Benefits of Patience In reality most of our emotional problems are nothing more than a failure to accept things as they are - in which case it is patient acceptance, rather than attempting to change externals, that is the solution. For example, many of our relationship problems arise because we do not accept our partner as he or she is. In these cases the solution is not to change our partner into what we would like him to be, but to accept him fully as he is. There are many levels of acceptance. Perhaps we already try to tolerate our partner's idiosyncrasies, refrain from criticizing him or her, and go along with his wishes most of the time; but have we in the depths of our heart given up judging him? Are we completely free from resentment and blaming? Is there not still a subtle thought that he ought to be different from the way he is? True patience involves letting go of all these thoughts.
Once we fully accept other people as they are without the slightest judgement or reservation - as all the enlightened beings accept us - then there is no basis for problems in our relations with others. Problems do not exist outside our mind, so when we stop seeing other people as problems they stop being problems. The person who is a problem to a non-accept- ing mind does not exist in the calm, clear space of patient acceptance.
Nic said
Aug 7, 2005
Far out Phil... After reading that, I've decided I must be the most impatient person I earth.
My latest word I've been flinging about has been "efficiency".... Trying to get things running more smoothly, updating stuff, oh you know...just generally running around fussing and trying to save time in the big picture.
I must be driving everyone here nuts!!!! No idea at all I was doing it, until I read that and thought: Uh!
...Am going to ring my mate (he'd doing night shift) and tell him what a pain in the butt I've been, so he can agree. All of a sudden I'm remembering the looks he's given me this week. I think he would love to hear me criticise myself for a change.
Benefits of Patience
In reality most of our emotional problems are nothing more than a failure to accept things as they are - in which case it is patient acceptance, rather than attempting to change externals, that is the solution. For example, many of our relationship problems arise because we do not accept our partner as he or she is. In these cases the solution is not to change our partner into what we would like him to be, but to accept him fully as he is. There are many levels of acceptance. Perhaps we already try to tolerate our partner's idiosyncrasies, refrain from criticizing him or her, and go along with his wishes most of the time; but have we in the depths of our heart given up judging him? Are we completely free from resentment and blaming? Is there not still a subtle thought that he ought to be different from the way he is? True patience involves letting go of all these thoughts.
Once we fully accept other people as they are without the slightest judgement or reservation - as all the enlightened beings accept us - then there is no basis for problems in our relations with others. Problems do not exist outside our mind, so when we stop seeing other people as problems they stop being problems. The person who is a problem to a non-accept- ing mind does not exist in the calm, clear space of patient acceptance.
Far out Phil... After reading that, I've decided I must be the most impatient person I earth.
My latest word I've been flinging about has been "efficiency".... Trying to get things running more smoothly, updating stuff, oh you know...just generally running around fussing and trying to save time in the big picture.
I must be driving everyone here nuts!!!! No idea at all I was doing it, until I read that and thought: Uh!
...Am going to ring my mate (he'd doing night shift) and tell him what a pain in the butt I've been, so he can agree. All of a sudden I'm remembering the looks he's given me this week. I think he would love to hear me criticise myself for a change.