The Buddha described patience as the highest spiritual quality, yet many of us find it challenging, even unappealing.
Modern society so often emphasises immediate gratification through an act of will. We then bring this pressure to our meditation practice and use too much force, making the path harder than it needs to be. On the contrary, the Buddha encouraged us to focus on the causes for happiness and peace - the careful laying down of conditions that allow beautiful qualities of the heart to ripen, in their own time.
Developing such a patient, kind and gentle attitude enables us to stay with experience long enough to discover its beauty and depth. We learn to find contentment here and now, instead of being caught in restless seeking. |