Cultivate Patience And Hold On To It

You would perceive, through observation, that nature does not hurry. It is never in haste, everything happens in due course. Look at the sun, it religiously rises in the morning and sets in the evening. This has gone on for centuries, and it will continue to do so for centuries to come. The sun keeps shining, giving its light to earth and sustaining life on it.

Likewise, the trees stand firm;  they do not complain, they bless us by providing us with shade, fuel, wood and fruit. A tree is invaluable to man. And yet we pay no attention to its presence or indeed acknowledge the many benefits we receive from it.

There was a nurse in a hospital who looked after her patients very sincerely and devotedly. In her ward was a seriously ill patient. His condition was critical and the doctors had ordered that he should be kept off all food and water, and put on drips. The nurse would attend to him everyday, and serve him dutifully. With her tender care and loving concern, the patient improved and the doctors gave him permission to eat food. The nurse brought him the prescribed diet – a boiled egg.

The man who had starved for so many days went into fury at the sight of one egg.

He picked up the egg and threw it at the nurse. The nurse coolly wiped her face and smiled at the man. Once again, she brought him an egg to eat, but the patient lost his cool and threw the egg on her face. When this was repeated for the third time, the nurse went up to the patient and tenderly said, “You are my brother. Why do you throw these tantrums? The doctors are limiting your food for your own benefit. All these days you were not given any food and now that you have an egg to eat, would you just throw it away?”

Hearing these words the patient softened and tears rolled down his cheeks. He asked, “Tell me, where did you learn so much patience?”

Many a time we lose patience and give vent to anger. This way we harm ourselves. Patience helps us to grow on the spiritual path. Without patience, we would never be able to tread this path. Even for those of us who do not aspire to spiritual progress, patience is vital in our daily dealings. With patience, one can solve one’s own problems and help others as well. Patience brings rhythm and harmony into our chaotic lives. Mother Nature, too, follows the law of rhythm.

So do not lose patience easily, be strong-willed. Cultivate the strength within. Do not be irritated by minor, irrelevant incidents, do not waste your energies on futile discussions and debates. Let there be no war of words that drain you of all energy. Keep your mind under control and focus your thoughts on things that ought to be.

Let us not lose courage, but cultivate the virtue of patience, and face the challenges of life with equanimity and fortitude. Let us continue with our sadhana and with our prayers.

Prayer is powerful energy. Prayer is a request which is always acknowledged. Prayer can work miracles in our life. Therefore, let us make prayer an inseparable part of our life. Let us cultivate the twin virtues of patience and faith.