
through your posture or attitude. Third, observe your mind. Untoward
emotions in their basic states are nothing but surges of energy. If we do not label them as anger or impatience, we will find that they are valuable sources of energy. Fourth, remember that karma and conditions produce the appearance of a world around us. If we do not accept our conditions, we will not learn from them. If we do not learn from them, they will not change.
...
The Upasakashila Sutra says:
Even if your body were being hacked to pieces, you still
should not become angry; you should contemplate deeply
the causes of this karma and practice compassion and
kindness towards all beings. If you are unable to be
patient in little things, how will you be able to do the
great work of helping all sentient beings? Patience under
insult is the main cause of awakening in the bodhi mind.
Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi [complete enlightenment] is
the result of being patient under insult. If you do not
plant those seeds, then how can you expect to attain
those results?
*****
Excerts taken from:
"Being Good - Buddhist Ethics for Everyday Life"
by Master Hsing Yun, trans Tom Graham, 1998
*****
Nothing to add - this is perfect! |
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