Power of patience
patience is frequently overlooked. Yet, from a spiritual perspective, patience is not merely a virtue; it is a transformative force that leads to inner growth and fulfilment.
Patience is an ability to remain calm and centred in the midst of challenges .
Tao Te Ching, a fundamental text in Taoism, describes patience as 'the greatest of all virtues'. In Chapter 2 of the Bhagwad Gita, Krishn tells Arjun, 'Little by little, through patience and repeated effort, the mind is to be stilled in the self.' The Bible in Psalm 37:7 reminds us to 'be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him'.
The waiting implies surrender to a higher power.
In Buddhism, the concept of patience is interwoven with the practice of mindfulness. Through mindfulness, individuals cultivate patience by observing their thoughts and emotions without judgement.
This generates self- awareness and an understanding of the impermanence of our desires. The Dalai Lama says, 'Patience is the antidote to anger.'
We need to embrace patience, as it is a potent force that aligns us with our higher purpose, fosters inner peace and draws us closer to the divine.
Rumi, the 13th-century Persian poet and mystic, avers, 'Patience is not merely sitting and waiting; it is foreseeing. It is looking at the thorn and seeing the rose, looking at the night and seeing the day.'
