Bodhichitta 

Meditation on Patience
Begin by establishing the motivation with the Prayer of the Four
Immeasurables: The Four Immeasurables or Four Boundless Qualities that have
“no measure”, are equanimity, love, compassion, and joy. By dissolving the
boundaries that constrain us, these four qualities expand our capacity for experience.

The Four Thoughts

By the power and truth of this practice
May all Sentient beings enjoy happiness and the causes of happiness
Be free from suffering and the causes of suffering
May they never be separated from the great happiness devoid of suffering
And may they dwell in the great equanimity that is free from attachment and aversion

 Settle and relax your body and mind

 Resolve to stay focused and not fall into distraction.

The Main Practice: Focus on cultivating the attitude of patience.

There are four stages.

1. Reflect on The Dangers of Anger & the Benefits of Patience

The Bodhicharyavatara says,

All the good works gathered in a thousand ages, Such as
deeds of generosity,
And offerings to the Blissful Ones— A single flash
of anger shatters them.

No evil is there similar to anger

No austerity to be compared with patience. Steep
yourself, therefore, in patience,
In various ways, insistently.

Anger is the biggest obstacle to our developing bodhichitta, the good heart and
enlightenment. Anger destroys merit and peace of mind, brings pain to our friends and
loved ones.

Anger is the true enemy, the enemy within. Think about scenarios when anger cost you a
friendship, or put you in an unfortunate situation, or brought out the worst in you. So, you must be
determined to overcome it in body, speech and mind.

Cultivating patience, on the other hand, makes one imperturbable, so that happiness and
mental contentment are not disturbed by irritability, frustration and hatred. So, strive to
cultivate patience, in all situations.

   
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Look at how anger works and how it can be defeated.
What is the fuel of anger?
Getting what we don’t want and being blocked from getting what we do want, leads to frustration
and dissatisfaction. Therefore, anger’s fuel supply must be cutoff--starving anger, dissolving it.
How? By protecting contentment, cheerfulness and happiness, and remembering Shantideva’s
wise words:
If you can do something to solve your problem, there’s no need to worry. And if you can’t do
anything, there is no point in getting upset either.

2. Change the way you look at suffering

To transform one’s whole attitude towards suffering, first one must learn to accept it. One must
undo the harmful pattern of always seeing suffering as something undesirable, and
instead recognize its benefits: renunciation, compassion for others, humility, and a deepening
of our spiritual life. Use your troubles and turn them into causes of happiness; you can even see
the possibility of being grateful and welcoming suffering.

There’s nothing that does not get easier as we get used to it, so training the mind is the key,
and will enable one to withstand difficulties, and defeat anger.

3. Fourth dismantle the whole pattern of anger

When we get hurt, we always get angry at someone. Our anger has a target. Yet, when we
examine the situation objectively, we see there is in fact nothing independent, or autonomous,
behind our anger. Anger is created by causes and conditions. We are all dominated and driven
by destructive emotions.

Everything arises because of causes and conditions, like an apparition, a magician’s

illusion.

The more we can see people and events that cause us harm in this way, the more we see how
unreal and empty the object and agent of anger are, then the more our anger will evaporate. It
has no home. And this will keep the mind peaceful and happy, and we won’t react. We will have
no wish to retaliate if we are harmed.

To Conclude the Meditation:

Take a moment to dedicate your practice to the enlightenment of all sentient beings:

Through this merit may all sentient beings attain the state omniscient state of enlightenment
And conquer the enemy of faults and delusions
May they all be liberated from this ocean of samsara
And from its pounding waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

   
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