The Benefit of Patience

In Forty-Two Chapter Sutra, Six Protection Paramita Section, Patience Chapter is written: “A monk asked a question to Buddha: ‘What is very powerful? What is very bright?’ He answered that patience is very powerful because it has no evil but is very peaceful. Patient people, who do good, are certainly beloved. Their mind is pure, which is so bright”.

So, what is the meaning of patience?

Patience, or concession means the bearable ability of injustice circumtances or misery which are caused by other people but our action, speech, and thought do not reveal any evil deed, saying and  views against those.

Patience is one of Six Dharma Practices of Paramita, which was based on this after many lives, Buddha had achieved the perfect enlightenment. Apart from the release of adverse circumstances: the body does not commit bad actions, mouth does not speak evil words; we should always follow a wise mind to act and speak kindly to convert adversity and kill the bad karma. 

In Dharmapada number 5 and 197, The Buddha said:

“ Using hatred for revenge is without in this life.

Using tolerance against hatred is the endless law”.

“ Living  joyfully among hatred without any ill feeling

And among hatred people, we live without an enemy”

There are three levels of patience:

-         First, the body is in a suffering state but not in words and mind. It means that when a man faces unpleasant problems, he can control himself not to have bad actions such as fighting the others. However, he cannot stop talking bad words; so unkind thought is still installed. Thus, evil words or even scolding and curse will be born from some sort of bad thought…

-         Second, the body and words are in patience but not thought. There are people who are based on practicing, manage not to do bad actions and speak unkind words; but they still keep the hatred in mind and wish the others to suffer.

-         Third, this is the highest level of patience. That is, the body, words and mind are all in conceding state. By practicing, human kind can convert them right in their first will, turn misery and uncomfortable thought into motivation to strive and help them practise more effectively. 

-          “Mind leads all the dharma, will control and create action. If good will is expressed or turned into action, there is always peace afterwards, like joining shade and figure” (Dharmapada 2) Eventually, words and actions will be in good direction and transform unfortunate situations and enemies into friendship. Patience is one of the best and effective dharma. It brings huge benefits for daily life. If a man is patient, he is always peaceful.

Tâm Thao