“What is patience?”
I don’t remember who asked the question during the Satsang session in the ashram but I remember finding the Swami’s answer a tad dismaying;
“Patience is a state which comes when one lives with full clarity. All of Nature lives with patience. There is perfect rhythm; full harmony. Lack of faith in oneself and in the Divine gives birth to impatience.”
You know how somebody says something and then months later it works it’s way to the front of your brain? Well, this one has been niggling at me for a while. I’ve been observing impatience in myself, and in others, and I’m thinking that the Swam-meister was onto something with this one.
Because when I’m at peace with myself, I’m at peace (and patient) with the world.
And when I’m not? Oh dear. Not so much.
When I’m at peace with myself I wait calmly in check-out lines, smiling at the cashier and making jokes. When I’m at peace with myself, I can be cut off in traffic and smile at the irrationality of others. When I’m at peace with myself, I can place my food order, sit calmly and think about how the food was grown, and all the people that delivered it and how the lovely people are presently cooking it, but when I’m not?
When I’m not, I tap my foot while standing at the till and am prone to one-line ‘just-the-facts-ma’am’ responses. When I’m not at peace, I hurl expletives at the inside of the windshield and wonder how so many idiots can be allowed to drive. When I’m not being patient, I want to stand on the chair in the restaurant and scream, “Where’s my MEAL?!”
When I start feeling like that I know it’s time to go for a big walk. Eat dark chocolate. Buy some fresh flowers. Write in my journal. Hug a few friends. Pet a dog. Scratch a cat. Watch a funny movie. Meditate. Take big big slow breaths. And recognize that all of it shall pass. It’s not that important in the Grand-Scheme-Of-Things.
My goal for 2012 is to have a more peaceful and patient 2012. But Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Let me rephrase that; I want to be a more peaceful and patient version of myself this year.
So, please be patient, because it’s quite obvious that I’m a work-in-progress.
I found your blog through Laura Fraser’s blog and have been enjoying it!
2 thoughts on patience for you:
1. My grandmother said “Patience isn’t stifled impatience. It is love quietly waiting.”
2. Knitting gives me patience in annoying situations!
Welcome Jana and thank you to your grandmother for such wise words. I love that. She’s right. It’s not about tamping/stifling impatience down, but rather opening up to something larger…and the way I see it, love is about as large as it gets.
Your second thought is a little harder for me. I have a friend who is an amazing, and patient knitter, who had me knitting the odd dishcloth a few years ago. The key word being ‘odd’. OMG. I had so many holes and inconsistencies that it did nothing but make me more impatient. I think I’d need a different trick than the one you use, but glad it works for you!
Aren’t we all working to progress? I do find that I’m generally more patient now than I was when I was younger. But I still have those days when I find myself tied up in knots over every inconvenience.
I do like that phrase “Lack of faith in oneself and the Divine gives rise to impatience.” There’s much to ponder there. You’re liable to see that in a blog post of mine one of these days 🙂
Becca, truth is I am much more patient than I was, but I was starting from a pretty deep deficit in that department! And yes, the Swami had some great lines. When you read that you have to imagine his delivery, which was very slow and thoughtful, big pauses and heavily nuanced with the most beautiful Indian accent. He really knew how to deliver big thoughts 🙂 Looking forward to seeing your blog post on that one.