Patience

119. GOOD FRIENDS

“Patience is the companion of wisdom.”

ST AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO (354– 430),

NORTH AFRICA

120. ON TIME

“Everything comes gradually and at its

appointed hour.”

OVID (43BCE–17CE), ROME

121. THE SIXTH PARAMITA

Patience (khanti) is considered the means for overcoming anger, ill-will and hatred, maintaining inner peace and tranquillity, and tolerating the intolerable. Patience is one of the most written-about practices in all Buddhism: it calms the passions and, in doing so, diminishes our illusory sense of “I”, “me” and “mine”, and makes us flexible, tolerant and warm.

122. WHAT’S THE HURRY?

A Zen story tells of a young man who went deep into the mountains to ask a master to teach him swordsmanship. The young man asked how long his training would take. The master replied, “Ten years.” The young man said, “My father is old, and I must care for him. If I work hard, how long will it take?” The master replied, “That way, 30 years.” The young man was alarmed. “First you said ten years, now you say 30 years. I don’t care how much hardship I have to bear, I must learn in the shortest amount of time.” The master replied, “In that case, it will take 70 years.”

123. LITTLE BY LITTLE

“If you add a little to a little, and then do it again, soon that little shall be much.”

HESIOD (C.700BCE), GREECE

124. DAY BY DAY

“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them – every day begin the task anew.”

ST FRANCIS DE SALES (1567–1622), SWITZERLAND